Offseason Overview: New Orleans Saints, Pessimistic or Dead-

whowatches · 06-16-2004, 12:52 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/featur...iew/saints2004

I'm gonna go with pessimistic. This review by ESPN basically takes us to task for not bringing in a boatload of free agents this year. I tend to think that we didn't need a slew of new folks more than we needed some consistency.

The writer also mentions that we had a whole at guard that needed to be addressed. Exsqueeze me? Really?

Now, I'll admit that I would've liked to have seen another FA linebacker and corner added during the offseason (that was before Craft), but adding free agents does not equal a championship. Just ask Dan Snyder. The tone of the article seems to suggest that nothing outside of the ordinary happened to our team last year. No injuries, no bad calls, no close games. It also fails to take into account the youth on this team.

I'm no reporter, and I definitely don't have the depth of resources that these guys actually have but c'mon, give us something that shows you got up off your tail and did some research.

But what do I know? I'm just a guy, sitting at a computer, waiting for football season to begin... Please hurry...
:casstet:

What ya'll think?

.02

[Edited on 6/16/2004 by pakowitz]

BrooksMustGo · 06-16-2004, 04:11 PM

This part was dead on:

But to us, the key remains quarterback Aaron Brooks, who at times flirts with greatness, but too often falls back into stretches of mind-boggling inconsistency. Look at New Orleans\' skill-position players and you have to conclude it is one of the best groups in the league. There is speed and playmaking skills and potential explosiveness. But the trigger man for the offense has to take the next step up the excellence ladder at some point. It\'s not good enough to be just a middle-tier quarterback, not with the talent that surrounds Brooks, and not with his skills set. So the onus is squarely on the five-year veteran, we suggest, to become something more than mediocre.

Danno · 06-16-2004, 05:11 PM

A very disappointing review. Whoever wrote it didn\'t do much homework at all.

He complains our biggest additions were Stecker and Gash?
How about Bryan Young, or Nesbit, or Craft?
How about re-signing crucial free-agents?

He claims we didn\'t address a huge concern at OFFENSIVE GUARD?
Bently, Nesbit, Jacox, Holland, and even Folau are able to play the OG position very well. If I had to pick one position we didn\'t need OG would be on a very short list.

He then states that \"what we\'re missing\" is CONSISTENCY?
OK, I\'ll buy that but I\'d put that about 3rd or 4th on a list of what we\'re missing.
If the main thing we\'re missing is consitency then why start the review trashing us for the lack of free-agent additions we made. If consistency tops the \"missing\" list then wouldn\'t it also follow that another year with basically the same young players improve consistency?

The bottom line is the Saints are not an attractive team to cover or review. Len probably assigned some flunky to cover us while his \"A\" guys cover the likes of Tampa Bay and Atlanta or some other media spotlight team.

If I have some time I thing I\'ll write my own review just to show how aweful ESPN is becoming.

If Brooks wore a #7 Jersey with Vick written across the back we\'d get top billing.

No problem, I\'ll enjoy being the Detroit Pistons of the NFL next year.

saintfanatic · 06-16-2004, 08:21 PM

OK I agree that OG is not a great need position of the Saints.
But - Brooks has not been the QB the Saints needed for the last few years.
Great stats but they do not tell the true story -
He has flashes of greatness and I think that is what makes everyone so crazy.
He has lacked leadership and desire - Again that is what makes all crazy.
It could also be why there are so many Jake lovers in NO.
He may not be as talented as AB but is a leader that has a strong desire to win.

dberce1 · 06-17-2004, 01:58 PM

Call me crazy, (I\'m a Saints fan, so that goes without saying), but this is definitely the saints year, as well as ABs. He;s worked on the fumbles in the offseason, and we have a ton of talent at the WR position. With a healthy offensive line, and a productive running back (got that sewed up), AB is coming out firing this year.

Also like the fact that Haz is lighting a fire under the teams ass. That\'s what I liked about him when he first got here.

SaintShreve · 06-17-2004, 03:05 PM

Devil\'s Advocate here. I agree that the article is pessimistic, but (hear me out here) - do you remember the last time that all the mags were really down on the Saints? That\'s right, the year that we made our playoff run (God Bless You Brad Milne).

I think we operate better as the underdog and when expectations are lowered. Think about it. I don\'t remember us, i.e. the fans, being so negative all the time when we sucked, or were expected to suck. We stood behind our team and said \"screw you\" to the rest of the league and anyone who thought they would get out of the Superdome without a punch in the mouth.

I, for one, am very happy to hear how negative ESPN, Street and Smith\'s and Athlon have all been. Maybe AB, the defense and our WR\'s will read all that undervaluing and respond. We sure didn\'t when the league and the sportswriters expected lofty things from the Black and Gold.

Keep the poor-mouthing coming... it may be just what we need.

