10-6 or wishful thinking?

JKool · 10-27-2004, 12:22 PM

Good posts Xan and St.Shrume. When you look at it that way, everything seems a little less grim. There is still hope for a decent end to the season.

themightyduck · 10-27-2004, 10:56 PM

There is still hope for a decent end to the season.

Not to me. If the Saints continue to play down to the competition, I gurantee that Carolina (yes CAROLINA) will beat us at least once and come close to doing it a second time.

Winning against the Falcons? Put it this way: Mike Vick\'s legs + Mike Vick\'s arm + Warrick Dunn/T.J. Duckett - our rushing defense = 400+ yards gained on offense and 5 TD\'s scored. That sounds like a bad loss or two to me.

Oh, God the Chiefs? Try 300 total yards from Priest Holmes en route to a 56-34 shootout.

Chargers? Votes for Drew Brees in the Pro Bowl will skyrocket after playing us. 27-17 rout. LT will score all of their TD\'s and gain at least 200 total yards.

CHACHING · 10-27-2004, 11:47 PM

You guys have no faith.......Brooks is why we will prevail over this BAD COACHING and make the playoffs....I said 9-7 earlier...but I\'m goin with 10-6.........I\'ll be at the Charger game..........Toast.....Donte steps up and Pathon has a 120 yrd...2 td game....stop underestimating our boys........ching!

shadowdrinker_x · 10-28-2004, 12:41 AM

no way will we come close to even sniffing the playoffs...dude..we give up about 30 points a game...the cardinals smashed us...we are fighting for last place in the division..i don\'t like it either...but..it\'s the awful truth..the way it\'s going..6-10 would be wishful thinking

[Edited on 28/10/2004 by shadowdrinker_x]

SaintFanInATLHELL · 10-28-2004, 08:21 AM

Can the Saints clean it up enough to finish out 10-6, or would we all just be kidding ourselves?

Looking at the final games the only ones that should be questionable to outright \"gonna lose\" are Denver and KC (both winnable in my opinion).

Thoughts....?

Actually the Saints have a focus point: the hated Falcons. The formula is simple: beat the Falcons twice, and keep pace with the other games. Even if you end up tied at 9-7, you win the division.

Here\'s the problem though. Up until last week the Falcons had the #1 rushing defense in the NFL. Then the Chiefs plunked 271 rushing yards and 8 rushing TD\'s on them. Last I checked the Saints are next to last in the NFL in rushing defense giving up 141 yards a game. That means big trouble against the top 10 rushing offenses we\'re going to see the next 4 games.

My brother always says that football is simple: rush the ball and stop the run. The Saints are struggling to do both those things. But if the defense can just slow SD, KC, and Denver down enough to keep the offense in the game, then there\'s hope.

By the way, Venturi Sucks.

No truer words have been written.

SFIAH

SaintFanInATLHELL · 10-28-2004, 08:41 AM

no way will we come close to even sniffing the playoffs...dude..we give up about 30 points a game...the cardinals smashed us...we are fighting for last place in the division..i don\'t like it either...but..it\'s the awful truth..the way it\'s going..6-10 would be wishful thinking

All true. But there is a glimmer of hope in all of this: The Saints offense. Face it 605 yards and 5 TDs passes given up in a game usually spells a blowout. But the Saints lost to Minnesota by 7, and the offense scored on the last possession they had the ball.

It can still be an interesting season if McCarthy flings open the playbook, sticks Aaron in the shotgun, and just sling the ball all over the field the next 5 weeks.

You\'re right on point about the points (27 a game). If the defense can get it cut down to 20 a game for the next 5 weeks, the offense can actually stay in it.

We\'re not going to have 85 Bears games where the score is 9-6. Our games are going to be scores like we\'ve seen the last 2 weeks: 38-31 or 31-26.

The defense sucks. I agree. The run defense is non existant. I agree. But if the defense can make 2 stops a game, just 2, it\'ll open up a window that the offense can exploit.

Notice that our offense hasn\'t been giving up the ball lately. Brooks only has 4 total turnovers in nearly half a season, and Deuce has been hanging on to the ball. That fact alone will keep us in it.

Now I\'m a realist. Even if we pull all of this off, we\'re still not going anywhere. Playoff football is about defense. And we won\'t have a top 15 defense by the end of the season. No matter what I still think that Haslett and his staff needs to be let go at the end of the season.

But the rest of the season can be quite entertaining if McCarthy mixes up a bit. Stop running on first down all the time. Stop running each and every time Karney is in the game. In fact Karney should get some prime time both running and catching the ball. Put Henderson or Lewis on the field for more plays to stretch the defense. Frankly start Hall at TE because he\'s the only one that can seem to block and catch the ball. Or play 4 wide, stretch the defense, then run the ball. Put Aaron in the shotgun. Hell run from the shotgun! We have the personnel to look like the Rams did a few years ago. Win, lose, or draw it\'ll certainly be fun to watch.

