Smart changes helping the Saints be contenders

11-30-2011, 06:24 PM

The Saints might look the same as they did in Super Bowl XLIV, but there are some major differences.

Sure, Sean Payton is still in the driver’s seat, with his crutches in the passenger side. And the chassis looks the same: Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Will Smith, the offense of a thousand formations and the Gregg Williams defense of a million blitzes. But there has been a lot of redesign under the hood. The Saints are winning with the help of a lot of players who were not around, or who had minor roles, during the team’s Super Bowl run.

Here’s a closer look at some of the new features available only on the 2011 Saints. Some are already well known. Some are less visible. All are making an impact.

Read more.
Tanier: Smart changes help Saints remain contenders - NFL- NBC Sports

jnormand · 11-30-2011, 06:30 PM

Nice read. Thanks!

foreverfan · 11-30-2011, 07:56 PM

Really? We have a million blitzes? Now I know what's wrong with the defense.

As Jon Gruden noted in the Monday night game, the 260-pound Graham often runs deep routes to draw coverage so Devery Henderson — one of the league’s fastest receivers — can run shorter routes underneath.

Love it. LOL

Danno · 11-30-2011, 07:57 PM

The Saints took a big risk when they let center Jonathan Goodwin leave as a free agent after the lockout. The only true center on their roster when Goodwin left was Matt Tennant, a former undrafted rookie with little experience

Undrafted rookie?

Beastmode · 12-01-2011, 04:53 PM

Tanier: Smart changes help Saints remain contenders - NFL- NBC Sports

ScottF · 12-01-2011, 05:00 PM

good read-
I like this line:
Enter De La Puente, a 26-year old “rookie” who has been involved in 20 roster transaction and zero games during a three-year non-career

44Champs · 12-01-2011, 05:16 PM

And I really liked this one:

Built for the Future: The Saints are far from a has-been champion trying to saddle up for one more Super Bowl run before Brees, Smith, Vilma and others pass their expiration dates. Graham, Ingram, De La Puente and Dunbar are just part of a young core that also includes defensive backs Malcolm Jenkins and Patrick Robinson and defensive end Cameron Jordan. The Saints are built to be a very good team for several more seasons.

jeanpierre · 12-02-2011, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by Danno

Undrafted rookie?

To the Editor...

In a recently posted article, entitled Smart Changes Help Saints Remain Contenders located at Tanier: Smart changes help Saints remain contenders - NFL- NBC Sports on the web a gross factual error is made.

Your employee, Mike Tanier, states in said article "The only true center on their roster when Goodwin left was Matt Tennant, a former undrafted rookie with little experience."

Mr. Tennant was, point of fact, drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft with the 158th pick; would refer you to the following articles

Matt Tennant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Matt Tennant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

and to his NFL.com player profile National Football League: NFL Draft 2011 - Matt Tennant

Would appreciate a note published below the article once said correction can be properly verified as Mr. Tanier failed to do.

As I am sure you'd agree, your writer has a fundamental obligation as a member of the press to verify his article before publication, even if he is associated with the New York Times...

Danno · 12-02-2011, 08:35 AM

Yep, and as always, our young players are brought along slowly, so I expect good things next year from Cam Jordan, Martez Wilson, Johnny Patrick, Jonathan Casillas, Junior Galette, and to a lesser extent, Jonathan Amaya, Isa Abdul-Quddus, Greg Romeus and maybe even Nate Bussey.

strato · 12-02-2011, 08:54 AM

Championship!

11-30-2011, 06:24 PM	#1
Threaded by WhoDat!656 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Shreveport,Louisiana Posts: 16,062 Rating: (0 votes - average) The Saints might look the same as they did in Super Bowl XLIV, but there are some major differences. Sure, Sean Payton is still in the driver’s seat, with his crutches in the passenger side. And the chassis looks the same: Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Will Smith, the offense of a thousand formations and the Gregg Williams defense of a million blitzes. But there has been a lot of redesign under the hood. The Saints are winning with the help of a lot of players who were not around, or who had minor roles, during the team’s Super Bowl run. Here’s a closer look at some of the new features available only on the 2011 Saints. Some are already well known. Some are less visible. All are making an impact. Read more. Tanier: Smart changes help Saints remain contenders - NFL- NBC Sports Marlboro Man likes this. Last edited by papz; 11-30-2011 at 07:17 PM..
Views: 2088

12-01-2011, 04:53 PM	#5
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126	Saint: Smart Changes Tanier: Smart changes help Saints remain contenders - NFL- NBC Sports
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126

12-01-2011, 05:16 PM	#7
44Champs Site Donor Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,589	And I really liked this one: Built for the Future: The Saints are far from a has-been champion trying to saddle up for one more Super Bowl run before Brees, Smith, Vilma and others pass their expiration dates. Graham, Ingram, De La Puente and Dunbar are just part of a young core that also includes defensive backs Malcolm Jenkins and Patrick Robinson and defensive end Cameron Jordan. The Saints are built to be a very good team for several more seasons.
44Champs Site Donor Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,589

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11-30-2011, 06:30 PM	#2
jnormand 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Free State of Idaho Posts: 5,687	Nice read. Thanks!

11-30-2011, 07:56 PM	#3
foreverfan 12,000 BS Posts Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 13,457 Blog Entries: 5	Really? We have a million blitzes? Now I know what's wrong with the defense. As Jon Gruden noted in the Monday night game, the 260-pound Graham often runs deep routes to draw coverage so Devery Henderson — one of the league’s fastest receivers — can run shorter routes underneath. Love it. LOL

11-30-2011, 07:57 PM	#4
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,723	The Saints took a big risk when they let center Jonathan Goodwin leave as a free agent after the lockout. The only true center on their roster when Goodwin left was Matt Tennant, a former undrafted rookie with little experience Undrafted rookie?

12-01-2011, 05:00 PM	#6
ScottF 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 6,324	good read- I like this line: Enter De La Puente, a 26-year old “rookie” who has been involved in 20 roster transaction and zero games during a three-year non-career

12-02-2011, 08:35 AM	#9
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,723	Yep, and as always, our young players are brought along slowly, so I expect good things next year from Cam Jordan, Martez Wilson, Johnny Patrick, Jonathan Casillas, Junior Galette, and to a lesser extent, Jonathan Amaya, Isa Abdul-Quddus, Greg Romeus and maybe even Nate Bussey.

12-02-2011, 08:54 AM	#10
strato Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: "Little Ole Town in Tejas" Posts: 7,586	Championship!