A gray off-season so far

FrenzyFan · 04-13-2004, 07:13 AM

While I have tried to feel optimistic and put a positive spin on this off-season, I have to confess that I feel somewhat "blah" about out free agency period. I am please we retained Howard, but the rest of our moves have left me feeling vaguely dissatisfied.

I see no real impactful changes made to this team. After last season, there is no doubt that impactful changes were needed. When I get really focused on single moves, I feel better about it (Young has a motor and plays 3, so Sully can move to 2!) But, at the end of last season I expected to fill the glaring holes I saw in our team namely at CB and LB. Thus far, I do not believe we have been successful

We just hired this CB from the Jags (5'11' said to be speedy) and we are told he will compete for a starting job with Thomas and Ambrose. If our standing two are close to the same level with the new guy, he is not very good. Don't get me wrong, I like Thomas but Ambrose is a complete waste. That new rule about illegal contact was designed with his type in mind. I've been watching game tape and he is so slow he has to hang on almost every play.

At LB, we haven't done anything and to me that was the highest priority to upgrade this off-season. Last year our best tackler (stat wise) was a safety (Bellamy). It staggers the imagination to think that stat does not belong to one of our LBs. It also lets you know where we are stopping most plays - hint, it ain't at the line of scrimmage.

We are right at the cusp of the draft now so I am hoping our acquisitions will help make me feel better about this season. My fear is that we will pick something like a WR in the first round and wait for "value" guys to fill ourCB and LB need. While a good (and dependable) WR would be a big help, we don't need a project player at LB - we need an immediate starter who will have impact.

Fiscally, I give us an A- this off-season.
Overall, I feel like we earned a C.

[Edited on 13/4/2004 by FrenzyFan]

Danno · 04-13-2004, 08:12 AM

While I have tried to feel optimistic and put a positive spin on this off-season, I have to confess that I feel somewhat \"blah\" about out free agency period. I am please we retained Howard, but the rest of our moves have left me feeling vaguely dissatisfied.

I see no real impactful changes made to this team. After last season, there is no doubt that impactful changes were needed. When I get really focused on single moves, I feel better about it (Young has a motor and plays 3, so Sully can move to 2!) But, at the end of last season I expected to fill the glaring holes I saw in our team namely at CB and LB. Thus far, I do not believe we have been successful

We just hired this CB from the Jags (5\'11\' said to be speedy) and we are told he will compete for a starting job with Thomas and Ambrose. If our standing two are close to the same level with the new guy, he is not very good. Don\'t get me wrong, I like Thomas but Ambrose is a complete waste. That new rule about illegal contact was designed with his type in mind. I\'ve been watching game tape and he is so slow he has to hang on almost every play.

At LB, we haven\'t done anything and to me that was the highest priority to upgrade this off-season. Last year our best tackler (stat wise) was a safety (Bellamy). It staggers the imagination to think that stat does not belong to one of our LBs. It also lets you know where we are stopping most plays - hint, it ain\'t at the line of scrimmage.

We are right at the cusp of the draft now so I am hoping our acquisitions will help make me feel better about this season. My fear is that we will pick something like a WR in the first round and wait for \"value\" guys to fill ourCB and LB need. While a good (and dependable) WR would be a big help, we don\'t need a project player at LB - we need an immediate starter who will have impact.

Fiscally, I give us an A- this off-season.
Overall, I feel like we earned a C.

[Edited on 13/4/2004 by FrenzyFan]

Good points, but I think the plan was continuity this year. Last year we had wholesale changes on defense. Majo shakeup. What was the result? A team that looked lost fro the 1st half of the season. Granted we suffered the 2nd most injuries in NFL history, but we looked lost nonetheless.
Everyone will be on the same page this year. A few key additions in Young, Craft, Nesbit, Stecker, Gash have given us quality depth. We should start strong and finish strong. We\'ll add some young playmakers in the draft.
To me this was a B-plus offseason so far. The only thing I regret is that we didn\'t land a good free agent LB. But I can\'t complain about anything else.

WhoDat · 04-13-2004, 10:50 AM

I agree FF, but I will say that I am less upset at this point this year than I was at the same time last off-season. The Saints just make me scratch my head. They have the 5th most money under the cap last off-season and the third most this season. In two years a trade for Tebucky is the only move that brought a big name, and even he was a letdown? How is that possible? Especially with the glaring needs you mentioned.

