Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

Between losing MT early, not having a QB who could stretch the field once JW was injured and a make shift offensive line week to week. Not sure DA and PC had the ability to game plan using the whole playbook. The defense had 8,9 personnel living in the box because they knew the ball wasn’t going past 10 yards downfield except with YAC.

I feel like the Saints have addressed last seasons play calling issue by signing the players that speak directly to what made the play calling look so pedestrian last season. DA and PC were driving an overweight Yugo in morning traffic on the 5 or 405, my daily commute for years.

If the offense stays healthy this season and STILL does not improve significantly then it will be clear and I would that something, someone or multiple someone’s needs to change or be changed.

:chug:

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

^^^^
Ditto this!

Glad I'm not the only one that saw it all this way, WW. I'm also wondering how many times Dalton checked out of the pass on second and long. I remember seeing a stat late in the season that we had run the ball on second and long more times than any other team in the league. If anything, based upon his prior experience, Carmichael was actually too aggressive at times. That really makes me think Dalton was a major factor in that one way or another.

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

12-5

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

Predicting a record before the results of the draft and end of free agency is like throwing a dart blindfolded. I will say that If I had to go over/under the 7 wins we had last year Id take over.

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

Something to take into consideration in addition to upgrade at QB and with Thomas, a HUGE upgrade at WR, is the strength of schedule. The Saints had the 7th most difficult projected strength of schedule on 2022 based upon opponents records. In 2023 their strength of schedule projection is the 2nd easiest!

Rank	Team	Opp. Record	Opp. Win Pct.
1	Philadelphia Eagles	161-123-4	0.566
2	Miami Dolphins	158-127-2	0.554
3	New York Giants	157-129-2	0.549
3	New England Patriots	156-128-3	0.549
3	Dallas Cowboys	156-128-4	0.549
6	New York Jets	155-129-3	0.545
7	Buffalo Bills	155-131-2	0.542
8	Washington Commanders	153-133-2	0.535
9	Los Angeles Rams	152-133-3	0.533
10	Las Vegas Raiders	150-136-2	0.524
11	Arizona Cardinals	148-137-3	0.519
12	Denver Broncos	148-138-2	0.517
12	Seattle Seahawks	148-138-2	0.517
12	Los Angeles Chargers	149-139-0	0.517
15	San Francisco 49ers	147-139-2	0.514
16	Kansas City Chiefs	147-140-0	0.512
17	Cincinnati Bengals	146-140-2	0.510
18	Chicago Bears	143-145-1	0.497
18	Minnesota Vikings	143-145-0	0.497
20	Detroit Lions	143-146-0	0.495
21	Baltimore Ravens	138-147-2	0.484
22	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	138-148-2	0.483
23	Jacksonville Jaguars	135-148-4	0.477
24	Green Bay Packers	137-151-1	0.476
25	Pittsburgh Steelers	134-151-2	0.470
26	Cleveland Browns	131-154-2	0.460
27	Carolina Panthers	130-157-2	0.453
28	Tennessee Titans	127-157-4	0.448
29	Indianapolis Colts	124-162-2	0.434
30	Houston Texans	123-163-2	0.431
31	New Orleans Saints	122-164-3	0.427
32	Atlanta Falcons	119-167-3	0.417

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

I don’t disagree, I based mine on a lack of HC & OC. A draft won’t change that, and I’m not confident they would be able to pull value out of a great draft if they had one.

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

DA had what DA put on the team and field. If his seasons game plan required MT then that’s on him, there is reason to have a back up plan. If his QBs couldn’t stretch the field then that’s what he decided that he wanted.

Dennis Allen tried to execute Sean Payton’s game plan and that’s on him.

I get that you are taking the wait and see approach but brother when you lose your QB and HC it’s time for change that adapts your game to who you have.

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

Skepticism is warranted. I still maintain that things out of his control went against him last year. But time will tell! He’s got the QB that he wanted. Has a pretty successful draft under him with three or four solid players added. We do the same this year and I’ll be happy. I just see real chance at adding a game changing TE and DL player this draft. That will help a lot.

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

On paper anyway

Re: Predict the Saints' Record Year 2023
 

Precisely.

We looked good “on paper” in 2022. Injuries WILL happen so you better have quality DEPTH. Nothing is “easy” in the NFL.

Players gotta play & coaches gotta coach.