How a Good team became a Great team

SaintFanInATLHELL · 06-07-2007, 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by Saintman2884

Over the past 10 seasons starting with Haslett and now Payton, I think the Saints started that beginning from being a horrendously bad team to being a good team to being a great team right now as we speak. I think management has a big factor in this, we had a guy like Randy Mueller take the reigns and overnight transform us into a winner in 2000, and yes we may have overachieved under Haslett in 2000 but we may have started a small beginning that led to us the state we are in now. Haslett wasnt a great HC but he does deserve some repsonsibiltiy for our current success, he drafted a good deal of the players on this team right now and made good FA pickups, he just was on the short end of a terrible tragedy like Katrina and the team falling apart on him as a result.

Compare the guys who played for the numerous HC in the first 30 years of the franchise, they didnt win, they didnt draft well, and we had a joke of a owner in Mecom, but I think the past 10 years have been the best I can remember as a Saints fan. We learned how to win, and we learned how to be a good NFL team at long last.

I think you may have forgotten the Jim Mora years. Great drafts. Outstanding top 5 defense. back to back winning seasons. Playoff appearances.

I'm not sure why it all fell apart in the mid 90's. But there was a time that the Saints were riding high.

SFIAH

Bergeaux · 06-07-2007, 08:50 AM

It is my understanding that when Benson bought the Saints he was told by the NFL to hire Jim Finks or else not get the team. (or something along those lines). I refer to this as the teen years of the Saints. They were under the guidance of a more mature hand. The NFL itself.

When Jim Finks got cancer and Benson was on his own to find a GM, he didn't know what he was doing. It took a while before Benson figured out what kind of GM and coach he wanted. The mid 90's was like the 18-22 period in a young persons life. Things just seem to flail around, but he learned some valuable lessons.

Now I see the Saints in the 25-35 years. The high production years. They have been through the guidance of the NFL, they have flailed around and made some mistakes, but like any smart person, Benson learned his lessons fast and has become a better owner because of it.

That's my take on what has happened since Benson bought the Saints.

blacksaint · 06-07-2007, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by SaintFanInATLHELL

I think you may have forgotten the Jim Mora years. Great drafts. Outstanding top 5 defense. back to back winning seasons. Playoff appearances.

I'm not sure why it all fell apart in the mid 90's. But there was a time that the Saints were riding high.

SFIAH

Two words my friend, MIKE DITKA. IMHO, one of the worst coaches in Saints history, and that's saying a lot.

SaintFanInATLHELL · 06-07-2007, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by blacksaint

Two words my friend, MIKE DITKA. IMHO, one of the worst coaches in Saints history, and that's saying a lot.

But Mora bailed on the team because they were not playing well. I'm trying to remember what happened between the heydays and Mora's departure.

SFIAH

blacksaint · 06-07-2007, 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by SaintFanInATLHELL

But Mora bailed on the team because they were not playing well. I'm trying to remember what happened between the heydays and Mora's departure.

SFIAH

Well, it's kind of hard to recover from losing a great GM in Jim Finks, and a good coach in Jim Mora. I think Mora didn't bail on the team itself but the whole Organization, that was at a time when the whole organization didn't have any direction, it just was time for him to go. They tried to go with a three headed GM system that never ever work, and we all know, Mora is a Coach not a GM. And as far as Haslett goes, I have to give him some credit, when he took over the Saints he had nothing, no draft picks, no young players to develop, and very few veterans with any kind of skills what so ever. Ya'll talk about Brooks, but do anybody remember the revolving door at the QB position under DITKA? Well I do, and if I had to pick between the two, I'd definitely go with Haslett. Remember, Brooks was more of a Mike McCarthy guy than Haslett, and since he was running the offense Has let him go with Brooks.

