Game Thread W3 - Atlanta V New Orleans (1 Viewer)

[Harrassment Panda]

Just got back from the game, and I'm pretty down on Hartley but I'm even more down on Payton. They played for OT on the final drive of regulation and then settled for a FG when they should have at least attempted to put in the score in OT. On top of that calls a BS late timeout and cost the team a blocked FG, way to go Sean

Yeah. More aggressive playcalling and this one's probably a win. I don't like the timeout, simply because it's so commonplace that I think it freaks the kicker out if you DON'T do it, and then the whole time he's wondering if you're going to right when the ball is snapped. Not sure if the FG would've been blocked without the timeout, the guy came through so fast I can't believe that somebody tried to block him.

 

[Harrassment Panda]

Last year it would seem Darren Sharper would almost always make the clutch / crucial play with a big turnover. Also Reggie Bush being out is a big plus for the opposing defense.

Meh. Jenkins is just as good as Sharper and the offense was fine today other than some o-line issues.Matter of fact the only big difference I see from last year is the o-line is significantly worse, both pass and run blocking. I think that comes down to plain old simple "want to." I guess maybe the "hangover" proponents were right.

 

[Saints-Man]

...He "cost" them one game, and that was a game that they were only even still in because he made the kick at the end of regulation.He also won them a game with a game winning FG (and 3-3 on the day) the week before against SF.He's had 3 game winning/tying kicks as time ran out this year, and he made 2 of the 3. This goes along with his 100% on those kicks heading into the year. If every kicker that ever missed a game winning kick in the regular season (especially when they have as many attempts at those as Hartley does) were cut then no one would be rostering a kicker at all.

He actually "cost" them 2 games in his short Saints career already. He missed a kick that would have beaten TB near the end or the season last year and clinched HFA advantage throughout the playoffs. Luckily for NO, Minnesota lost the next night to Chicago.Also, he is missing these kicks bad. They are not good kicks that are just being pushed right or hooked left. They are coming off his foot like I might kick them. It is not just that he is missing them, but it seems that the pressure is getting to him.

 

[omally]

Nice win for your team, Falcon fans.

 

[Saints-Man]

Just got back from the game, and I'm pretty down on Hartley but I'm even more down on Payton. They played for OT on the final drive of regulation and then settled for a FG when they should have at least attempted to put in the score in OT. On top of that calls a BS late timeout and cost the team a blocked FG, way to go Sean

I really like Payton, as most Saints fan do, but I agree with this assessment. Especially the criticism about OT. You have 1st and 10 and a smart QB. I trust Drew Brees far more(and this is even before the kick) that I trust Hartley at this point. Hartley is not Morten Anderson back there, that is for sure.

 

[Breesisdaman]

You guys are over reacting. The Falcons are a good team. Probably the best team the Saints have faced this year and the Saints should have won the game were it not for the kicker. Sometimes the ball bounces the other way and this time (unlike the last 7 or 8 meetings between these two teams) The Falcons made fewer mistakes and earned the victory. As for there being something different about the Saints, yeah but it was a short week coming off a hard fought Monday victory on the west coast. With some rest and now the reality check of losing, I think they will be a much more focused team starting next week with the Panthers.

 

[psychobillies]

Just got back from the game, and I'm pretty down on Hartley but I'm even more down on Payton. They played for OT on the final drive of regulation and then settled for a FG when they should have at least attempted to put in the score in OT. On top of that calls a BS late timeout and cost the team a blocked FG, way to go Sean

I really like Payton, as most Saints fan do, but I agree with this assessment. Especially the criticism about OT. You have 1st and 10 and a smart QB. I trust Drew Brees far more(and this is even before the kick) that I trust Hartley at this point. Hartley is not Morten Anderson back there, that is for sure.

Hartley had just kicked us into overtime. The offense was turning the ball over. If Brees drops back and gets sacked and fumbles, or throws a pick, everyone is in here calling Payton a moron for not kicking the easy FG for the win. It was the right call to kick it.

 

[Trey]

Hartley cannot be employed come tomorrow morning. Inexcusable.

 

[Breesisdaman]

Hartley cannot be employed come tomorrow morning. Inexcusable.

The problem with Hartley is without him the team would not have made it to the Superbowl. He then set a record in the superbowl with his 3 40 plus yard field goals. Without those the Colts would be world Champs.He has shown that he is inconsistent both tonight and the Tampa Bay game last year. I think its time to get John Carney to come in and work with him again. The kid propbably has developed a bad habit that Carney could straighten out. Im not ready to kick Hartley to the curb just yet.

 

[saintfool]

meh. it was a loss against a very good atlanta team. here's what i am thinking:

1. defenses seem to be taking away the big play. yes, devery dropped some passes but we haven't really stretched the field.

2. teams are going after drew with lots of pressure to force quick throws in traffic.

3. payton needs to understand how versatile pierre is. he runs great screens, catches the ball well and, yes, even runs the ball. good things, clutch things happen when peirre gets the ball.

4. we are getting to QBs and that is creating opportunities for big plays. the LB corps just isn't very good beyond vilma.

5. TE's are feasting on us. harper did okay against shinacoe in the 2nd half of week 1 but he's getting killed ever since. vernon and gonzo took his lunch money over and over again.

we need to forget what and how we played last year. we are a different team even though it's much of the same personnel. we aren't the same team that averaged 30 ppg for weeks on end. stop trying and focus on what you can do effectively with what you have now.