Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

I am curious how you guys see yourselves stacking up. The offseason is so boring but I would love to hear how these teams fare against each other.
Is there another team that is a threat to the NFC?
Will the Niners, Seahawks or Saints take a step down?

Wanna know what the board thinks.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

Can't comment on who will decline, other than to say that the Saints have only gotten better...

Lost no one of significance, except for Darren Sproles who has been replaced with the speedier Brandin Cooks...

It seems the Seahawks may have lost some pieces on defense? :confused:

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

The Saints should be greatly improved on the defensive side of the ball with several key additions, including Jarius Byrd and Champ Bailey, and the return of key players inujured prior to the past season (Patrick Robinson and Victor Butler). The entire defense should be improved as a whole with another year under Rob Ryan's system.

The Saints offense should also benefit from the addition of Brandin Cooks, the subtraction of center de la Puenta and the first full season of left tackle Terron Armstead. The exit of Darren Sproles and Lance Moore should be another case of addition by subtraction as both players had by far their worst season in the black and gold in 2013.

As for Seattle and SF, I see both squads taking a small step back with their personnel losses and the emergence of both Arizona and St. Louis as formidable opponents. The Saints will be facing a FAR easier schedule and has a better shot of getting that top NFC seed and that important home field advantage.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

PEDhawks are still the team to beat in the NFC, but the pressure of playing as Super Bowl champion may be too much for them.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

Talent levels on these 3 teams are so close there's no point in trying to figure that one out. Saints are more familiar with the 49ers and we play them well - beat them last year in a game that shouldn't have been as close as it was but we were sloppy and dumb.

Saints vs. Seahawks I would say is more of a psychological barrier since the Seahawks seem to have the Saints number a little bit, even going back to the Haslett years. Don't know exactly why that is.

It is kind of amazing how similar all 3 rosters are. Defenses with a lot of size and toughness with elite players on all 3 levels of the D. Offenses with depth and versatility and the ability to play the game with a lot of different styles.

But really the only thing that matters is who gets home field. In that equation, the Saints seem to be lucky on the schedule this year. All our tough games seem to be at home and a lot of teams that we match up well with on the road.

Realistically the rest of the NFC could just cancel their seasons and the Seahawks, Saints and 49ers just have a round-robin to see who gets to the SB.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

I agree with Jack Vegas. All I would add is that I think the Seahawks are in the Niners heads as well.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

I don't agree with that statement. I think the 9ers, while they are concerned with the Seahawks, are in no way afraid of them.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

Our defensive line lost two starters, can't minimize that and our right tackle position is unsettled. The thing that scares me about the Saints is that I don't see too many unsettled positions. You may have one of the most dominant left tackles in all of football. What positions are still question marks on your team?

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

The addition of Goodwin (center) is a huge upgrade in my opinion. Armstead really impressed me during the Saints second trip to the Northwest. He dominated Clemons (our starting D end who was our best player, now in Jacksonville). Byrd and Bush will bring the lumber and Robinson (RB) could be a star. I personally think our two teams will play each other for the NFCCG. May come down to a couple plays.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

It's a good question and it requires a lot of thought about which teams gained and which ones lost.

But I'll say this, it's really cool having the Saints listed as one of the best teams in the NFC and nobody bats an eye.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

HFA will be everything this year. Saints and Hawks likely will not lose at home. I see the 49ers as a wild card team at best.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

OL and kicker in my opinion. We had some weird OL problems last year which more mostly attributed to a tough time adjusting to zone blocking schemes. But the OL really underacheived last year IMO, considering there are 3 past/present Pro-Bowlers on it.

At kicker, I think Graham is solid and dependable within say 40 yards, past that who knows. If we need a 50-yarder to win a playoff game we're probably in trouble.

The WR's may be a slight issue, Colston is getting old and creaky knees, Meachem is a one-trick pony. We like Stills a lot but he's still young and Cooks is a rookie. I think we'll be OK here but I wouldn't mind terribly if we could land another FA WR before the season starts.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

I think the Winers will fall back a little. Truth is I fear the Cards much more than the Winers. As for the Hawks, I think they are just as good as last year.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

If Brees has enough time back there we will be able to stand toe to toe with Seattle

I was real proud of our D in the playoff game
Turnovers really killed us
The offense came back but missed on a few key drives
A little speed will be great

