CNNSI looks at the Saints...

JOESAM2002 · 07-12-2003, 12:38 PM

Posted: Friday July 11, 2003 11:30 AM

New Orleans
SAINTS
2002 Record: 9-7
Head Coach: Jim Haslett
26-22 overall, 1-1 postseason

By Ryan Hunt, SI.com

Why are the Bucs, Giants, Jaguars and Cowboys smiling? Oh, the joy of appearing on the Saints' schedule in December.
A bit of embellishment, perhaps, but the fact is New Orleans has cost itself a shot at a playoff berth in each of the past two seasons with inexplicable December slides. And it's not just the losing; it's who the Saints have lost to. Last season, consecutive losses to Minnesota, Cincinnati and Carolina sent the Saints from the thick of the NFC South hunt to an unwitting victim in an episode of Punk'd.

Ironically, New Orleans' 2002 downfall came on Dec. 1 - in a gutty victory over the eventual Super Bowl champion Buccaneers. Aaron Brooks injured his hand and the Saints were never the same (nor was Jake Delhomme's wallet). This year's version of the Saints won't be the same, either, if only because Kyle Turley's Have a Nice Day Tour has moved to St. Louis.

Call that addition by subtraction. And the Saints do have a lot to build on from last year. This is a team that swept Tampa Bay last season, in addition to beating Green Bay and San Francisco. It has one of the NFL's marquee running backs in Deuce McAllister. But in order to get to January, the Saints are going to have to stay afloat in December.

>> Impact Signing
LT Wayne Gandy -- Gandy, who can play both left and right tackle, will slide right into the hole vacated by Turley. The 6-foot-5, 308-pound Gandy has started 136 of 145 NFL games since being selected 15th overall in the 1994 NFL Draft. And better yet, he has yet to cost his team a game by trying to decapitate a player.

>> Impact Loss
FS Sammy Knight -- All he did was pick off a team-leading five passes and make 129 tackles. The 2001 Pro Bowler, who had 29 interceptions in his six seasons in New Orleans, will be replaced by former Patriots first-rounder Tebucky Jones.

>> Fantasy Stud
RB Deuce McAllister -- After grabbing the starting job last year after Ricky Williams' departure, McAllister exploded onto the scene by rushing for 1,388 yards with 13 TDs and added 47 catches for 352 yards and three scores. McAllister had eight 100-yard rushing games last season, and there could be more this season as his game continues to progress. He's a solid receiver out of the backfield, which makes him that much more dangerous. He is a potential first-round fantasy draft pick with the potential for 1,800-2,000 all-purpose yards and 15 overall TDs.

>> Fantasy Dud
TE Ernie Conwell -- He's been a solid fantasy tight end the past couple of years playing in the high-powered Rams offense. However, it doesn't seem likely that he'll match his modest numbers in an offense that hasn't been too kind to tight ends since Cam Cleeland left town a few years ago. David Sloan and Boo Williams combined for 270 yards and two TDs last season. That could be Conwell's numbers this year.

>> Fantasy Sleeper
WR Donte Stallworth -- He only had 594 yards receiving last year, but Stallworth proved he was a player to be reckoned with as he scored eight TDs, including one in each of his first four games of his NFL career. He's definitely on the rise as he becomes more established as the No. 2 receiver opposite Joe Horn. There are plenty of balls to go around, and Stallworth will get more in his second year in the league.

>> Saints will make the playoffs because...
Aside from the obvious offensive playmakers, the Georgia boys on the defensive line come up big. Johnathan Sullivan and Charles Grant - both first-round picks out of UGA - have the talent to make the Saints' defensive front among the NFC's elite.

>> Saints will not make the playoffs because...
The NFC South is a minefield. The Falcons beat the Saints twice -- and have improved. And the Bucs still will be a force. If either McAllister or Brooks go down, so do the Saints.

iceshack149 · 07-12-2003, 12:50 PM

Great article Joesam. Just the thing I needed to start my day off right.
Dang my anticipation. It makes the NFL season seem so far away...
tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock

ssmitty · 07-12-2003, 03:06 PM

i don\'t agree that it will take brooks and duece out of the lineup to keep us out the playoffs......if duece goes out we may not have much of a running game, but being one sided with our offense is in no way a bad thing....as for brooks, i think if bouman has the offense somewhat down, i see no reason he can\'t win games with our offense...bring it on.............smitty

saintsfanbudman3382 · 07-13-2003, 03:07 PM

i think ryan hunt is a massive tool, but he does have some good points, but all that needs to happen is for the defense to play better, because the offense can score on anyone. and lets face it the defense cant possibly play any worse.

BillyCarpenter1 · 07-14-2003, 01:41 PM

By Ryan Hunt, SI.com

Why are the Bucs, Giants, Jaguars and Cowboys smiling? Oh, the joy of appearing on the Saints\' schedule in December.

Oh yeah!!! I bet these teams can\'t wait to play the Saints. I\'m sure there already marked as wins on these teams schedule.

They pay this guy for articles like this?

FWtex · 07-14-2003, 03:10 PM

This will hurt, but I have the same thought as billy on this guy. Looks like he put about 15 seconds of research and thought into the article.

Note: Aaron hurt his hand. The doctors thought it was his shoulder. no wonder he is still not 100%.

Deuce is a potential first round fantasy pick?

Word is bouman is the qb the saints wanted before Aaron. With this offense if aaron goes down(and OUT) the offense may sputter a week or two but it will still be effective with bouman.

