GumboBC

It takes good coaching, talent, and desire to have a successful football team.

But, do the Saints have those ingredients?

1. Talent - Theres no question we have the talent on offense. So, lets talk about the defense. We know there is enough talent on the D-line. The linebackers are suspect but promising. The secondary is suspect but looks promising. Overall, I feel the defense has enough talent to be good. Maybe not great, but good. If some things work out, we could have a very good defense. But at this point, there's simply not enough evidence to suggest we have an upper echelon defense on our hands. Still, we have the talent to be MUCH better than last year. GRADE -B

2. Coaching - McCarthy has been criticised, but he's proven he can put a quality game plan together. My feeling is McCarthy is the least of our worries. Rick Venturi hasn't proven he can get the job done. I don't know how much fault can be placed on Venturi, but he hasn't PROVED anything. This will be a defining year for Venturi. Jim Haslett has done enough to warrant concern. This should be a make or break year for Haslett. Whether that's the case or not, I have no idea. GRADE -D

3. Desire - Even during the losing years in New Orleans, our teams played with heart and emotion. IMO, that's been missing BIG time the last few years. It's hard to figure out why that's been the case. I think a lot has to do with not being able to stop the run. When you can't stop the run, it's really demoralizing!! Whatever the reason, it's been MISSING!! GRADE- F.

TALENT - B
COACHING - D
DESIRE - F

It's clear the problems have less to do with talent and more to do with other factors. It's also clear that those things have to change this year if we are to have a successful season.

It seems Haslett has figured this out too. I must say he's seems to have taken a good approach to fixing the problems. He knows the talent has been there to be better. He knows the core group of players have now been together long enough to make a run.

Haslett appears to also understand HE needed to change. No more BULLS***!! No more Mr. NiceGuy!! According to Haslett, it's all about business.

Grade for Haslett's new approach - A

This year Ventui has received something that might just save his job. No, it's not Will Smith or Courtney Watson. I'm talking about John Pease. Pease seems to be the right man for the job. You just get the feeling the players are going to respond to Pease's coaching style.

Venturi/Pease Grade - B

Desire - We haven't seen any games, but it sure seems like the 2004 Saints have something to prove. Something is different. You get the feeling the Saints are just plain ol' tired of underachieving!! Seems they want to prove to folks just how talented they really are. Something has got to give this year and I'm betting they will fiinally live up to expectations.

New Found Attitude: Grade - B

So, while nothing has been proven (and it's not possible that anything can be proven at this point) everything looks good.

Grade for Haslett's new approach - A
Venturi/Pease Grade - B
New Found Attitude: Grade - B

We all wish we had some proven players at certain positions. But beyond that, you can't ask for much more. Give Haslett some credit for his approach to this season. I'm not sold by any means. Things could go wrong. This might be more "hype" than anything. But, I don't think so.

Call me a sucker. Call me dumb. Call me what you will, but I've tried to talk myself out of believing in this team. But, all the stars seemed to be aligned to make this the best year in Saints history!!

Message for the Moonshiners: Now that I've made up my mind that the Saints are as good as any team in the league, I'm ready to take on ya'lls negative agenda...LOL