It’s not talent, it’s not scheme… it’s management of and response to change.
It’s very evident to even a cursory watcher that we don’t adapt well (except for our defense at halftime). When my Colombian gf who has seen 16 games worth of football in her entire life can watch and say “why do they keep doing X?” or “why do they keep leaving that guy open?”, our stubbornness is pretty overt.
Derek Carr said in his post game interview yesterday that he threw the pick 6 because the safety did something he didn’t expect. No shit! You think the defense isn’t going to try to disguise their intentions? You want them to hold a poster board up before every snap telling you what they are running??
On the macro scale (coaching) and on the micro scale (individual players) this team cannot adjust or adapt to changing situations. In the one case that they do (halftime defense adjustments), it’s not nearly fast enough.
As was stated multiple times on the Fox broadcast, our beloved Saints show flashes of brilliance, but they are unable to sustain it or to do so consistently. That will not change as long as our coaching staff and quarterback exhibit flexibility and adaptability on the level of flat earthers.
Do I love the lemons we’ve been handed? No, of course not. Can we still try to make the zestiest lemonade possible? You’re god damn right.
That starts by hiring someone to keep Allen and Carmichael in check in terms of changing game situations. Give them Reggie’s “bring the wood” bat and have them smack the coaches in the head if needed (Dennis, if you’re reading this, I’m very happy to be that person). Halftime isn’t the only time we’re allowed to make adjustments, after all. Alas, they can’t make Carr read a defense, but let’s start with little victories.
Is this a great team? Probably not. Could this team be much better? 100%. If we’re not going to alter the personnel, then we must change our approach, especially when it comes to responding to change.
This is a really insightful comment. Like, on one hand, it’s hard to expect Carr to come in and be the leader of the team in 8 months. On the other hand, from a distance, it seems like he’s done the opposite of that and is alienating teammates. I will say that before Olave died yesterday, I thought Carr was genuinely showing a rapport with him like they went through some shit and have come out the other side stronger… but who knows.
If I were to make a Dennis Allen coach in Football Manager, he would have 0 charisma and 0 leadership. The scale goes up to 20. He has no business being a head coach. Clearly, he has some technical aptitude. Great! Stick to that! Don’t sour the whole team with your 1993 Ramada Inn motivational speeches.
As far as the offense identity… I couldn’t agree more. Like, what the fuck are we even trying to be? We can’t run the ball without Taysom or gadgetry, we can’t throw the ball deep if Shaheed is off the field, we never attack the middle of the field, Juwan is a fraud, we don’t utilize our receivers’ strengths (no slants with slant boy, no option routes with Kamara, etc.)… what are we even trying to cultivate? Yes, our line is shit. We know this. Our response? Bang runs up the middle and run 4 verts which takes forever to develop… like… the worst possible choices. How fucking stupid can you be??