BillyC

This is a serious question and I'd like to keep all the BS out of this thread. Of course, I know that's probably not possible -- ;) But, let's give it a try?

I'd like to know what the members of B&G see as being "postive" reasons the Saints will be improved? I don't want to know any of the negitive things. God knows, we heard everything imaginable under the sun that is negitive



[Edited on 28/1/2004 by BillyC]

Danno

its an old post but worth repeating imho:
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.

WhoDat

Well - if the Saints can strengthen the tackle position, add a backup to Deuce, return to \'02 form at the receiver position, and Brooks can take care of the ball, this unit could be better than it was two years ago.

Defensively, we need help. No BS, I wish I could be all high and jolly here, but they need help. Resign Howard and draft yet another DT and this group will be young, strong, athletic, and just generally fierce. Add a stud at MLB and keep Rodgers for another year and the linebacking corp can be average or better. Big free agent signings and draft picks at corner could really upgrade this group and then you just have to hope Tebucky plays better and Mitchell can be as good as everyone thought he would be. At least with Bellamy and Green we have depth at that position.

One good thing, I think that after a full offseason and the first three games of the regular season, Jim Haslett will actually figure out that the Saints have only run ONE middle wedge kickoff return since the \'02 season when Michael Lewis broke all kinds of NFL records. He\'ll fire Everest on the spot and the guy they find asleep in the gutter outside of the Dome on Poydras will do a better job simply by telling Lewis, \"don\'t run for the sidelines.\" Lewis returns to almost \'02 form and that helps the Saints win the field position game.

\"Excuses, excuses, excuses. That’s all anyone ever makes for the New Orleans Saints’ organization.\" - Eric Narcisse


\"Being a Saints fan is almost like being addicted to crack,\" he said.[i]\"You know you should stop, but you just can\'t.\"

BillyC

LMAO!! Now, that\'s a good one. :P

JKool

Number one reason why we should believe the Saints will improve: a health/healed defensive unit.

BillyC

Maybe we\'ll be improved and have luck go our way this year.

My question is:

ARE THE SAINTS SERIOUS ABOUT WINNING??

If the Saints are serious about winning they will concentrate on winning NOW. No more of this building for the FUTURE. The FUTURE is NOW!!

If the Saints are really serious about winning we will find out in the off-season.

1. Are they willing to spend the money on the BIG free agents and even overspend if they have too. Let\'s face it, sometimes you have to overspend if you feel like that player is going to have a big impact on your team. We aren\'t a big market team and that might mean having to overpay. I\'m not talking about getting rediculous though.

2. Will we draft players that will have an impact RIGHT AWAY?
3. Will Pease have an impact on the D-line.
4. Can Venturi be the man?
5. Can McCarthy get the offense back on track?
6. Can Haslett get this team to play with discipline?





[Edited on 29/1/2004 by BillyC]

WhoDat

WOW. I said this last offseason and got blasted for it. Want me to go find quotes? But now, now the future is now. A year ago, no, but now, it\'s really time. OK, we\'ll see how ticked off you are in five months when they have another offseason like last year. I realize Billy that we\'re not that different. You\'re me, on a one year delay. LMAO. :P