Why the Saints will struggle in 2016
Brees and the Saints dropped to 0-3 after a lopsided loss at home to the Atlanta Falcons
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Well the New Orleans Saints have ventured into unwanted territory after a lopsided 45-32 home loss to the NFC South division leading Atlanta Falcons and it only gets tougher as the 2016 season goes on. The Saints entered the game with 7 injured starters on the shelf, five of those were on the defensive side of the ball and it showed its ugly face as the game went on as the Falcons scored on their first six possessions of the game. The game only got uglier for the Saints as their defense got knocked around like a pinball machine and didn't give the team a chance to keep up.
[Smitty's Sports Machine :: The Saints can't afford to pay Drew Brees]Earlier in the year I gave you a small look into why the Saints should've NOT played the veteran QB because of other needs and outrageous contracts that are on the books the team can't get rid of right now. Jarius Byrd's $50+ million dollar deal in 2014 has been one of the worst moves by the Saints in recent memory as he already has missed a full season and his play on the field at times has been even harder to watch. Former 1st round pick Kenny Vaccaro has been topsy turvy as is looking only as good as an average. The only consistent bright spot on the defense is DE Cameron Jordan, but when your secondary is below average which makes it's hard to sack any QB on a consistent basis. It all points back to Dennis Allen former coach of the Oakland Raiders who was sent to rescue this defense, but instead is a mere image of its former DC Rob Ryan and the teams inability to get off the field. They are once again giving up well over 450 yards a game and have to still face teams with superior offensive talent.
Byrd has been a disappointment since signing a 6-year $54 million dollar deal in 2014, accumulating 92 tackles 1 int, 1 sack. He had 22 int in his 5 seasons with Buffalo
Drew Brees could've taken less money or took a pay cut to better his protection on the offensive line and helped his backfield out in the process. New Orleans cut Jahri Evans for salary cap reasons, but end up getting the veteran guard back because of his release from the Seahawks after signing a 1-year deal with Seattle. He could also use a nice target to throw to as he has lost Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston and Lance Moore in the last 3 seasons, not taking anything away from Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead or Coby Fleener, but when you build a chemistry with certain teammates its hard to get that timing back down with a receiving core.
Cooks and Brees have a good chemistry so far but they need other receivers to step up an make plays
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The Saints 0-3 start means they have to go 8-5 to break even at .500, and like I said earlier the team is battling injuries and inconsistent on defense, which means they would be luck to get anywhere near the .500 mark. They have 13 games remaining it's time for Sean Payton to show us why he chose to stay in the Big easy and not pursue a bigger contract and a possibly better unit around him. I can't wait to see how this pans out and if they can pick themselves up.
