Listen even if we go 4-4

SaintFanInATLHELL · 10-23-2004, 07:57 AM

To even talk about the Saints making the playoffs, you have to examine the rest of the conference and their schedules.

There are six slots, with 2 unavailable to the Saints. So who\'s in the driver\'s seat for the other 4 slots.

The hated Falcons are in firm control of the NFC South. Mora and his coaches have them playing inspired defense, something the Saints needs to pick up on. Like us they are playing the relatively weak NFC South, and the weak NFC and AFC west. They only have 3 potential playoff teams the rest of the way (Giants, Denver, Seattle) and 5 remaining division games against 3 teams who have yet to prove they can put a complete game together, much less a complete season. Unless the Saints defense wakes up, and the offense cuts down on its mistakes, along with a lucky break or two against the other two division foes, the Saints can pretty much kiss that division spot goodbye.

So that leaves the wild card spots. The three questions there are if the teams ahead of us will falter, can the Saints pick it up, and are there any teams behind us that can put a run together? The Giants have to pick up the two North divisions along with Atlanta and Arizona, while of course finishing out the tough NFC east. They could fall off the pace against week after week of tough defenses. However if they make it through, they\'ll be dangerous to whoever they meet in the playoffs.

Detroit is probably going to fall off the pace. They have to play the NFC East and the AFC South, two of the toughest divisions around.

Green Bay, Dallas, Washington, and Seattle/Rams are all toss ups.

Looking through the standings, the Saints really aren\'t in a terrible position. The problem is that they are playing terrible ball. On the other hand the wild card spots are still wide open.

But I agree with the assessment above. Until Venturi turns over the defense to someone competent, we\'re never going to get anywhere.

SFIAH

ScottyRo · 10-23-2004, 01:41 PM

In past years I\'ve held out hope, even with bad starts, that my team will make the playoffs. This year is different. The defense looks so bad that even if we were to SLIP into the playoffs, I can\'t see much chance that a win will come thereafter.

I don\'t know if the \"defenses win championships\" thing is valid, but what I do know is our D can\'t stop ANYBODY. Name the worst offense in the NFL and I\'ll give them 24 points against the Saints. It\'s that bad.

There\'s nothing wrong with holding out hope for this team, but the problems aren\'t just a result of bad offseason moves this past year. These problems are the result of mismanagement and bad personnel decisions and bad coaching over the last 2 or 3 years. There\'s not much that can be done during the course of one season that can bring about a decent change to that.

blackwidows · 10-23-2004, 03:40 PM

Hey if we can get in at 8-8 I would love it. I think 8-8 is possible. 9 games is possbile but the 10 game guarantee thats gets you in. Reply hazy says the 8 ball.

blackwidows · 10-23-2004, 03:45 PM

I hope so cause in Ohio they don\'t televise them much. The playoffs are a guarantee the game will be televised. You see there are some guantees in life. Life, death, and that each playoff game is televised. Owe also that there will always be taverns and bars. If only the saints staying in New orleans would be guaranteed. Once Benson is dead his daughter will move the team. The Yorks are ****ing up the San Fran franchise they use to be winners now they suck. I think the Yorks are more into filling seats than winning right now.

blackwidows · 10-23-2004, 03:49 PM

Hey lets try to get zook to come back lmao. I don\'t see it happening but why not.

saintswhodi · 10-23-2004, 05:10 PM

Just my 2 cents to all but if we go 8-8 and backslide into the playoffs IMHO that could be the worst thing for this team. It gives the possibility of Haslett and his crew staying, and we pick in the bottom half of the first round AGAIN. Mediocrity has not served us well in this regard. After the start we have had there is little doubt in my mind any trip to the playoffs we make will be met with immediate and nationally televised embarrassing defeat. I would rather this season be lost, we get rid of Haslett and pick in the top 10 and get a real playmaker in here.

whodatsaintsfan26 · 10-23-2004, 05:45 PM

I agree that it would be a setback for this team to go 8-8 and make the playoffs. I was just saying that the playoffs are not out of the question with what I belive is a bad NFC. I still think that even if they make the playoffs at 8-8 and lose in the first round Benson cant be happy with that and will make the nessecary changes to the coaching staff. Maybe not Haz, but will make him change coordinators.

saintswhodi · 10-23-2004, 08:30 PM

whodatsf.

