I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

I’m sorry, but I just don’t see any reason for all the bluster and optimism. Linebackers are the foundation for the 3-4 defense and our linebacker corps are in complete disarray. It’s unlikely that the defense will be much better than last year.

Our offense relies heavily on the passing game and you can say the same thing about our receiver corps. Bringing back Meachum really just proves how bad we are at that position. Have we even named a 1 and 2 yet? Don’t even get me started about our running game.

Other than predicting that we won’t beat the failcons, I’m not going to sit here and predict game by game like I’ve seen people do, but I don’t see us being any better than 8-8 and then requiring a total overhaul from the top down in the next offseason.

I sure hope my Saints prove me wrong so everyone can bump this post when we go into December 11-0, but I'm not counting on it.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

http://www.banklawyersblog.com/.a/6a...b883970c-800wi

Let's pack it up and call it a season.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

O ye of little faith Poydras, listen we are in much better shape than we were last year and we had a BS defense coordinator and no head coach. Every year on every team someone steps up to take on the role of the injured guy. Don't sleep on the personal that we have.

Your a season ticket holder Poydras, strap up your chin strap and get ready to rock the dome Sunday because I sure as hell am. The clows o line is desimated and we will apply constant pressure. Don't let the preseason fool you.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Hey. I'm suing for stealing my M.O. If you want to be negative wait until I have taken a pee all over everything before you follow up with a warm stream.

Jeez. No respect here.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

I can relate to some of your concerns
I totally agree we need a complete over haul on defense some players are ok but alot could go or be replaced
On the offensive side I think will we are ok for the next 3-4 yrs just think we need to start getting younger in spots over those 3-4 yrs
I'd like see for us to use a single back or two back rotation we need to give guys more than 10 or so carries a game

I also agree with your possibility of going 8-8 as much as it pains me to say I'm hoping not but I can understand it that last 8 games are a brutal stretch and goes along way to if we make the playoffs since they are all conference games and could effect us if we don't win the division

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

I agree. Our D overall is in bad shape. But I think we can scrape 9-10 wins and get in the playoffs. All you need is a seat at the table. Think Giants.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Wow, its not often that I disagree with every word of a postthis long.

LB's aren't the foundation of a 3-4, the D-line is. And this is the best D-line we've had since LeRoi Glover was here.

Our LB's are better than any group we've had since the dome patrol. Do you really miss Scott Shanle?

Bringing back Meachem doesn't prove our WR's are weak at all. How in the world do you make that jump?

Did you forget about adding Ben Watson to team with Graham? We set NFL records with a nearly dead Devery Henderson as our #2 wideout. Good grief thats unbelieveable.

And a total overhaul next year? That is just totally ridiculous.

This might be the worst post I've seen here in years.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Imo there are a couple of holes to fill ob the defense but not many. Those will be fixed in next tears draft and free agency.Jordan-Jenkins-Hicks can fill the front three for years and there is sone good solid depth behind them.Wilson, Gallete, Reddick, , Butler all solid long term options. Vaccaro, Lewis in the secondary.All players to feel good about and with a couple of addition a massive improvement on teams of the past few years.

Youll be hard pushed to find a deeper receiver core than the Saints.
Graham/Watson
Colston/Toon
Moore/Tanner
Meachem/Stills

The team isn't built to pound the ball and grind out wins but to play plenty of screen passes and move quickly.

Im hoping for a stud RT, CB, FS above all in next years FA/Draft . Obviously that assumes that OLB inc Butler look good and Armstead progresses.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Correct; D-Line is the foundation of the 3-4, that's what you meant I think...

And Nose Tackle is the single most important defensive position; just like the MLB is to the 4-3.

