With Sunday’s disastrous loss to Tampa in the book, we’ve just about managed to pluck up the courage to go back through the game film and work out exactly what went wrong. As usual we’ve graded each player’s performance, providing a full written analysis and individual snap count for every Saint who graced the Dome turf on Sunday.

Firstly, for those of you viewing our Player Grades for the first time, our Player Performance Grading System uses a 9-point color-coded scale to produce an easy to understand visual indicator of the performance of each player on rushing plays, passing plays and in the game overall. You can find a more thorough explanation of our grading system, along with diagrams of what exactly everything means, by clicking here.

And as always, for ease of reference, our 9-point color-coded grading scale is pictured below:

OFFENSE

Editor’s Note: Click on each individual table below to open a full-sized version in a new window/tab (it makes them much easier to read).

We criticized the play calling last week for handcuffing Drew Brees with some overly-conservative calls. This week, we saw a similar lack of downfield offensive production, but for a wholly different reason; an injury to QB Drew Brees. Watching the game back, it became painfully apparent that Brees didn’t have a chance of completing any deep balls from the moment Jacquies Smith connected with his throwing arm on a sack/fumble with 13:41 left in the second quarter. The PA to Cooks should have been a TD, it was picked. A promising looking flea flicker to Willie Snead wobbled and died. Another easy touch pass down the seam to Colston wobbled and couldn’t make it past Lavonte David. To be fair to Payton, he at least tried to dial it up in this game; sadly Brees was in no fit state to deliver. This meant the playcalling was “handcuffed” down the stretch, making it too easy for the Bucs to shut down the Saints passing game.

The ailing Brees was no doubt the headline disappointment, but there were others on offense who should be taking a long look at themselves this week. Zach Strief can certainly take his share of the blame. After all, he was the man beaten by Smith on the play Brees sustained his injury – and was also victimized on numerous others. Max Unger also underwhelmed on the offensive line, looking a shadow of the player who dominated on the glimpses we saw in pre-season. Josh Hill did his best “Jimmy Graham” impression when run blocking, but was sadly unable to extend his mimicry to having any kind of positive effect as a receiver. The usually dependable Austin Johnson had a rare off day when lead blocking, while Mark Ingram and Willie Snead coughed up the football at the most inopportune of moments.

Just to offer some semblance of balance (and also to try and keep us all sane), there were some brief moments of positivity. Terron Armstead graded out positively in all phases, and can be proud of the effort he put out on Sunday. Willie Snead got his first TD in the Black and Gold, while Brandin Cooks gave Tim Jennings the run around, and could have gone for 100+ and a TD if Brees was healthy. Khiry Robinson averaged 9.8 yards per carry once the Saints finally started running the football off tackle (mainly behind the aforementioned Armstead), and CJ Spiller made a welcome debut (albeit for just 7 snaps). Apart from that though, any other positives would just be “scraping the barrel” this week. A bad day at the office for the offense.



DEFENSE

Editor’s Note: Click on each individual table below to open a full-sized version in a new window/tab (it makes them much easier to read).

Our key for the Saints defense was to pressure Jameis Winston into mistakes this week. In particular, we highlighted the Bucs’ weakness in pass protection at the OT position as an area for the Saints to exploit. It was therefore no surprise to see Cam Jordan and Hau’oli Kikaha performing strongly on the day. In direct acknowledgment of the Bucs’ frailties at either end of the O-Line, the Saints also gave Kasim Edebali extended action (with excellent results) and activated Obum Gwacham as a situational 3rd down pass rusher. Jordan, Kikaha and Edebali had a sack each on the day and the DE group combined for 8 other QB hurries. In short, the edge pass rush did its job as expected. What we had not legislated for was the huge leap forward that Jameis Winston took in week 2. He looked a completely different QB under pressure this week, calm and poised, which prevented the Saints from cashing in on their improved edge pass rush.

It was a different story on the interior of the Saints D-Line, where (aside from fast-improving rookie Bobby Richardson) every player struggled. The Bucs’ interior O-Line simply dominated in the trenches – outmuscling Akiem Hicks, Kevin Williams and especially John Jenkins. This allowed the Bucs to consistently pick up easy yards on the ground. On obvious passing downs, the Saints even had to resort to shifting Cam Jordan and Kasim Edebali into the DT positions in a desperate attempt to manufacture an interior pass rush. Both Jordan and Edebali were, unsurpringly, far more effective when lined up on the edge. The interior D-Line has underwhelmed twice in a row now. The group absolutely has to step up in Carolina.

It was another highly disappointing day for the Saints inside linebackers as well. Rookie Stephone Anthony took a step backwards, with a poor performance and team-leading 5 missed tackles. It is not unexpected for a rookie MLB to have days like this, though, and he had flashes of good play. The main problem for the Saints at the moment is the absolute lack of production alongside Anthony at the WLB position. David Hawthorne got the start this week, but effectively only to play running downs. Ramon Humber was spelled in for obvious passing situations. Humber was marginally better than Hawthorne on the day this week, but Dannell Ellerbe’s return cannot come soon enough. Anthony will surely benefit from having some stability (and ability) alongside him. Hopefully Ellerbe suits up this week – everything we’ve heard suggests that he will.

In the secondary things were somewhat more encouraging. Both Delvin Breaux and Damian Swann only gave up 1 catch apiece, showing excellent coverage skills on tape. Breaux’s blown play has become a trending social media “GIF”, but it came on a scramble drill where Winston had forever to throw, following an ill-advised 3 man pass rush. Other than that Breaux was rock solid. Indeed, it was prized free-agent Brandon Browner who let down the CB group this week, looking worryingly slow at times. Hard-hitter Kenny Phillips stepped in adequately at FS, and SS Kenny Vaccaro continues to look somewhat improved in 2015. The return of Byrd and Lewis will only improve this group of course. Indeed, on current evidence there may be an interesting dilemma for the Saints on the outside – Breaux and Swann are both outplaying the disappointing Browner so far in 2015.

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