07-12-2003, 12:38 PM	#1
JOESAM2002 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: CRYSTAL BEACH TEXAS Posts: 4,100	CNNSI looks at the Saints... Posted: Friday July 11, 2003 11:30 AM New Orleans SAINTS 2002 Record: 9-7 Head Coach: Jim Haslett 26-22 overall, 1-1 postseason By Ryan Hunt, SI.com Why are the Bucs, Giants, Jaguars and Cowboys smiling? Oh, the joy of appearing on the Saints' schedule in December. A bit of embellishment, perhaps, but the fact is New Orleans has cost itself a shot at a playoff berth in each of the past two seasons with inexplicable December slides. And it's not just the losing; it's who the Saints have lost to. Last season, consecutive losses to Minnesota, Cincinnati and Carolina sent the Saints from the thick of the NFC South hunt to an unwitting victim in an episode of Punk'd. Ironically, New Orleans' 2002 downfall came on Dec. 1 - in a gutty victory over the eventual Super Bowl champion Buccaneers. Aaron Brooks injured his hand and the Saints were never the same (nor was Jake Delhomme's wallet). This year's version of the Saints won't be the same, either, if only because Kyle Turley's Have a Nice Day Tour has moved to St. Louis. Call that addition by subtraction. And the Saints do have a lot to build on from last year. This is a team that swept Tampa Bay last season, in addition to beating Green Bay and San Francisco. It has one of the NFL's marquee running backs in Deuce McAllister. But in order to get to January, the Saints are going to have to stay afloat in December. >> Impact Signing LT Wayne Gandy -- Gandy, who can play both left and right tackle, will slide right into the hole vacated by Turley. The 6-foot-5, 308-pound Gandy has started 136 of 145 NFL games since being selected 15th overall in the 1994 NFL Draft. And better yet, he has yet to cost his team a game by trying to decapitate a player. >> Impact Loss FS Sammy Knight -- All he did was pick off a team-leading five passes and make 129 tackles. The 2001 Pro Bowler, who had 29 interceptions in his six seasons in New Orleans, will be replaced by former Patriots first-rounder Tebucky Jones. >> Fantasy Stud RB Deuce McAllister -- After grabbing the starting job last year after Ricky Williams' departure, McAllister exploded onto the scene by rushing for 1,388 yards with 13 TDs and added 47 catches for 352 yards and three scores. McAllister had eight 100-yard rushing games last season, and there could be more this season as his game continues to progress. He's a solid receiver out of the backfield, which makes him that much more dangerous. He is a potential first-round fantasy draft pick with the potential for 1,800-2,000 all-purpose yards and 15 overall TDs. >> Fantasy Dud TE Ernie Conwell -- He's been a solid fantasy tight end the past couple of years playing in the high-powered Rams offense. However, it doesn't seem likely that he'll match his modest numbers in an offense that hasn't been too kind to tight ends since Cam Cleeland left town a few years ago. David Sloan and Boo Williams combined for 270 yards and two TDs last season. That could be Conwell's numbers this year. >> Fantasy Sleeper WR Donte Stallworth -- He only had 594 yards receiving last year, but Stallworth proved he was a player to be reckoned with as he scored eight TDs, including one in each of his first four games of his NFL career. He's definitely on the rise as he becomes more established as the No. 2 receiver opposite Joe Horn. There are plenty of balls to go around, and Stallworth will get more in his second year in the league. >> Saints will make the playoffs because... Aside from the obvious offensive playmakers, the Georgia boys on the defensive line come up big. Johnathan Sullivan and Charles Grant - both first-round picks out of UGA - have the talent to make the Saints' defensive front among the NFC's elite. >> Saints will not make the playoffs because... The NFC South is a minefield. The Falcons beat the Saints twice -- and have improved. And the Bucs still will be a force. If either McAllister or Brooks go down, so do the Saints.

07-12-2003, 12:50 PM	#2
iceshack149 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fairbanks, AK Posts: 4,258 Blog Entries: 1	CNNSI looks at the Saints... Great article Joesam. Just the thing I needed to start my day off right. Dang my anticipation. It makes the NFL season seem so far away... tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock

07-12-2003, 03:06 PM	#3
ssmitty 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,879	CNNSI looks at the Saints... i don\'t agree that it will take brooks and duece out of the lineup to keep us out the playoffs......if duece goes out we may not have much of a running game, but being one sided with our offense is in no way a bad thing....as for brooks, i think if bouman has the offense somewhat down, i see no reason he can\'t win games with our offense...bring it on.............smitty
ssmitty 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,879

07-13-2003, 03:07 PM	#4
saintsfanbudman3382 Rookie Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 11	CNNSI looks at the Saints... i think ryan hunt is a massive tool, but he does have some good points, but all that needs to happen is for the defense to play better, because the offense can score on anyone. and lets face it the defense cant possibly play any worse.
saintsfanbudman3382 Rookie Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 11

07-14-2003, 01:41 PM	#5
BillyCarpenter1 Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,209	CNNSI looks at the Saints... By Ryan Hunt, SI.com Why are the Bucs, Giants, Jaguars and Cowboys smiling? Oh, the joy of appearing on the Saints\' schedule in December. Oh yeah!!! I bet these teams can\'t wait to play the Saints. I\'m sure there already marked as wins on these teams schedule. They pay this guy for articles like this?
BillyCarpenter1 Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,209

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07-14-2003, 03:10 PM	#6
FWtex 100th Post Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 370	CNNSI looks at the Saints... This will hurt, but I have the same thought as billy on this guy. Looks like he put about 15 seconds of research and thought into the article. Note: Aaron hurt his hand. The doctors thought it was his shoulder. no wonder he is still not 100%. Deuce is a potential first round fantasy pick? Word is bouman is the qb the saints wanted before Aaron. With this offense if aaron goes down(and OUT) the offense may sputter a week or two but it will still be effective with bouman.
FWtex 100th Post Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 370