 An F for F-fort The Saints seem to be without an identity, and Sean Payton doesn't seem to have an answer. Every post-game conference seems to be another version of the same phrase: We've got to get better. (There's nothing quite like stating the obvious.) Drew Brees needs a machete to clear some space to throw, receivers are dropping balls, running backs are going down to single tacklers and the play action procedures are so poorly executed, an immigrant who's never seen a game of football wouldn't be frozen by the fakes. It seems that these problems aren't merely superficial. The roots to these problems extend far deeper – way below the surface. Could it be the Saints are looking so hard for what is missing that they've forgotten to look into the mirror? Have they forgotten that talent can never completely replace heart? Or have the Saints simply forgotten to “just go play?” The Saints offensive line is losing battle after battle, week after week, play after play. The defense seems to have benefited from the bye week, yet even in holding the Carolina Panthers offense to 16 points, it wasn't enough. The offense must improve, but therein lies the great, unsolvable mystery – how do they do it? Will they do it? Can they do it? It seems as if it's going to take something special – something dramatic to turn this season around. But this season that so many are already offering with a salvage title may only need a re-dedication from the Saints players. Maybe it needs to be led by the coaches, and maybe some pride needs to be swallowed by head coach/play caller Sean Payton. Maybe the plays need to come from another set of eyes. Maybe... Bottom line, the machine is broken and in need of some fixing, and it must happen now.
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