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New Orleans Saints comment of the day: The complexity of coaching in the NFL is beyond the grasp of most fans | NOLA.com

New Orleans Saints comment of the day: The complexity of coaching in the NFL is beyond the grasp of most fans
Published: Tuesday, July 06, 2010, 3:57 PM Updated: Tuesday, July 06, 2010, 4:03 PM
The Times-Picayune
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In response to a recent links package, nola.com regular steve613 had this to say:

Mark Humphrey/The Associated Press
New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton's decision to fire Gary Gibbs and replace him with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams marked a new beginning for the team.
"I've actually watched the Super Bowl a few times, was anyone else struck by how many of Indys passing routes were repeated? That 3rd down drop by Garcon on the slant under Jabari was a play they had run successfully once or twice before. And the interception, they ran that same play a few times for relatively short (5-7) yardage. Porter immediately said it was a matter of film study, but if you watch the Super Bowl a couple of times, you will see the same plays repeated over and over.
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Remember the McKenzie interception in the Patriot game? It almost looked like they knew what was coming - because he wasn't covering the receiver as much as he was positioning himself in the PATH of the ball.
The same thing with that play in the Superbowl where you saw Vilma call a defensive audible while he was right up on the defensive line, next thing you knew, he was 30 yards back defending a pass to the tight end on the goal line.
I remember a game in Atlanta in 1991 where the Saints won, like 27-6, where they gave up less than 10 first downs and less than 175 total yards to the Falcons that day. Some of the Falcon players said after the game, when they came to the line of scrimmage, the Saints were telling each other what play they were about to run!
Point is, so much of the technical stuff in coaching seems way beyond the average fan's ability to grasp. But REALLY GOOD coaches can make other teams look bad. That's how sometimes a smaller less-talented team can beat a better more talented team that mails it in. We were that better team in 2008 - we didn't have the defensive brains at coordinator.
But isn't it funny how we all want to understand the game better because we just want to extract every drop of enjoyment out of this team? Look at the sophistication of these posts in the chat board here...we want to really and truly 'get it'.
Isn't it funny how...for 40+ years...we never had reason to bother."

foreverfan

Naugh... it's just behind your ability SmashMouth.

Danno

If it wasn't extremely complex we'd all be NFL coaches.

skymike

well there's that plus:

-- willingness to work 70 hours a week, including thanksgiving & christmas.

-- ability to exert control over & motivate 45 large men who make more money than you.

-- ability to deal with press & manage media, public, & management's perception of your work.

which takes us to -- superior communications & organizational skills.

--ability to motivate highly paid individuals to maintain conditioning despite the fact that you can only fit in stretch warmup pants and hoodies.

-- the good fortune to come up through the ranks and impress the right people.

--an impressive resume.

--iconic hat a plus

Rugby Saint II

Heck, checkers is too complicated for me.......it's a good thing I don't have a favorite checker team. lol

SaintPauly

I'm not usually one to come out with coulda-shoulda-woulda's, BUT, if our defense had been stronger, and more aggressive, in 06, I have no doubt that we would have 2 superbowl rings right now, if not at least 3. I sincerely hope that the rest of the league goes into the upcoming season, underestimating us, as they usually do. Bringing up excuses as to why we won the SB, and how we have no chance of doing it again.... Please.... From the front office, to the coaching staff, to the players, this team is built to last, for years to come.

What's popular is not always right, and what's right is not always popular.....

Crusader

Coach Payton is good at increasing the complexity of the game. Just look at the way he uses regular formations but with players in unusual position.
For example a formation with twin recievers on one side, TE and WR on the otherside with Shockey in the #1 WR spot and Colston as the TE. The CB will have a tough time being physical enough against Shockey and most any LB or saftey trying to cover Colston will have a hard time doing that and at 230 lbs he's still a decently effective blocker on the edge.

strato

And we would have run the Deuce..