2011 Saints Bye Week Status Report: Better Than, Worse Than, or the Same As 2010?

I really think the Saints will end up as the third or fourth seed. This will be better than the wild card spot we were in last year. The play off race looks to be a tight one. Green Bay could lose a couple, but I don’t see them losing more than the Saints. San Fran is looking tough and they benefit from a soft conference schedule. The Saints will have to play tough the rest of the season with the Falcons nipping at the heels to win the South. The Giants or the Cowboys look to win the East. I’m hoping the Saints beat the hell out of the Giants on Monday night. The Giants have played very up and down this year. I hate the Washington field goal kicker and the Dallas field goal kicker. I think either Detroit or Chicago will make a wild card spot with the edge going to Detroit after Jay Cutler’s injury. The last wild card spot will be between Atlanta and the Giants or the Cowboys. Saints just need to win out and everything will take care of itself.

Although I feel this season is better than last years so far , as we have the lead in
the division and have the upper hand on the Falcons at the moment and they’re not
playing as well as last year.

I too think the Saints are better off this year than last, mostly due to our running backs. Last year we were decimated much of the year at running back. The lack of a running game made us one dimensional and allowed teams like the Seahawks to beat us. This year we have a much healthier running back crew, not to mention a fresh new face (Ingram). But they won’t do us any good if Payton doesn’t start using them more often and more effectively. We got the talent, now let’s use it.

We all know that football is a very emotional game. Well since the Giants lost last night they have fallen behind the Cowboys in their division. A loss to the Saints would really hurt their chances of winning their division. On the other hand, the Saints are a full game ahead of the Falcons and would remain the leader in the division even with a loss due to the tie-breaker. I am concerned that the Giants will be on fire for this game and the Saints won’t be. Payton needs to find a way to really motivate the team before this game, or it might not be prettty.

The run game has been under utilized, because the O-line has been injured, and has needed most of the season thus far, to jell. Also we are healthy at the RB position, for a good run through the end of the season, and hopefully into the SB. Now the big question is whether Sean will commit to the run game more for the rest of this year. We can only hope. The run game must play a bigger part for us to make a realistic attempt at another Lombardi.

After 10 games, the 2010 Saints were scoring 23.5 points per game while allowing exactly 17 points per game, and rushing for 94.5 yards per game
This year’s model of the Saints is averaging 31.3 points while allowing 22.8, and is rushing for 117.5 yards per game.
That adds up to a net gain of almost six points in scoring differential

The numbers don’t make sense to me, how is that a gain of 6 points in differential?

In many ways, the 2011 team is better. The running game, when it’s used, is clearly better, though it’s hard to fault them much for last year with so many injuries. I think the passing game is a little better as well, mainly due to the emergence of Graham. Special teams is also improved in returns and in coverage.

But the most glaring difference to me is the defense, which is a lot worse this year than last. I don’t really understand what the problem is either. The Saints had trouble with outside runs last year as they do this year. The LBs were no better, and were probably worse as a group last year. The secondary is about the same in statistical performance, though it seems clear they’ve missed Tracy Porter this year. Even when he has been on the field, he hasn’t looked 100%. Robinson started out being more of a liability than an asset, but he’s definitely improved. And in some ways he is better than Tracy – specifically his tackling and making plays on quick passes behind the LoS. Given all that, it’s hard to understand how the Saints are allowing almost a TD more to opponents this year.

better than if I knew it was a better "off " than scenario. Last year our defense seemed to be better than this year, but our offense seems to better this season than last so I think it sort of balances out the 2010 team and the 2011 team but I do think we are better "off " this season coming out of the bye.

I don’t have any stats at the moment to back it up but the Saints were one of the best passing defense last year, I would guess we aren’t at the top anymore. Again, just guessing.

I think in 2010 we went for it more on 4th and whatever and made it. This year we’re kicking more field goals or punting. That makes a really big difference.