How did Saints, LSU, Nicholls fare? Let’s grade ’em…

New Orleans Saints:

Quarterback: Drew Brees was good, but ultimately his mistakes were the difference in the football game. Not his best effort. He can and will be better.

GRADE: B-

Halfbacks: Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory combined for 43 yards on 16 carries. That’s not going to cut it. Not against Atlanta. Not against anybody.

GRADE: D

Receivers: The Saints had 30 completions to a plethora of different targets. Their depth of weapons amazes me. But Devery Henderson did have a few costly drops.

GRADE: B

Offensive line: Drew Brees got nicked up and the Saints couldn’t run the ball. Not these guys’ best day.

GRADE: C

Defensive line: These guys played well, but they just got gassed from being on the field all game. One can only hold up for so long.

GRADE: B-

Linebackers: The linebackers played a solid game. The Falcons didn’t have too many long plays. The problem was their ability to methodically get four and five yards a pop, though.

GRADE: B

Defensive backs: The weak spot of this game. How many times did Tony Gonzales beat these guys on virtually the same rout and the same play? The Saints miss Mr. Sharper, methinks.

GRADE: D-

Special Teams: The Saints scored on special teams, then ultimately lost on special teams. It was an up and down wacky game for that unit.

GRADE: C

Coaching Staff: This was not a game on Sean Payton’s highlight tape. From kicking a field goal on first down, to calling a timeout prior to the Falcons’ field goal (which was blocked), all of the close calls went the other way for the coach, who has been so hot lately.

GRADE: C-

OVERALL GRADE: There is reason to be concerned by the Saints. They have been outgained in two of their three games this year, and really haven’t had the same gusto we’ve seen last year. It just looks like they don’t care until crunch time. And while they’re good enough to pull it out when it counts, playing 60 minutes every, single game does you no favors in February. The Saints need to be more fuel efficient and put some games away early.

TEAM GRADE: C+

LSU Tigers:

Quarterback: Lowly Marshall threw it all over West Virginia’s defensive backs. Not LSU and quarterback Jordan Jefferson who is still flat-out miserable.

GRADE: F

Halfbacks: The Tigers had a 100-yard rusher for the third-straight week, despite not being able to throw the football. That’s impressive.

GRADE: B+

Wide Receivers: It doesn’t help your struggling quarterback when you drop the few accurate passes he does have. The LSU receivers have a bad case of the dropsies right now.

GRADE: D

Offensive line: There were holes to run, despite nine guys in the box, and Jordan Jefferson was sacked just once. Good effort from this up-and-coming unit.

GRADE: B

Defensive line: West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith didn’t officially get sacked Saturday. But he sure left Louisiana with his share of bruises. The LSU front-4 is nasty.

GRADE: A-

Linebackers: Going against Noel Devine, you know you have to tackle. LSU boxed the All-American in all night and limited him to just 37 yards on 14 carries. That’s the best anyone will do on him all season.

GRADE: A+

Defensive backs: Patrick Peterson was his usual self. But the other Tigers did have their struggles at times. But it wasn’t so bad. Another steady effort.

GRADE: B-

Special Teams: Josh Jasper continues to be money and Patrick Peterson continues to be the most dynamic returner in the country. This is a major strong point of the team to really boost a bad offense

GRADE: A+

Coaching Staff: Les Miles and his staff did what they could with the hand they’re dealt. The defensive game plan was sound, as usual. The offensive plan wasn’t bad, either – there were open wide receivers everywhere on the field. Just how is a team expected to move the football when they have no functioning quarterback? GRADE: B-

OVERALL GRADE: LSU wins again and the Tigers are 4-0. If quarterback is the most important position in all of sports, then it says worlds about how good the rest of LSU’s team is that they can consistently win in spite of Jordan Jefferson’s inability to hit an open receiver. But when you play defense well enough, you’ll never be too far away. West Virginia is, after all, a Top 25 team, so it’s a good, solid win.

TEAM GRADE: C+

(would be an A with better quarterback play)

Nicholls St. Colonels:

Quarterbacks: The Colonels’ quarterbacks had four interceptions with just four completions. Usually when those two stats equal one another, you’re playing pretty poorly.

GRADE: F

Halfbacks: As bad as the quarterbacks were, the running backs were even better. Nicholls rushed for nearly 400 yards against Bacone.

GRADE: A

Receivers: You can’t grade a group that had just four catches. You just can’t. They didn’t get enough chances.

GRADE: Incomplete

Offensive line: How good can a rushing offense possibly be? Is it the backs? A little bit, but the offensive line has a lot to do with it, too. What a night for that unit.

GRADE: A

Defensive line: Bacone throws most the game, but even still, their rushing attack was mostly grounded by the Colonels.

GRADE: B

Linebackers: Much like the defensive line, the Colonels’ linebackers kept Bacone from gashing big plays in the run game. A very solid effort.

GRADE: B+

Defensive backs: This unit has struggled all season, and they did have problems Saturday, too, but for the three touchdowns they allowed, they got three interceptions, as well.

GRADE: C+

Special Teams: The kick coverage and return games were all pretty good. Nothing special, but then again, a quiet special teams is most of the time a good one.

GRADE: B

Coaching Staff: This is a weird outing to grade. Do you credit the Colonels for going back to their rushing roots, or do you fault Charlie Stubbs for giving up on his passing game? A win is a win, I give the coach the benefit of the doubt for playing to his strengths.

GRADE: B

OVERALL GRADE: The Colonels won – not in a convincing fashion, but they won. They’d rather win ugly than lose pretty, and they’ll take this win and head into a bye week on a positive note.

TEAM GRADE: B-