GumboBC

Randy Meuller on the Saints and the NFC South:


Randy Meuller: Saints are a team who have stars at key positions. Need to find a way to stop the run and haven\'t been able to do that. Have had a rotating door at DT. Thinks if Saints can\'t stop run this year with the players they have then they need to look at the guy that\'s running the defense. You can only change players so many times without something working and it might be the defensive scheme that Venturi is running that\'s the problem


Offense has lacked an idenity. They need to make up their mind whether they are more of a passing or running team. Hasn\'t seen a commitment to establish one or the other. Thinks Saints have the players on offense to be like a Green Bay offense.

The NFC South is such a balanced division where any team can win the division. Carolina was only a couple of plays from missing the playoffs last year.

Doesn\'t know if Saints will win the division but sees them getting a least a wild card berth.

Thinks Carolina is going to be a good team this year because of their defense. Thinks Carolina had career years from Delhomme and Steve Smith. Doesn\'t know if they can repeat the same success this year. Think are both good players and fits in with what the Panthers want. Thinks the talent in the NFL South is just so good he can\'t say the Panthers are the favorites.

Thinks the Panthers did the right thing with Jakes new contract. Thinks it would have ended up costing more it they had waited.

Thinks DeShawn Foster needs to get more playing time at runningback because he gives them a homerun threat.

Thinks Falcons will be an imporved team this year. It will be a mistake if Mora doesn\'t let Vick run as much. Doesn\'t like hearing Vick say he doesn\'t want to run as much because he will get injured.

Tampa will be competetive.

[Edited on 5/7/2004 by GumboBC]