NY Times picks Saints #1 in South
 

2011 New Orleans Saints Season Preview - NYTimes.com

Pretty good analysis, but lacks some intimate knowledge of the team.

Great, we're doomed now. LOL

Was thinking the same thing...

This is the same paper that gives platform to the Socialist/PsychHistorian Paul Krugman to be awarded the Nobel for economics; his economic policies whiche he advocates that have gotten us in the mess we're in today...

I'll said it before and I'll say it again. The one thing our offense really missed that a lot of people have over looked is the departure of Bell. We won a lot of games because of his running... it enabled Payton to run the clock out and keep the ball out of other teams hands. One could argue that was a key ingredient in the SB run.

Enter - Ingram.

I kinda of thought Ivory did a good job in that role last year..Our D let us down last year...but thats gonna change..

Definitely had to restrain myself from getting into politics here...but giving up the last pick of the first round isn't that big a deal when you get the one right after it.

I agree Strato ( I kinda of thought Ivory did a good job in that role last year..Our D let us down last year...but thats gonna change..)

Man thats why all the upgrade on the D- side.

This is a swiss cheese article..full of holes..wheres the part about us winning the superbowl..lol

Also, Morestead is a badass punter and deserves more respect than a mention followed by an immediate dismissal.

Finally, let me throw in a pre-emptive "Shut up Danno."

Our D was #4 in the league last year. Yes they let us down in that playoff game, but injuries on offense had a big play and what went down last year. We could not get enough healthy RBs on the feild at one time to establish any kind of rythem and the games were placed directly on Drews shoulders.

Yeah i kinda meant in the playoff game...where our D just vanished..the running game was gone before then..

Uhh no, he's a punter.

Many elements suffered last year - offense & defense. I really hope we have a lot less injuries this year!!

Still Cryin...

What's wrong with Morestead as a punter?!

He has made some good tackles, when the PR got past everyone else. Plus he is a damn good punter!

Nothing, he's a great punter, but the fact remains, he's a punter.;)

yeaa, silly punters, hardly anybody knows there names

Wrong ..he's a superbowl winning punter:)

Yet still a punter.

And still a Saints Punter....arent you glad ...:D

I love him, even though we paid too much for the least important position on the team.

There is a reason that this punter was selected in the fifth round, instead of the seventh.

what about the long snapper?

I dont even know the guys name who is on the saints.

Do they even get drafted?

There was a reason Tyler Melnhoff was picked in the 4th too.

Whats your point?

Morstead wins games for us. If it weren't for his Punting and Kicking, our pitiful coverage unit would have the other team working with half the field almost every drive.

yet still a punter


Had to do it danno

Dont tell me you joined Danno's haters club to...lol

He's a pretty great young punter man! Great long distance punts, keeping our defense with room to work with great field position most of the time.

No, but I just wanted to beat danno to it. Lol.

I love me some Morstead

A punter who can bench press 405 lbs!

Get used to it..... that's the part where I like us flying under the radar ...:beer:

I don't really get why people have/want to discredit the value of good punters and kickers, even though they

might not be as valuable or sought after as most other positions in a team - their importance cannot be denied.

Of course the value of a good punter doesn't really show up with teams like the Saints, who have the

big play ability. But for lower tier teams, who have to design their game plans around field position battles -

a good punting game is a must.


And may I remind you of what the Browns and Reggie Hodges did to the Saints last season?

Swiss cheese at least has SOME substance in between the holes.

damn, bench pressing 405 isn't too shabby.

As I said, badass punter.

What were our 3rd down percentages on offense last year, and where were we ranked? Just curious....

Sorry, I answered my own question. Which makes me wonder, once again what happened in Seattle last year....


Third down efficiency has been a stalwart of the New Orleans offense since Sean Payton arrived in
2006, as the Saints have successfully converted an NFL-best 46.6% of their attempts during that period to rank second in the NFL.

2010 NFL THIRD DOWN CONVERSION PERCENTAGE LEADERS
Team: Made-Att, Pct.
1. NO: 106-217, 48.8
2. NE: 95-197, 48.2
3. Atl:. 112-240, 46.7

DEFENSIVE YARDAGE IMPROVEMENT: After finishing ranked 25rd in the NFL in yardage surrendered (357.8 yards per game) in 2009, the Saints defense improved its ranking to fourth (306.3 yards per game) in 2010.

2010 NFL TOTAL DEFENSE LEADERS
Team: Yards — Yds/Gm
1. SD: 4,345 — 271.6
2. Pit.: 4,429 — 276.8
3. NYJ: 4,664 — 291.5
4. NO: 4,900 — 306.3
5. GB: 4,945 — 309.1