I’m also worried that our own fans are going to turn on our team and turn our home field advantage to a home field disadvantage.  I don’t know about you, but I want to give them every chance to win, and I’m afraid people will be booing after the first incomplete pass.   Bad enough that what you say might come to pass without us helping make it so.

The one point I’d differ with you is regarding Blache and the defense.  I thought they did a pretty damn good job.  They had some serious holes in the secondary and yet they got better as the game went on.   LaRon got owned and I hope he learns a little humiliation from it, and learns to tackle lower.  Also, everyone’s giving Jason Taylor a free pass, but he better pick up his game.  He was injured so I can understand why he might be ineffective that week, but we need to see more of him to justify that trade.

But really, I can’t complain too much about the defense.  It’s the offense that stinks.  It’s the offense Zorn was brought in for, and it’s the offense that’s going to get us killed if we don’t fix it. 

Gibb’s offense was bland and anemic but at least they protected the QB.  I haven’t seen a more pourous ‘Skins Oline since Steve Spurrier was in town.  Every time Portis touches the football there are two or three guys meeting him in the backfield; is it time to begin replacing some of the aging OLine?  Campbell spent most of his day avoiding rushers and looked as uncomfortable as an illegal alien making a delivery to offices of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).  I read this week that Zorn is going to place Campbell in the shotgun more than last week; how can you have a successful running game with draw plays.  I suspect that the Saint’s defensive line will tee off on both Portis and Campbell for another dismal offensive output.

Greg Blache may have held the position of Def Coord but it doesn’t appear that he can game plan or motivate like Gregg Williams.  This is pretty much the same defense as last year — I ask you what were the weaknesses last year of last years defense — no DLine pressure and ineffectice CB coverage.  I understand that Plaxico Burress is 6′ 6″ but come on; put some body on him off the line and disrupt the timing.

Thank God it is still early; this team has got to get its head out of its butt and play and hit hard.  After watching Philly and Dallas last weekend, that is what it is going to take.  Landry and Doughty need to rock WR’s world when they come across the middle. When 21 was prowling in the defensive backfield no one, not even TO would not come across the middle because he feared being hit.  I am one skins fan who is tired of seeing B. Westbrook light up the defense every year.  Watch out this weekend, Shockey is going to run wild over the ‘Skins LB’s and when they bring the CB’s help, watch for Brees to go to Bush deep.  I predict another long day for the secondary.

Still, like you said, it’s not something that can’t be fixed. The team looked like it was trying a radically different offense with a new head coach for the first time in a real game situation, which is exactly what they were doing.  As they master the west coast offense, they’ll get better.  And we won’t always be facing a defense as good as the giants every week either.

Another thing was what I pointed out in my defensive plan post.  We did not catch all the INTs Eli threw.  Landry dropped a sure pick six.  Smoot dropped what would have been a FG saving INT.  Rogers dropped two sure INTs.  The story of this game changes significantly if we make those 5 turnovers (the four we missed and the one we got). 

Anyway, lots of ifs, but the reality is we played as well as they did for three quarters of the game.  The defense is going to be good and the offense will improve.  Still plenty of hope left.

-DW