After three weeks of disappointing, frustrating and undisciplined play, New Orleans Saints (1-4) must question their leadership.
Efforts from quarterback Tyler Shough, edge rusher Chase Young, wide receiver Chris Olave and a number of committed players continue to be squandered as doubts build around head coach Kellen Moore.
“I thought our defense created a couple of turnovers, which were big in this game,” Moore said. “Ultimately, we had three of our own doing and weren’t able to play efficient enough football to give ourselves a chance to win that game. Not enough stability on offense to move the football against a good defense. We didn’t do our part in sustaining drives and giving ourselves the opportunity to score points in the end. They played better than us and coached better than us. For our guys, it’s about getting back to work. That’s the path we have to focus on.”
Moore, widely considered one of the NFL’s brightest offensive minds when hired by New Orleans after leading a Philadelphia Eagles offense to a Super Bowl title, has been anything but since taking the mantle in the Big Easy.
In Moore’s 22 games as Saints head coach, New Orleans is just 3-8 at home and 7-15 overall. The Saints have led after the first quarter only once and have never scored more than seven points in the opening quarter.
Despite the team’s deficiencies early in games, players have found ways to pull the team back late to gather some wins late last year. Save for some heroic performances by Shough, Young, Olave and others, the club has all too often found itself unprepared, inconsistent and outplayed otherwise.
It’s far from time to expect the Saints to consider Moore’s seat hit. The franchise, for better or for worse, typically plays a very patient game with its investments. But that doesn’t mean that the pressure isn’t mounting for the second-year head coach.
New Orleans spent all offseason investing in the offensive side of the ball, with fewer and fewer results to show for throughout the season thus far.
The boiling point is undeniably creeping closer. Teams often swear by their process, even as results fail to produce much confidence. But time is approaching for the Saints to begin questioning and adjusting their methods. Otherwise, by the time the offseason arrives, Moore risks the questions instead being about his future.
Podium visit after podium visit, he has consistently acknowledged lapses or gaps in coaching and preparation. But that accountability quickly begins to fall on deaf ears when it comes to a passionate NFL fanbase unless the end result begins to change.
In a results-based business, a trusted process isn’t enough.
