GumboBC

Jim Haslett was on NFL Huddle with Sean Salisbury and John Clayton yesterday. You can listen to the interview by clicking on the link at the bottom of this post.

Here are some of the things that were said:

Cornerbacks: Don't have a Champ Baily but have 4 versatile guys that can all play every position at cornerback. They should be able to mix and match and be ok.

Linebacker: If he had to line-up and play right now, Courtney Watson would be the starter. Says Courtney has all the intangibles that you want. He's smart, insitintive and works hard. But, this is a judgement made without seeing Courtney in pads. The position will be decided in training camp with the pads on. He's going to have to see how Courtney does in pads. Whoever starts at MLB is going to have to be the leader on defense and get everyone lined up correctly.

Defensive Line: Says they will rotate Daren Howard, Charles Grant, and Will Smith on 1st and 2nd downs. On 3rd down we will see all 3 on the field. Is going to alternate Howard and Grant at defensive tackle on 3rd down and let Will Smith play outside.


Area that has been lacking is talent on defense. You must have good players to get you where you want to go. Losing Le' Roi Glover and Joe Johnson set the defense back and haven't been talented enough on defense to make it to the playoffs. Then losing Darren Howard in the first game last year really hurt.

They've concentrated on defense the last couple of years and feels like they have enough talent on defense to make the playoffs. The keys on defense this year is whether Johnathan Sullivan and Charles Grant step up and play consistent all year and who is going to be their starting linebacker.

Offense: Haslett said in the past when he talked to Mike McCarthy before a game he told McCarthy they were going to need to score 30 to win. He says McCarthy woud look at him like he was crazy.

Haslett says the offense has been ranked in the top 10 the last 4 years, but there has been too much pressure on Brooks, Deuce and Horn because of the poor defense. The defense has got to play better so the offense doesn't have to win every game.

If Donte can stay healthy this year the offense will be better than last year. Says if Donte' stays healthy he can put up Randy Moss like numbers. Can score 15 or 16 TDs. Says Donte had really matured and he's proud of the progress he's made. It remains to be seen whether he can stay healthy.

Deuce is the idenity of the offense. Deuce is as good as any runningback in the league and is only getting better and that's the scary thing about it. Deuce can do anything you want him to. Deuce is lighter this year and made some cuts in practice sessions and the whole team stopped and said wow. Deuce got much better in pass blocking last year.

Aaron Brooks: Brooks did a nice job in the offseason and everytime he steps on the field he can get better. Says teams have won with a lot less talented QB's but they didn't have nearly the pressure on them as Brooks because they had better defenses. Brooks is always in situations where the game has to be won in the passing game. Say Brooks numbers (25TDs/8ints) shows he has a grasp on the offense and he gets better every year.

Well, that's all I can remember.






http://espnradio.espn.go.com/espnrad...howID=1604057#

[Edited on 5/7/2004 by GumboBC]

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]