NEW ORLEANS — Ok, Sunday night after Fourth Down on 4, I stayed up and wrote my four takeaways for Monday. Then, on Monday, before I could build the presentation, the Saints fired Dennis Allen, and everything I wrote became moot.
But now there are new things to say. I'm going to start at No. 4, and this was my No. 4 from Sunday night.
4) Don't blame Alvin.
Kamara was spectacular in Charlotte. He rushed 29 times for 155 yards and caught six passes for 60 more. That's 35 touches for 215 yards, his brilliant eight-year career in New Orleans.
Do you know how many times he's gotten the ball 35 times in a game? Never before Sunday.
In fact, in year eight, Alvin Kamara now has the most touches in the NFL this season. And he's third in the league in yards from scrimmage.
The last seven weeks of Saints football have been miserable, but don't blame Alvin.
3) It was time.
It was obvious that time had run out on Dennis Allen in Charlotte. I think there were two signals: nine minutes to go in the game, and the Saints were up 22-17.
Shemar Jean-Charles made one of the great plays of the season. He stripped Xavier Leggette and intercepted.
Then, in the last nine minutes of the game, the Saints committed 60 yards of penalties, which killed two offensive drives and greatly aided Carolina's game-winning drive.
Well-coached teams don't do that with the game on the line.
In Part B, after two straight holdings, the Saints had a 1st-and-30. Then, they gained 29 yards and had a 4th-and-1 at their own 46. This was their chance to go for it, to be aggressive, and to play to win. And the Saints punted.
I think the penalties point to a team that's too tight, trying not to lose. And the coach's decision to put on 4th-and-1 backs that up.
It was obvious to everyone it was time.
2) Building a Roster
So at No. 2, before we get to the coach, rebuilding a roster.
I think the Saints' Tuesday trade of Marshon Lattimore was great. He was a terrific player in black and gold, and moving him was good for the salary cap, and it added two draft picks.
It's a positive.
The Saints do have an aging roster, but the cupboard isn't completely bare.
And it leads me to No. 1.
1) The Search Begins
When Dennis Allen was hired, Mickey Loomis said it was to continue what Sean Payton had built.
And it's been an amazing run. Payton got here in 2006.
As bad as it's been this year and as mediocre as it's been for a few years now, among the 32 teams in the NFL with the most wins since 2006, the Saints rank fifth best.
That's a great accomplishment, something to be proud of, but it's over.
Darren Rizzi will now try to restore some pride. But just as the Saints rebooted with Payton in '06, I think they need new ideas and a new direction.
My one hope for the new Saints coach is that it's someone who hasn't coached in New Orleans before.
It's time to do what you did in 2006 and give the Saints a complete organizational reboot.
And that's my four takeaways from the franchise-altering loss in Charlotte.
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