Re: Final thoughts before kickoff
 

The way i see it....

1. Limit turnovers.
2. Pressure Manning.
3. Play clock controled offense. The longer we have the ball...the less they do.

Re: Final thoughts before kickoff
 

Well, create a few turnovers too.

looking forward to Turs. if any one is in DC or Bal'more and knows of either a saints bar or one where other Saints fans watch - let me know.

Re: Final thoughts before kickoff
 

Great...we're screwed now.

In all seriousness, I think the main key to victory lies squarely on the shoulders of Coach Payton. He needs to rekindle the game-planning magic of last season and get the team motivated like they were on the big stage last year (see the 1st ATL game, the Dallas game). He and Gibbs have to be near perfect because if you can slow down the Colts' offensive machine even the slightest bit, you can beat them with such a great offense.

I also think the Saints need to make points out of special teams play. Whether it be a kick return or a blocked FG, they need to get a lot of momentum early and then sustain the attack with clock eating drives, heavy on the Deuce (it takes 2 years to fully recover from ACL surgery).

Finally, they team needs to straight-up punch the colts in the mouth from the opening kick-off to the final wistle and on both sides of the ball. If you look back at the games when the Pats owned the Colts, that was how it was done. Brutal, unrelenting and senseless violence focused 100% on Archie's Boy. If you really lay some lumber on #18, he folds like a cheap tent and the game is yours. So I say play bump and run man coverage on the wideouts and release the hounds...if you get beat deep a few times, so what, just get beat quick and get the O back on the field.

Re: Final thoughts before kickoff
 

What about them? Last year the team was in the top 5 in the league for both least penalties and penalty-yardarge.

Doing the same thing? Most yards per game? Top 5 in scoring?

I'd be quite happy if the offense were doing the same thing!

Thanks for making my point. Everything is in fact peachy. Every offense in the NFL has problems with top 5 defenses, including the Saints and the Colts.

The Colts do not have the best defense. The Saints defense is better than the Colts defense.

Thursday will not be a blowout in either direction. But overall the Saints have a comparable offense and a better defense than the Colts. That should translate to a win.

SFIAH

Re: Final thoughts before kickoff
 

My mistake. It's Campbell who's out, not Miller.

Agreed.

Agree here too. We should pound the rock.

Perfect gameplan. Also be prepared to accept getting burned a time or two. But with the Colts if you can get them down to 50/50 on scoring drives, with their paper thin defense, it should be enough.

SFIAH

Re: Final thoughts before kickoff
 

SI.com - Writers - Monday Morning QB (cont.) - Monday September 3, 2007 2:02PM

Quote of the Week VII
"I figured it would possibly be us and New England or us and the Saints, because they want to put two entertaining teams on TV. I've played in this opener before a few years ago, when it was up in New England and a rematch of the AFC Conference Championship. Once the schedule comes out, you look at it and you realize how tough a schedule we have playing the Saints. You're always going to have to play the AFC division winners, like San Diego, Baltimore and New England. It's a tough schedule, and it doesn't get any tougher starting against the Saints.''

-- Peyton Manning, on Sunday, talking about the season opener Thursday night in Indy.

Peter King wrote a great MMQ this week. You guys should check it out for the section where a on-the-bubble Olineman for the Skins talks about getting cut. Really moving stuff.

Re: Final thoughts before kickoff
 

The one advantage that we have on the majority of our opponents this season is "offensive continuity". That alone should help us compete and maybe even beat the Colts on opening day (I think we'll win). And that alone should allow us to beat most of the rest of the schedule. I think we'll win 10 games, and if we don't let a lesser team beat us, we could win 11.


I just can't wait! 2 more days.

Let's just enjoy the fact that our team can REALLY compete with everybody in this league. I've been extremely happy this off-season because of that.

You boys Enjoy!!

who dat!

Re: Final thoughts before kickoff
 

The "if we can score points than the Colts by the end of the fourth quarter, we have a good chance of winning the game" gameplan... I like the way you're thinking whodat!!!

Re: Final thoughts before kickoff
 

Oh that was 9-0 in 06. Just wanted to correct that error. I wouldn't want to submerge the optimism in falsehoods.