HAVE THE SAINTS IMPROVED??? OFFENSE
 

HAVE THE SAINTS IMPROVED??? OFFENSE
Lets see, on offense not much was really needed except healthier more focused players.
I think we improved in both areas. From all accounts (from reliable sources, not our coaches) Stallworth looks to have answered the call. I can't think of a single position we downgraded that will have any significant impact.
Fullback you say? I don't think so. I've heard (from reliable sources, not our coaches) this Karney kid is blowing people up left and right. So for the 30% of the time he's in the game I think he'll do just fine.

Brooks, Horn, Deuce are already studs. I don't see a decline at all.
Offensive Line-Deeper and more powerful than last year. A healthy Bentley and Gandy are the keys. Our weak link is Holland's pass blocking, but I've heard (frs,noc) he's working hard on it and improving. Nesbit has looked really good (frs,noc) and may take over Holland's or Jacox's spot.
My only real fear is if Gandy were to go down. We'd have to move Riley to LT and play Folau or Stinch at RT. Not a pretty thought, although I've heard (frs,noc) Stinch has made drastic improvements over last year. Even so, it makes me a bit nervous.

TE's-What can you say. Probably one of the top units in the league. Boo and Conwell should both be better than last year and Hall is an incredible blocker and special teams standout. Zach is still a project, but a very promising one.

WR's-The addition of Henderson and the apparent health of Stallworth, combined with a more disciplined WR coach spells trouble for opposing defenses. I'm also encouraged by what I'm hearing about Pathon (frs,noc). He's put on more muscle, and is running consistent razor sharp routes.

I've also heard (frs,noc) that this Nathan Black kid is snathing everything thrown his way. Could he be a faster Willie Jackson? I know he's a longshot but now that Crowell's been cut you never know. I've also heard (frs,noc) mixed reviews on Gardner. He's improved drastically over last year but is still inconsistent. I think he makes the squad due his tremendous upside and potential. I also think if we tried to sneak him onto the PS he'd be claimed immediately.

How much better will the 2004 squad be than 2003? I think they'll be a top 10 unit in the league, but be a lot more consistent. Not as many feast or famine type games.

HAVE THE SAINTS IMPROVED??? OFFENSE
 

Very good analysis, Danno.

\"Feast or Famine\" games -- That\'s what we HAVE to avoid. Consistency is the KEY for our offense. We\'ve got the weapons to keep ANY defense off balance. But, I think McCarthy\'s play calling has lacked imagination. And I don\'t think he played to our strengths nearly enough.

I know Deuce is a great runningback, but we have relied on him too much. We are supposed to being going to the spread offense more and more one-back sets. I think that will losen defenses up and give Deuce more room to run.

Also, these players on offense have been together long enough where they should play as a cohesive unit.

We should be a top 3 offense. There\'s absolutely no reason for us not to be. And I\'m not worried about anything put POINTS. All that other stuff is great for some of you, but unimportant to me.

If our offense can put points on the board, well........then the rest is up to the defense.

HAVE THE SAINTS IMPROVED??? OFFENSE
 

You know, it\'s hard for me to tell either way right now.

This is yet another year in which the Saints seem to have just about everything ON PAPER. At least Stallworth is healthy and playing, and that\'s an upgrade. So is Boo. I don\'t like Brooks being hurt already, and the lack of talk about the O from camp is eery. Can\'t tell if it\'s good or bad.

On the flip side, the huge volumes of talk about the D makes me skeptical. It feels like hype. Further, I can\'t tell if the O is being ignored, taken as an automatic success, or if it\'s the media focusing on the D and not really Haslett.

In any case, I think both sides of the ball SHOULD be better this year. Then again, if the Saints have taught us anything over the years, it\'s that what SHOULD happen almost never DOES happen.

HAVE THE SAINTS IMPROVED??? OFFENSE
 

I don\'t live in Louisiana any more :( , so I get my info from many sources online only. BUT from what I am gathering we will be pleasantly surprised by our D. Not top 5 or anything like that. But after last year, it will be hard to expect too much, and so they will look better and keep us in games.

My worry is the offense. WhoDat makes good points. I felt last year, towards the end of the year, it was our offense that couldn\'t maintain a rhythm, and lost us games. Man, rhythm is key on offense.

It just seemed they were \'off-beat\' last season. Why? Who knows man. We just sit at home and biatch. So many variables come into play. But AB and McCarthy have to shoulder most of the responsibility. Maybe McCarthy up in heaven, rather than on the field, may help. AB....haven\'t heard really any quality critique, so who knows?

We must remember, the media, the NFL, the organizations themselves, are all going to hype up the teams some what. Why? $$$$$$. It sells seats. Too much money involved. So unless you pay for your analysis from some publication, be wary and have lots of grains of salt around.

I remember this time last year, I thought I should be buying my ticket to the SuperBowl already from all I heard. True we had injuries, fat a$$ players etc. but come on guys. Last year\'s team had more than injuries as a problem.

I am excited about this season and think they can win it all. Why not? But do I expect that? Hell no. If we beat the falcons twice, panthers twice, and crush the Bucs twice and lose the rest, this was a good season. If we make it to the playoffs, very good. Win in the playoffs...great season....etc.

i\'m a die-hard and don\'t care if they end up sucking. I\'ll *****, scream, shed tears, stomp, swear them off.....and then next week, have people over for the Saint\'s game. :D

HAVE THE SAINTS IMPROVED??? OFFENSE
 

Yes this Nathan Black guy I spotted on the second practice... stood out, got great hands, I am not sure about his speed but if you can get open and make grabs that isn\'t bad at all!!! Its good to see he is still there...

HAVE THE SAINTS IMPROVED??? OFFENSE
 

I think it\'s an issue of the offense being good, but how good is not yet known.

Nothing means that on the practice field they are meeting expectations. I don\'t plan to judge the offense in the preseason until the third game against the Bears on the 27th. By that point there should be a serious push for the starters to get prepped for the season. My expectations is for them (including Brooks at that point) to play a half. I want to see how they move the ball and operate in the red zone for that half. If it\'s all clicking, call it a day and get ready for Seattle on the 12th. Otherwise I\'ll have some concerns.

It\'s human nature to focus on the weak link. And we all know that the defense last year was the primary weak link, with offensive inconsistency.

HAVE THE SAINTS IMPROVED??? OFFENSE
 

After last night, I had my first thoughts of skepticism. Not about the defense, because I now think they will be able to keep us in games. They made big plays last night when necessary. A top 10 defense by the end of the year. I don\'t like the fact that Bouman is our second QB, he\'s a good practice QB but has never done anything in the games he\'s been in, JT should be #2 now. I agree Shrume man, if they don\'t win the superbowl I will still love them, but I do think they need to take it to the next level and at least win 2 playoff games this season and that could mean at least losing the superbowl.

At least us Saint\'s fans would have something to cheer for on superbowl sunday, other than for more beer.