SaintsBro

I get that. I get exactly what you're feeling. But here's the thing: last year, in the early part of the preseason, under Spagnowedon't, we DID that kind of stuff on defense. We had an interception or two. We had a sack in the end zone, or a safety, we even solved Arizona's QB controversy for them, by knocking out one of their QB's! We sacked Tom Brady for a fumble. The Patriots never even made it across the 50 with their starters. If there was such a thing as a to-do checklist -- Safety, sack, interception, fumble, strip, etc. etc. -- last year's defense did a little bit of EVERYTHING you could ask a defense to do, early in the preseason games.

I thought at the time, hey, this looks pretty good, we might actually be able to beat these suspensions and the missing coaches, the defense could actually be OK. Turns out I was WRONG. I was basing it too much on "big plays" by the defense.

So you can't judge it completely like that. The "3rd and 7 stop for just four yards" -- they definitely had a couple of those against the Texans... I'm too lazy to go back and look it up but they made some stops and held the Texans to some looong field goals out there, instead of what would have probably been easy waltz-in 7-point touchdown drives last year, where they score and the camera cuts to that "oh %$^%$" grimace from Brees on the sidelines.

Thing about the Texans game is, that was a top 10 last year, top 5 this year offense that the Saints were playing against. That was exactly what a preseason game between two playoff teams is supposed to look like. It was a slugfest! It was brutal! And we were actually WINNING the battles and the scoreboard when the starters all came out.

Budsdrinker

My only response is, Gallette and Martez and Harrylson hasn't played a down yet this year for us. Let's see what they can do and go from there.

AllSaints

Someone always has to be a negative Nancy .... C'mon man !

TheOak

Falcons..... We were all over the map when looking at both games, couldn't pull together stopping both in the same game.

Atlanta
Game 1 Rushing 46 / Passing 408
Game 2 Rushing 124 / Passing 159

blackangold

#8 in total Defense
#2 in Run Defense

yes, it was just the preseason but the 1s still play the 1s and the 2s still play the 2s...

We wont be that good on D this year, but I would expect to be ranked 10-20.

The Dude

I totally agree with the defensive problems. Given our schedule I dont see our record being that much better or any better than last year, even with Payton back.
I do think we will be better offensively than we ever have been barring injury. Brees is in his prime and the addition of Watson I believe has been very under rated. Even with a crappy running game we will put up serious points. Hell it wouldnt surprise me if our D is even worse.

TheOak

A love connection ^

Danno

Quick, someone get 'em their nu-nu.

darstep

10-20 is a where I see them, and hoping for better than avarage; 15-ish.
15 gets the job done, especially if the offense is still top 5.
A few plays make all the difference, and I'm talking about simple stuff,
head in the game stuff. Like a coverage guy "actually" anticipating a muff
when the returner signals a fair catch, or looking to down the ball inside the 10
if the guy let's it go...rather than waving at his peeps in the stands and the
play is not dead yet. Some guy late to the tackle ready to fall on the ball if
it comes loose. Simple stuff that becomes 4-5 extra possesions over the course
of the season. Or pin the opponent deep as opposed to them starting at the 20.
Where we fall short in ability, we can certainly make up for with discipline, and should.

**SaintSince67**

homerj07

Damn sorry I am late to the party on this. We got a real pressure cooker going on here.

As a long time Saints I understand all the view points. My negative early 80's a lot of the 90's side says "the sky is falling". There is no way we can win.

Then the positive "look what we can really do" from the late 80's & 06 on, this side sees the possibilities of all the good that can happen.

I am skeptical about... Being skeptical. Because that creates an overall skeptical attitude. Which, when viewed by others, cause people to view you, well...skeptically.

I'll see you in Hell Candy Boys!!!