All Trash Talk aside, what do you expect to learn
 

Ok, we're two weeks into a season with a shortened offseason and I think we're really going to learn a lot more about every team in the next 3 weeks. Normally you don't know much about your team until after week 2 but I've seen sloppy play (and even sloppier scores) all over the league. Its been peppered with good games, but even good games have had a lot of sloppy play in them.

Being the Saints, y'all know a bit more about your team than we do. Unfortunately, I don't think that you guys will really teach us much about our team. The question for the Texans is can we handle a physical team. Y'all aren't the Colts (with Manning, meaning a finesse team) but you're not exactly the Ravens/Steelers either. The only thing I think we could learn is that we need to go back to the drawing board. I don't think that's the case but if we show up and get blown out, we have a real problem. The same goes for you guys. I can see losing to GB. No shame in that. For both of these teams, they are good football teams. I don't think there's shame in losing to either one but if one team or the other gets blown out I think that fanbase should be pretty pissed.

I think we've both got to capable offenses that can score in bunches. Our defense has looked much improved against two impotent offenses but I think it has been a nice tune up. The colts were kind of like when UT plays UTEP if you know what I mean. That's not to offend Colts fans but the Colts sans Manning are like the Temptations without David Ruffin [cue David Ruffin 'Without David Ruffin' Y'all ain't Nuffin]. Miami... they are a defensive presence but Chad Henne is the new Rex Grossman, minus the fluke SB appearance. If he could just get to Trent Dilfer's level they might make the playoffs.

Ok. So enough of a recap. I expect a shootout. I think both offenses can put up points and hurt you in different ways. Your defense is hurt by some departures and ours is helped by some additions. The preseason game was about useless in determining who is better because... its the preseason. In a lot of ways I think this depends on who stops the run. Or slows it down is probably a better term for it. Whoever does that will likely control the clock and wear the other defense out. Of course that is assuming that both teams take care of the ball.

Any honest, (no trash talk) opinions? Predictions? I'm in Shreveport right now... is there an easy way (other than stub hub) to get tickets?

Mike

If you don't want to pay the premium for tickets, I suggest you troll all the Saints message boards along with the LSU Tiger message boards to see if there is anyone willing to sell at face value. Other than that, you'll probably be paying a marked up price for them.

As far as predictions, if Foster/Tate/Ward can gash us for 200 yards, I think you guys have a good chance of winning. If not, I predict pain... and lots of it. If this game becomes an aerial attack, I see Harper and Smith living in your back field.

Thanks. I'll start looking. I've got family in the NO area so I have a place to stay down there. (I actually used to spend summers in State Line LA so I've been through NO a lot).

Our line gets a lot of good press but in reality what works well for us is the bootleg and I think that's a lot of the reason the line gets a lot of good press. It looked terrible last week against Miami TBH. I agree that if we gash anyone for 200 yards we've probably won the game ftr but I think 150 is a good sign. I doubt Ward sees the field really, if Foster/Tate are healthy. If Foster/Tate are healthy that actually makes us a VERY scary team. Being able to run a fresh RB out there all the time is one thing but being able to run a fresh RB who could likely start for 30 teams in the league (Foster for sure) and another one who can probably start for 20-25 teams in the league (tate)... I don't know when the last time we saw that was. Lewis/Holmes?

It will be an interesting game if you ask me.

Mike

If we can't stop the run, we don't have much of a chance. This game is all out defenses.

If you're willing to take the chance, there are always guys on the street before the dome trying to sell tickets. Also they starting selling tickets at the dome box office from the ticketmaster ticket exchange site this year and it's possible to get a ticket at face value when it gets close to kickoff.
Should be a good game with 2 top 5 offenses. Whoever forces the most turnovers wins this game.

Super Bowl Preview? hmmmmmm

No way .... the only way the Texcan't get a SB preview is my subscribing to the Ticket on DriectTV or actually going to the game by buying tickets.

...More likely we'll see that Foster still has a hammy. Hopefully the Saints can run for over 250 yards and that Will Smith will be plenty rested in recording 4 sacks on Schaub. We'll also learn that our newest Saints will heave a few memorable "remember me shots" of their own.... The Turk, Junyah, Casillas and company.:bng:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...e-foster-heals

Pipe dream, yeah? When is the last time the Saints rushed for 250 yards?

TexanMike - When you get to the Quarter, CALL ME.

I betcha I can tell you where you got your shoes!

Beyond that, this will be our statement game. And that's no trash talk.

Alaska

I went to La Tech and I've been at barksdale for the last 4 years. I know where I got my shoes.

Mike

250 is a bit much, but Miami did drop 153 rushing on them... They haven't shown the greatest run defense this year...

TM, I think you'll learn where your pass rush is this week. We've been
a rollercoaster in a lot of areas, but we consistenly keep Drew Brees upright. If you can (God forbid) get to Brees, you'll have something to hang your hat on.

Wade Phillips is a tried and tested D coordinator from hell, and you're going
to like the results.... Im hoping your defense doesnt "gell" this week.

And if Drew does happen to torch you, it does not mean your DB's are weak. He torches a lot of defensive backfields, using a blinding assortment of receivers. If you've never heard of Pierre Thomas, you will Sunday. At some point, he will do something impressive.

All BS aside, our defense is, in my opinion a big ?. So if you run over us on the ground, you might be on to something, but I wouldnt make too much of it.

If I were laying odds, I'd have us -2 for home field advantage, and thats about it.

Should be a good game - but if the FIns were able to get pressure on Schuab.... well. YOu might be in for a long day!!

Hi y'all. I have to disagree with Mike. I think we'll learn where our passrush and secondary is in this game. We'll also learn something about our pass protection. It looked like Tate struggled with blitz pickups last week and that could be a problem. I see us passing enough to keep your D honest and if y'all start stacking the box, we have a pretty good play action/bootleg game.

I think we'll scheme to try and keep Brees in check and dare you to run. That could be dangerous since y'all have Thomas, Ingram and dat gnat, Sproles. I think you really improved your running game in the offseason.
Hopefully we can keep Brees under 300 yds and maybe get a pick or two. Don't laugh. This is my dream. :)
The outcome should depend on who's D shows up for 4 quarters and who wins the turnover battle.
I'm glad I'm not a betting man.

AlaskaSaints, that shoes scam cracks me up. Someone has tried it on me every time I've been in the Quarter.
I'll be pulling for you guys after this game, so here's to a good game with no injuries.

Speaking of gnats, what did y'all do with Trindon Holliday? He's always on the training camp roster every year but when the season starts you don't hear anything about him. Is he on the PS, on the team, or cut?

Never mind, I just looked it up and see he's on your PS.

I seriously do think this will be a test for us both teams on both sides.

regardless of whether miami or indy are any good, I remember going into
the Falcons game in '06 2-0, and we hadnt beat anybody yet either. When we beat Atl, we knew we had something going on.

A Regular Season game in our Dome will be different than Pre-Season game in your stadium. The noise is crushing.
Our DL is completely healthy, and we get our best DL Will Smith back for the game.

The difference in this game just may be the home field advantage.

Agreed. That +3 you get for playing at home might just be all the difference in the world.