SaintNik

Excerpt from Pete Priscos collumn regarding the Saints today....................................

"The Saints coaches are concerned about their teams focus. So coach Jim Haslett planned to read them a few words from Vince Lombardi on mental toughness this week. The Saints are making to many mental mistakes, especially on offense. Second year receiver Donte' Stallworth dropped five passes last week in the loss to Seattle. That can't happen if the Saints expect to get to the next level. "

If all of the players played with the same intensity and focus that Charles Grant played with last week against Seattle the team would do fine. Five penalties in the first quarter and eleven overall is unacceptable. Mental mistakes last week in the first quarter alone left us with a 3-0 lead with what could have been a 10-0 or 14-0 lead. Motion penalties are a lack of concentration when an offensive player knows the correct snap count but still moves early. Aaron Brooks knows he can't afford to take a sack outside the pocket that results in taking the team out of FG range when all he has to do is throw the ball away. Dropping passes that receivers get their hands on is a lack of concentration. Personal foul penalties (Joe Horn) is a lack emotional discipline. Haslett himself has been guilty of personal foul penalties in the past. Let's hope all members of the organization can stay focussed, with discipline, and concentrate on doing the little things correct that allow you to win. I do expect the team to perform better in these areas this week.