MULTIPLE Saints are in decline

I know the popular thing to talk about is the idea that Drew has lost arm strength. I don't believe that, although I'll agree his timing and accuracy on deep throws are off, but those are fixable.

The real issue is decision making under pressure. It's not a secret (though something most people seem to ignore) that Drew struggles with pressure up the middle. That's why we value guards more than tackles on the line. For the past 2-3 years, Jahri Evans has been in decline. Today he got beat pretty badly by Gerald McCoy multiple times. Nothing was happening when running to the right. Last season, Evans was bothered by injury and vastly underperformed. I don't have his PFF stats the past couple of years, but he has not been near the All-Pro he used to be. Couple that with inconsistency at center and you have a recipe for disaster.

Then there's the WR problem. Last season, we had serious depth issues at the spot. Joe Morgan blew his knee in training camp and Nick Toon still sucked. Kenny Stills was an unknown. The Chargers released Robert Meachem after a disaster of a time there. Multiple reports said that his body was broken down. He returns and makes a minimal impact as a situational deep threat. No one was buying it because his speed was gone.

That has carried over into this year, but it's worse. Instead of giving Joe Morgan a real shot, Meachem continues to get snaps and targets despite being unable to adjust to throws (and help his QB) or make non-basket catches. Every time he is targeted, the defender puts himself in better position than Meachem.

Then there's Colston. He came into this season healthy after being plagued by injuries last year and turning it up at the end of the season. Any momentum he had ended with that last ditch lateral against Seattle in the playoffs. This year he can't get separation on the outside or find anything in the slot. His patented seam catches are there for him, but he either drops them or fumbles them. It happens at least once per game it seems. He did it in OT against Atlanta with a fumble. Today he did it, but it was ruled a drop. Catching that pass would have put the team in FG range to win without going into OT.

I know it's a lot, but it's all real and supported by facts. Not exactly a pleasing thing when 3 of your highest paid players are in decline with a lot of years and $$$ left on their contracts.

Now it's on the coaching staff to make adjustments in the bye week to get the offense right. It starts with running the ball more with Ingram, Robinson, and Thomas. That group is tough to stop. Next would be getting Morgan involved in the offense, Stills back up to speed, and kicking Meachem to the curb. Evans's role won't change, but Payton needs to stop trotting an injured Jon Goodwin out there next to him.

By letting a lot of veterans go in the off-season, Payton and Loomis prioritized winning over loyalty to veterans. They need to hold that same standard to guys who are on this roster.