frankeefrank

From what I saw Thurs.
I am not impressed.
It's my opinion that CW needs to improve dramatically in the next 2 1/2 weeks or we are in trouble

ScottyRo

As much as I liked him last season (cutting him slack for being a rookie), I am disappointed so far. He's been completely invisible during plays - oh, except on special teams where he gets called for holding.

LordOfEntropy

Agreed. I'm wondering if that quad injury is still bothering him. He seems a little sluggish out there.

frankeefrank

Watched a tape of the 1st 2 series on Thurs.
Watson seemed tentative more than anything.
Did not want to take on blockers.
Easily was faked out by first movement.
On some plays it was just like Watson ran to a spot on the field rather than running to the ball.
The worst for me was the first TD.
On one play, Hodge split a blocker and disrupted a play in the backfield. But no one was there to help.
Down by the goaline on two straight plays, Watson was pushed into the endzone and ended up in a position behind the safeties.

Is it me? Am I expecting too much?
Or shoudl our Middle Linebacker be tougher?
Yeah I said it, Watson's a P_$$Y

LordOfEntropy

Good insight - you monitored him more than I did.

papz

I wasn't a fan of his last year and I'm still not. He's not suited to be a middle linebacker... he needs to be moved to weakside.

LordOfEntropy

Do you think Fincher has what it takes to start MLB? What are your impressions.

papz

I saw him play a lot at UConn and he was a very good player there. When we drafted Watson the other year, I thought to myself who is this guy. He wasn't a bad player, but he wasn't a stud that people were making him out to be. From what I saw the other night, Fincher looks be a good physical specimen. As far as judging him against the Pats 2nd and 3rd stringers, I haven't seen enough on him to state that he deserves to start over Watson or whomever. All I can remember of him that stood out was him making a special teams tackle. But as far as Watson is concerned, we are going to have problems if he continues to play like this. How come no one is beating this guy out for the starting middle spot? So basically not only should we be concerned about Watson starting, what is this saying about our depth at this position?

saintswhodi

Where the hell is McKinnon?

ScottBalot

Here's my take. After watching the game several times (I know, I'm a loser), Watson had no right playing MLB with the first unit. He was consistantly blocked, out of position, or downright too passive to play the mike linebacker. Fincher is still way green, but played more aggresive, stuck his nose in the pile, and seemed more comfortable. I believe Watson is a good football player, and could excel at one of the outside linebacker positions, but I can't see him ever being anything other than a liability at MLB if he continues to play like he did the past two weeks. Bockwoldt, however, looked every part of being a starter. So, with that said, the Saints have one quality starter at linebacker, and the rest look like backups. Sedrick Hodge should have been cut after last season. He just doesn't have it. Let's hope James Allen can come back full speed soon, otherwise it's going to be the same on defense as it was last season. BTW, Jonathan Sullivan looked pretty good for the second week in a row.