WillSaints81

I just want all these questions answered......

1.Has the defense become top 20 or a turnover-generating one?

2.Will the oline be better than last year?

3.If AP is not starting, will he be able to break off massive runs with reduced volume?

4.Will Ingram actually start to beat good run defenses like the elites do?

5.Will the adage apply that a defense that gives short fields will cut down on Brees' poor throws and actually improve points?

6.Will Lutz be in a situation to have to kick more FGs than he is able to if the defense improves but only FG attempts result?

7.If the defense is good, does the offense release hidden plays that would have been effective last year?

Overall, the two big things on my mind is 1.Ingram not making or making AP look stupid as a backup and 2.the defense giving short fields actually paying off.

neugey

#7 is kind of weird, but this actually isn't a bad post.

The Dude

I don't hold up much hope for this year. Division is toughest in football and like us, have taken steps to improve too. 7/9-9/7 is about what I feel like we will see.

JPPT1974

Yeah as really they need to eye on the Falcons first. And Buccaneers second as really they are the X factor.

RockyMountainSaint

#8

ChrisXVI

Not a bad post at all Will! Should warrant some pretty good discussion. I can't really say anything for certain though until after training camp and maybe even the third preseason game. If our CB's start dropping like flies again we could end up starting Arthur Maulet and some street free agent like Alterraun Verner just like last season with Crawley/Moore.

SmashMouth

It's our turn!!!

foreverfan

Do any of you care what I think? I knew you did...
Ok then... here is my answer to Question to #8:

Where is the white women?

OFF-SEASON QUESTION #69:
Which white woman do you like better #1, #2, #3, #4...?

Anybody that doesn't answer this question will have to report to Smashmouth's tent
at midnight at the B&G Camping Trip.

2019 Death of a Parrot.

SaintFanInATLHELL

Good questions for the most part. I'll take a crack at them.

Depends on how you measure. My only metric is points allowed. Last year the defense was up near 28 PPG. That needs to be knocked down by a TD. League average was a shade over 22 PPG last year. That's the target. Past history has shown that the Payton Saints are successful when the team gives up 350 points or less during the season.

My feeling is that neither is as important as the offense delivering at crunch time. It's a feeling that oppose the stats. The Saints last year were 3rd in the league in both number and percentage of 3 and out drives (28 drives for a 15% total). Also once again the team was #1 in 3rd down percentage at 48%. But it just felt like several times when the offense needed 2 yards to win the game, that it was challenging. An interesting question is who is Payton going to line up in the backfield in those situations?

It'll be interesting to watch. Peterson has spent his entire career going up against defenses that were designed to stop him. Ingram never has. It's also unclear how or when the Saints offense will transform to power football. I look forward to seeing ball deflating drives in the 4th quarter when everyone knows we're running the ball and the offense is successful in doing so.

I'm not sure that these two have a direct correlation. The more direct correlation seems to be trying to match points with teams. Unfortunately I think it happens on both ends of the point scale. The offense takes more chances and makes more mistakes when they are behind whether or not it's a game in the 30's or a game in the teens.

Maybe it's the fact that turnovers and short fields often leads to a lead. And frankly every facet of the Saints seems to play better with a lead.
Not sure about either of these, Personally I'd like to see Lutz being overworked kicking 33 yd extra points.

As for the last one you can bet that Payton has drawn up plays we haven't seen before. I mean imagine Ingram and Peterson in the backfield with Kamara in the slot...

SFIAH

Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO

Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

Rugby Saint II

I'll take All Of The Above............if it's not an option then I'm taking number One!!!