We played them tougher than San Fran or Denver

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

Cory White took Robinsons spot last season when he went down, I look for Robinson in as our #3 CB, I think with the addition of Bailey, Byrd, with Robinson coming back we might be pretty good there. Up front on D looks pretty good but our lb. play has to improve, quick slants kill us,. With how Seattle rolls out alot it should if it falls that way be interesting to watch. The O, if Brees doesn't have to run for his life and our recievers and TE can get fight off the line of scrimimage, should be much better. Still alot of football to tell.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

I definitely think we have the defense to seriously limit Russell and Kaperfags production and Our offense will continue to do what it always does.I think Seattle is still the team to beat, but I think San Fran will slip a bit. They got exposed last year and Kapernick definitely showed he is not an elite QB. I see us having a very tough division all around. Carolina can build on what they had last year and I don't think Atlanta is really as bad as they were last year. With a healthy White and Jones they can cause some damage.
I'm interested to see what Lovie can do in Tampa although I have heard they were on the up and up for the last several offseason and they always find a way to duck it up. Lovie has some attitude adjustment to do over there.

I see the Cardinals as the surprise team this year. I wouldn't be surprised if they made a real push for division title.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

Sorry but I disagree about the Cardinals. They lost Dansby (free agency) and Washington (suspended). I think the teeth of their defense lacks bite and I can't see Foote and whoever else stuffing the run. Campbell and Dockett are 30 plus; I think father time is going to catch up with them and I see a lot of slippage.

Carolina has no secondary and no wide receivers. Teams will dare them to throw, while testing their secondary. Tampa Bay is a nice up and coming team but Mike Glennon? Need to see him make more plays before I will be sold. He also needs to put on some weight so he can take some punishment. Atlanta is the wildcard but you guys seem to own them. Have to go with the Saints in the South.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

i don't see the Cardinals doing much either. They have some interesting pieces, they really do, but they're far from a complete team. Aside from their defensive line (which is stellar) there's nothing about their team that I am truly impressed with.

I don't see Carolina doing much either, they were smoke and mirrors last year. Good front 7, but their secondary is god-awful horrendous, on paper maybe the worst secondary in the league. We know their receivers are junk, their RB's are old, broken down and so overpaid that it's killing their salary cap. Their OL just lost 3 longtime starters, and oh yeah one of their best players is spending the rest of his summer in prison and is probably going to be suspended half the season.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

On paper, sure the Saints look like they could be a world beater. Baring any major injuries or setbacks, I truly believe that this is the season we make a DEEP playoff run for the Lombardi trophy. It all starts with training camp.

Trust and believe.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

Sherman is a little too enthralled with his own "press" clippings, on the field and in the papers. If the Saints get home field, it's Lombardi Gras all over.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

Josh McCown was named starter for Tampa the last I had heard. With Lovie tightening up their defense and them having a formidable run hame with a decent core of WRs, Tampa worries me a little bit as long as their QB doesn't lose their game for them.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

Seattle is kinda like the Bears were for us the first couple years SP was here. Seattle's claim to fame is defense. I know what it's like to finally win a championship and all, but I think the Seahawks and a lot of fans went overboard with all the trash talking but hey, enjoy it while you can. In the playoff game against Seattle, if you take away all the pass interference, we walk away with the game even with the Ingram fumble but it happened so it is what it is but that game should have shown you that we were right there and fully capable of beating you even with an injured Jimmy Graham. Nobody took Graham out of a game before he was injured and you will see that this year. We'll be coming for ya, of that you can be sure.

As for SF. We lost that playoff game because of Roman Harper plain and simple and he's not here anymore, and that's all I have to say about that.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

Hadn't heard that :D

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

wow, someone else with a pair of eyes
we were getting mobbed in that Seattle game

As for SF, we were on our way to winning it all

I blame Greg Williams - his let's blitz and shock and awe, when a strong prevent would have shut down that last SF drive is what killed it. Roman was just the guy under the cross hairs who got burned

now with our ability to rush only 4 and get killer pressure and such a great secondary - look out

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

You need to stick around here more often.

;)

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

One of SF/Seattle will not be back. Three teams usually do not return to the playoffs from the previous year. If we're there again, and we know Green Bay will because their rivals are scared of them, then one of them along with Philadelphia and Carolina will be out. I think Arizona wins the west and Seattle gets in as a wild card.

I feel during the season we will have competition. Can we expect our defense to limit the yards and points we did last year considering the offenses we are facing. Our offense next year imo is what will need to return to center stage and not just at the dome, and Atlanta is going to be our reg season competition again. I hope we win week 1 but just its not gonna be that easy. TB will be a factor but they need to beat Atlanta week 3 to win the division. If they don't sweep Atlanta they would have to win in the superdome and idk if that will happen.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

winner takes all