Which with Bunkley and Jenkins, we're pretty much set and Hicks can play inside or out

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

I think it's the opposite. Falcons have more concerns than us. No depth at any position I've seen so far. Gonzalez is old, still good but can be covered. Beyond their two WRs not much else and Jackson.. no way he is effective behind that OL.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

A marginally improved defense plus Sean Payton = http://www.falconstalk.com/photos/datamax/image25.jpg


https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/i...x8JILkBNRGKCrT

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

I've had my tickets since the 1980s and have seen it all. The sky isn't falling and nobody said anything about giving up. It's a 16 game season and there is no way to predict injuries and just blind luck. It's takes a lot of kool-aid to count on that though.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

I feel like all these pessimistic posts about the defense are just the result of people reading the national websites and not paying attention to what is actually going on, you know, in the games.

The media narrative that has been built up about this Saints team is simply not in tune with logic and common sense, if you've actually seen them play. Did anybody actually watch the defense in the preseason? Because they weren't too shabby at all. But judging from all the things I read you'd think they got shredded up every single time they got on the field.

Beat the Falcons Sunday and watch, EVERYBODY is going to be up in arms. WHERE DID THIS SAINTS TEAM COME FROM? WITH THIS HALFWAY DECENT DEFENSE THEY COULD BE A GOOD TEAM!!! In the meantime people who have been paying attention won't be surprised, but that's the way it works. In the meantime we have to hear about how the Falcons with their crappy roster are supposed to dominate or how some tweak in Tony Romo's throwing motion is going to get the Cowboys to the promised land or how the 49ers supposedly have a better defense than the '85 Bears. It's all just white noise.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

We definitely don't have the team to run the table. However, I can't help but think they have upgraded on D from last year. The preseason saw several teams drive right down and score with little dink plays on the Saints but on the other hand then we saw defensive adjustments that actually worked after those drives.
The LB's are a question, no doubt. Vaccaro is exciting, and Jordan is playing like he should. I no Will Smith to worry about at OLB. The Saints D will not dominate the league, but a mid range D with the offense is a great dynamic.
Tha Atlanta game will set the stage for the season.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Did someone pass out after the loss to the Panthers on Dec 30th and wake up this morning reading falconslife?

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

God forbid they lose a game this sesaon, we might have to put poydras on suicide watch

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Where are all these chicken littles coming from?

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Why do we even hire a coach...

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images...jpg?1327032911

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

I bleed black and gold but I am also realistic I know that I can't always look through the back and gold spectacles either of course the defense has shown some improvement but I don't think its as big to say there mid pack even you have to remember those starter for some of those games weren't playing much beside they first few drives either and I don't think any didn't not score on the first drive plus with the exception of Houston none have very great offenses that scare anyone . Houston first team tore us up if you recall weather it was Johnson gouging us with big play after big play or it was 2nd Teamer Ben Tate gashing us for big runs. it was getting ugly Brees was getting hit and aside from the big screen our offense did nothing really

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Brees took 1 sack and threw for 104 yards in just 11 snaps on the field...

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Brees was getting hit because Evans wasn't playing. Johnson and Tate did hit us up. No doubt, but minus the one drive we held them to FG's... I'll take that. If our D can give us that I'll take it.

I don't know what to expect, but we are 4 short days from finding out

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

one play was 53 yrds and shouldn't have been that missed tackle is more of the reason how many 3 and outs one sack but he was hit a few times more I don't care but none of you guys are Going to sit there and tell me he looked good cause your just wrong I admire your loyalty but don't let your loyalty cloud your brains or your vision Jeez

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Pre-season means absolutely diddly squat. Vanilla offenses vanilla defenses should bare little meaning in forecasting the success of our team during the regular season.

We'll see what our team is made of after our regular season performance against the division favorites. Throw all those pre-season stats out the window... they don't carry over into the regular season.

http://images.bimedia.net/images/061...e+minicamp.jpg

Fear the beard.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

+1 & very true. If you listen at 92.9 The Game out of Atlanta with Jamie Dukes and company.. these folks are absolutely concerned of what Sean P, The Big Lebowski (Ryan) & Brees will do on Sunday.

If anyone has got their hand on the panic button, it's those dirty filthy birds.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Get back to me after a game in the regular season, where the defense is in the actual scheme. (they stayed in a 4-3 that Houston game) And really why worry about the offense, you do understand that Payton/Brees have had a top 5 offense since they've been here...