06-16-2004, 12:52 PM	#1
whowatches 500th Post Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 575	Offseason Overview: New Orleans Saints, Pessimistic or Dead- http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/featur...iew/saints2004 I'm gonna go with pessimistic. This review by ESPN basically takes us to task for not bringing in a boatload of free agents this year. I tend to think that we didn't need a slew of new folks more than we needed some consistency. The writer also mentions that we had a whole at guard that needed to be addressed. Exsqueeze me? Really? Now, I'll admit that I would've liked to have seen another FA linebacker and corner added during the offseason (that was before Craft), but adding free agents does not equal a championship. Just ask Dan Snyder. The tone of the article seems to suggest that nothing outside of the ordinary happened to our team last year. No injuries, no bad calls, no close games. It also fails to take into account the youth on this team. I'm no reporter, and I definitely don't have the depth of resources that these guys actually have but c'mon, give us something that shows you got up off your tail and did some research. But what do I know? I'm just a guy, sitting at a computer, waiting for football season to begin... Please hurry... :casstet: What ya'll think? .02 [Edited on 6/16/2004 by pakowitz]
whowatches 500th Post Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 575

06-16-2004, 04:11 PM	#2
BrooksMustGo 1000 Posts + Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,762	Offseason Overview: New Orleans Saints, Pessimistic or Dead- This part was dead on: But to us, the key remains quarterback Aaron Brooks, who at times flirts with greatness, but too often falls back into stretches of mind-boggling inconsistency. Look at New Orleans\' skill-position players and you have to conclude it is one of the best groups in the league. There is speed and playmaking skills and potential explosiveness. But the trigger man for the offense has to take the next step up the excellence ladder at some point. It\'s not good enough to be just a middle-tier quarterback, not with the talent that surrounds Brooks, and not with his skills set. So the onus is squarely on the five-year veteran, we suggest, to become something more than mediocre.

06-16-2004, 05:11 PM	#3
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	Offseason Overview: New Orleans Saints, Pessimistic or Dead- A very disappointing review. Whoever wrote it didn\'t do much homework at all. He complains our biggest additions were Stecker and Gash? How about Bryan Young, or Nesbit, or Craft? How about re-signing crucial free-agents? He claims we didn\'t address a huge concern at OFFENSIVE GUARD? Bently, Nesbit, Jacox, Holland, and even Folau are able to play the OG position very well. If I had to pick one position we didn\'t need OG would be on a very short list. He then states that \"what we\'re missing\" is CONSISTENCY? OK, I\'ll buy that but I\'d put that about 3rd or 4th on a list of what we\'re missing. If the main thing we\'re missing is consitency then why start the review trashing us for the lack of free-agent additions we made. If consistency tops the \"missing\" list then wouldn\'t it also follow that another year with basically the same young players improve consistency? The bottom line is the Saints are not an attractive team to cover or review. Len probably assigned some flunky to cover us while his \"A\" guys cover the likes of Tampa Bay and Atlanta or some other media spotlight team. If I have some time I thing I\'ll write my own review just to show how aweful ESPN is becoming. If Brooks wore a #7 Jersey with Vick written across the back we\'d get top billing. No problem, I\'ll enjoy being the Detroit Pistons of the NFL next year.

06-16-2004, 08:21 PM	#4
saintfanatic Registered Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 35	Offseason Overview: New Orleans Saints, Pessimistic or Dead- OK I agree that OG is not a great need position of the Saints. But - Brooks has not been the QB the Saints needed for the last few years. Great stats but they do not tell the true story - He has flashes of greatness and I think that is what makes everyone so crazy. He has lacked leadership and desire - Again that is what makes all crazy. It could also be why there are so many Jake lovers in NO. He may not be as talented as AB but is a leader that has a strong desire to win.
saintfanatic Registered Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 35

06-17-2004, 01:58 PM	#5
dberce1 Chuck Liddells Right Hand Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Prairieville, Louisiana Posts: 1,227	Offseason Overview: New Orleans Saints, Pessimistic or Dead- Call me crazy, (I\'m a Saints fan, so that goes without saying), but this is definitely the saints year, as well as ABs. He;s worked on the fumbles in the offseason, and we have a ton of talent at the WR position. With a healthy offensive line, and a productive running back (got that sewed up), AB is coming out firing this year. Also like the fact that Haz is lighting a fire under the teams ass. That\'s what I liked about him when he first got here.

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06-17-2004, 03:05 PM	#6
SaintShreve Rookie Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Shreveport, LA Posts: 16	Offseason Overview: New Orleans Saints, Pessimistic or Dead- Devil\'s Advocate here. I agree that the article is pessimistic, but (hear me out here) - do you remember the last time that all the mags were really down on the Saints? That\'s right, the year that we made our playoff run (God Bless You Brad Milne). I think we operate better as the underdog and when expectations are lowered. Think about it. I don\'t remember us, i.e. the fans, being so negative all the time when we sucked, or were expected to suck. We stood behind our team and said \"screw you\" to the rest of the league and anyone who thought they would get out of the Superdome without a punch in the mouth. I, for one, am very happy to hear how negative ESPN, Street and Smith\'s and Athlon have all been. Maybe AB, the defense and our WR\'s will read all that undervaluing and respond. We sure didn\'t when the league and the sportswriters expected lofty things from the Black and Gold. Keep the poor-mouthing coming... it may be just what we need.
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