CheramieIII

A good Article from the Times Picayune today.
It seems to happen every year. A National Football League team defies the experts, rises from oblivion and makes a run to the Super Bowl.
Carolina was that team last season. The Panthers played New England in Super Bowl XXXVIII a year after going 7-9 and finishing last in the NFC South Division.
In 2003, Tampa Bay won Super Bowl XXXVII, a year removed from finishing third in the NFC Central Division at 9-7.
New England won Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans in 2002, a worst-to-first championship after the Patriots struggled to a 5-11, last-place finish the previous season.
And those teams were not flukes. Of the 20 teams that have played in the past 10 Super Bowls, nine went 8-8 or worse and did not make the playoffs the previous year. That means a surprising 45 percent of recent Super Bowl participants were nothing special the season before making it to the Big Game.
The Saints certainly qualified as nothing special last season, finishing 8-8. But as the team prepares to start training camp on Friday, some NFL observers are starting to suggest what surely sounds preposterous to most New Orleanians: This year, the Saints are being mentioned as a team that could rise from nowhere to the Super Bowl.
"Without question," said Pete Prisco, senior NFL writer at CBS Sportsline.com. "I think they're going to be the surprise team in the league."
"There's no reason that it couldn't be us," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said. "But there's no reason it couldn't be those other 31 teams too. I don't think we're coming out of nowhere. I think people recognize that we have a lot of talent on this football team, including our own players and our own coaches."
Such a thought might be hard to swallow for the Saints' long-suffering fans, who are more accustomed to visions of dropped balls, errant field goals and blown leads. The franchise has won only one playoff game in its 37-year history. Its five postseason appearances are the fewest of any nonexpansion team in the league. And although coach Jim Haslett and Loomis have brought a level of respectability to the club, the team still hasn't won more than three games in a row since midway through the 2000 season.
In July, though, optimism abounds. And the Saints are quietly confident about their prospects this season, which begins Sept. 12 against Seattle in the Superdome.
Hard-working offseason
While other teams made headlines by signing big-name free agents or suffering off-the-field distractions, the Saints quietly enjoyed one of their most productive offseasons in the Haslett era.
The Saints had nearly 100 percent participation in its offseason program. Haslett and Loomis raved about the professionalism and attitude of the players and were pleased with the chemistry being fostered by the team's young leaders.
As the months passed, a quiet confidence has grown in players, coaches and team officials.
"I would like to think that we're flying under the radar a little bit," said John Pease, a veteran defensive line coach who joined the Saints' staff in the offseason. "As far as talent, I don't see any flaws. I really don't. And that attitude has been tremendous."
Pease, in his second tour with the Saints after an eight-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, said this year's New Orleans team reminds him of the 1999 Jacksonville team that went 14-2 and advanced to the AFC Championship Game. Before joining Haslett's staff, Pease said he'd heard speculation around the league that recent Saints teams "were not quite all together."
"That sure has not shown up," Pease said. "When the players take ownership of the team, you've got a chance. And this team has taken control of themselves."
The club returns 20 of 22 starters, 10 on offense and 10 on defense. Only Baltimore and Kansas City lost fewer starters. The offense boasts stars at nearly every position. LeCharles Bentley, Joe Horn and Deuce McAllister are Pro Bowl veterans. Donte Stallworth and Boo Williams are poised for breakout seasons.
The defense has more questions. The Saints tried to bolster the unit by signing free agent defensive tackle Brian Young, trading for cornerback Jason Craft and drafting defensive end Will Smith, linebacker Courtney Watson and defensive tackle Rodney Leisle. They also are counting on the return of defensive lineman Darren Howard, safety Mel Mitchell and linebacker Cie Grant, who missed the majority of the 2003 season because of injuries.
"They have far, far more talent than people think they do," Prisco said. "They're strong along both lines, and they have a ton of speed on offense.
"The whole thing will come down to (quarterback) Aaron Brooks. Is he ready to assume the role of being 'The Guy?' If he is, they're going to score a ton of points. If they can just make incremental improvements on defense, then I see a chance for this team to go 11-5."
Excitement in the air
The schedule is conducive to a quick start. Six of the Saints' first 10 games are at home and three of the four road games are against bottom feeders Arizona, Oakland and San Diego, who combined to win 12 games last season.
A quick start also is critical in the NFL. Attrition takes its toll on teams in the second half of the season. Last year, seven of the eight division leaders at the midway point made the playoffs.
"I think there is a little bit of a swagger," Loomis said. "I think we do have people in the building that do believe we're good enough."
Haslett, though, is taking a more cautious approach. When asked what his expectations are this season, he pauses before speaking.
"That's hard for me to answer," he said. "As a head coach, if you don't think you can win every game you play then something's wrong," he said. "If things come together the way they should -- and everybody has question marks this time of year -- then I think you have a pretty good football team."
Others believe, as well.
Veteran Dallas Morning News NFL columnist Rick Gosselin ranks the Saints seventh in his NFL power rankings and picks them to win the NFC South Division.
"I think they're due," Gosselin said. "One of the reasons I like them is no one's talking about them. They've got as much talent as (fellow division members) Carolina, Atlanta and Tampa Bay, but those teams are more topical. This a good year to sneak up on everybody. I think they're due."
"I think the players believe we have a good team, the coaches believe we have a good team, and I believe we have a good team," Loomis said. "Now, believing it and doing it are two different things. If I were a fan and I saw what happened to us last season and the year before when we were (7-2), then I'd be skeptical too."
Same old Saints?
Not everyone is a believer. The consensus of the national preseason magazines has New Orleans ranked near the bottom of the NFC South, typically picked third or fourth in the division.
It's not because the Saints don't have talent, but because it's a team that every year seems haunted by inconsistency.
"They're still such a schizophrenic team, they just never put a whole season together," said Don Banks, senior writer at Sports Illustrated. "Do they have talent? Yes. They have enough talent to come out of the NFC, if they get that kind of roll going. But it's hard to look at them and see a Carolina of '03. It's hard to see the Saints taking that quantum step. They've been too inconsistent under Haslett."
Motivation shouldn't be a problem.
Haslett knows his team needs to produce. After directing the Saints to the NFC West Division title and earning NFL Coach of the Year honors in his debut season, Haslett's teams have failed to make the playoffs in each of the past three seasons. They are one of just eight teams to do so in that stretch.
Typically, not making the playoffs four consecutive years has been a death knell for NFL coaches. Since 1990, only three coaches -- Jeff Fisher (1995-1998), Dave Shula (1992-1996) and Norv Turner (1994-1998) -- have failed to make the playoffs in four consecutive seasons and retained their job.
Haslett, who has been reluctant to discuss the subject, acknowledged the sense of urgency this summer, saying, "At some point, you've got to get over the hump."
Off the field, the club is deep in negotiations with the state on a long-term contract that could require legislative approval for new taxes. A winning season would help sway voters. It would also sell season tickets, whose sales have lagged behind the record-setting pace of 2003.
"Our expectations are high," Loomis said. "I'll be disappointed if we don't have a good season."
Just joking?
And in the department of crazy predictions, the Saints have another one on their side.
"South Park," the irreverent animated series on Comedy Central, made a prediction on one of its recent episodes. Eric Cartman, the show's portly star, tries to dupe his friends into believing he's "Awesome-O The Robot." Dressed in a cardboard box with "Awesome-O" printed on the front, Cartman tries to convince them of his super powers by soliciting trivia questions. After answering several questions, one friend challenges Awesome-O to predict the Super Bowl champion this year.
Awesome-O's response: "The New Orleans Saints."
The friends, of course, mock him derisively.
Coincidence? Or omen? There's a whole season to sort it out.
. . . . . . .

