BillyC

I have been hoping all year that Saints would come together and resemble a COMPLETE team. That's hardly been the case. The defense has played well enough for the Saints to have a better record, if the Saints offense could be as effective as last year. If the Saints are to have any chance at truely being a contender, I believe the Saints offense needs to be able to score more points.

I don't know what everyone else expected this year, but I thought the offense would be better than last year, or at the very worst, I thought it would be just as good. Now we are 13 weeks into the season and the offense hasn't come close to resembling last year's offense.

There has been a lot of speculation as to why the offense hasn't been as productive as last year. I think to get to the truth you have to look at it one of two ways.

1. Last year's offense overachieved.
2. This year's offense underachieved.

I believe this year's offense underachieved. The question is why? There are some reason's that you can actually put your finger on like :

1. Penalties.
2. Dropped passes.
3. Inconsistant play by Aaron Brooks.

But, I think the Saints have actually changed their philosiphy on offense to a degree. Last year, we were more of a passing team. More specifically, we were a big play offense. This year, we are a run first team and not only is Deuce getting more carries, but we are going to Deuce much more in the short passing game.

I think one reason we aren't getting the big pass plays out of the passing game is because we aren't taking as many chances and we are playing more conservitive than last year. I can see some advantages to this because it eat's more time of the clock and doesn't expose the defense as much. But the trade of is, we are making all the games very close and it's coming down to who wins at the end of the ball game. Last year we were blowing teams out, because of all the points that come out of the passing game.

Whatever the reason that the offene isn't being as productive, this has got to be corrected if we are to have a chance at making the playoff and then to make some noise once we get there.

The Saints have 4-games to get this offense playing like we all know they can. Last week for the first time, the Saints were able to cut down on the penalties. This week they need to continue that and they need to improve at finishing drives off. This offense has been moving the ball at will, now they need to learn to put the nail in the coffin.

With the way Deuce is running the ball, the opposing teams defense should be very vulnerable to the play action pass. We need to make teams pay for selling out to stop Deuce.

The real season starts today. Can Haslett get this team to perform in December? I've seen nothing to make me believe. But somehow, I still do !!



[Edited on 7/12/2003 by BillyC]

saint5221

Good post Billy, I agree that this years offense is a let down. I also agree the scheming has changed (definatly looking at the TE more) but see the poor play of the wide receivers as a large part of the big play going away. The emergence of Deuce as the leagues premier ground weapon has had it\'s effect on play calling but the saints have looked down field just not successfully. Horn is playing through injuries but has not been there as of late. Jerome has been the strangest disappearing act this season. His number has not been called as much and when it is he is not coming through consistently. Lewis has made strides but injuries hold him back. I\'m too disgusted with Stallworth to talk about him. Throw in Brooks erratic streaks , the penalties creating predicable down and distance situation for opposing defenses and then stir in one of the leagues worst turnover ratios and you have a pretty toxic soup. Hope Chief Haslett and company come up with a new recipe fast.

[Edited on 12/7/2003 by saint5221]

BillyC

Toxic soup. LOL.. I like that. I\'ve had my fill of the soup and I\'m tired of washing it down with the WhoTang.

It\'s well known that the Buc\'s secondary is depleted. I haven\'t seen but one game where McCarthy truely exploited a team\'s secondary with his game plan and that was against the Falcons.

I\'m very curious if he\'s going to go after the Buc\'s secondary at the begining of the game OR if he is going to run Deuce and try to set up the pass. Now, granted it\'s hard to argue with a formula that has beaten the Bucs 3-straight times. The thing that worries me is that all 3- of those games could have gone either way.

This isn\'t the same dominant team the Bucs have had. I don\'t think this game has to be close. I really believe we can blow the Bucs out if we take advantage of their secondary. Anyone have any thoughts on how we should approach this game?



[Edited on 7/12/2003 by BillyC]