Danno

Top 10 reasons to look forward to next year…
OFFENSE-
1. RB- We have a top 5 talent in McAllister and a good FB. Add a dependable back-up and this unit is as good as it gets. A multi-dimensional fullback would be a nice addition.
2. QB- I see Brooks as a top 10 guy. Solid back-up in Bouman. A developing 3rd QB in fiesty emotional O'Sullivan who reminds me of a young Jake. Definitely not the weak link on this team.
3. Good O-line with young interior. Bentley, Holland, Jacox (at center) gives us a solid interior that should be a better run-blocking unit next year. Riley and Gandy played well enough at tackle to hold their own. An upper middle-of-the-pack unit that should improve next year. Not great, but not bad either.
4. Best TE group here in a while. Boo will only get better, Conwell was solid after a shakey start. The youngster Hilton may develop into a weapon either in 2004 or 2005.
5. WR- Horn still has a few solid years left. Stallworth's nagging injury problems should start decreasing as it has with other WR's who had similar probs. Pathon is a versatile, dependable WR that can play all 3 positions well. Lewis was much better than I ever thought he would be. Gardner is still a 2-3 year project with HUGE upside. Add a sure handed possession type free-agent and this unit should rebound to be one of the better ones around. They were the weak link this year on Offense and I feel they know it, and better improve.
DEFENSE
6. DL- Howard, Grant, Sullivan will all be better. Add a true nose DT and this unit should dominate for years to come.
7. LB- The weakness of this unit will be addressed this offseason. There WILL be a proven stud added to this unit before the season starts. I can see 2 new starters (maybe all 3) on opening day in 2004. It'll be exciting to see what they do. Hodge must improve, I think he will. Grant may be the stud in the middle we need. Although I'd move him outside. Between Rodgers, Ruff, and Allen one should step up and improve.
8. CB- Its no secret that we have one solid corner, and 3 seviceable nicklebacks. I see a solid vet and a young stud added to this unit. Thomas will start (and he should) but I see a new guy on the other side. Its possible that Thomas may be the only keeper on this unit for 2004.
9. SS- Mel Mitchell should be back to 100%. If he was truly good enough to put Bellamy on the bench then it'll be exciting to see what this guy can do.
10. FS- OK. I know he was hammered all year, and it was justified, but he did start to play better as the year went on. I think he will improve quite a bit. His poor tackling technique has at least been admitted to. A copy of Tackling for Dummies and some additional attention should be the recipe for improvement. Whether he finally justifies his salary remains to be seen but I do think he'll be much improved.

I eagerly await the obvious "Top 10 Reasons We'll Still Suck" replays. You know who you are.

ScottyRo

I know Jones had a bad year tackling, but I don\'t like that he\'s being singled out for it. I mean, it\'s not like the rest of the defense did much better. In fact, I can\'t recall even one great tackle (other than a sack) that anyone on defense made all year.

There had to be at least ONE, right?

Danno

Absolutely true. Maybe 11 copies of \"Tackling for Dummies\" needs to be handed out before training camp. And full contact tackling drills should be implemented in training camp. At least for the 1st half of camp.

ScottyRo

Tackling has been such a big issue in the NFL for the last ten years. I\'ve often wondered why teams don\'t put their 1st team defense up against their 3d team offense and let them practice tackling...especially early on in training camp when you have so many extra bodies around.

I know injuries are a concern, but why have any sort of camp for vets at all if you\'re gonna let the worries about injury bother you so much that you wont adequately practice?

And, yes, I know, it\'ll never happen.

Danno

Your preaching to the choir scotty.
But I hope now that we won\'t have a \"Complete Overhaul\" on either side of the ball the coaches won\'t be as busy teaching everyone a new system and they can get back to coaching some fundamental football.
I think they underestimated the effects of the defensive overhaul.
I think that they probably paid less attention to the offense because of it also, hence the sluggish start.
But what do I know, I\'m just a forum jockey.

ScottyRo

[/quote:220008743f]
Your preaching to the choir scotty.
But I hope now that we won\'t have a \"Complete Overhaul\" on either side of the ball the coaches won\'t be as busy teaching everyone a new system and they can get back to coaching some fundamental football.
I think they underestimated the effects of the defensive overhaul.
I think that they probably paid less attention to the offense because of it also, hence the sluggish start.
But what do I know, I\'m just a forum jockey.
[/quote:220008743f]

I still believe that the org made the decision in the off season to have a more ball-control oriented offense so as to keep the opposing offenses from running up the totals on our D. To me, that is the reason why McCarthy\'s play calling went from occasionally annoying in 2002 to laughable one season later.

I\'m pretty sure WhoDat wrote recently something to the effect that given the situation he was fairly good at predicting what McCarthy would call. I have had the same feeling most of this season especially in 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1 situations.

I guess I shouldn\'t complain. It worked, didn\'t it? The defensive stats were better in 2003.

joker-saint

2004 must haves in the college draft.
1. Reshaun Woods WR(oklahoma St.)
2. Sean Taylor S(Miami)
3. Deangelo Hall CB(Virginia Tech.)
4. Antwon Odom DE(Alabama)
5. Vince Wilfork T(Miami)
6. Teddy Lehman OLB(Oklahoma)
7. Rod Davis ILB(Southern Miss.)
8. Shawn Andrews OT(Arkansas)
This may say im practice squad, but ive been a loyal fan no matter what since i was 7 years old. This is the best ive ever seen the saints since the hilliard and hayward days. All **** aside, Go SAINTS!!!!

[Edited on 8/1/2004 by joker-saint]