SAINTS OFFSEASON ANALYSIS......
 

Whodat, I\'d really like to read your response to the above. Specifically answers to the following:

(a) Do you think the Panthers were average this year
(b)based on your infatuation with Jake\'s \"leadership\" ability, why do you think the Panthers will fade next year
(c)if 11-5 means Haz is an underachiever, how does two more wins in what would obviously be a good record for ANY team take him from underachiever to \"good coach\"

These are all questions based on things YOU said and things that I quoted you as having said in my previous post in this thread. What say you?

SAINTS OFFSEASON ANALYSIS......
 

I\'ll start with C. The only way Jim Haslett can become a good coach, from where I\'m standing, is if he A) outcoaches other coaches, and/or B) gets his players to play up to or beyond expectations and potential. This team is ridiculously talented. If they go 11-5 it will be in spite of Haslett, not b/c of him. Of course, if they lose Deuce, Horn, Grant, and Howard and go 11-5, I\'ll give Jim credit for getting backups to play better than expected and be the first to eat crow. I\'m guessing that ain\'t gonna happen. I said 13-3 b/c I believe that if the Saints end up with that record Haslett will HAVE to have outcoached someone or at least made his players play to the best of their ability.

A & B. I do not think that the Panthers were average this year, no. I think that their offense will get better next year, but their defense will get exposed. Tampa Bay certainly wasn\'t average last year and look at what happened to them. Or the Raiders, or the Rams of two years ago, or the Ravens and Giants of three years ago. Super Bowl teams fade (excpet for New England it appears). I also think Stephen Davis will get hurt. Too many touches.. although DeShaun Foster could be better given time.


That\'s right. I think the Saints WILL make the playoffs next year. I\'m not ashamed of that. I\'m not trying to spread doom and gloom like you think I am. I am trying to give my honest opinion. The Saints won\'t get to the Super Bowl with Haslett as coach. If I\'m wrong, I\'ll eat crow... happily. We\'ll go 10-6 or 11-5 next year b/c this team is too talented not to. It\'s got nothing to do with JH. I\'ve also said over and over again that this is all subject to change based on what happens in the offseason.

SAINTS OFFSEASON ANALYSIS......
 

While at times I beleive WhoDat stretches things, I have come to understand that WhoDat doesn\'t go around trying to spread \"doom and gloom.\" I really used to believe he was the most negetive person I had ever heard.

Now, I believe that WhoDat is simply expressing what he feels is the truth. Not to say he\'s always right, but I do respect his opinion very highly. It\'s hard to argue with most of what WhoDat has been saying over the last year. I feel kinda bad for being so hard on him for some things that\'s he\'s posted.

As much as I hate being wrong, I must say that WhoDat looks at things the way they are
and doesn\'t put a postive spin on it. And he\'s right for doing that. I tend to be too positive because I want to believe that the Saints are going to do well. While WhoDat might be a little more negetive than he has too, I can certainly understand why.

As far as I\'m concerned WhoDat is as fair as anyone on this board and is personally one of my favorite members. Props Dat -- You\'ve taught me some things on here

[Edited on 23/1/2004 by BillyC]

SAINTS OFFSEASON ANALYSIS......
 

Not that you care, but I accept what you\'re saying. I guess I don\'t get the part about 2 games in a season deciding Jim\'s ability to coach, but I do get what you\'re saying.

I kinda thought you were under the impression that Jake Delhomme was the key cog in the Panthers wheel this year, but after reading your comments I am now under the impression that you, like me, think their defense probaby had more to do with their success this year. I do, however, disagree about their offense getting better. As I\'ve said before, I think Jake, while better than average, will begin to cost them games with his seeming need to throw the ball up for grabs off his back foot when he\'s in trouble rather than do what Brooks has had to learn to do...throw the ball away. Maybe Jake will learn not to do that. Brooks did.

Think back to the Eagles game. His TD pass was terribly underthrown. I mean is was a really really bad idea to throw that ball. But, as they have been all year, the Panthers got lucky. Their other TD was set up by a penalty. 14-3...after a late hit that took McNabb out of the game. Those guys, in my opinion, are fortunate to be in the superbowl...I just can\'t stand the fact that the Eagles didn\'t show up.

SAINTS OFFSEASON ANALYSIS......
 

Thanks Billy. Nice to hear you finally admit that I\'m always right and you\'re always wrong!! :) LMAO. Just had to zing you there - things are getting kinda lovey dovey around here.

Time will tell Saintfan. We\'ll see what happens. I think the team to beat in the division may be Atlanta next season. Vick, along with probably Manning and maybe Favre, is one of the only QBs in the league that truly transforms a team just by being on the field. The man will make at least a three or four game difference just by staying healthy.

I hope AB does continue to improve. I hope he\'s the number one QB in the league, but what I hope and what I think will actually happen are different things. I also think that Delhomme will get better, but he will be challenged next year. Teams are figuring out how to take Stephen Davis away. If they get to DeShaun Foster too then Jake could be in trouble. Still, I think the defense falters, Carolina has a little less luck than they did this year, and they end up around .500. Tampa is an enigma to me. I can see that team with four wins... or ten. Hard to tell right now.

SAINTS OFFSEASON ANALYSIS......
 

Gee thanks Billy...I just puked...

:P

Just kidding..LOL