I\'m at a loss as to what to do about the defense. I realize that I simply don\'t know enough about how defenses operate to understand why it is that we can\'t stop the run. Anyone care to explain the difference in either talent or scheme between our defense and the top 5 rushing defenses this year? BTW did anyone notice that we only gave up 82 yards rushing last week?

SFIAH

JKool · 10-28-2004, 04:16 PM

Nicely put SFIAH.

Hey, if we\'re going to ban words like \"agenda\", then can we also ban the over use of the elipsis (...)? Just wondering. What say you BnB?

blackwidows · 10-28-2004, 05:28 PM

All I know is Tampabay is yet to sweep us in the NFC South. I hope we keep this streak alive. I\'ll say 9-7. As for the person that asked when draft day. I think it is always the second Saturday of April. It is always in April though.

[Edited on 28/10/2004 by blackwidows]

[Edited on 28/10/2004 by blackwidows]

MatthewT · 10-28-2004, 06:59 PM

A 10-6 record is a major reach for this Saints team. With a 3-4 record, we are talking 7-2 on the stretch run. A 10-6 record would be more realistic if the Saints were 5-2 right now. I just don\'t see it happening for the Saints. The schedule is down right brutal. Games against San Diego, Denver, KC, the entire division twice minus Tampa then add Dallas, my thought is no way. Then again, stranger things have happened in the NFL, so who knows...

If anything good is going to happen, the entire team needs to step it up. The offense will need to score about 25-30 points per game, defense will need to at least cause a couple punts, and special teams will need to be, well, special.

Perhaps, too much to ask for this season. As much as the coaching staff has sucked, at least I\'ve seen a few good things to attempt a turnaround. More of Karney in the FB spot, getting Fast Freddy back on special teams, the defensive changes, adding Jerome Pathon as the starter again, a little bit of LeMont Hall at TE, and lets not forget that Haz did the defensive game plan for the Raiders game. I think he may have even called the plays. Despite the 26 points that was given up, the defense did play pretty solid. The Saints won the game because they were able to hold the Raiders to FG\'s early on. During the end, they did give up some TD\'s, but at the expense of guys slipping on the field. (Equipment manager???) My favorite play of the game was seeing Aaron Brooks take a knee...

10-27-2004, 12:22 PM	#11
JKool 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,423	10-6 or wishful thinking? Good posts Xan and St.Shrume. When you look at it that way, everything seems a little less grim. There is still hope for a decent end to the season.

10-27-2004, 10:56 PM	#12
themightyduck 100th Post Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Posts: 219	10-6 or wishful thinking? There is still hope for a decent end to the season. Not to me. If the Saints continue to play down to the competition, I gurantee that Carolina (yes CAROLINA) will beat us at least once and come close to doing it a second time. Winning against the Falcons? Put it this way: Mike Vick\'s legs + Mike Vick\'s arm + Warrick Dunn/T.J. Duckett - our rushing defense = 400+ yards gained on offense and 5 TD\'s scored. That sounds like a bad loss or two to me. Oh, God the Chiefs? Try 300 total yards from Priest Holmes en route to a 56-34 shootout. Chargers? Votes for Drew Brees in the Pro Bowl will skyrocket after playing us. 27-17 rout. LT will score all of their TD\'s and gain at least 200 total yards.
	When it comes to discussing Saints losses, Jack Daniels can be a great listener.

10-27-2004, 11:47 PM	#13
CHACHING 500th Post Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Golden State Posts: 830	10-6 or wishful thinking? You guys have no faith.......Brooks is why we will prevail over this BAD COACHING and make the playoffs....I said 9-7 earlier...but I\'m goin with 10-6.........I\'ll be at the Charger game..........Toast.....Donte steps up and Pathon has a 120 yrd...2 td game....stop underestimating our boys........ching!

10-28-2004, 12:41 AM	#14
shadowdrinker_x Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 218	10-6 or wishful thinking? no way will we come close to even sniffing the playoffs...dude..we give up about 30 points a game...the cardinals smashed us...we are fighting for last place in the division..i don\'t like it either...but..it\'s the awful truth..the way it\'s going..6-10 would be wishful thinking [Edited on 28/10/2004 by shadowdrinker_x]

10-28-2004, 08:21 AM	#15
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,774	10-6 or wishful thinking? Can the Saints clean it up enough to finish out 10-6, or would we all just be kidding ourselves? Looking at the final games the only ones that should be questionable to outright \"gonna lose\" are Denver and KC (both winnable in my opinion). Thoughts....? Actually the Saints have a focus point: the hated Falcons. The formula is simple: beat the Falcons twice, and keep pace with the other games. Even if you end up tied at 9-7, you win the division. Here\'s the problem though. Up until last week the Falcons had the #1 rushing defense in the NFL. Then the Chiefs plunked 271 rushing yards and 8 rushing TD\'s on them. Last I checked the Saints are next to last in the NFL in rushing defense giving up 141 yards a game. That means big trouble against the top 10 rushing offenses we\'re going to see the next 4 games. My brother always says that football is simple: rush the ball and stop the run. The Saints are struggling to do both those things. But if the defense can just slow SD, KC, and Denver down enough to keep the offense in the game, then there\'s hope. By the way, Venturi Sucks. No truer words have been written. 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.

