Saints Sideline Blog

A PERFECT “10”

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009      Email Print

DATELINE: Tampa,FL /Sunday November 22nd,2009 (Move over Bo Derek, The Who Dats have your number)
 
It was their 10th straight win but it was easily their most impressive in weeks. "New" look New Orleans forced 4 turnovers and didn't commit any. The Saints trailed by 7 but came back with 38 unanswered points. The point is---the Saints are back to being the Saints again. Sure the Bucs are awful but New Orleans didn't have its two starting cornerbacks, no Sedrick Ellis and oh by the way Reggie Bush didn't make the trip. Thre result---they still won by 31. This team has won despite its losses. They have won with their B-game and at times their C-game but unfortunately the Bucs were the recipients of the New Orleans A-game. Its the kind of performance that will blow out the pewter pirates, the kind of effort that its hard to see many if any teams handle around the league.
 
So many fun numbers to crunch on this team but a telling one to how deep and talented this team is lies in how many Saints have scored a TD this season. Not 10,not 15...try 18! When Drew Brees found Tight End David Thomas for a 3rd quarter Touchdown it was the 18th different Saint to find paydirt. In case you wondered here are the other 17:
 
Drew Brees
Marques Colston
Robert Meachem
Devery Henderson
Lance Moore
Reggie Bush
Jeremy Shockey
Mike Bell
Pierre Thomas
Heath Evans
Lynell Hamilton
Courtney Roby
Darren Sharper
Jabari Greer
Tracy Porter
Anthony Hargrove
Remi Ayodele
 
That's quite a well-rounded list, where there isn't much room for more on offense but maybe a Vilma or a Fujita on defense? I asked left tackle Zach Strief if he could be next in line on offense since he sometimes lines up as an eligible receiver? Strief replied " Don't hold your breath." Sure Jeremy Shockey told me after the game that he would like to have contributed more but said it in a way of "team" not 'me" These guys know its a special season and its because of all their contributions where every week you don't know who will step up. To put this stat in perspective the Browns have had only 5 players score TD's and the Bucs have had 9 reach the zone all season.

Ironically, the last team in the NFL to have more than 18 players score a TD would be those regular season perfect 07 Patriots. The somewhat same Patriots who will be in the Superdome next Monday to play the Saints. This game promises to push the post Katrina Falcons game as the loudest the Superdome has ever been. Maybe when its 4th and short late in a potentially close game, Bill Belichick will fear Drew Brees like he did Peyton Manning and go for it. You know the Saints defense will be waiting. Remember---these Saints like to win as a team!
 
WHO DAT HITS
 
ROAD KILL: The Saints gave the Bucs its worst home loss since Tony Dungy's first season here in Tampa. It was back in 1996 when the then creamsickle pirates lost the season opener to the Packers 34-3.
 
MONEY MEACHEM: With Lance Moore out, Robert Meachem is taking advantage of all his opportunties.He had only 3 receptions against the Bucs, but 2 were for touchdowns. He now has 4 touchdowns in his last three games. Think about it, Meachem has 5 scores this year, he had 7 his first THREE years with the Saints.
 
NO DOUBTING THOMAS: Without Reggie Bush the Saints running game was transformed into a two headed monster which was still scary to the home team. Mike Bell had two scores but Pierre Thomas did a lot of the dirty work by averaging 8.4 yards a cary and finished with 92 yards.
 
SPECIAL EFFORT: Sean Payton told us he felt the difference in the game was the play of the special teams. The Saints continued to pin Tampa Bay back thanks to aggressive play and punter Thomas Morstead who averaged 48.8 including a 58 yarder.
 
HURRICANE REUNION: They played the same position at Miami and its clear they still are very good friends. Shockey tells me afterwards that it was good catching up with old college mate Kellen WInslow Jr and added he feels for what he's going through with the one win Buccos.
 
UNTIL NEXT BLOG,
Mike Nabors
CST
 

By: Mike Nabors

An Emmy award winning sports reporter who covers a wide variety of events for CST. Primarily, Mike serves as the network's reporter for Saints coverage.

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