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saints team review..might be interesting

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; New Orleans Saints head coach, Jim Haslett, has committed himself to decreasing offensive mistakes for the 2005 season. How will he do this? Chris Kidder breaks it down like only he can do. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Chris Kidder SportsOutlaw columnis After ...

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Old 03-29-2005, 02:22 PM   #1
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saints team review..might be interesting

New Orleans Saints head coach, Jim Haslett, has committed himself to decreasing offensive mistakes for the 2005 season. How will he do this? Chris Kidder breaks it down like only he can do.

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By Chris Kidder
SportsOutlaw columnis


After two years of disappointing seasons overall, but strong finishes, one might discern a pattern in the way that Jim Haslett’s teams perform. One might even think that Haslett apparently thinks that the preseason continues all the way to week 8 or so. It takes a while for him to get his players to do what they’re supposed to do all year. So, one might wonder why he’s still around. And I don’t have a good answer for that. Somehow Coach Haslett is back for another year, but he’s shaken up his staff in order to try to fix what’s not working.

The most recent fix is the promotion of Mike Sheppard, the former QB Coach, to Offensive Coordinator. This is good news for the passing game, and especially for Aaron Brooks, who has had some statistically good years under Sheppard’s watch. It should also mean good things for the receiving corps, assuming that they stop their under-achieving ways. To that end, the Saints only offensive concern this year during the off-season needs to be looking at their WRs. Joe Horn is the only non-question-mark. It hurts me to say this, because I’ve been a big supporter of Jerome Pathon (especially back in his Indy days), but he needs to go. Perhaps a change of scenery would do him best, and right now he’s certainly not doing the Saints any good as a #3. Donte Stallworth has never lived up to the expectations placed on him since his rookie draft. The question is, can he ever live up to them? The Saints need an answer to that question sooner rather than later. No matter the answer, look for the Saints to draft at least one WR to take care of the issue.

Wide out isn’t nearly the concern that the defense is, however. If you play defense for the Saints, and you’re not a member of the line, I’d recommend preparing for a huge position battle this summer, or just pack your bags and go, because your replacements will be selected shortly. Top priority in the draft has to be in the secondary. Corner Back is top need, because coverage was sorely lacking last year, and corners that can hit will be at a premium. I’d look for the Saints to go CB in round one, unless the top safety prospect happens to still be on the board. If that’s the case, then waiting for one round wouldn’t hurt too badly. Why? Well, here’s the thing…Jay Bellamy isn’t getting any younger (he’s 33), and he’s not performing to the level that was expected of him. Tebucky Jones is a disappointment as well, but when it comes down to it, he’s younger. If both could be upgraded, that would be a huge difference in shutting down the run, as well as backing up the corners. One of the main problems wasn’t only that the receivers caught the ball, but that they could keep running against New Orleans’s corners. That means better tackling is needed in the secondary, all the way around.
The Line backing corps was starting to look like a functional unit by the end of the season, but four games do not a season make. Adding some veteran leadership to this young crew through Free Agency would be a good idea. We’ll see who becomes available in the very near future.

I’m not looking for this to be a great season from the Saints. Actually, I’m expecting Jim Haslett to demonstrate once again why he should be pulled from the ranks of NFL Head Coaches. But if the moves that the team makes this off-season are wise, whoever inherits the squad from him will be set with some great young talent to build on.


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Questions or Comments about this article? Chris Kidder and tell him what you
so watcha think?

jones was replaced..will bellamy be next? if so will it be pool or davis?

how can the d-line be considered good?

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Old 03-29-2005, 02:36 PM   #2
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saints team review..might be interesting

how can the d-line be considered good?
Darren Howard, Charles Grant, Will Smith, Willie Whitehead, Brian Young, Howard Green, and one fat lazy slob of a first rounder. That\'s not a bad line-up.

However, I don\'t know that I agree with a whole lot of what this guy is saying. I agree with the Haslett bashing, but if he\'s suggesting the CB and WR are our major areas of conern.... well, I don\'t know about that.
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Old 03-29-2005, 02:41 PM   #3
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saints team review..might be interesting

Hmmmmmmm ... sounds exactly what I said in another thread.

