Put the coffins and forks away

by Malsby on Dec 28, 2009 12:16 PM CST

Seriously. This team isn't done yet. I'll admit that I was pessimistic yesterday during the game(and was I not justified?). I've been rooting cautiously since the Rams game, wondering if this team would flame out as they neared the end. Playing at the level that the Saints were at in September for an entire season is impossible. There's too much film, too many injuries and way too much time for that domination to last forever.

I found myself surprised at how quickly Saints fans dumped all of the franchise's failures on this once "destined" team after Hartley sent a side-spinning ball wide of the left upright. Really? As a fan of the team for twenty years, I completely understand where everyone is coming from. Yes, this is the sort of the thing the Saints teams did in the past. But this is also the same team that set high-water marks for best start to a season, most consecutive wins, clinched a division title with a month to spare, etc. etc. They also brought energy to a city that needed something to believe in again.

I'm not blind to what's been happening on the field. I see horrendous run defense. I see a bulldog offense being told to stay on its leash so that it doesn't scratch its paw on a fence. I see a team that's only playing for 15 or 20 minutes a game when it badly needs to play for 60.

Keep this in mind though: a team can always surprise you. Dallas was written off as another December failure with no chance to win. What did they do? They smacked us in the face. Everyone was ready to crown Minnesota as the number two team in the NFC. Whoops. They've dropped two of three and are primed for another upset tonight(Chicago will win tonight, I'm like...80-85% sure). Philadelphia blew a 17 point lead last night too(but Akers made his clutch kick).

Maybe I'm grasping for straws, maybe I'm crazy, but I still believe in this team. Yes, their play has been bad for a while. Yes, they just lost to the Bucs at home after having a 17 point lead. Okay. I think this is exactly what this team needs though. Now they have doubters again. Remember when this team was fighting for respect that seemingly never came? 5-0? 7-0? 10-0?! You know how you really get respect? You hit a wall and you find a way to climb over it. This team is flat-out too talented, too hard-working to fold now. The gloves WILL come off when the playoffs come. No more vanilla defenses, no more conservative offenses. The injured will return and this team will bring all the doubters back onboard.

And if you're still doubtful...THOMAS. FREAKING. MORSTEAD.

This FanPost was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Doubters

I don’t want the doubters back on board. Let ‘em drown. But I do agree with you. Well, except about the Bears winning tonight. Not saying it’s impossible, I just doubt it highly.

by Jimbo03 on Dec 28, 2009 12:20 PM CST reply actions

Gut feeling

The Vikes have lost their last two prime-time games badly…and I don’t know, I just sense some dysfunction from them as well. The Bears will play with nothing to lose, meaning Cutler will probably throw about 4 TDs and 5 INTs in a winning effort. A good game for him.

"Drew Breeeeeeeees!" "Oh, yeah."

by Malsby on Dec 28, 2009 12:26 PM CST up reply actions

What would be funnier still is if he and Farve combine for 7-8 TDs and 8-10 INTs… which just might happen…

by FriarBob on Dec 28, 2009 1:28 PM CST up reply actions

Never go against the gut

36-30 CHI in OT.

"Drew Breeeeeeeees!" "Oh, yeah."

by Malsby on Dec 28, 2009 11:11 PM CST up reply actions

Wow.

You called it, man. Never before have I gotten so caught up in rooting for the freaking Bears. Thanks, Chi-town.

by Jimbo03 on Dec 29, 2009 8:57 AM CST up reply actions

I can't hate on Favre being from Milwaukee

But Peterson blew that for them. The Bears blew it! And Favre did fine. But I’m glad we get homefield advantage.

Don't worry I got your back cuz...

by TAYDIGGA on Dec 29, 2009 4:53 PM CST up reply actions

Hey, our defense only gave up 10 pts in 60 minutes- only 1 td the whole game!!

and we were missing 2 starters, one starter Sed hadn’t played in a month and wore down, and some important backups like Pressley and Gay (our top nickel) didn’t even play. I think our defense played well. Our offense got bageled in the 2nd half. Cmon, give that defense credit for hanging in there and giving the offense a chance to win it. If you want to criticize the offense, you’d be right. They didn’t control the ball well enough second half. But give the defense some credit.

"I think we agree, the past is over" - George W Bush
"The greatest enemy of knowlege is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge" Stephen Hawking

by Philinwood on Dec 28, 2009 1:20 PM CST reply actions

When I talk about the defense I refer to the bad defense over the last month or so, not just yesterday. They did better yesterday against the mighty Cadillac Williams and Josh Freeman show but considering that Tampa didn’t throw a single pass in OT but managed to set up a game-winning FG…ouch.

Getting Greer back will help, and hopefully Gregg Williams will dial some new things up.

"Drew Breeeeeeeees!" "Oh, yeah."

by Malsby on Dec 28, 2009 1:55 PM CST up reply actions

I ain't jumpin' ship!

