New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com

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At 4-1, surprising Saints looking legit

Hey, my Saints look like they are for real. They are undefeated in the Superdome now and they won two of three games on the road. It's cool. Tell you what, the more you win when you're young like they are, the more confidence you get as a team and the better you play.

About the only thing I didn't like about the Saints in their 24-21 win over the Bucs on Sunday was the play-calling in the red zone. When you run the ball down the field like Deuce McAlister did against the Bucs, when you have your guys making big plays for you, I don't think you should start throwing the ball when you get down there. You've got to keep running the football when you're being successful at it. That's just the way I was taught. I am not questioning Saints coach Sean Payton. I just disagree with that strategy. It makes the offensive line feel good when you drive the other team off the ball.
You reward your linemen, and you reward your backs. It's not very complicated football. Now, I understand gap defenses and goal-line stuff and all that, but I think you still give your backs a shot at scoring down there.

In the same game, Tampa Bay rookie quarterback Bruce Gradkowski was impressive.

The first thing I look for in a young quarterback is how poised is he? How does he react when he gets hit or throws a pick? This kid was perfect as all get out. He threw for some big numbers and he led his team on a comeback while throwing a couple of touchdown passes. He avoided sacks; he ran with the ball. I came away impressed. Hey, Jon Gruden knows what he's doing. That was a smart move drafting this kid.

I'm a big fan of college football, but my Direct-TV never got any Toledo games last season. I didn't know this kid, aside from what I saw in preseason.

But this is definitely good for the Saints. The thing about it, they beat a winless team and that always puts question marks up, but this was a divisional game and Tampa Bay is not a bad football team. I repeat, they are not a bad football team.

When you've struggled like the Saints have struggled in the last year, based on Hurricane Katrina and everything they went through, well, everyone cares about them. They have just gotten better and better because they are winning. You win at home, and if you can split on the road, well, you can have a great year.