The New Orleans Saints are 0-3 for the first time since 1997. However, their numbers resemble another Saints team that started 0-3...the 1980 team. Now it's too early to say the 2012 Saints will finish with a 1-15 record or they are as bad as that team, but their numbers are closer the the 1980 team than the 1997 team.
So far the Saints have 1,132 yards of total offense, 285 yards per game passing and 93 yards per game rushing. After three games, the 1980 team had 929 yards of total offense. They averaged 237 yards passing and 73 yards per game rushing.
Offensively, the 2012 team is obviously better, but they have three things in common with the 1980 squad so far: a great quarterback, lackluster running game, and mediocre receiver production. For those of you who remember the 1980 team, the 2012 team has far better running backs and Archie Manning would have loved to have a player like Jimmy Graham or Darren Sproles on his team. Another thing both teams have in common was a fairly porous offensive line. Drew Brees is beginning to learn something Archie knew too well, to have to run for his life before he can even get set. It doesn't happen every play, but it happens enough.
The 2012 Saints defense allowed 1,432 total yards, 262 yards per game passing and 215 yards per game rushing. After three games the 1980 team allowed 1,093 total yards, 197 yards passing and 167 yards per game rushing.
At this point, the 2012 defense is worse than the 1980 defense. Granted, the 1980 team didn't have to face RGIII and Cam Newton, but the 2012 defense didn't have to face Walter Payton three games into the season. Oh wait a minute...Jamaal Charles put up Sweetness-like numbers on them. The point is, both defenses made great, if not career, days for some opposing offensive players. The frustrating thing is the 2012 defense has much more talent and is far better in all positions than their 1980 counterparts. Okay, Derland Moore was probably a better defensive tackle and then rookie Dave Waymer was a talented defensive back.
It's easy to blame the coaches. Dick Nolan was in his last year as head coach of the Saints in 1980, but even though he melted down and quit after game 14, at least the team had a head coach. The 2012 team obviously misses its head coach and probably knew from the outset that Joe Vitt and Aaron Kromer are no Sean Payton. However, no matter who the coach is, if they don't execute or they miss tackles, like the 2012 defense does, then it doesn't matter who the head coach or even defensive coordinator is, because they will lose.
Now what about the replacement refs? Sure, they have a measure of responsibility and they made some game changing bad calls against the Saints. In fact, there were a lot of bad calls and no calls that should have been flagged over the past three games. However, it's no excuse for not executing the basics of running, blocking, and especially tackling. As Sean Payton would put it, bad refereeing or not, the team is simply not doing its job and responsibility starts at the top.
So, is this deja` vu? Is the 2012 team is as bad as the 1980 team? Absolutely not! The 1980 team, minus Manning, Moore, and a few others, were a bumbling, fumbling bunch of players who were poorly lead by their coaching staff. Unless the 2012 team collapses, it would be a huge surprise if they finished 1-15.
So how will they finish? When will the Saints get their first win? How will they do in comparison with the 1980 team?
The answer? It's still early. The Saints need to take it a game at a time, which to their credit they do, and if the players do their jobs for sixty minutes, they'll win.
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