BillyCarpenter1

In every coaching tenure a story slowly unfolds. While the ending to the Haslett story has yet to be written, we might be reading the final chapter this year. Jim's tenure with the Saints hasn't taken the normal route that one would expect. Haslett took over a team sorely lacking talent in all areas and somehow got them to the playoffs in his first year. Following that, everyone expected the Saints to have steady improvent each year. But, that hasn't been the case. Instead it has been a roller coaster ride that hasn't had any consistancy at all.

The first year under Hasslett the defense seemed to be a strong unit, but the next year we have one of the worst defenses in the league. Last year we have one of the highest scoring offenses in the league and this year we are stuggling to score any points at all. Last year we have one of the best special teams in the league and this year special teams are a weak area. This is hardly the picture of consistancy!!

Haslett's answer to the teams problems is to ship out a high number of faces each year and bring in new ones. This could explain the lack of team chemistry each year, but I think it goes way beyond that. When you consider that the offense has remained in tact from last year, you can't use that as an excuse for the problems on offense this year.

Instead, I think there have been a combination of problems that is the reason this team does not get better each year. I think the biggest problem is with Jim Haslett and his coaching staff. Good coaches recongnize what the strengths of his players are and will play to those strengths. They will also instill discipline in a team and this team is severely lacking in that area. There really is no excuse for this. You can point to lack of talent in certain areas but that doesn't change the FACT that this coaching staff hasn't done it's job in those areas.

This season is on the brink of being lost. There is a real possibility that Haslett can turn things around this year. So far things haven't looked good this season. This game against the Falcons could determine the rest of the season for the Saints and for Jim Haslett's future with the Saints. The team seems to be coming around in some areas but Haslett has got to find way to get this team to play with some consistancy and cut out the stupid mistakes. If they can do that, this could be a team that can get to the playoffs. If they manage to lose to the Falcons, I see no hope at all......