You really never know
 

Imagine if you will... An NFL team 6 seasons removed from their last banner season. They start the season 0-2. All the while losing their franchise player in game 2. The season is declared a bust. In fact, after 4 games the season looks like a bust... the team struggles as many predict. Starting 1-3 with 2 of those losses to division foes.
Nothing more is expected from said team. After 4 games, "they are done and buried." "Wait til next year," or atleast game 12 or 13 when our star is back.
Well, unfortunately for the naysayers, this team had CHARACTER.
This team decides, on their own, the season is NOT over. Thyey win 10 of 12, including 6 in a row to end the regular season, the team captures it's division and a first round bye.
Wow, unbelievable right? The year was supposed to be over. Wasn't it?
I mean the STAR was injured and what was left on the roster was a bunch of nobodies.
So what happened?
CHARACTER
The star is replaced by an able bodied back up who decides he will LEAD his team by example... He decides this, because he really knows no different.
So on the field said FILL-IN only throws 18 TD's to 12 INT's
He only boasts an 86.5 passer rating.
But those numbers prove to be enough.
The team wins.
The Fill-in becomes a media darling.
Everyone loves him, even though many still don't think the team is for real.
"They won't be able to finish the job."
Well this team gets a bit lucky in the divisional playoffs.... Maybe it's a fumble, maybe not...
THEY ADVANCE
In the next round the Fill In gets injured himself and the passed over STAR does his part to carry his team to the Superbowl.
SUPERBOWL?
Yup, and guess what?
Once again the "Nobodies" are written off, not expected to win.
So what happened???
By now you should have figured it out...
The New England Patriots gave the Rams a lesson in CHARACTER.
From NOBODY to Superbowl Champs

What's my point????

I am not crazy, but I do believe in fate.
I am not saying this year's NO Saints team is a Superbowl contender...
But how do we really know? Honestly, We don't.
Some of the characteristics are simliar to this team... Star gone, "experts" writing us off.
Adversity breeds, character.
What I see is an opportunity. Now is the time to show character...
I guess my real point is, do the NO Saints have it????
Will anyone step up?
And is this idea being stressedin the locker room at all????



[Edited on 25/9/2004 by frankeefrank]

You really never know
 

Good perspective Frank. That is truly something to consider, and in this league you never know.

In retrospect, it\'s real easy to say that NE had a much better coach and defense than ours, and a winning history, but I will admit that I remember when Bledsoe got knocked out that year - I have a buddy who is a big Patties fan up here - and I wouldn\'t allow the games to even be on my tv... until they started winning. I expected that team to make a real run at 0-16 - I was flat wrong. They shocked everyone. Let\'s hope our boys can do the same.

[Edited on 25/9/2004 by WhoDat]

You really never know
 

Probably not. The Saints have been flat in these past two games. The main core of the team has been that way ever since we went 7-9 in 2001. The team has always had very little character, and it has never had a true leader.

And don\'t forget: are the Saints\' coaches and coordinators as good as the Patriots\' coaches and coordinators? NO!

Sorry I have to be a downer, but 7-9 will probably be an overachievement. But I hope to God that I\'m wrong...

You really never know
 

The Pats season that year was really a remarkable story.
In practical terms I have to agree with Duck. Our coaches don\'t have our guys ready to play, much less overcome adversity. Given that our schedule is pretty weak, I suppose we could actually come out with a winning season, but we are still playing down to the competition. The 49ers should not have forced us to make a big play in final minutes to get the win.
As for defense, we\'ve tried to fix our run defense every year since Glover left and it\'s still broken. We aren\'t strong against the run at the point of attack. We aren\'t strong against the run at the edges. Our LB\'s are not much of a factor. We are pretty good in pass rush, but get worn out every game with screens.
If we are to even get to 8-8, it is up to the offense to put 35 up every week just to out pace the competition. I don\'t see us doing this.
The most infuriating thing about it is, we will still kill ourselves with penalties and dumb decisions in the clutch because the head coach does not have this team ready to play.

:kerry:

You really never know
 

We\'re teh coaches in NE that good before their run?
Belichick was 41-55 in his first 6 seasons. (genius?)
And none of you could name Crennel or Weis...
So,
Get in your other reasons why we\'ll suck now...
B/c there might not be a later.

You really never know
 

Hey Frankee good observation, but no one remembers the good coaches before the became good, everyone just jumps on there band wagon when they hit the roll.

You really never know
 

Glad you brought that point up ....

Great - But it is not until Crennel takes over the defensive coordinator position in New England that the Patriots take off .

Crennel returns to the Pats in 2001 after the Pats go 5 - 11 in 2000 . He quickly gets the defense back in shape for the next season and the standings show how well he did .

2001 Pats 11 - 5
2002 Pats 9 - 7
2003 Pats 14 - 2

The Pats are 34 - 14 under Crennel as the defensive coordinator .

Sure ..... Crennel - former defensive coordinator for both the Browns and the Jets ....




[Edited on 29/9/2004 by saintz08]