Let's get the FIYA going

How many of us remember that good 'Ole Hippy/Jesus Freak song "It Only Takes A Spark" where it explains to us that "It only takes a spark to get a fire going." It then goes on to say that this is how it is with God's Love. Well, could the same hold true in sports? Does a spark light the fire under a team and propel them into the playoffs.
Let's ask the Chicago Cubs. They began the season 20 games behind the division leading Brewers, their closer had a total melt down letting up 8 runs in the bottom of the ninth to lose to the Braves, their manager was suspended for a week for striking another umpire, and to top it all off star pitcher Carlos Zambrano picked a fight with his own catcher in fan favorite Michael Barrett. What were the Cubs to do? Everyone called them "lost" for the season, and that they should wait until next year. So, what happened to the 2007 Cubs? Their manager traded their fan favorite catcher, he changed the batting order, and made it known no player is safe on his roster. The Cubs then rattled off 19 wins in 23 games and waited for the Brewers to shoot themselves in the foot. What happened next was unimaginable......The lowly Cubs won their division on their way to their first playoff appearance in 5 years.
You may be asking what this has to do with the New Orleans Saints and their 2007 season. They have put themselves in what would appear to be an unsurmountable hole. Everyone is counting them as "lost" and in need of rebuilding, when all they need is a spark. They need 1 game where they come out of the gates with a purpose. Can it happen? Can this team come back to earn a playoff spot? It all starts Sunday when the New Orleans Saints, as a team, steps into the Superdome to play another team on the brink of disaster, The Carolina Panthers. The Saints will either show up and bring back last year's memories, or crumble under the depression of an 0-3 record to make it 5 straight losses since the 2006 NFC championship game.
So, what are the keys to success? Here are the five "Keys to the Game:"

1.) Run Reggie early and often. Run him between the tackles, to the outside, in a reverse, any way possible. Shut up the "Reggie is a bust" naysayers, and get the kid some confidence.

2.) Change the O-line. Let everyone know that their job is not safe. It doesn't matter if they are a 12 year vet or a rookie freeagent, NO ONE IS SAFE!

3.) Blitz the crap out of Carr. Sounds simple right? It's not. if you are going to blitz you need great cover corners. We don't have that. So what do we do? Play our Safeties back. let them have the dump passes. Carr will make a mistake, I assure you of that.

4.) Create Turnovers. Their is a flip side to this. Don't turn the ball over on offense. If you recover 2 fumbles and throw 4 interceptions, you will still lose. This is what has been killing us from day one. We turn the ball over far too often, and do not get enough turnovers ourselves.

5.) Last but most importantly, SCORE! Score early and often. It means nothing if you have a better team, and play a better game if you don't score and lose 3-0. In this league you must score, and when the Saints and Panthers play you must score a lot, if you hope to win.

With all that said, I will conclude with this.........Bring out you matches, Sticks, even rocks, and let's see if we can strike up a spark and get this fire going! It won't be easy, but that doesn't mean it won't be fun. Go Saints!