Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

We haven't even gotten to the draft yet. As I understand it, NFL teams use the draft to build their teams.iirc If I had to guess I'm looking at 10-7 or possibly 11-6. But, it is kind of early to take an educated guess.

We've made some good off season moves. So, that's just my uneducated guess.:doh:

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

We've certainly made moves. How good, also yet to be determined.

I'm with you though, it feels like the right moves...

I'm also extremely curious to see how Sean Payton's moves pan out this season and beyond. Things in New Orleans with him got stale at times and ultimately feels like there was no plan for life after Drew Brees.

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

Or life after Dan Marino. Or after Peyton Manning. Or after Fran Tarkenton. Or after ...

I feel there was a plan after Brees but it was thrown into complete disrepair when COVID shut everything down and Winston got injured.

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

Or Joe Montana or Brett Favre or John Elway.

Oh wait... each of their successors won a Superbowl.

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

In all fairness, I don’t think Elway’s did. Bob Griese took over for a while then Jake Plummer. It took awhile for Payton to bring another title to Denver. Young and Rodgers did though. But your point stands.

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

9-8 or 10-7

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

You're right. I just needed a third example.

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

Upgraded chess pieces, same checker players moving them.

We have not addressed play calling in any way and it is going to take Carr time to gel with the players and what ever playbook there is.

If our record improves over 2022 it’s because other teams slid.

Toss up between 9-8 and 8-9 which will be decided by player health.

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

So twice in history that we can think of a great QB was succeeded by another great QB. The norm tends to be more like years, and sometime decades, before an equally worthy replacement is found. Sometimes, in the case of Joe Namath, never. Sorry, but I can't blame Payton for not having Brees v.2.0 in place.

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

I believe we have addressed playcalling with the addition of Carr and Michael Thomas alone. Chunk plays and critical red zone and third down conversions were not there and I believe that was due to the personnel in place. Carr can make every throw. Dalton couldn't. Thomas can catch anything thrown his way. No one else could. I sat there watching wide open receivers intermediate and deep while Dalton consistently checked it down on three yard outs and curls. I agree that Carmichael was conservative at times, but he was getting players open quite often that were ignored by Dalton.