Saints’ finishing kick seems to be stuck in neutral

Ed Daniels, Sports
Clarion Herald

Is it time for your New Orleans Saints to make a late-season push?

It should be. Of their last seven regular-season games, six come against teams with four wins or fewer.

Four of the last six games are at home.

But, are the Saints good enough to make that push?

The yellow caution lights are flashing through 10 games.

In the last four games, the Saints have five quarterback sacks. New Orleans is averaging 3.6 yards per rush. Only two teams in the NFL are worse.

And, the Saints’ five wins came against teams with a grand total of 14 victories, meaning  the Saints have had the easiest schedule in the league.

So, do the Saints have a coaching problem or a roster issue?

Many fans will point to a talented roster that they say is underachieving.

And, they see the former head coach of the Saints now flourishing in Denver.

After a horrific start, including giving up 70 points to the Miami Dolphins, the Denver Broncos won their fourth straight game on a Sunday night, rallying in the final minute to defeat Minnesota, a team that had jumped out to a 27-3 lead over the Saints the previous week.

With that Sunday night win, Sean Payton’s Broncos had won five games, equaling the Denver victory total from the previous season.

After the 2021 season, Payton moved on from the Saints. He could see the warning signs. He no longer had a franchise quarterback. And, the Saints were locked in salary cap jail.

In 2024, it won’t get much better. According to the website spotrac.com, New Orleans is more than $87 million over the cap.

The Saints’ drafts, since the greatest in franchise history in 2017, have been less than stellar.

And, Payton’s fingerprints are on much of those failures. Like spending two first-round picks on defensive end Marcus Davenport and selecting other first-rounders like guard Cesar Ruiz and defensive end Payton Turner.

Current head coach Dennis Allen deserves more than his share of scrutiny. His decision to keep rookie Blake Grupe, a kicker with lots of potential but a lack of experience, has cost the Saints at least one game, maybe two.

The Saints’ use of Taysom Hill, who averages 5.2 yards per carry, has been curious.

Against the Vikings, a team that rushes the passer well, Hill seemed like a good option to play power football and negate that pass rush. But, Hill carried one time.

In the five Saints’ wins, Hill has 35 rushes. In the five Saints’ losses, he has 15.

The Saints have also been very slow starters. In the first half of the last five games, the Saints have scored 38 fewer points than their opponents.

But, Allen should also get credit for putting Andrus Peat at left tackle and benching former first-round pick Trevor Penning, who was clearly not ready. That move has steadied the Saints offensive line.

Allen has stayed steady as a rock, taking the blame for his club’s shortcomings.

Heading to the bye week, Allen said he needed to get his team to play more consistently. He’s right. But, it is not that easy.

A .500 record against an easy schedule says much about these Saints. Those who think the Saints are awash in talent  may be erroneous.

Ed Daniels is sports director of ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at [email protected].