The New Orleans Saints are 0-4 to begin the 2012 season, and the team's defense has repeatedly struggled to stop opponents. The defense's problems are not completely surprising, though, considering the offense has been the strength of the team for years. However, some of the Saints' stars on offense have also not been playing to their levels of expectations. One of them, wide receiver Marques Colston, was relatively quiet through the first three weeks before finally having a big game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, September 30. As a Saints fan, I am hoping Colston is back on track and can help the Saints turn this season around.
Last year, Colston had 11 games with at least five catches. He caught 10 passes in his first three weeks this season and had not reached five catches in a game yet. Week Four saw that change, though, as Colston hauled in nine receptions for 153 yards and his first touchdown of 2012. The 153 receiving yards were his highest total since October 18, 2009, when he had 166. It was also only the fifth time in his career that he had a 150-yard day.
Saints fans are hoping that Colston's great performance last week can become more of a consistent display. This team has a lot of work to do, and the offense can help get the Saints into the win column. Part of that success is going to have to come from quarterback Drew Brees getting the ball to Colston. It is no coincidence that the closest game of the year came during Colston's best week.
Colston has been one of the most consistent players on this team since his arrival in 2006 along with Brees and head coach Sean Payton. In his first six seasons, despite having some injuries to fight through, he has logged at least 70 catches in five different years. He has also had five seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. The Saints need at least that kind of production this year.
Marques Colston is now a veteran leader in New Orleans, and his team needs him to produce. I am confident that Colston, Brees and others will get things going and have a winning season again.
Source
Mike Patton is a sports fan who grew up in New Orleans cheering for the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Cubs, and LSU Tigers. As a kid in 1987, he made his first trip to Wrigley Field and also slept outside of the Louisiana Superdome to purchase playoff tickets for the Saints' first postseason appearance. Follow Mike on twitter @MikePattonGBS.
