Re: Are the Saints the De Facto Worst Team in the NFL?
 

This here. Those first three are based totally on the unknown with the baseline being the worst possible scenario in each case. As we move toward the beginning of the season more light will be shined upon each of these and expectations will, no doubt, be readdressed. The same can be said as the season itself is underway and actual games are being played.

I for one see a totally new coaching staff as being a huge plus over the past season. As for the QB position, we didn't know who was going to be starting week to week last year so we may have better continuity this coming season. As for the defense, it is hard for me to expect anything less than what we had on the field last year and we clearly were not the worst team in the league.

We are well into a deep rebuild process already. We have a goodly number of young players that will be seeing lots of snaps with a sprinkling of vets that can help show them the ropes under hopefully better guidance from the new, but very experienced, coaching staff.

Re: Are the Saints the De Facto Worst Team in the NFL?
 

Who needs strip poker when you have football? :D

Re: Are the Saints the De Facto Worst Team in the NFL?
 

The Saints and Pelicans organizations both have talented rosters that can't stay healthy and in some instances haven't made the most of their personnel typing. A healthy offensive line and a deep RB room filled with Kamara, Miller, Akers, Edwards-Helaire, and Neal sounds like a smart direction to start. I wouldn't be mad at keeping all 5 of them on the active roster and rotating in fresh legs and different styles as needed. Ride the hot hand. Defensively my optimism is with the secondary. I believe Kool-Aid benefits the most from this new scheme, Reid and Badger are a crazy safety duo, and if we snag Asante that's an elite secondary in my book. Time will tell, but if healthy, I don't think this is close to the worse team in football.

Re: Are the Saints the De Facto Worst Team in the NFL?
 

Here is my hope. Only one back rushed for over 2000 yards last year. The coordinator for that back is now our head coach. Other than Penning moving to a new spot this year, the existing line have shown flashes at a All-Pro level play when healthy. The how healthy they will remain is the real unknown.

Most folks talk about the QBs and the receivers. I believe CKM is going to take advantage of the near all Pro caliber O-line, along with a talented stable of running backs to beat opposing defenses into submission. Then, and only then, will the QB do play action, which sucks in opposing linebacker and safeties leaving the second and third layers wide open to where a rookie or second year QB can pick and choose targets. Take a look at the Eagles or the Lions offenses last year to get a sense what that play action looks like.

I'm not sure about the defense. But I see the Saints' offense consistently and efficiently running the ball with a ton of big explosive plays behind that.

Will we win a ton of games? I don't know yet. But I sure can't wait to see it in the fall.

SFIAH

Re: Are the Saints the De Facto Worst Team in the NFL?
 

I don't know which games you are referring to, but at no point during the season did I see anything resembling All-Pro play from our offensive line. In the first two games, it was somewhat serviceable, but I think that was more about Kubiak's scheme than anything else. It ultimately got exposed, and injuries occurred. With the exception of McCoy, no one has performed at the level you would expect considering their draft status, especially as a unit.

Re: Are the Saints the De Facto Worst Team in the NFL?
 

One strong positive going into this season is that our depth on the the offensive and defensive lines is better. If we can be a little better in the trenches and be even so-so at stopping the run I don't think we will be the worst team.

Re: Are the Saints the De Facto Worst Team in the NFL?
 

If all kinds of praises were given for the Texans when their new regime came in, why not the Saints? I personally love the under the radar team we're developing . Staley is going to surprise people with our defense, including some of our fans . It's just plain refreshing to have new blood, new thinking in our organization.

Re: Are the Saints the De Facto Worst Team in the NFL?
 

While there is hope we could be better, there are also definitely reasonable fears that we could be similar or worse.

We have a new head coach, but it can be hard to predict which new head coaches succeed.

We have a bit more depth at running back, but only one running back on our roster has ever been consistently productive at the NFL level, and he is reaching an age where many consistently productive running backs cease being productive. It is easily possible our running back room could be worse.

3/5ths of our oline will be playing a position for the first time in their NFL careers. They could all be better suited for their new positions, or not.

The QB situation will be unpredictable and could be bad.

Our depth is still an issue. There are a lot of question marks if one player goes down, except on dline and our mediocre TEs. Our receivers are glass. Depth at LB, CB, WR, OL, QB, etc is very questionable.

But I am ok with all of this because young players are more fun to watch than old ones where you fear for injury every play and otherwise know what you will get, if it goes wrong we get a high pick at QB and more cap money in the future. I don't think we should go sign a bunch of ok vets now to assure that we get pick 8 not pick 1. I dont think there is any way that such vets get us a ring.

Re: Are the Saints the De Facto Worst Team in the NFL?
 

We so fortunate to always have our friend, Bako, available to launch the proverbial turd into the punch bowl.

:D

Re: Are the Saints the De Facto Worst Team in the NFL?