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

It's an offensive league and the Texans have one of the best offenses in it. Of course they moved the ball on us. They can move the ball on any team. The key in a game like that is, can you force a few field goals instead of giving up touchdowns, can you stand up when it really counts and come through at the end of the game. We'll see, but I think this defense is going to be more like the 09/10/11 defenses than last year.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

we are in troble i agree. the LB corp and the secondary are not even close to in sync when it comes to pass coverage in the middle of the defense. that will take time.

The LB group was my concern going into the season and still is. But i like the way the run defense in between the tackles by the LB are showing so far. now i am holding out till the LB corp gets healthy before throwing in the towel

DL is doing ok

now a season of getting eaten up on the edges and the mid range passes in the middle of the field is what i expect to see.

So here is to the bend do not break and hold them to a field goal

Offense drew will have to pass the ball again. Unless the saints stop stuffing ingram down every one throats. If he does not work his way up the ladder instead of falling down it. it is PT job to lose. The saints did Mark no favor in the off season to help his style of running to succeed here in new orleans.


even with all of this said the saints were 7-9 last year and came within inches of 10-6. those games Sean would have been the difference maker.

10-6 i can see and if the fat lady chokes on a ham sandwich. 12-4 is not that far out of the picture. worse case i will go with your 8-8

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

I apologize Mitch didn't mean to single you out

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Did I mention that I've had Saints Season tickets for 25 years and have seen it all? The great, the good, the bad, the worse, the worst ... I've seen it all and my support for my Saints has never wavered. I'm just not blind.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Don't sweat it; you can't wear your feelings on your sleeve around here

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

If someone told me that we had a game on Sun. 8, 2013 at 12 central against the Atlanta Falcons in the Superdome, I'd be excited as hell... not throwing a doom and gloom parade.

But that's just me.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Since they haven't played a game yet this year, Optimistic or pessimistic is a matter of choice.
You can be optimistic and focus on what looks to be improvements on the DLine, a rookie safety that looks to be a beast, a major addition to the corners etc...
or
You can be pessimistic and focus on the entire D trying to learn a new scheme, some of the same players that played horribly last year are still here this year, our starting outside linebackers haven't played a single down in preseason, etc...

All of that is true so ether way you look at it, you're right, so you're just being a realist.

I'll choose to be optimistic because, in my opinion, it's more fun.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

@poydras: Please stop being a nattering nabob of negativity.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

some constructive criticism is always a good thing it may not be what you wanna hear but some times but a necessary thing and its also naïve of us to think our team is unstoppable and everything is hunky dory

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

I prefer realistic and keep in mind that I have, in the past, been optimistic heading into seasons. I was VERY optimistic in 2009 becasuse we looked so dominant in the preseason. Anyway, I usually start out a season with a post like this to make sure I have all the right people on my ignore list before the games start. ;)

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Sweet baby Jesus, Batman! Wtf is really going on here. Are there people so asinined to think that the preseason scheme (or lack thereof) is indicative of the regular season scheme? Give me a break. The only things you should watch for during the preseason are individual merits (mostly). We don't start scheming for teams (fitting our pieces most appropriately around defending our opponent) until the regular season! What is not understood about this?! We had far and away more bright spots on an individual basis during the preseason than negatives. Our D line is rock solid. ILBs will be ok. We have promise at safety and plenty of competition at CB. If our OLBs just stay healthy we'll be ok. Give it a rest. Positive thoughts breed positive things. Get your sh!t together, fellas. ;-)

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Has poydras been talking to the NFL analysts or something.. snap out of it man. If the boat is sinking don't be the person panicking be the person with the band playing till the ship sinks Lol.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

Sean knows what he's doing (hes probably got something up his sleeve) and watch everyone be like I knew we was gonna make the playoffs later in the season.

Re: I'm afraid we're in trouble.
 

I think our Defense is going to surprise a lot of people. I will make my final determination after seeing them all play Sunday. Noone can know how good or bad this group will be, but we will all see this weekend.