Latest Blogs
2023 New Orleans Saints: Training Camp Last Blog: 08-01-2023 By: MarchingOn Puck the Fro Browl! Last Blog: 02-05-2023 By: neugey CFP: "Just Keep Doing What You're Doing" Last Blog: 12-08-2022 By: neugey

10-28-2004, 08:41 AM	#16
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,774	10-6 or wishful thinking? no way will we come close to even sniffing the playoffs...dude..we give up about 30 points a game...the cardinals smashed us...we are fighting for last place in the division..i don\'t like it either...but..it\'s the awful truth..the way it\'s going..6-10 would be wishful thinking All true. But there is a glimmer of hope in all of this: The Saints offense. Face it 605 yards and 5 TDs passes given up in a game usually spells a blowout. But the Saints lost to Minnesota by 7, and the offense scored on the last possession they had the ball. It can still be an interesting season if McCarthy flings open the playbook, sticks Aaron in the shotgun, and just sling the ball all over the field the next 5 weeks. You\'re right on point about the points (27 a game). If the defense can get it cut down to 20 a game for the next 5 weeks, the offense can actually stay in it. We\'re not going to have 85 Bears games where the score is 9-6. Our games are going to be scores like we\'ve seen the last 2 weeks: 38-31 or 31-26. The defense sucks. I agree. The run defense is non existant. I agree. But if the defense can make 2 stops a game, just 2, it\'ll open up a window that the offense can exploit. Notice that our offense hasn\'t been giving up the ball lately. Brooks only has 4 total turnovers in nearly half a season, and Deuce has been hanging on to the ball. That fact alone will keep us in it. Now I\'m a realist. Even if we pull all of this off, we\'re still not going anywhere. Playoff football is about defense. And we won\'t have a top 15 defense by the end of the season. No matter what I still think that Haslett and his staff needs to be let go at the end of the season. But the rest of the season can be quite entertaining if McCarthy mixes up a bit. Stop running on first down all the time. Stop running each and every time Karney is in the game. In fact Karney should get some prime time both running and catching the ball. Put Henderson or Lewis on the field for more plays to stretch the defense. Frankly start Hall at TE because he\'s the only one that can seem to block and catch the ball. Or play 4 wide, stretch the defense, then run the ball. Put Aaron in the shotgun. Hell run from the shotgun! We have the personnel to look like the Rams did a few years ago. Win, lose, or draw it\'ll certainly be fun to watch. I\'m at a loss as to what to do about the defense. I realize that I simply don\'t know enough about how defenses operate to understand why it is that we can\'t stop the run. Anyone care to explain the difference in either talent or scheme between our defense and the top 5 rushing defenses this year? BTW did anyone notice that we only gave up 82 yards rushing last week? 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.

10-28-2004, 04:16 PM	#17
JKool 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,423	10-6 or wishful thinking? Nicely put SFIAH. Hey, if we\'re going to ban words like \"agenda\", then can we also ban the over use of the elipsis (...)? Just wondering. What say you BnB?

10-28-2004, 05:28 PM	#18
blackwidows 100th Post Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 245	10-6 or wishful thinking? All I know is Tampabay is yet to sweep us in the NFC South. I hope we keep this streak alive. I\'ll say 9-7. As for the person that asked when draft day. I think it is always the second Saturday of April. It is always in April though. [Edited on 28/10/2004 by blackwidows] [Edited on 28/10/2004 by blackwidows]
blackwidows 100th Post Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 245

10-28-2004, 06:59 PM	#19
MatthewT 1000 Posts + Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,729	10-6 or wishful thinking? A 10-6 record is a major reach for this Saints team. With a 3-4 record, we are talking 7-2 on the stretch run. A 10-6 record would be more realistic if the Saints were 5-2 right now. I just don\'t see it happening for the Saints. The schedule is down right brutal. Games against San Diego, Denver, KC, the entire division twice minus Tampa then add Dallas, my thought is no way. Then again, stranger things have happened in the NFL, so who knows... If anything good is going to happen, the entire team needs to step it up. The offense will need to score about 25-30 points per game, defense will need to at least cause a couple punts, and special teams will need to be, well, special. Perhaps, too much to ask for this season. As much as the coaching staff has sucked, at least I\'ve seen a few good things to attempt a turnaround. More of Karney in the FB spot, getting Fast Freddy back on special teams, the defensive changes, adding Jerome Pathon as the starter again, a little bit of LeMont Hall at TE, and lets not forget that Haz did the defensive game plan for the Raiders game. I think he may have even called the plays. Despite the 26 points that was given up, the defense did play pretty solid. The Saints won the game because they were able to hold the Raiders to FG\'s early on. During the end, they did give up some TD\'s, but at the expense of guys slipping on the field. (Equipment manager???) My favorite play of the game was seeing Aaron Brooks take a knee...