On the bad side, the defense was once again gouged by the opposing team's run game, including a 60 yard run by Kevin Barlow in the first quarter. Barlow finished the day with 114 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns. Not to be outdone by the ineptitude of the Saints run defense, the Saints run game finished with a total of only 46 yards, which is inexcusable even without McAllister. McAllister's high ankle sprain is expected to keep him sidelined for 4-6 weeks, which brings his return to right about the time of the Saints' bye week. Until he returns, his being out of the lineup will either allow Aaron Brooks to lead the team with the kind of game he had against San Francisco week in and week out, or remain the inconsistent sometimes star he has been previously in his career. Either way, losing a player of Deuce's caliber would not be easy for any team so hopefully they can keep it together until his return with a weak schedule upcoming.
Just plain ugly was the Saints' second half gameplan. Granted the defense was without key starters DE Darren Howard(neck), CB Jason Craft(knee), and DT Brian Young(hip), but San Francisco should not have been in this game at all. The Saints offense and defense controlled the first half minus one big run by Barlow, but the coaches dropped the ball in the second half. Instead of continuing their attacking style that had San Francisco QB Ken Dorsey basically ineffective in the first half, they went conservative and allowed him to develop the confidence and rhythm that was needed to give his team the lead. Also, instead of allowing Aaron Brooks to continue to win the game with his arm, Saints coaches felt it was better to try to run the ball with a running game that was ineffective even with offensive star Deuce McAllister in the lineup. A few changes by San Francisco in the second half almost gave them a win. A few changes by Saints coaches in the second half almost cost them the game.
It's difficult to say what's harder to grasp, the fact that all the things head coach Jim Haslett said would be changed to start this season weren't and that cost them game one, or the fact that the Saints got outcoached in the second half against a team with inferior talent, and almost lost game two. Hopefully this game will be a catalyst to better things, and hopefully the talent that this team possesses can continue to win games despite their coaching.