Rust? What rust? Saints on fire in victory

Attached Thumbnails · 01-17-2010, 03:20 PM

BY JASON MUNZ - So I’m driving in to work early Saturday evening, and I’m wracking my brain. The New Orleans Saints’ playoff victory against the Arizona Cardinals hadn’t ended yet, but for all intents and purposes, it was over.

I knew I had to write this column, and was trying to figure out the best way to get it started. So I had finally settled on an idea at the end of the game, which I was listening to it on the radio at that time.

As I approached the work parking lot, the Saints’ radio broadcasters said they were awaiting coach Sean Payton for his post-game press conference. They said they’d go straight to that once Payton was ready.

As soon as Payton got behind the microphone, he gave me a better lead-in to this column than I could’ve ever come up with on my own: “So much for being rusty.”

In those five short words, Payton essentially thumbed his nose at each and every naysayer the Saints had coming into Saturday’s game. And they were plentiful, based on what I’d seen and heard during the past week.

Proving People Wrong

As I wrote earlier this week, it just seemed to me that a lot of so-called experts and analysts were sleeping on the Saints. I’m assuming they thought that since the Cardinals put up 51 points against the NFL’s second-ranked defense (and first-ranked run defense), they’d have no problem against a Saints defense that hadn’t really shown much of late.

Really? Really??

I mean, let’s get real here. Sean Payton isn’t stupid. Not as stupid as (apparently) some people thought he was. As soon as the Saints locked up home-field advantage for the entirety of the playoffs (save the Super Bowl), Payton knew it was in the best interest of the team to take his foot off the gas pedal. Slightly at first, and a little more and a little more, until it was time to get back to the business at hand. The business at hand being getting to the Super Bowl.

Well, it’s worked so far. The Saints obliterated an obviously fatigued Cardinals team. I mean, it seemed like the Cardinals were even gasping for air after Tim Hightower took the first play from scrimmage 69 yards for the opening score.

Keeping Composure

But if you watched the game on TV, you may have noticed that Payton wasn’t rattled. Scoring quickly like that against the Saints simply plays right into their game plan. The Saints want to have their offense on the field for as long as possible, and whether the opposition scores or doesn’t score really doesn’t matter when it’s that early in the game.

Payton and the Saints got exactly what they wanted, and it worked to perfection. Led by quarterback Drew Brees, the offense methodically picked the Cardinals’ defense apart following Hightower’s score. The Saints kept their composure, paced themselves and promptly tied the game on a Lynell Hamilton run.

Of course, after that it didn’t hurt to have what the Saints didn’t really have three years ago – a fast, aggressive defense and the Reggie Bush that won a Heisman Trophy at USC a few years back.

Rust? What rust? Saints on fire in victory | hattiesburgamerican.com | Hattiesburg American

breesfan27 · 01-17-2010, 03:21 PM

Best quote by Coach Payton! I LOLed when he said that!

strato · 01-17-2010, 03:26 PM

Me 2...lol..F**k u talkin heads....not the band...lol

homerj07 · 01-17-2010, 09:36 PM

Whoo Hoo!! I must have watched ESPN News for about two hours after just to get all the juicy news.

Good to see that Bradshaw is still with us!! (from FOX)

RockyMountainSaint · 01-17-2010, 09:56 PM

Also liked his reply to a question about many "experts" picking against the Saints.

"That term (expert) is used pretty loosely these days".

MatthewT · 01-17-2010, 10:11 PM

Those last three games did leave a lot of question marks, but seriously, Payton knows his team better than anyone. It's very obvious that a healthy Saints team should be able to tear apart just about any opponent. The Saints seemed to get out of this past game still healthy, this will help tremendously against a very exceptional Vikings team.

QBREES9 · 01-17-2010, 10:25 PM

IN PAYTON I TRUST.

SaintPauly · 01-18-2010, 01:49 AM

I wish I could have seen that interview. I'm going to look for it right now. I like that "expert" quote too. VERY loosely these days.....