But that doesn\'t make him right or me right. But, I do agree with the writer.

I think our receivers are questionable. Except for Joe Horn.

I think our DTs and LBs are questionable.

I think our coaches are questionable.


I think we finish no worse than 8-8 and no better than 11-5.

How\'s that?

[Edited on 29/3/2005 by GumboBC]
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Old 03-29-2005, 02:59 PM   #4
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I think that WR and CB are the two most unpredictable positions to draft.

I\'d rather go for guys with some experience.
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Old 03-29-2005, 03:10 PM   #5
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saints team review..might be interesting

By Chris Kidder
SportsOutlaw columnis
Whats a columnis? Is that porn related?
After two years of disappointing seasons overall, but strong finishes, one might discern a pattern in the way that Jim Haslett’s teams perform. One might even think that Haslett apparently thinks that the preseason continues all the way to week 8 or so. It takes a while for him to get his players to do what they’re supposed to do all year.
Uhm, did he forget 2001 and 2002 which were the complete opposite M.O. of 2003 and 2004?
The most recent fix is the promotion of Mike Sheppard, the former QB Coach, to Offensive Coordinator. This is good news for the passing game, and especially for Aaron Brooks, who has had some statistically good years under Sheppard’s watch.
I remember the talk being it was McCarthy\'s boy. How the heck does Sheppard now get credit for it?
It should also mean good things for the receiving corps, assuming that they stop their under-achieving ways. To that end, the Saints only offensive concern this year during the off-season needs to be looking at their WRs. Joe Horn is the only non-question-mark.
At 33, and unhappy with his contract, I think there\'s a question mark. And how convenient it is to forget the numerous key drops Joe had the year before.
It hurts me to say this, because I’ve been a big supporter of Jerome Pathon (especially back in his Indy days), but he needs to go. Perhaps a change of scenery would do him best, and right now he’s certainly not doing the Saints any good as a #3.
I think he\'d be a great #3. How is he not doing us any good?
Donte Stallworth has never lived up to the expectations placed on him since his rookie draft. The question is, can he ever live up to them? The Saints need an answer to that question sooner rather than later. No matter the answer, look for the Saints to draft at least one WR to take care of the issue.
We did. See Devery Henderson 2004. Donte answered the question last year with a solid campaign. I\'m more worried about #3 and #4 than I am Donte. And when did Donte have a rookie draft?

Top priority in the draft has to be in the secondary. Corner Back is top need, because coverage was sorely lacking last year, and corners that can hit will be at a premium. I’d look for the Saints to go CB in round one, unless the top safety prospect happens to still be on the board.
OK, he must have written it before we acquired Smith, and must not have noticed McKenzie and Brown last year, and obviously didn\'t watch our LB\'s, and probably didn\'t notice the 15 yards per carry versus our front seven all fricking year long. But I guess other than DT/SLB/WLB/FS/SS, CB is right up there near the top.
Jay Bellamy isn’t getting any younger (he’s 33), and he’s not performing to the level that was expected of him.
HUH????Bellamy played way better than anyone expected him too. Uhh, Joe\'s 33 also.
That means better tackling is needed in the secondary, all the way around.
I\'m thinking better tackling by our front seven might help more than better tackling by our DB\'s. And another thing...
McKenzie-Great tackler
Bellamy-Fantastic tackler
Brown-Good tackler
Smith-Excellent tackler.
How much better tackling does he want?
I’m not looking for this to be a great season from the Saints.
I assume from his above comments that he\'s predicting a bad season, BEFORE we signed free-agents and BEFORE the draft. Hmmm, yea, thats a good evaluation plan.
Actually, I’m expecting Jim Haslett to demonstrate once again why he should be pulled from the ranks of NFL Head Coaches. But if the moves that the team makes this off-season are wise, whoever inherits the squad from him will be set with some great young talent to build on.
Well he did hit this one dead on the head.

[Edited on 29/3/2005 by Danno]

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