I fear that if for whatever reason we make the playoffs, Benson will keep Haz cause he has 2 years left on his contract and that would be dead money plus the money owed to a new coach. Then we will be going through all of this again. And he has kept these coordinators this long, even if he has to fire them how do we know the people he chooses won\'t be just as incompetent?

whodatsaintsfan26 · 10-24-2004, 10:26 AM

How do we know the coach Benson chooses will not be as incompetent as the current staff? You dont. Benson left dead money when he fired Ditka too. I cant believe that even Tom Benson cant see whats going on with this team. I think the right changes will be made even if they somehow slip into the playoffs and lose in the first round.

saintswhodi · 10-24-2004, 10:56 AM

Hate to disagree WDSF, but it seems as if you may not have your pulse on Mr. Benson. His bottom line is $$$$, which he is making whether this teams craps out or plays well. 34 consec sellouts last count. The only thing that will cause him to make a change is butts not being in the seats, not performance or non-performance by the team. There are numerous coaches who may have been fired after starting 7-2, and collapsing to teams with losing records in the final months of the season(2001), then following the next year with the same disappointment(2002). THEN to underachieve a third year(2003), Spurrier didn\'t last that long. Maybe Benson was on a hangover of Haz\'s playoff win, but surely that had to wear off by the beginning of this season and after the miserable performances thus far in the \'04 season, how does Haz even have a job? And that is not even taking into accoutn some of the horrible personnel moves. Last in defense?? LAST???? We have been bad but NEVER this bad, and Haz still has a job. Once he starts losing $$$$, we will see old Tom make a change. Not until then.

[Edited on 24/10/2004 by saintswhodi]

10-23-2004, 07:57 AM	#11
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,773	Listen even if we go 4-4 To even talk about the Saints making the playoffs, you have to examine the rest of the conference and their schedules. There are six slots, with 2 unavailable to the Saints. So who\'s in the driver\'s seat for the other 4 slots. The hated Falcons are in firm control of the NFC South. Mora and his coaches have them playing inspired defense, something the Saints needs to pick up on. Like us they are playing the relatively weak NFC South, and the weak NFC and AFC west. They only have 3 potential playoff teams the rest of the way (Giants, Denver, Seattle) and 5 remaining division games against 3 teams who have yet to prove they can put a complete game together, much less a complete season. Unless the Saints defense wakes up, and the offense cuts down on its mistakes, along with a lucky break or two against the other two division foes, the Saints can pretty much kiss that division spot goodbye. So that leaves the wild card spots. The three questions there are if the teams ahead of us will falter, can the Saints pick it up, and are there any teams behind us that can put a run together? The Giants have to pick up the two North divisions along with Atlanta and Arizona, while of course finishing out the tough NFC east. They could fall off the pace against week after week of tough defenses. However if they make it through, they\'ll be dangerous to whoever they meet in the playoffs. Detroit is probably going to fall off the pace. They have to play the NFC East and the AFC South, two of the toughest divisions around. Green Bay, Dallas, Washington, and Seattle/Rams are all toss ups. Looking through the standings, the Saints really aren\'t in a terrible position. The problem is that they are playing terrible ball. On the other hand the wild card spots are still wide open. But I agree with the assessment above. Until Venturi turns over the defense to someone competent, we\'re never going to get anywhere. SFIAH
	Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

10-23-2004, 01:41 PM	#12
ScottyRo 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Williamsburg, VA (ugh, the food here) Posts: 1,704	Listen even if we go 4-4 In past years I\'ve held out hope, even with bad starts, that my team will make the playoffs. This year is different. The defense looks so bad that even if we were to SLIP into the playoffs, I can\'t see much chance that a win will come thereafter. I don\'t know if the \"defenses win championships\" thing is valid, but what I do know is our D can\'t stop ANYBODY. Name the worst offense in the NFL and I\'ll give them 24 points against the Saints. It\'s that bad. There\'s nothing wrong with holding out hope for this team, but the problems aren\'t just a result of bad offseason moves this past year. These problems are the result of mismanagement and bad personnel decisions and bad coaching over the last 2 or 3 years. There\'s not much that can be done during the course of one season that can bring about a decent change to that.