01-17-2010, 03:20 PM	#1
Threaded by QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,985 Rating: (0 votes - average) BY JASON MUNZ - So I’m driving in to work early Saturday evening, and I’m wracking my brain. The New Orleans Saints’ playoff victory against the Arizona Cardinals hadn’t ended yet, but for all intents and purposes, it was over. I knew I had to write this column, and was trying to figure out the best way to get it started. So I had finally settled on an idea at the end of the game, which I was listening to it on the radio at that time. As I approached the work parking lot, the Saints’ radio broadcasters said they were awaiting coach Sean Payton for his post-game press conference. They said they’d go straight to that once Payton was ready. As soon as Payton got behind the microphone, he gave me a better lead-in to this column than I could’ve ever come up with on my own: “So much for being rusty.” In those five short words, Payton essentially thumbed his nose at each and every naysayer the Saints had coming into Saturday’s game. And they were plentiful, based on what I’d seen and heard during the past week. Proving People Wrong As I wrote earlier this week, it just seemed to me that a lot of so-called experts and analysts were sleeping on the Saints. I’m assuming they thought that since the Cardinals put up 51 points against the NFL’s second-ranked defense (and first-ranked run defense), they’d have no problem against a Saints defense that hadn’t really shown much of late. Really? Really?? I mean, let’s get real here. Sean Payton isn’t stupid. Not as stupid as (apparently) some people thought he was. As soon as the Saints locked up home-field advantage for the entirety of the playoffs (save the Super Bowl), Payton knew it was in the best interest of the team to take his foot off the gas pedal. Slightly at first, and a little more and a little more, until it was time to get back to the business at hand. The business at hand being getting to the Super Bowl. Well, it’s worked so far. The Saints obliterated an obviously fatigued Cardinals team. I mean, it seemed like the Cardinals were even gasping for air after Tim Hightower took the first play from scrimmage 69 yards for the opening score. Keeping Composure But if you watched the game on TV, you may have noticed that Payton wasn’t rattled. Scoring quickly like that against the Saints simply plays right into their game plan. The Saints want to have their offense on the field for as long as possible, and whether the opposition scores or doesn’t score really doesn’t matter when it’s that early in the game. Payton and the Saints got exactly what they wanted, and it worked to perfection. Led by quarterback Drew Brees, the offense methodically picked the Cardinals’ defense apart following Hightower’s score. The Saints kept their composure, paced themselves and promptly tied the game on a Lynell Hamilton run. Of course, after that it didn’t hurt to have what the Saints didn’t really have three years ago – a fast, aggressive defense and the Reggie Bush that won a Heisman Trophy at USC a few years back. Rust? What rust? Saints on fire in victory \| hattiesburgamerican.com \| Hattiesburg American Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Halo; 01-17-2010 at 09:12 PM..
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01-17-2010, 03:21 PM	#2
breesfan27 Mrs. Drew Brees Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: The Who Dat Nation (by way of South Dakota) Posts: 2,276 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Rust? What rust? Saints on fire in victory Best quote by Coach Payton! I LOLed when he said that!

01-17-2010, 03:26 PM	#3
strato Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: "Little Ole Town in Tejas" Posts: 7,586	Re: Rust? What rust? Saints on fire in victory Me 2...lol..F**k u talkin heads....not the band...lol

01-17-2010, 09:36 PM	#4
homerj07 In Doh We Trust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 7,027 Blog Entries: 16	Re: Rust? What rust? Saints on fire in victory Whoo Hoo!! I must have watched ESPN News for about two hours after just to get all the juicy news. Good to see that Bradshaw is still with us!! (from FOX)

01-17-2010, 09:56 PM	#5
RockyMountainSaint Mmm That Smell! Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Metairie Terrace Posts: 3,073	Re: Rust? What rust? Saints on fire in victory Also liked his reply to a question about many "experts" picking against the Saints. "That term (expert) is used pretty loosely these days".

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01-17-2010, 10:11 PM	#6
MatthewT 1000 Posts + Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,729	Re: Rust? What rust? Saints on fire in victory Those last three games did leave a lot of question marks, but seriously, Payton knows his team better than anyone. It's very obvious that a healthy Saints team should be able to tear apart just about any opponent. The Saints seemed to get out of this past game still healthy, this will help tremendously against a very exceptional Vikings team.

01-17-2010, 10:25 PM	#7
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,985	Re: Rust? What rust? Saints on fire in victory IN PAYTON I TRUST.

01-18-2010, 01:49 AM	#8
SaintPauly Senior Citizen Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Gulfport, MS Posts: 3,180 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Rust? What rust? Saints on fire in victory I wish I could have seen that interview. I'm going to look for it right now. I like that "expert" quote too. VERY loosely these days.....