themightyduck

I saw that Awesome-O episode. Kinda sounded like a joke if you ask me.

WhoDat

Here\'s the link, by the way:

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpa...6910107460.xml

When you post an article, please post a link. Thanks.

Anyway, I thought that was a great article. Basic Points:

1. \" every year a National Football League team defies the experts, rises from oblivion and makes a run to the Super Bowl.\"

2. 9 of the last 20 Super Bowl teams were 8-8 or worse the year before...

3. Saints have all the talent to be that team this year.

4. Great participation and attitude from player in the off-season so far. Team is flying under the radar.

5. Kept 20 of 22 starters.

6. Bolstered the D with Young, Craft, Smith, Watson, Leisle. Howard, Mitchell, Grant to return.

7. \"The whole thing will come down to (quarterback) Aaron Brooks. Is he ready to assume the role of being \'The Guy?\' If he is, they\'re going to score a ton of points. If they can just make incremental improvements on defense, then I see a chance for this team to go 11-5.\" - From Pete Prisco, a guy I usually consider a total moron.

8. \"They\'re still such a schizophrenic team, they just never put a whole season together,\" said Don Banks, senior writer at Sports Illustrated. \"Do they have talent? Yes. They have enough talent to come out of the NFC, if they get that kind of roll going. But it\'s hard to look at them and see a Carolina of \'03. It\'s hard to see the Saints taking that quantum step. They\'ve been too inconsistent under Haslett.\"

9. Typically, not making the playoffs four consecutive years has been a death knell for NFL coaches. Since 1990, only three coaches have failed to make the playoffs in four consecutive seasons and retained their job.

10. The schedule is conducive to a quick start. Six of the Saints\' first 10 games are at home and three of the four road games are against bottom feeders Arizona, Oakland and San Diego, who combined to win 12 games last season.


Hhmm - seems to hit it on the head to me... except he didn\'t stress the importance of the D-line in stopping the run, though he did talk a lot with Pease.

Keys: (In no particular order)
1. Brooks needs to be consistent and a leader.
2. McCarthy needs to spread the field and keep things explosive.
3. Everyone needs to stay healthy.
4. Stallworth and/or some other young WR needs to step up.
5. Deuce needs to come on strong in December.
6. The D-line needs to be fierce and disruptive.
7. Watson or whoever is at MLB needs to make plays.
8. We CANNOT get hurt in the secondary.
9. Venturi needs to make his D more aggressive.
10. Special teams needs to get better in coverage and especially on returns.

That\'s my .02.

\"Excuses, excuses, excuses. That’s all anyone ever makes for the New Orleans Saints’ 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.\"

CheramieIII

Whodat how do you post a link?

themightyduck

I can answer that. When you\'re posting a reply, look right above the box where you type. Click on the globe icon. That makes (url)(/url) pop up in the typing area. Then just type in the URL address between the (url) and (/url).

CheramieIII

Thanks

Puddinhead

<In a very nasally voice>

\"Post a link, dumbass!!\"

(Just kidding....it was Cartman, not me!!! LOL)

WhoDat

Seriously, what\'s going on here? Nobody wants to comment on an article about how the Saints are going to the Super Bowl this season? An article that criticized AB and Haz?

Was I absent on the day the sedative was passed out? A week from camp and you sissies want to talk about what you\'ve got in your CD player over in the \"everything else\" section. WW and Granola boy need to be strung up by their toenails for that move!

CheramieIII

Thanks Whodat, my sentiments exactly.