Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Yes I do believe our defense will be much better. I have no reason to think our offense won't be top 5 again. We made changes on coaching staff, player personnel, and other areas. No reason we can't be a better team.
Problem is every team has made changes to achieve the same goal.

Carolina has our number no matter what. Cam is hard to contain and has more weapons than ever. Their defense though which is usually top notch may have taken a step back. Interesting to see how they approach the game if they don't have that tough defense to fall back on.

Tampa is always supposed to surprise and hasnt really lived up to the media hype. They do have a hell of an offense on paper though. Is this Winstons break out year? Can their D keep them in the field?

Atlanta is tough and may have the most balanced team overall. Ryan is getting better and they have weapons to be a high scoring offense. We have owned them in the Payton era but have had a solid couple years against us. Their defense is improved. May be best in division which scares me. They are also coming off a Super Bowl year. Will that humiliating loss carry over to this year or will they have a huge chip on their shoulder as motivation.

Division will be tough this year. May take 10 or more games to win it.
When Brady went down they had 11-5 record and still missed playoffs if I remember correctly.

Our toughest will be Atlanta imo. The first game against the Vikings is as a must win of a game as we can have. Winning it and coming out of the gate knowing we won't be looking at 0-4 yet again would be huge for team moral and get us that winning mindset for when we have our first division game. Lose it and the memories of the last 3 seasons will be hard to get out of their heads.
So, whose our toughest?

Hell even winning a couple preseason games could go a long way.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Hum...

WillSaint? Guido? TheDude? Saintfan? Danno? ForeverFan?

It's a long list...

https://media.giphy.com/media/3nZ3NgW3U6IAE/giphy.gif

http://www.animateit.net/data/media/...8d260a2bc3.gif

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

This looks like a year were all the teams in the division will be loaded to put up points. I am trying to remember a time when NFC South was so loaded fire power.

Turn overs at key moments in the game could be the difference.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Huh?

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

I know. I was about to ask what the Titans QB has to do with Tampa myself.

:confused:

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Yes, little Mariochi is going to be a problem.

http://images.a2z-kids.co.uk/images/...0-17490500.jpg

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

I'll play too.

I do not see Tampa as much of a threat. Yes, they did win nine games last season, but they also had the weakest schedule in the NFC South coming off the previous year's last place finish. Every year, as Dude mentioned, they fail to live up to the hype and Jameis Winston isn't the quality QB that many talking heads claim.

Carolina is also over-hyped based upon that 15-1 2015 season. But if you look back upon it you will notice how many of those games were won single-handedly by Cam Newton. If they were down and needed to go 70 yards for a score he would carry the ball five times to get those 70 yards to score. But, last season, teams finally learned how to defense Newton by punishing him whenever he had the ball. It was so effective that he had his worst season ever.

I too see Atlanta as the most serious threat, but the Falcon's run last season was spurred on by quite a bit of luck facing several teams missing key pieces including two shootouts with the Saints losing both CB's before the week three game and six CB's by the final game. Losing the SB in the manner they did will most likely have a negative impact as will losing the genius behind their offense, Kyle Shanahan.

I see the Saints as having just as good a chance as any of the others to take the division.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Even with a new O coordinator, the filthy birds are the biggest threat.

They've slapped a combined 83 points on us in two games last season. Fix the defense.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

You know who I mean. Little late for me when I posted. I even looked up how to spell Jameis.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

If we had even the CB's we have now with the rest of last year's defense we would have won both of those games.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Yep. Getting the ball back to Drew as much as possible is key.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Btw after I posted that I knew it would be you who read the whole thing to try and point out whatever you could find wrong with the thread.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

I was only the second one. Pretty much everyone in here would have pointed that out. I did read the whole thing and thought you made some very good points, to which I did point out that I agreed.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Unfortunately our problems on defense were not just last season ...

I'm speaking big picture on defense Guido. I think some here are drastically underestimating how bad the Saints defense has been over the years. Historically our Saints haven't been just bad, they've been record setting bad. Worse than the Cleveland Browns. Worse than Jacksonville. 2012 was record setting bad, 2015 was even worse (passing td allowed with 45+). I'm at a loss for words. Over the last 3 years, the Saints are literally dead last in points per game allowed.