I have the same feeling everytime I see this team play. I look at the talent and think, if they could just get their sh!t together they\'d be great. But they never can get it together. Not during the season, not in the off-season. Thus, my personal dissatisfaction with Haslett and Loomis.

Euphoria · 04-13-2004, 11:00 PM

Yeah but... even with major moves in the Off-season there still hasn\'t been anything exciting going on in the win loss column. I think its more with the system we have... we need a change in the way they do buisness and train.

JimBone · 04-13-2004, 11:29 PM

as much as i would have loved to see some big name guys come in this year (Plummer, Gold, Lynch, etc) i am satisfied for one reason. I will be the first to admit that this was the most boring off season in a long time...but this is also the first year the Saints didnt completely rehaul one side of the ball. Each year, you have seen the Saints overhaul one complete unit and all that does is lead to inconsistency. I am hoping that just adding 2 or 3 new starters on defense and adding some depth to both sides will lead to more continuity instead of wasting an entire season of gelling and getting used to playing with each other. Now maybe these guys can have the confidence in the guy next to him to make a play and not get nervous or antsy and commit a pre-snap penalty.

Danno · 04-14-2004, 08:02 AM

as much as i would have loved to see some big name guys come in this year (Plummer, Gold, Lynch, etc) i am satisfied for one reason. I will be the first to admit that this was the most boring off season in a long time...but this is also the first year the Saints didnt completely rehaul one side of the ball. Each year, you have seen the Saints overhaul one complete unit and all that does is lead to inconsistency. I am hoping that just adding 2 or 3 new starters on defense and adding some depth to both sides will lead to more continuity instead of wasting an entire season of gelling and getting used to playing with each other. Now maybe these guys can have the confidence in the guy next to him to make a play and not get nervous or antsy and commit a pre-snap penalty.

Exactly.
This defense started to play better toward the end of the season. The Offense looked like it was supposed to. Everyone should be on the same page this year with several players with a performance chip on their shoulder.

Horn: Dropped too many game winning catches. Probably wants to redeem himself more than any man on this team.

Pathon: Usually quite dependable, had a down year, last year of his contract, usually spells big season.

Brooks: Has all-world talent interlaced with bone-headed mishaps. At the end of last season (once Haz took off the kid gloves) he looked as good as any QB in the league.
This guy may explode next year.

McAllister: He was run down by a scub CB. Did very little down the stretch, looked fat and out of shape (read some of my old posts, I said this last December). He may just decide this is HIS team and HIS HOUSE! If he comes in at 225, watch out 2000 yards rushing is at his fingertips.

Conwell: A disappointing 1st year from a true professional. I\'d be shocked if he doesn\'t rebound with a spectacular year.

LB\'s: The laughing stock of this team. Every man on this unit should feel like he was slapped in the face. If this whole unit doesn\'t improve, it never will. Hodge and Allen are ready to step up or step out. Both know it. Look for both to surprise us.
Its a win-win. If they don\'t step up, there gone.

Tebucky Jones: From what I\'ve heard he\'s a great kid who really wants to improve. I expect him to step up and become the impact player they want him to be.

Carney: Missed more kicks in his last 4 games than he usually miised in 3 seasons.
Look for him to iron out his new-turf problems.

I certainly hope I\'n not being overly optimistic.

JimBone · 04-14-2004, 03:07 PM

Danno...that is a pretty good synopsis of the Saints season last year and what to expect this year. I think that either Allen or Hodge has got to prove himself this season as an established player in the NFL and not just a speedy LB with potential. I can think of at least 4 TD\'s Horn dropped last year and i dont see it happening again. Tebucky Jones may very well be the most talented player on the team, but he just has to put it all together. He missed a ton of tackles last year, there is no debating that, but do you guys realize the plays he made that Knight or Bellamy would not have made based on his speed alone. I cant think of many instances when those guys were able to chase someone down from behind and Jones did do that last year. IF we get solid play from our LB\'s and CB\'s this year...the Saints can be a team to watch.

