They allowed Smith to not only rush for over one hundred yards and a touchdown, but for the first time in his fifteen year career he threw a touchdown pass as well. Smith had not rushed for one hundred yards in a game in two years. The Saints defense was often out of place with no one to plug the middle, and often running stunts on obvious running plays, including during the final period where the Cardinals were content to run clock. But instead, they were treated to a twenty-nine yard touchdown run to seal the game by Smith, coming on a play where the Saints defense ran a stunt leaving the middle of the field wide open.
The Saints may not have the most talented defense, but they have even less of a chance because of the poor coaching they are getting from the sidelines. The Cardinals embarrassed the Saints in what I would have to consider one of the lowest losses of Jim Haslett’s tenure, and there have been many from which to choose.
One thing the media will be chewing on this week is quarterback Aaron Brooks’ comments after the game. Brooks was quoted as saying he needed to re-evaluate his situation in New Orleans and he was going to keep fighting until the changes come. This was followed by a near altercation between he and defensive end Charles Grant on the team’s plane flight back to New Orleans. Coach Haslett has downplayed this as a “verbal match” between two very heated competitors, but where there’s smoke there’s fire.
Brooks was quoted earlier as saying the team was filled with “false love,” meaning the team only gets along because they have to, not because they like each other and want to see each other do well. We will see if these comments prove to be true over the course of the remainder of the season.
One good thing for the Saints following their blowout loss to the Cardinals was the acquisition of former Green Bay cornerback Mike McKenzie through a trade that sent backup quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan to the Pack along with a second round draft pick for McKenzie and a conditional sixth rounder. Some view this trade as a loss for the Saints because O’Sullivan was well liked amongst fans and teammates, while McKenzie held out of Green Bay and was rumored to have faked his injury after reporting so he could force the trade issue without being fined.
Others believe the move was done so Brooks doesn’t have to look over his shoulder when he performs poorly like he did when Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme was in a Saints uniform. Whatever the case may be, the loss to Arizona will either serve as a wake-up call to this team of constant underachievers, or serve as the launching pad to the end of the Jim Haslett era. Another winless team looms on the horizon in Tampa Bay next week. We will have to wait and see if Jekyll or Hyde shows up.