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf...fense_ren.html

Fix the defense.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

When we had the 49ers, Rams and Saints... wait... :confused:
You can't remember... end of conversation.... ;)

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

I think the south will be a tough division this year. I think TB Is improving. They've added some decent WRs, although I think Winston is a bit overrated. The birds are are coming off that embarrassing SB loss. Carolina is still capable, still have a tough defense, but man I love watching Cam whine.

I think the Saints are the most underrated and are the biggest question mark. Brought in some quality pieces on defense and on paper, drafted pretty good. The coaching changes should shake things up.

Should be a fun season.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Considering that the Saints' D literally set records those years I can't see how many here would underestimate how bad they really were.

I think that the biggest improvement on D is dumping a few of the albatross around the neck coaches we have been carrying. When you have a revolving door at linebacker and things never seem to get better, it's time to change the coach. Thank God someone slapped some sense into Payton.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

I'm hoping that the Falcons are still hungover from the Big Choke in last years Super Bowl and pull a first to worst in 2017.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

everybody

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Our D is our biggest threat. They play well and we'll put everyone else to bed, no problem.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

FIFY

SFIAH

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

That's what keeps me so optimistic.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

It's not going to be Atlanta. It is going to be TB.

Note that we have a back to back home game against them after playing Chicago. If we, as expected, beat up on Chicago, then we face the possibility of getting caught off guard by them. When we play Carolina, Carolina is on a back to back home game against us after playing Buffalo and then has a back to back on the road against us after playing the jets. Atlanta will be facing TB and Minnesota before us on short rest. If we can win that game, we could sweep actually, as Atlanta has to go to TB on MNF the week before going to our place. They will have five days rest therefore and we will be at home back to back after the jets, which with two b2b opportunities and both ends featuring division rivals we cannot squander both situations and Atlanta's five days rest helps.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

End of conversation. :lightsabres:

http://meowgifs.com/wp-content/uploa.../cat-fight.gif


The real question is who is going to win on the fan fight on this board.

http://orig01.deviantart.net/5fb7/f/...hy-d67eskk.gif

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

I just don't see the Bucs as the biggest threat. Jameis can't carry a team yet and they are still a work in progress on defense.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

It may not be obvious yet... just like what she is telling you. :hump:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...a6896b6c91.jpg

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Agreed!

Don't see any changes made that will improve this D.
7-9 three seasons straight, did not occur because of offense.
Could only imagine the numbers yds/tds this defense would have yielded
if playing w/ offense like Texans, Jets, Browns.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

You are seriously trying to predict December scenarios in July? Let me give you a reminder of how foolish an endeavor this is:

December 18th 2016 from: NFL Playoffs 2016-17: Updated Standings, Bracket Picture and Scenarios | Bleacher Report

Note that this analysis is in December with the season already 14 games in. Care to predict what happened next?

All predictions are paper tigers at this point. I'd be wary of making a prediction about the 1st preseason game against the Browns much less what will happen in December.

Now I do have a hope. My hope is that the Saints can get to Monday night in Minnesota with no significant injuries and with the scheduled return of Unger going without a hitch.

BTW I agree that the Saints 2017 season will likely turn on the final 8 or 9 games. While the start of the season schedule is brutal, at least on paper the Saints should have opportunities in November and December. And with 4 of the final 5 games being division games, it's likely at the start of December, the team will still be in the division mix.

But as for predictions? I just keep remiding myself that playoff team turnover in the NFL is nearly 40% and that at least one team swaps from the bottom of a division one year to the top the next. So the likelihood that any long term prediction is going to be on the mark is virtually zero.

SFIAH

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Gulf,

No changes made in 2017 that will improve the D? :confused:

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

I read this as no surefire changes, like draftling Myles Garrett for example.

The 2017 Saints defense is an unknown. One week before training camp, the impact of new coaching, free agents, draftees, players returning from IR, or even just being the 2nd year of the same system is unknown.

It's the promise and challenge of every season. Go back and read the pre training camp posts before the 2009 season. Or the 2013 season. The same questions and same uncertainty come up.

The one thing we can be sure of is that the defense is going to be different because some of the longstanding pieces (coaches) are no longer in place.

Let hope with that change and with a injury free training camp we get a chance to see the promise in September.

SFIAH

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Are you serious?

