GumboBC

In the past, NFL teams were built to win in the future. It consisted with teams primarily going out and drafting players and slowly grooming them until their time had arrived.

The teams who did well in the draft were the teams that usually stayed on top for several years and sometimes for the better part of the decade. The 49’ers, Cowboys, and the Redskins are examples of those teams, to name a few.

Today, teams still use the draft to build their teams, but they are also signing free agents to help their team win now.

The one difference that stands out in my mind about today’s NFL compared to life before free agency is that the successful teams build for today and not for the future.

If you look the top coaches in the NFL such as Andy Reid, Bill Parcells, Jon Gurden, and Bill Belichick they all have one thing in common, and that is they like to bring in proven veterans. They don’t necessarily have to be big name free agents, but the point is they don’t like to depend on a lot of rookies or unproven players. And for good reason.

Today the difference in most games comes down to which team makes the least mistakes. Obviously, having as many experienced veterans on the field as possible lessens the chance of mistakes occurring. One of the other advantages veterans bring is that they are usually able to pick up a scheme quicker than some rookie or a player that’s only been in the league for a couple of years. Also, veterans are used to playing against NFL caliber talent. They aren’t overwhelmed by the competetion.

One other thing you see the top coaches do is bringing in players they have coached before. This is a huge advantage because these players already know the scheme and they know what the coach expects.

No team can fill their entire roster with proven veterans, however. They are going to have players that have only been with the team for a year or two and they are going to have rookies.

But, by having as many proven players as possible they don’t have to rely on the unproven players as much and they bring them along a little slower. Also, by not having a roster full of unproven players, the time frame is shortened when trying to get everyone on the same page.

We all hear about the magical “gelling� process. Well, this “gelling� process is much shorter when you don’t have so many unproven players.

Plus having a veteran roster also brings a more professional atmosphere to the locker room. Young players are less likely to step out of line and it makes the coaches job just that much easier.

If you look at what the Saints have done, you’ll see they have taken a different approach. Haslett and co. seem to like to depend on younger players and develop them. Of course, all teams develop players, but the Saints just depend on them much more.

Just going down the Saints roster the last couple of years, here are some of those players:

1. Donte’ Stallworth
2. Deuce McAllister
3. Le Charles Bentley
4. Montre’ Holland
5. Jonathan Sullivan
6. Charles Grant
7. Aaron Books
8. Tebucky Jones


Some of these players have been with the Saints longer than others but they are still very young players. And a lot of these players are at “key� positions. Then you have players like Tebucky Jones who never really was a full-time starter with the Patriots.

Then add in the all the player turnover every year and it’s little wonder why this team has been inconsistent.

But, this year could be different. This is Brooks 4th year as a starter. Deuce will be starting for the 3rd consecutive year. This is Stallworth’s 3rd year, which is usually when receivers have their breakout year. Sullivan will be in his second year, which is usually a much better year for a defensive tackle. Charles Grant will be in his 3rd year and he shouldn’t have to be worried about being doubled teamed every play with Darren Howard and Will Smith in the fold. Then you have your proven veterans like Joe Horn, Wayne Gandy, Jerry Fontenot, and Darren Howard. Also brought in was Brian Young who should bring a much-needed attitude to the defensive line. And if that isn’t enough, we brought John Pease back.

There are some other players I haven’t mentioned like Sedrick Hodge and James Allen that will be counted on, but they are much more familiar with the system than they have been in the past and should have a much better supporting cast.

Plus add in the fact this is the first year we don’t have 10 new guys that have to learn the system.

While all of this doesn’t guarantee success, it does look promising. No longer should we have guys that appear to be lost out on the field and if we have players that go down due to injury, we should have some capable backups who can step in.

With the difference only being 1 or 2 points between losing and winning, we should be in much better shape this year



[Edited on 10/7/2004 by GumboBC]

[Edited on 10/7/2004 by GumboBC]