As has been posted ad naseum, the DEFENSE held up well, especially considering the injuries they’re dealing with.

I’m only worried about ONE issue on defense: TACKLING

For Pete’s sake, someone re-drill everyone on that squad on JOB NUMBER ONE until they can’t forget it. Too many plays were extended because some showboat was trying to make a “let’s get on Sports Center” hit instead of just wrapping up and putting the guy with the ball on his @$$.

Wanna get on Sports Center? WIN THE FREAKIN’ GAME, NUMBNUTS! ;-) How do we win? TACKLE!

I am sure that we’ll see the necessary firepower on offense when it COUNTS, and we’ll be pretty much at 100% on defense as well. Let everyone scurry away after the past two weeks, they’ll all be trying to climb back on the parade float on Feb 7th. We may even let ’em back on.

Here’s something that hasn’t been mentioned:

Anyone notice WHEN these guys started to sag a bit?

AFTER they clinched the division and had the fairly obvious inside track on HFA, right?

They should have won yesterday, but they didn’t. Oh well.

WIll we care come Feb. 7th? ;-)

I won’t!

Irony: An atheist Saints fan.

by GSO Saints Fan on Dec 28, 2009 1:49 PM CST reply actions

Well said

In trying to analyze what has happened to the our team over the past month, I’ve had a lingering hope that having wrapped up a division title may have contributed to the poor play. It would certainly explain how they had a near flawless game against a very good Patriots team but either squeaked by or lost the next three games. Unfortunately, this arguement can’t explain the giant turd dump we witnessed against the Bucs or the O line continuing to struggle in protecting Brees as well as they once did. However, if the overall performance drop off is in part due to Payton not wanting to tip his hand, we may well see a different result in the playoffs. At least that’s my prayer for the team and every deserving Saints fan. I hope we’re not disappointed.

I’m also praying for NO BLACK PANTS in the playoffs, be it one game or all the way to the Super Bowl.

by Drew-Dat on Dec 28, 2009 2:56 PM CST up reply actions

I think our bad performances had a lot to do with Sed beeing injured

and he came back last game but I think he tired out by OT as did the rest. Pressley was inactive so we really had very few options for giving and DTs a breather.

Also, we still feel the loss of Evans, but we were doing pretty good with Dave Thomas and Shockey playing. But, without Shockey and Evans, Dave Thomas can’t do it all.

Obviously we need Greer pretty badly also.

"I think we agree, the past is over" - George W Bush
"The greatest enemy of knowlege is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge" Stephen Hawking

by Philinwood on Dec 28, 2009 5:19 PM CST reply actions

We're not done by a long shot

by Lyle Lirette on Dec 28, 2009 5:35 PM CST reply actions

I never have jumped ship

But, I do have the right to be upset. I also have much invested in this team (43 years) and want more than anything for my Saints to do well but what I saw against the Bucs was down right heart breaking. After reading Paytons press conference, I am convinced that he is saving players for the Playoffs. Since we are already in the playoffs and these last two games were actually meaningless, I get the feeling he does not care what happens as long as the Vikings stay two games back. HFA will come to us without risking injury. That seems to be the only logical solution to this slide we are going thru. I hope so anyway.

by saint-sly on Dec 28, 2009 6:00 PM CST reply actions

I got into it

with one of my best buddies Sunday afternoon. Just a couple weeks ago he was talkin’ about there wasn’t a team that could beat the Saints, then Sunday afternoon he calls me and says they are done and that they won’t win another game. My response was to ask him if he was a real fan? He says yeah he’s a fan but hes being “realistic”.

B S!!

A REAL fan can acknowledge that there is a serious possibility that if the team doesn’t get their act together they just MAY not win another game, but a REAL fan has to keep the faith that it will all come together down the stretch. I really have to believe that Payton has been holding guys back that can play, altho not at 100%, to have them ready for the playoffs, and that having as many back healthy for the playoff run was more important than fighting for HFA once the playoff berth was a lock. I have more faith and confidence in this team than I have had in any previous team, and IF they don’t win another game this year I will be disappointed, but grateful for the ride, for the record setting season they had, and look forward to next year.

by BayouRebel on Dec 29, 2009 12:00 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

+1

You said it Rebel! I agree 100%.

by saintslam on Dec 29, 2009 12:32 PM CST up reply actions

Keeping the faith.

If the pumped Saints that destroyed the Giants and the Pats come out to play next
month then no one will stop us. I`ve got to believe this will be the case for all of the reasons above. I can`t make up my mind about resting the starters against the Panthers tho` . The game obviously means nothing as far as seeding goes but you
don`t really want to go to the play offs on a 3 game losing streak although last year
the Cards lost 4 of their last 5 regular season game and did OK.
Wow how many times did I just contradict myself there? Sorry it`s getting late here in
the UK. Goodnight all,see you game day.

Lets GEAUX SAINTS.......... ALL THE WAY!!!!

by saint_chew on Dec 29, 2009 5:36 PM CST reply actions