The Saints loss to the Falcons last weekend hurt. It was more than a loss to arguably the Saints' top rival, it was a loss that many fans interpreted as a loss due to team apathy. Five trips to the red zone and not one touchdown.
Monday after the Saints loss, Saints fans called and texted into our show on WWL with their deep-rooted frustration that the Saints didn't seem to care and their play was lacking intensity. An unusual number of fans who bragged about being at Tulane Stadium in 1967 when the Saints played their first game expressed total disgust over the team's performance and Coach Dennis Allen and QB Derek Carr were the target of most of the criticism.
Appearing on WWL Radio, Executive VP and general manager of the Saints Mickey Loomis, said "I believe with all my heart we've got the right people in the building. I know we do. There are too many other things that are good signs."
Loomis acknowledged the ineffectiveness of the Saints offense in the red zone, but he said he believes the Saints have the right people that can turn things around quickly.
This Sunday, the 5-6 Saints play the Detroit Lions in the Caesars Superdome. The Lions are 8-3 and lead their division.
I am going to be optimistic, but the Saints - the team and the coaches - must change and show passion from beginning to end. The Saints rank 29th in the league in scoring touchdowns in the red zone. Last year, the Saints scored touchdowns in the red zone 52.8% of the time. This year the Saints are scoring touchdowns 42.5% of the time they get to the red zone. The Miami Dolphins are #1 scoring touchdowns in the red zone 72.97%.
If there is an equation for QBs that relates salary with touchdown, the Saints are not getting their money's worth from Derek Carr and there appears to be no appetite to start another QB because so much is being spent on Carr. I question that strategy. The goal is to win games and not play the player who is paid the most.
If the Saints do have the "right people" in place and if the Saints are interested in playing to their potential, then they should play better against the Lions on Sunday. Even if the Saints don't win, at least play with the attitude that you really care about winning and not just cashing a paycheck.
