The Rick Venturi File
 

So what you are saying Billy is , Haslett had a top 5 defense in Pittsburgh ???

The Rick Venturi File
 

Right off hand, I don\'t know exactly where any of Haslett\'s defenses finished. But, I don\'t think there\'s much doubt that Haslett was widely considered one of the best defensive coordinators in the league at the time.

I know this is going somewhere, 08, so .. lay it on me... ;)

The Rick Venturi File
 

Be more then happy to tell you ...... ;)

Hasbeen\'s defensive coordinator ranking begins in 97 , when Cowher hands him the keys to the Ferrarri and says just don\'t wreck it .....

The 96 Steelers boast a defense that is 4th in the league , 2nd against the run and 3rd in total yards allowed .... Total top 5 defense ....

Here is what Hasbeen does with it :

97 they rank 11th and 5th in total yards allowed
98 they rank 7th and 10th in total yards allowed
99 they rank 12th and 10th in total yards allowed .

Once again :

96 they rank 4th and 3rd in total yards allowed ......

I personally do not even have a clue as to why anyone would be impressed with what Hasbeen did in Pittsburgh .

The Rick Venturi File
 

Wasn\'t he also D coordinator for the Saints for a season? Where did that unit rank?

The Rick Venturi File
 

Mora\'s final year is 96

The defense ranks 20th and 29th in total yards allowed

95 Habeen is a linebackers coach in N.O.

18th rank 23rd in total yards allowed .....

[Edited on 7/7/2004 by saintz08]

The Rick Venturi File
 

A 22-year veteran of the NFL as a player and coach, Haslett was hired by New Orleans on Feb. 3, 2000. With the reputation as a player\'s coach who accepted little nonsense, Haslett\'s coaching star had been on the rise in league circles for years. He spent 1997-99 as the defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where his aggressive schemes helped create some of the NFL\'s most dominating units. He tutored a defense that led Pittsburgh to the AFC Championship Game in 1997.

This is Haslett\'s second tour of duty in New Orleans. He spent two years with the Saints, first as the linebackers coach in 1995 followed by a one-year stint as the defensive coordinator under Mora in 1996. In his first season as coordinator, New Orleans improved from 22nd to 13th in the NFL in defense. Every linebacker\'s performance in 1995 improved over the year before under Haslett\'s guidance

The Rick Venturi File
 

Wow, people are waking up. I thought Venturi would be fired 2 seasons ago, after a pathetic showing, and DEFINITELY after last season, but noooooooooooooooooo.

The Rick Venturi File
 

Steelers were in the Super Bowl in 95
Steelers lost the Divisional play off in 96 to the team that goes to the Super Bowl .

By the time Hasbeen gets to Pittsburgh the Steelers are a well oiled machine on defense and have already been dominate in the play offs . Of course in true Hasbeen fashion , 98 and 99 Hasbeen spends the play offs watching the parade go by ...... ;)

The Rick Venturi File
 

Business as usual, i guess. You know how Louisiana works...you gotta know somebody. This is true almost everywhere, but never seen it (in this country) more than in Nawlins and DC politics.

I honestly felt at the end of 2002 that he should have been shown the door. Last year was just an ugly season (injury-wise). I thought that was the only think missing, someone who knew how to scheme against other teams.

I am not a football guru, but even I could see that we weren\'t the kind of team that would go in at half time and adjust schemes well enough to compensate for what the other team was doing.

I saw players running around like chickens with their head cut off, looking at each other \"Was that your guy?\" , tackling each other as the RB runs past them....oy!

I am someone who likes to put a lot of the weight on the players\' backs. They get paid big $$ to perform and I expect them to kick-a$$. But in this situation, I think the coaching has as much to do with the problem as anything else.

I hope Venturi proves me wrong. Nothing personal, I hope he can do it, but this is business. If our D plays like it has been the past 2-3 years, we should get a petition going.

Honestly, I was surprised to see Haz backing him up (at least publicly) and not givng up on him. I actually respect Loyalty (something we in this country have made a dirty word when it comes to business), BUT only when you truly think he is the answer. After all, Haz\'s loyalty should be to the Saints, first and foremost.

So now Haz\'s balls are in the same bag with Venturi\'s...

The Rick Venturi File
 

The past few years have brought losts of changes make the D better.
Each year has brought sub par performance.
Big D line - Not the answer.
Faster D - Not the asnwer.
This year it is a rookie MLB and 2 first round lineman that are going to make the difference.
Don\'t bet on it.
Let\'s try a change in coaches and see how that works out.