tiggerpolice

Saints are marching into storybook statusBy Charean Williams
Star-Telegram Staff Writer



The New Orleans Saints had no chance this season. None at all.

Yet, here they sit, off to their best start since 2002, with a 5-1 record that leads Carolina, Tampa Bay and Atlanta in the NFC South. How in the world?

"It was the work we put in the off-season," Saints defensive end Charles Grant told reporters after Sunday's game. "A lot of people are going to doubt us, but the work we put in and the guys that we had in training camp and the way that we went through training camp, I think this football team is going above and beyond what a lot of people think we can."

This isn't supposed to happen in the NFL. Kurt Warner's rise from a stocker at a grocery store to league MVP and Super Bowl MVP is where storybook tales are supposed to begin and end.

But the Saints are writing their own storybook season.

"We have an opportunity to do something really special," running back Deuce McAllister told TheTimes-Picayune.

No one is doubting them now. Yes, there is a long way to go, but the Saints have the look of a NFC contender. (It's safe to say that statement hasn't been uttered much in the Saints' previous 39 seasons.)

They can run the ball. McAllister, who missed the final 11 games of last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, is averaging 4.9 yards a carry.

They can pass the ball. Drew Brees, who tore the labrum in his right shoulder in the final game of last season, is fourth in the NFL with 1,509 passing yards. He has a 92.8 passer rating with eight touchdowns and four interceptions.

They can protect the passer. The Eagles entered Sunday's game leading the NFL with 23 sacks, including seven of Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe their previous game. The Saints allowed none in the 27-24 victory as Brees was hardly hit and rarely hurried.

They can make big plays. Rookie Reggie Bush has 641 all-purpose yards, including a 65-yard punt return in the fourth quarter that gave the Saints a victory over the Bucs two weeks ago.

They are better at stopping the run. They ranked 27th against the run last season, allowing 134.1 yards per game. They're 21st now, giving up 119.7 yards per game.

They force turnovers. The Saints have forced eight turnovers, giving them a zero turnover margin. Last season, they were minus-24.

So it isn't with smoke and mirrors, or New Orleans voodoo, that the Saints are winning. It's with talent and coaching, hard work and believing in the improbable.

"I think we're kind of finding our identity as a team," Bush told reporters after Sunday's game. "We're finding out who we are and what kind of team we are. We are showing people how much fun we have and what these guys are all about on this team."

New Orleans deserves this, for however long it lasts.

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/football/15778737.htm

LongTimeFan

Yesterday while at work I saw Payton on the Jim Rome show, Jim asked Payton why he thinks the team is successful?, one of Payton's remarks was that the team bought into his system and there is leadership on his team, when players believe in their coach sometimes good things happen as they are now in N.O..
As said in the above article, other reasons why their 5-1 is that, we have a running game, Brees is protected and the team makes big plays, also we can stop the run.
If we continue to play as we are right now and everyone stays focused then I say we can make the playoffs.
I've been watching the Saints as some of you for years, I have to say I never felt this confidant about any Saints team as I do with this year's team, we may lose a few games but it won't be for the lack of playing their best, Payton will make sure of that..

Rest In Peace JoeSam, thanks for everything my friend.

TheGambler

Well, last time i felt this confident was in 2002. A 6-1 start will do that.

However, there is one big difference.

The 2002 6-1 start: the one loss was to DETROIT (a very pitiful team)

The 2006 5-1 start: the one loss was to Carolina (a team people had picked for the NFC title game).


At least up to this point they are beating the teams they are supposed to beat.

SaintFanInATLHELL

Total agreement here. I had the Saints winning 7-8 games at the beginning of the season. I argued that this year we have to learn to beat the teams we are supposed to beat (4th place teams from last year) and compete in the division, gaining at least a split with each of our division rivals.

I didn't expect to get 5 of those wins by the bye! The Saints have taken out the 3 4th place teams they have played (Cleveland, Green Bay, Philly) and taken a win from 2 of the 3 division rivals.

Of course expectations are much loftier now. Sweeping the Falcons and Bucs looks doable. Out of the 6 remaining games with the NFC East and the AFC North 3-3 or 4-2 seems realistic. San Fran is a team we are supposed to beat and the final game the Carolina is both a grudge match and possibly for the division depending on how things go.
Ballparks are now anywhere from 13-3 to 11-5.

Of course it all depends on health. The running game disappeared without Deuce. Brees is the MVP of the team.

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.

FWorthSaint

It's real hard to be confident in this team when in the past, everytime you got your hopes up...you were beat in the head. I am very excited but still in the back of my mind I am waiting for the old Saints to be back. I hope we never have to see them again. I have actually enjoyed watching these games, especially when we fight at the end to come back to win.