With expectations as high as they are for this team, being 1-2 going into the Detroit game is a huge letdown. A surprising loss in Las Vegas led to a disappointing finish vs. the rolling Green Bay Packers. In the world of hot takes we live in, many have claimed the season is already lost. Truth is, we will find out what this team is really made of this week at Ford Field.
The Saints traveled to Detroit yesterday without many of the stars that made them contenders in the first place. Six starters, including all-world Mike Thomas, redzone threat Jared Cook, both starting corners, and linemen on both sides of the ball. The loss of that much talent will put the theory of the depth on this roster to the test.
All of us here at Saints radio commented throughout training camp about how impressive the depth of this team is. Coach Payton commented this week that he feels like they are deeper in the secondary than they have been, maybe ever. The Saints will likely look to P.J. Williams and Patrick Robinson to step into starting rolls.
P Rob in particular had an outstanding camp. We saw him daily making plays on the football. After coming back to the Saints after his best season as a pro in Philadelphia, Robinson was forced to fight through injuries for two years. Many had written him off. He appeared on numerous “veterans likely to be cut” lists. His response was to put together his best camp as a Saint, including his first stretch in New Orleans, after being a first round pick. An offseason change in diet had him down in weight and seemingly up in confidence, which was a welcome sight to many around the Saints facility. The problem is, Robinson’s best days in an NFL uniform have come in the slot, a place where he may not see a lot of time today.
The Saints have spent a lot of time in man coverage thus far this season, often to their own demise, and it’s a luxury they probably won’t have this week. Look for the Saints to settle into more zone coverage in an effort to give some assistance to their replacement corners vs. a very talented receiving corp for Detroit.
Speaking of the wide receivers for the Lions, Kenny Golladay, the Lions’ number one receiver, returned last week from injury and added to a group that has been very good thus far. While the Lions have 5 players with over 90 yards receiving, it’s the tight end, T.J. Hockenson, who leads them in receptions and receiving yards.
The Saints gave up career highs to two separate tight ends vs. Green Bay the week after allowing Darren Waller to pull down 12 catches for 105 yards with a TD. Containing Hockenson will be a focus defensively for the Saints, if they want to improve on their last two outings. There has been plenty of attention on the defense over the last couple weeks, but they are not alone.
The Saints will enter the contest without their top two receiving targets in Mike Thomas and Jared Cook, which puts the Saints in a tougher position than they’re used to offensively. Those two players accounted for exactly 50% of the passing TD’s and 55% of the passing yards the Saints accumulated in 2019. There are a couple of new weapons who will be counted on to pick up that slack.
Adam Trautman has impressed the Saints consistently since being drafted this past year. He has proven, through three weeks, to be a capable blocker and reliable target for the Saints from the tight end position. He slid into Jared Cook’s role last week, after Cook left with a groin injury, and brought in two catches in the process. Drew has stated repeatedly that he feels like the rookie is far ahead of where most would be at this stage. We will see if their chemistry matches the quarterback’s assessment.
The bigger weapon offensively that the Saints have still at their disposal is Emmanuel Sanders. Despite being in his 11th season, Sanders is still running like a top-flight wideout. The Saints won’t slide him into Mike Thomas’ X roll, but rather increase the opportunities for him from his normal position. Late in the game last week, you saw the Saints shift their focus to try and get Sanders more involved and he showed effectiveness. We will have to wait and see, but I would expect to see an evolution in his role, just like we did last year in Jared Cook’s first season where we saw him collect 7 of his 9 TD’s in the last 8 games of the season. Unfortunately, Sanders is being thrust into a more important role faster than expected due to the injuries. Hopefully, the veteran finds a way to settle in quickly. It’s imperative the Saints start being more production on the outside to take some of the stress off of Alvin Kamara.
I think the Saints biggest advantage in this game is in the fronts. The Saints offensive line has been very good thus far, and when given the opportunity, outstanding in the ground game. Defensively, Cam Jordan needs to have his most productive game of the young season. However, it’s in the interior of the Detroit offensive line where the Saints can take the most advantage. Both guards have already given up two sacks this season and the Saints get David Onyemata back from his calf injury. If I’m Dennis Allen, I’m settling into more zone coverages and working the interior of this Lions line extensively. It’s an opportunity for the Saints to get much needed pressure on Matt Stafford without hanging a banged up secondary out to dry.
The final component of this game for me is head coach Sean Payton. I was blessed to get to spend 12 years playing for Sean. I would be lying if I said we always agreed, though it wasn’t always my place to criticize. However, there are a few attributes that Sean has that I greatly admire, and we’re about to see one of them. Coach has an uncanny ability to understand what his team needs and where the pulse of his team is at. He knows when to push, and when to pull back. It’s in these times of turmoil that I believe Sean Payton is the best version of himself. I expect to see the Saints really find ways to get back to their strengths, both offensively and defensively. I think he will be aggressive on special teams and find a way to steal a possession from the talented passing attack of the Lions. This game will be all about getting into the fourth quarter and finishing. I think we will see Sean Payton put together the type of plan that has led him to being one of the great offensive architects of all time.
This is a big game for the Saints. It’s not a must win, few are at this point in the season, but this team needs to get back on track. They have not played to their potential, and that can be very frustrating for players and coaches. But like Sean told me when we talked this week, after disappointments like last week, you just can’t wait to get back to the practice field. All you want is to wash that taste from your mouth. This group has been able to do that over the last few years, and they will have to again to get back on track. I think we’ll see the best version of the Saints in Detroit, then it’s off to the races.
