There isn't time to rehash the entire game in much depth today as I literally have to catch a plane in a few hours. But there are a few items from this week which I did not want to leave unobserved.
- The Saints may have learned how to play ball-control this week. During the second quarter, they took a 7-3 lead by putting together an 18 play 86 yard drive which took 10:59 off the clock. Deuce McAllister... strangely scarce against the Vikings... carried 13 times for 65 yards as the Saints pushed the Raiders around all day long. We know the Saints can score points. But winning consistently means being able to control a game the way they did Sunday. Let's see if they keep at it.
- I don't want to hear this shit. Anyone who watched the Saints against the Bucs, Redskins, and Broncos has no business suggesting that they are playing reliable run defense or that they've stopped surrendering big plays. I'll allow that the run defense played well against Minnesota and Oakland .. but as I've said already that's because Sedrick Ellis isn't in there ignoring his gap responsibility any more. We'll see what happens when he comes back. In the meantime, I don't want to hear any shit about the so-called improved defense at all.
- Overlooked stats: Billy Miller 3 receptions 53 yards. Mark Campbell 3 receptions 37 yards and one touchdown. Both Saints tight ends are playing exceptionally well this season. But there's this expensive and annoying Poochie guy waiting to play as soon as his groin feels better and we all know Soupy will demote the other two guys to accommodate him.
Jeff Duncan writes us a story about Poochie's current gig as sideline mascot. You can check it out if you like but the gist is that Poochie is such a loud, insecure, and attention-starved boob that he feels the need to insinuate himself into situations that have very little to do with him. Poochie stalks the sidelines in his street clothes screaming in the coach's ear, offering unsolicited advice to teammates, and yelling at the officials. Clearly, this is a guy who can't understand that not everything is about him. In high school, our coach used to refer to this behavior as "rah rah bullshit" Poochie would not have been tolerated. - Reggie Bush's knee hurts. It's hard to tell but in the photo below, you can see where this injury may have occurred as Bush makes a move on a Raider defender on his way to scoring his second touchdown of the day.
- Uh oh the kicker STILL sucks: Taylor Mehlhaff missed his first field goal attempt. The crowd went wild in voicing its approval.
Finally, since we're talking so much about mascots today, I'd like to introduce you all to Jennifer Faith.
Jennifer is something of a professional mascot in her own right. She was created by a group of children who frequent a library in Virginia. They send her out to visit libraries in other cities where she gets to see the local attractions and bring back souvenirs and tales of adventure and such. Somehow it fell to me to bring her to a Saints game. It's too bad she has to leave before the next home game because, apparently, she's something of a good luck charm.
Sunday was a pretty good day for Jennifer, she got to ride on a streetcar,
Sample the Dome food,
Take in a well-played game by the home team,
And, of course, make a few new friends.
We were pleased to see the Saints play as well as they did for Jennifer. She won't be there when they play their next home game some time next century. But... possibly her "spirit still remains".
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