04-13-2004, 07:13 AM	#1
FrenzyFan 100th Post Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 406	A gray off-season so far While I have tried to feel optimistic and put a positive spin on this off-season, I have to confess that I feel somewhat "blah" about out free agency period. I am please we retained Howard, but the rest of our moves have left me feeling vaguely dissatisfied. I see no real impactful changes made to this team. After last season, there is no doubt that impactful changes were needed. When I get really focused on single moves, I feel better about it (Young has a motor and plays 3, so Sully can move to 2!) But, at the end of last season I expected to fill the glaring holes I saw in our team namely at CB and LB. Thus far, I do not believe we have been successful We just hired this CB from the Jags (5'11' said to be speedy) and we are told he will compete for a starting job with Thomas and Ambrose. If our standing two are close to the same level with the new guy, he is not very good. Don't get me wrong, I like Thomas but Ambrose is a complete waste. That new rule about illegal contact was designed with his type in mind. I've been watching game tape and he is so slow he has to hang on almost every play. At LB, we haven't done anything and to me that was the highest priority to upgrade this off-season. Last year our best tackler (stat wise) was a safety (Bellamy). It staggers the imagination to think that stat does not belong to one of our LBs. It also lets you know where we are stopping most plays - hint, it ain't at the line of scrimmage. We are right at the cusp of the draft now so I am hoping our acquisitions will help make me feel better about this season. My fear is that we will pick something like a WR in the first round and wait for "value" guys to fill ourCB and LB need. While a good (and dependable) WR would be a big help, we don't need a project player at LB - we need an immediate starter who will have impact. Fiscally, I give us an A- this off-season. Overall, I feel like we earned a C. [Edited on 13/4/2004 by FrenzyFan]
FrenzyFan 100th Post Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 406

04-13-2004, 08:12 AM	#2
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	A gray off-season so far While I have tried to feel optimistic and put a positive spin on this off-season, I have to confess that I feel somewhat \"blah\" about out free agency period. I am please we retained Howard, but the rest of our moves have left me feeling vaguely dissatisfied. I see no real impactful changes made to this team. After last season, there is no doubt that impactful changes were needed. When I get really focused on single moves, I feel better about it (Young has a motor and plays 3, so Sully can move to 2!) But, at the end of last season I expected to fill the glaring holes I saw in our team namely at CB and LB. Thus far, I do not believe we have been successful We just hired this CB from the Jags (5\'11\' said to be speedy) and we are told he will compete for a starting job with Thomas and Ambrose. If our standing two are close to the same level with the new guy, he is not very good. Don\'t get me wrong, I like Thomas but Ambrose is a complete waste. That new rule about illegal contact was designed with his type in mind. I\'ve been watching game tape and he is so slow he has to hang on almost every play. At LB, we haven\'t done anything and to me that was the highest priority to upgrade this off-season. Last year our best tackler (stat wise) was a safety (Bellamy). It staggers the imagination to think that stat does not belong to one of our LBs. It also lets you know where we are stopping most plays - hint, it ain\'t at the line of scrimmage. We are right at the cusp of the draft now so I am hoping our acquisitions will help make me feel better about this season. My fear is that we will pick something like a WR in the first round and wait for \"value\" guys to fill ourCB and LB need. While a good (and dependable) WR would be a big help, we don\'t need a project player at LB - we need an immediate starter who will have impact. Fiscally, I give us an A- this off-season. Overall, I feel like we earned a C. [Edited on 13/4/2004 by FrenzyFan] Good points, but I think the plan was continuity this year. Last year we had wholesale changes on defense. Majo shakeup. What was the result? A team that looked lost fro the 1st half of the season. Granted we suffered the 2nd most injuries in NFL history, but we looked lost nonetheless. Everyone will be on the same page this year. A few key additions in Young, Craft, Nesbit, Stecker, Gash have given us quality depth. We should start strong and finish strong. We\'ll add some young playmakers in the draft. To me this was a B-plus offseason so far. The only thing I regret is that we didn\'t land a good free agent LB. But I can\'t complain about anything else.