Drafting the top CB in the entire draft. (Lattimore)
Getting back our top two CB's that were both gone by the second game of the season. (Breaux, Williams)
Adding a ball hawking safety in the 2nd round of the draft. (Williams)
Getting our #1 DT draft pick back from missing half the season with a broken leg. (Rankins)
Adding quality depth through free agency in the LB corps. (Klein, Te'o)
Adding a quality LB through the draft. (Anzalone)
Adding an edge rusher at DE. (Okafor)

And most importantly ...

Getting rid of stagnant coaching at D-Line and LB and adding two outstanding coaches for those major units (Nielsen, Nolan)

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

They are going to be our toughest matchup is what I am saying.

Actually this is how I see Atlanta(Detroit is a tossup and either them or Carolina loses in Chicago)
@Chi-W
GB-L
(those could be reversed)
@Det-L/W(Detroit is on five days rest so it does somewhat help Atlanta but Atlanta will put everything into the GB game)
Buf-L/W
Mia-W/L(this precedes the big matchup vs NE so Atl could be looking ahead)
@NE-L
@NYJ-L(after disappointment against NE they will be out of it mentally)
@Car-L
Dal-W
@Sea-L(MNF in Seattle)
TB-L(TB off a bye, Atl on five days rest after playoff rematch)
Min-W
NO-L/W
@TB-W
@NO-L
Car-W

How I view this is Atlanta has gone 4-0 and 3-1 the last two years vs NFC divisions and in 2014 went 0-4. Next in line is 2-2. They will stay 3-1 if they win in Detroit week 3. But they will lose to either Chicago or Green Bay. They have gone 0-4, 3-1 and 2-2 the last three years against the AFC. 1-3 is next and since I have them losing two for sure, it comes down to either Buffalo or Miami pulling out the upset. If Atlanta is looking at 7-9 or 8-8 then odds are one of them will do it. Both Miami and Buffalo have enough talent to hang with Atlanta. Buffalo can slow them down by running the ball with McCoy and have drafted another playmaker to go with Watkins. Miami has a three good receivers, a emerging back, and a top TE(he has chemistry issues with Tanny however so far). Miami also has Cam Wake. I think Buffalo has better chance because they focus on the run more and have a decent defense against the pass. Miami's one advantage if if Tanny stays with Atlanta and the fact it is right before the game Atlanta has marked on their calendar.

On paper, Atlanta is supposed to go 3-1 vs AFC East. That will not happen. Atlanta starts out 1-2 they will find a way to lose to Buffalo. Defending NFC South champs have never outside of one occasion started the next season 4-1(Carolina 1-4, Carolina 5-0, Carolina 3-2, Atlanta 1-4, NO 1-4, Atlanta 2-3, NO 3-2, Carolina 2-3, TB 3-2, NO 1-4, TB 1-4, Atlanta 3-2). And Carolina in 2015 was coming off a 7-8-1 record. They should not have won the division that year but we choked. So Atlanta is definitely lose to one of Buffalo or Miami. Atlanta lost to KC, TB, and SD last year. Outside division Atlanta goes 4-6 or 5-5 with four division games coming in the last four weeks. If Atlanta goes 5-5, they have a 5-7 record before the last four weeks, 4-8 if 4-6. Atlanta goes 3-3 or 1-5 in division. Since 2012, Atlanta has taken turns going 1-5 and 5-1. If they go 1-5 their sole win is Carolina. Atlanta can go anywhere from 5-11 to 8-8.

TB
@Mia-L
Chi-W
@Min-W
NYG-L/W
NE-L
@Ari-L
@Buf-L
Car-W
@NO-L/W
NYJ-W
@Atl-W
@GB-L
Det-W
Atl-L/W
@Car-W(five days rest but both Atlanta and Carolina could be done)
NO-W/L(depending on week 9, split)

If TB beats the giants they are looking at 9-7, 8-8 if not. I think Detroit beats Baltimore the week before going to TB so think the b2b hurts them. TB has gone 0-4, 2-2, and 2-2 the last three years and before the 0-4 run(which lasted three years) they were 1-3. Them going 3-1 makes sense(titans last three years went 0-4, 2-2, and 3-1 vs NFC). Against the AFC they have gone 1-3 and 2-2 last two years, but I can see 1-3 because it's hard to see 3-1 with NE and two road games at Miami and Buffalo. TB's division games do not matter, they went 4-2 last season and 3-3 before. They are approaching 5-1 next up and that will depend of if they sweep Atlanta which they have a great shot at doing. Going into the MNF game depending on what happens against giants, TB is looking at 6-7, 7-6, or 8-5(if they beat us week 9). They will be in better shape than Atlanta. Their record ranges from 8-8 to 10-6.