10-23-2004, 03:40 PM	#13
blackwidows 100th Post Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 245	Listen even if we go 4-4 Hey if we can get in at 8-8 I would love it. I think 8-8 is possible. 9 games is possbile but the 10 game guarantee thats gets you in. Reply hazy says the 8 ball.
blackwidows 100th Post Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 245

10-23-2004, 03:45 PM	#14
blackwidows 100th Post Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 245	Listen even if we go 4-4 I hope so cause in Ohio they don\'t televise them much. The playoffs are a guarantee the game will be televised. You see there are some guantees in life. Life, death, and that each playoff game is televised. Owe also that there will always be taverns and bars. If only the saints staying in New orleans would be guaranteed. Once Benson is dead his daughter will move the team. The Yorks are ****ing up the San Fran franchise they use to be winners now they suck. I think the Yorks are more into filling seats than winning right now.
blackwidows 100th Post Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 245

10-23-2004, 03:49 PM	#15
blackwidows 100th Post Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 245	Listen even if we go 4-4 Hey lets try to get zook to come back lmao. I don\'t see it happening but why not.
blackwidows 100th Post Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 245

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10-23-2004, 05:10 PM	#16
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Listen even if we go 4-4 Just my 2 cents to all but if we go 8-8 and backslide into the playoffs IMHO that could be the worst thing for this team. It gives the possibility of Haslett and his crew staying, and we pick in the bottom half of the first round AGAIN. Mediocrity has not served us well in this regard. After the start we have had there is little doubt in my mind any trip to the playoffs we make will be met with immediate and nationally televised embarrassing defeat. I would rather this season be lost, we get rid of Haslett and pick in the top 10 and get a real playmaker in here.

10-23-2004, 05:45 PM	#17
whodatsaintsfan26 500th Post Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 577	Listen even if we go 4-4 I agree that it would be a setback for this team to go 8-8 and make the playoffs. I was just saying that the playoffs are not out of the question with what I belive is a bad NFC. I still think that even if they make the playoffs at 8-8 and lose in the first round Benson cant be happy with that and will make the nessecary changes to the coaching staff. Maybe not Haz, but will make him change coordinators.

10-23-2004, 08:30 PM	#18
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Listen even if we go 4-4 whodatsf. I fear that if for whatever reason we make the playoffs, Benson will keep Haz cause he has 2 years left on his contract and that would be dead money plus the money owed to a new coach. Then we will be going through all of this again. And he has kept these coordinators this long, even if he has to fire them how do we know the people he chooses won\'t be just as incompetent?

10-24-2004, 10:26 AM	#19
whodatsaintsfan26 500th Post Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 577	Listen even if we go 4-4 How do we know the coach Benson chooses will not be as incompetent as the current staff? You dont. Benson left dead money when he fired Ditka too. I cant believe that even Tom Benson cant see whats going on with this team. I think the right changes will be made even if they somehow slip into the playoffs and lose in the first round.

10-24-2004, 10:56 AM	#20
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Listen even if we go 4-4 Hate to disagree WDSF, but it seems as if you may not have your pulse on Mr. Benson. His bottom line is $$$$, which he is making whether this teams craps out or plays well. 34 consec sellouts last count. The only thing that will cause him to make a change is butts not being in the seats, not performance or non-performance by the team. There are numerous coaches who may have been fired after starting 7-2, and collapsing to teams with losing records in the final months of the season(2001), then following the next year with the same disappointment(2002). THEN to underachieve a third year(2003), Spurrier didn\'t last that long. Maybe Benson was on a hangover of Haz\'s playoff win, but surely that had to wear off by the beginning of this season and after the miserable performances thus far in the \'04 season, how does Haz even have a job? And that is not even taking into accoutn some of the horrible personnel moves. Last in defense?? LAST???? We have been bad but NEVER this bad, and Haz still has a job. Once he starts losing $$$$, we will see old Tom make a change. Not until then. [Edited on 24/10/2004 by saintswhodi]