AlaskaSaints

Do they inspect the power grid for night games?

It is still possible they were icing Big Ben. He had an injection that would only last 3 hours and they inadvertently added an hour to that with a power outage. An UNHEARD-OF power outage.

I would put nothing past a football program to pull some crazy shat over a crucial win or loss.

That Packers slip-and-slide was REAL. Even the announcers called it.

Total B.S.

Alaska

thebdj

Dont you think we are all getting caught up in all this rubbish about being away from home, being outside, checking the weather, checking the moon, seeing if the stars are aligned...

As Public Enemy famously said - Don't Believe the Hype!

To win the Superbowl you have to be good enough to win home and away, inside and outside and beat a variety of teams. The way the Saints are playing, conducting themselves and how things appear in preparation, they have a really REALLY good shot at going all the way.

Let's not get drawn into these conversations. If we make it an issue, it becomes an issue.

WHO DAT!

Rickh

That's what gets me, I've heard a ton of people talk about the Saints record outside. BUT NOT WHY!!

There really isn't any logic in it just "they don't play good outside". This is a bunch of crap.

How about this instead, because of the O-Line problems early in the season, the Saints offense had trouble with protections and run blocking. They got that straitened out after the Rams games and haven't looked back.

and put that together with:
Since the Rams game, the Saints only played three games away from the dome. ATL, TEN, and MIN. All victories.

The away stats everybody is talking about are heavily weighted to the early part of the schedule that was before we got some of those issues addressed.

There's no voodoo here it was just a fluke of the schedule of when our home games were vs. away.

SaintsBro

The slip-and-slide effect on the field (much like we saw in Green Bay) is NOT just from sprinklers or water. It can be caused by re-sodding or putting down new grass, on part or all of the field, and not leaving enough time for the grass to grow proper roots and dig in.

It's basically a lot like those rolls or carpet chunks of grass that you see at Home Depot. You put pressure on them, or stress, and the grass easily rips and falls apart, exposing the dirt or sod beneath. Also, the water from sprinklers can become trapped underneath the layer of grass, and when the grass rips or tears, because it doesn't have any roots, the water or mud hidden underneath the field comes up. So it can be dry as a bone weather-wise, and no rain for two weeks, the grass can be dry on top, and still be soggy and mud-like underneath, once the grass gets ripped or starts to come up. I guarantee you the field at Candlestick will look green and pretty at the start of the game, but it will become a sloppy, sloggy, disgusting mess by the 2nd or 3rd quarter. They have to slow the Saints down. They WILL do this.

Srgt. Hulka

Here's what's going to be the extent of the field inspection:
NFL inspector walks into Candlestick, takes a look at the field, stops for a second or two, scratches his chin and says: "Yep...uh huh...yep...I see it...there's definately a field here. Check. We're good to go."

SaintsBro

I have said this before, but I STILL think we're gonna see a situation at Candlestick with, one sloppy, muddy, re-sodded end of the field and one pristine one. And even if the Niners win the toss, I would not be surprised to see them elect to pick which direction they will defend, and set it up so that the Saints are headed into that end zone in the 2nd and 4th, rather than elect to receive the kickoff. SO watch for the Niners to win the toss and pick an end zone, rather than electing to take the ball. Then you'll know the field trickery is on.

ScottF

record highs expected for Saturday. No rain all week

Mardigras9

Exactly, if the field is wet, it's on purpose.

mike27

Whatever they do, it'll make the running game difficult for both sides.

The only advantage I see in it would be perhaps SF would have a better idea as to cleat sizes. I'd think bigger cleats would be better on those surfaces. I have no doubt, extra sizes will be brought, and I suspect they've been practicing on turf, at least some, as well as outside.

It is true you've got other factors outside, like sun and shadows casting onto the fields, looking into the sun, the brightness, darkness, and of course the big one, wind. Unless the wind gets pretty ferocious, it won't affect the shorter passes. Once again, that disadvantage goes to both sides.

So I think we're going to see a very good game. It may be lower scoring than usual. I'm not sure why I feel that way, but I do. I hope I'm wrong, since I love seeing the Saints' run up the score.

Budsdrinker

Saints are doing a walk through today on the field and they will have pregame warm ups on it tomorrow. If they can't figure out the field conditions shame on them. I would think after the first game this year on a slick lambeau they would know to bring extra cleats.