Carolina
@SF-W
Buf-W/L
NO-W
@NE-L
@Det-L/W
Phi-L(Philly is loaded)
@Chi-L/W(split w/ here and GB)
@TB-L
Atl-W
Mia-L/W(Miami has owned them recently, led mostly in 2013)
@NYJ-W
@NO-L
Min-L
GB-W/L(see Chi)
TB-L
@Atl-L

Car and TB have been sweeping each other since 2008. Even if Car sweeps TB it's still 9-7 at best and I don't think Car did enough this offseason to keep up with TB. They start out 3-0 then lose to NE and if they lose to Detroit they will will go on a losing streak until Atlanta week 9. Carolina has like Atlanta gone 4-0 and 3-1 the last two years but before that Carolina went 2-2 and before that 0-4. Carolina can go 1-3 instead of 2-2 and that's what I am predicting. They will go 2-2 if they beat Detroit. Against the AFC Carolina has gone 1-4, 4-0, and 1-4 the last three years so 2-2 is likely. If Atlanta goes 2-2, they will go 1-3. I see them beating the jets week 12 off the bye and losing to Miami week 9. Carolina is 6-10 or 7-9.

With the saints
@Min-W
NE-L
@Car-L
vs.Mia-W
Det-W(thanks to the bye)
@GB-L/W
Chi-W
TB-W/L
@Buf-L
Was-W
@LA-W/L(it's on the road and it's no longer GW, the team has given us fits without GW)
Car-W
@Atl-L/W
NYJ-W
Atl-W
@TB-L/W

There are so many toss-ups here. We should go 3-1 or 4-0 against vs NFC division we play because we get Det off a bye and Min week 1 with AP, and we are not losing to Chicago. It comes down to GB week 7. Against the AFC lately it's 1-3 one year, 2-2 the next. We went 1-3 last year and I think it's either 2-2 or 4-0. But I don't feel confident in the shorter rest after a big week 1 game. And therefore, I see us losing at Buffalo as well because it's a tougher game than expected. It's better than losing to Miami and starting out 1-3 perhaps again. We beat Washington this time as that drama is gonna rear its ugly head. This is a improvement 6-4(losing to Gb/LA), 7-3(losing to one of them), or 8-2(beating both) outside division--something that needs to happen to help us in division games. We will go 3-3 in division or 4-2. Our record ranges from 9-7 to 12-4. We are in the best shape if we take care of business out of the division.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

The only surefire anything is whatever you're looking at in the rear view mirror. Compare this year to the year, say Sean was suspended, we threw our second round pick at SLB, the years we kept the same crappy LB and special teams coach, etc... This is the brightest off season and the closest thing we've had to surefire in a long, long while.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

Damn Big Will ^^^^ , that's a lot of information but ok. Tampa is the least of my worries coming out of the NFC South.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

It seems like the talking heads say Tampa will be improved every year and they end up being average or below average. I think health will be our biggest threat. After that I think Atlanta will come in second with panthers third and then Bucs.

Re: Whose our biggest threat in the division?
 

^^^^ This. Today's NFL is all about staying healthy and being productive when the inevitable injuries come. To find a way when the #1 can't play, that the 1A comes in and there isn't a dropoff in production.

That's why the Saints need 47 CB, 83 safties, 11111 LBs, and a rotation of defensive linemen on the roster and in training camp.

That's why Nolan needs to find a way to get Anthony up to speed. And why Craig Robertson will be on the roster. Robertson may or may not start. But we now know that when you plug the guy into the Will, Sam, or Mike, that you are going to get consistent production.

I remember at the draft when everyone had their hands up in the air over the Ramcyzk pick. How's that looking now?

The Saints 53 needs to be the 53 most productive and flexible players that can produce at a moment's notice. On the defensive side for the first time in a long time it looks like we're getting there.

SFIAH