Saints Are Champs Until They're Not
by the new Bradfather on Aug 24, 2010 1:37 AM CDT
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PrintSaints fans, it's always been a pleasure to be around you guys and in my role at Mid-Utah Radio, I am writing NFl prediction articles on an alphabetical basis. You guys are the champs and that is that so feel free to give me feedback if you'd like. I know I'm accepted in these parts. I told Vikings fans I hate Brett Favre on their blog and I'm not blocked yet, so enjoy!
The New Orleans Saints, although traditionally losers, have obviously turned things around and shown the world what great football is all about.
Naturally, the sustained success starts at the top with classy gentleman signal-caller, Drew Brees (363 of 514, good for nearly a 71 percent completion rate, 4,388 yards, 34 TD’s, 11 INT’s) although he has plenty of help.
With a solid tailback in Pierre Thomas and swift receivers Marques Colston (70 rec, 1,074 yards, 8 TD’s), Devery Henderson and one of my favorite NFLers, Robert Meachem, along with solid tight end, Jeremy Shockey, Brees has plenty of targets to involve in New Orleans’ high-octane offense.
While the Saints’ defense only ranked 25th in NFL annals last season, their proclivity to force turnovers at the worst possible time for opponents enabled them to make numerous game-changing plays.
Darren Sharper, fresh off a nine interception season is playing as well as I’ve ever seen him perform entering his 14th season. Additionally, Jonathan Vilma, Sedrick Ellis, Tracy Porter are all magnificent defenders which helped the Saints post an impressive +11 turnover ratio.
When you add Sean Payton’s peerless coaching acumen to the equation, the Saints look as good as ever.
I will admit that the Atlanta Falcons could be on the verge of a successful season but the road to the Super Bowl runs through the Louisiana Superdome until proven otherwise.
Thus, I see the Saints winning 11-12 games while Brees continues to bolster his credentials for admission into Canton.
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.
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No no no, you didn't get the memo
You know: the one that went out to all media members? About the Super Bowl hangover, and the Falcons being on the verge of a breakout season? The one about Minnesota being the most talented team in the league and a shoo-in for the Super Bowl…except that Brett Favre can’t possibly repeat last year’s success, and the Vikings will be a disappointment this year. And oh, Dallas is also the NFL’s most talented team, and they’re fighting for a chance to win a championship in their home stadium. But San Diego is the most talented team in the league, so don’t forget about them, especially playing in the AFC Weak. And Indianapolis features Peyton Christ, so they’re de facto champions until you get receipt of another memo cancelling their championship and awarding it to Tom Brady and the Patriots. Or the Jets (ready to have a breakout season). Or the Ravens (ready to have a breakout season). Or the Bengals (ready to have a breakout season).
You know, that memo.
It was worth the wait.
Don't forget the 49ers
Everybody’s “dark horse” pick to make the SB for some reason. I mean, come on!!! They’ve got All-Pro QB Alex Smith for crying out loud!!!! How do they not make the SB???
Peyton, I can eat Oreos faster than you!!!!
The 49ers
go as far as their quarterback, uh-oh Samurai Mike. To quote you, ’’can’t do it?"
Brad James
by the new Bradfather on Aug 24, 2010 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Thanks for the props
one small thing…
I know you’re not the one who’s harping on this, it’s the MSM… but, just to remind all those reading your post…
“the Saints’ defense only ranked 25th” is a grossly inaccurate and highly misleading statement.
We ranked 25th in total yards against… no argument here.
But, trying ranking an entire defense on yards alone is like trying to build a car with only steering wheels.
You’ve got something to hold on to, but it’s not going to get you very far by itself.
Want to go to the Saints vs. Cowboys game? I've got an extra ticket.
by Dan Kelly on Aug 24, 2010 11:02 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Exactly!!
I couldn’t have said it any better. I’ve always wondered why they continue to put so much stock into that misleading statistic!
"It's about time that something good like this happened." - Drew Brees
by SaintsFanMD on Aug 24, 2010 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions
But, trying ranking an entire defense on yards alone is like trying to build a car with only steering wheels.
You’ve got something to hold on to, but it’s not going to get you very far by itself.
That’s great phrasing dude. Hilarious.
That's true Dan
I am also a statistician by trade and I scored Saints games a lot last year. The yards all came in garbage time. Darren Sharper is great as I’ve stated previously
Brad James
by the new Bradfather on Aug 24, 2010 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Defense?
Well it was good enough to win more than a few games for us! It was good enough to get our Offnese back on the field enought to score more points than our oppenents up until the Dallas game…that’s only one game the next two didn’t count….and it will be better this year! GGM aint worried about no Defense!
Gris Gris Man, Voodoo Surgeon General and Master of Witch Doctory
carefull or...
The GGM will have your skull sittin on his mausoleum wall!
Gris Gris Man, Voodoo Surgeon General and Master of Witch Doctory
by Gris Gris Man on Aug 30, 2010 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions
Two problems with your analysis
Darren Sharper, fresh off a nine interception season is playing as well as I’ve ever seen him perform entering his 14th season.
I don’t know where you’ve seen Sharper playing since last season, since he hasn’t even been on the practice field yet. According to several speculative reports, he won’t even be the starter on opening day.
More importantly, I am sick and tired of hearing about the Saints being traditional losers. Let me give you a little history lesson. (Note – the following excludes the 2005 season because I do not believe the Saints could be considered a legitimate NFL organization that year).
In the 22 seasons since 1987, the Saints have had 10 winning seasons and 8 losing seasons. During that time, they had a combined win/loss record of 182/169 and seven playoff appearances. For comparison, the “world beating” Patriots were 192/159 over the same time frame – a whopping 10 more wins in 22 years. With the exception of the late 90s (Mora’s final year and the Ditka-may-he-DIAF era), the Saints never won fewer than 7 games.
I’m not claiming the Saints have been anything like a perennial Superbowl contender, but to spread this myth of the Saints being “traditional losers” until Payton and Brees arrived is just willfully ignorant. With the exception of the Ditka-may-he-DIAF era, the Saints have been a consistently competitive NFL team for over two decades. Yes, the Saints were the poster child against expansion teams for their first 15 seasons, but that was long time ago, in an NFL far, far away.
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