04-13-2004, 10:50 AM	#3
WhoDat 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,631	A gray off-season so far I agree FF, but I will say that I am less upset at this point this year than I was at the same time last off-season. The Saints just make me scratch my head. They have the 5th most money under the cap last off-season and the third most this season. In two years a trade for Tebucky is the only move that brought a big name, and even he was a letdown? How is that possible? Especially with the glaring needs you mentioned. I have the same feeling everytime I see this team play. I look at the talent and think, if they could just get their sh!t together they\'d be great. But they never can get it together. Not during the season, not in the off-season. Thus, my personal dissatisfaction with Haslett and Loomis.
WhoDat 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,631	\"Excuses, excuses, excuses. ThatÃ¢Â€Â™s all anyone ever makes for the New Orleans SaintsÃ¢Â€Â™ 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.\"

04-13-2004, 11:00 PM	#4
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	A gray off-season so far Yeah but... even with major moves in the Off-season there still hasn\'t been anything exciting going on in the win loss column. I think its more with the system we have... we need a change in the way they do buisness and train.

04-13-2004, 11:29 PM	#5
JimBone 500th Post Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Thibodaux, La Posts: 614	A gray off-season so far as much as i would have loved to see some big name guys come in this year (Plummer, Gold, Lynch, etc) i am satisfied for one reason. I will be the first to admit that this was the most boring off season in a long time...but this is also the first year the Saints didnt completely rehaul one side of the ball. Each year, you have seen the Saints overhaul one complete unit and all that does is lead to inconsistency. I am hoping that just adding 2 or 3 new starters on defense and adding some depth to both sides will lead to more continuity instead of wasting an entire season of gelling and getting used to playing with each other. Now maybe these guys can have the confidence in the guy next to him to make a play and not get nervous or antsy and commit a pre-snap penalty.
	Aaaaaayyyyyy!! -The Fonz

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04-14-2004, 08:02 AM	#6
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	A gray off-season so far as much as i would have loved to see some big name guys come in this year (Plummer, Gold, Lynch, etc) i am satisfied for one reason. I will be the first to admit that this was the most boring off season in a long time...but this is also the first year the Saints didnt completely rehaul one side of the ball. Each year, you have seen the Saints overhaul one complete unit and all that does is lead to inconsistency. I am hoping that just adding 2 or 3 new starters on defense and adding some depth to both sides will lead to more continuity instead of wasting an entire season of gelling and getting used to playing with each other. Now maybe these guys can have the confidence in the guy next to him to make a play and not get nervous or antsy and commit a pre-snap penalty. Exactly. This defense started to play better toward the end of the season. The Offense looked like it was supposed to. Everyone should be on the same page this year with several players with a performance chip on their shoulder. Horn: Dropped too many game winning catches. Probably wants to redeem himself more than any man on this team. Pathon: Usually quite dependable, had a down year, last year of his contract, usually spells big season. Brooks: Has all-world talent interlaced with bone-headed mishaps. At the end of last season (once Haz took off the kid gloves) he looked as good as any QB in the league. This guy may explode next year. McAllister: He was run down by a scub CB. Did very little down the stretch, looked fat and out of shape (read some of my old posts, I said this last December). He may just decide this is HIS team and HIS HOUSE! If he comes in at 225, watch out 2000 yards rushing is at his fingertips. Conwell: A disappointing 1st year from a true professional. I\'d be shocked if he doesn\'t rebound with a spectacular year. LB\'s: The laughing stock of this team. Every man on this unit should feel like he was slapped in the face. If this whole unit doesn\'t improve, it never will. Hodge and Allen are ready to step up or step out. Both know it. Look for both to surprise us. Its a win-win. If they don\'t step up, there gone. Tebucky Jones: From what I\'ve heard he\'s a great kid who really wants to improve. I expect him to step up and become the impact player they want him to be. Carney: Missed more kicks in his last 4 games than he usually miised in 3 seasons. Look for him to iron out his new-turf problems. I certainly hope I\'n not being overly optimistic.

04-14-2004, 03:07 PM	#7
JimBone 500th Post Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Thibodaux, La Posts: 614	A gray off-season so far Danno...that is a pretty good synopsis of the Saints season last year and what to expect this year. I think that either Allen or Hodge has got to prove himself this season as an established player in the NFL and not just a speedy LB with potential. I can think of at least 4 TD\'s Horn dropped last year and i dont see it happening again. Tebucky Jones may very well be the most talented player on the team, but he just has to put it all together. He missed a ton of tackles last year, there is no debating that, but do you guys realize the plays he made that Knight or Bellamy would not have made based on his speed alone. I cant think of many instances when those guys were able to chase someone down from behind and Jones did do that last year. IF we get solid play from our LB\'s and CB\'s this year...the Saints can be a team to watch.
	Aaaaaayyyyyy!! -The Fonz