06-07-2007, 06:16 AM	#1
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,781	Originally Posted by Saintman2884 Over the past 10 seasons starting with Haslett and now Payton, I think the Saints started that beginning from being a horrendously bad team to being a good team to being a great team right now as we speak. I think management has a big factor in this, we had a guy like Randy Mueller take the reigns and overnight transform us into a winner in 2000, and yes we may have overachieved under Haslett in 2000 but we may have started a small beginning that led to us the state we are in now. Haslett wasnt a great HC but he does deserve some repsonsibiltiy for our current success, he drafted a good deal of the players on this team right now and made good FA pickups, he just was on the short end of a terrible tragedy like Katrina and the team falling apart on him as a result. Compare the guys who played for the numerous HC in the first 30 years of the franchise, they didnt win, they didnt draft well, and we had a joke of a owner in Mecom, but I think the past 10 years have been the best I can remember as a Saints fan. We learned how to win, and we learned how to be a good NFL team at long last. I think you may have forgotten the Jim Mora years. Great drafts. Outstanding top 5 defense. back to back winning seasons. Playoff appearances. I'm not sure why it all fell apart in the mid 90's. But there was a time that the Saints were riding high. SFIAH

06-07-2007, 08:50 AM	#2
Bergeaux Rookie Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 14	It is my understanding that when Benson bought the Saints he was told by the NFL to hire Jim Finks or else not get the team. (or something along those lines). I refer to this as the teen years of the Saints. They were under the guidance of a more mature hand. The NFL itself. When Jim Finks got cancer and Benson was on his own to find a GM, he didn't know what he was doing. It took a while before Benson figured out what kind of GM and coach he wanted. The mid 90's was like the 18-22 period in a young persons life. Things just seem to flail around, but he learned some valuable lessons. Now I see the Saints in the 25-35 years. The high production years. They have been through the guidance of the NFL, they have flailed around and made some mistakes, but like any smart person, Benson learned his lessons fast and has become a better owner because of it. That's my take on what has happened since Benson bought the Saints.
Bergeaux Rookie Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 14

06-07-2007, 08:57 PM	#3
blacksaint DARE TO ENTER Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Home Sweet Home, NEW ORLEANS, La. Posts: 1,154	Originally Posted by SaintFanInATLHELL I think you may have forgotten the Jim Mora years. Great drafts. Outstanding top 5 defense. back to back winning seasons. Playoff appearances. I'm not sure why it all fell apart in the mid 90's. But there was a time that the Saints were riding high. SFIAH Two words my friend, MIKE DITKA. IMHO, one of the worst coaches in Saints history, and that's saying a lot.

06-07-2007, 09:13 PM	#4
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,781	Originally Posted by blacksaint Two words my friend, MIKE DITKA. IMHO, one of the worst coaches in Saints history, and that's saying a lot. But Mora bailed on the team because they were not playing well. I'm trying to remember what happened between the heydays and Mora's departure. SFIAH

06-07-2007, 09:39 PM	#5
blacksaint DARE TO ENTER Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Home Sweet Home, NEW ORLEANS, La. Posts: 1,154	Originally Posted by SaintFanInATLHELL But Mora bailed on the team because they were not playing well. I'm trying to remember what happened between the heydays and Mora's departure. SFIAH Well, it's kind of hard to recover from losing a great GM in Jim Finks, and a good coach in Jim Mora. I think Mora didn't bail on the team itself but the whole Organization, that was at a time when the whole organization didn't have any direction, it just was time for him to go. They tried to go with a three headed GM system that never ever work, and we all know, Mora is a Coach not a GM. And as far as Haslett goes, I have to give him some credit, when he took over the Saints he had nothing, no draft picks, no young players to develop, and very few veterans with any kind of skills what so ever. Ya'll talk about Brooks, but do anybody remember the revolving door at the QB position under DITKA? Well I do, and if I had to pick between the two, I'd definitely go with Haslett. Remember, Brooks was more of a Mike McCarthy guy than Haslett, and since he was running the offense Has let him go with Brooks.
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