hagan714

Mike Tanier / FootballOutsiders.com

Saints at Panthers:
The Saints are riding high after their emotional homecoming win against the Falcons. "It was a great night. It's something we'll never forget," Drew Brees said after the game. Brees played well, but the key to the Saints' victory was an outstanding defensive gameplan that shut down the Falcons' cutback running game and forced Michael Vick to make plays in the pocket. Who said the Saints had no good linebackers? We did, and we were right. This week, the adrenaline wears off, and the Saints come down a peg
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6008120

Well keeping backs Cleveland to 85 rushing, Green Bay to 63, on the road and the Falcons to 117 means nothing. Am I mistaken here or in the games were the scores were high that it was the secondary that gave up the yardage, touchdowns and key first downs? Sure the LB gave up a few but 1 rushing touchdown by Frye in game 1 and 0 since. Winslow did a number on us but he did the same to Baltimore. I guess we are in the same league as the Ravens. If that is the standard we are to be judge by then I guess the Bears and Ravens better rethink the LB Corp. as well because they are not that good either. I am not saying we are up there but the stats do not lie. We are not in the bottom half either. Still no respect.
Lets see how our LB play Sunday. If they play well he will be hearing from me that for sure. I love laughing some one's face. Well for things like this.

rbush25

they have alot of haters out there..a win this week and we will still get no respect...its unbelivealbe!!!

SaintFanInATLHELL

We've got some. Steve Young was literally pounding the podium after the game pointing out that the Saints played smart, tactical football, and not just emotional football.

Respect in the national media is earned in the media via consistency, beating the media darling teams, star power, and deep playoff runs. While the Saints now have star power with Reggie, and to some respect Brees, the rest will have to come with time.

This year it would take something like a 7-3 or 8-2 record, and beating Cincinnati, Baltimore, and/or Carolina/Pittsburg/Philly to earn that type of respect this season.

By the time we meet the Falcons again in late November, there will be a much better gage where this team is no the national stage. But I'll bet money if we're 7-3 or 8-2 going into that game we'll still be the "surprising" New Orleans Saints.

SFIAH

Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO

Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

JKool

We used defensive backs to stop the Falcons option.

I'm not saying that our LBs are bad, but are they good? I like Simoneau, but really he is a second stringer on many teams. Fujita is playing well, but he is a journeyman; sure, he has a chance prove himself here, but he hasn't been a force anywhere he's been. Shanle? Who the heck is that guy.

Our LBs may be transformed by coaching and circumstance (just like no one would have said Joe Horn was all that good until he started playing here), but can you blame anyone for saying they aren't all that good - especially in light of the historical facts about them?

I'm inclined to agree with Hagan that there are some stats that fly in the face of the criticism of our LBs, but I'm claiming small sample error for now. They are the weakest unit on the team. The OL turned out to be quite a surprise (and I wouldn't have bet on our OL either), and the secondary has been playing above their heads - did you see Fred Thomas in this last game (he hasn't covered like that in years)? There are still substantial weaknesses on this team - and LB is at the top of the list.

Tactics and game planning can only help for so long...

"... I was beating them with my eyes the whole game..." - Aaron Brooks

XtremeSaint

no a win this week and we willl get respect

RedNekSaint

I don't want respect. I want W's.