jeanpierre

Thursday is gonna be our Christmas in July!!!

homerj07

I am very hopeful that the O-line has jelled and can protect Drew and open some holes for the RBs

jeanpierre

Homer, the starting Center has to be determined before we get there; and then guys like Armstead have to adjust to another linesman calling protections...

jeanpierre

First phase of 2014 Saints training camp presented by Verizon begins Thursday

...and so begins another chapter...

Marlboro Man

First, I'm a little bummed about the Saints training in WV, but since I'm in CO, it doesn't bother me that much. Whatever the team needs to get better on the road. I'm also a little confused about TC because IIRC it was said that the Saints rookies were to have reported to camp last Sun. With the vets coming in today. Wonder what was up with that? Over the last several years, I've been very disappointed with the local reporters lack of coverage of our team. Anyway, I'm going to do a little breakdown of my own on the team, or a here's what I think I think kinda thing. Hope y'all like it.

Saints can't win outdoors on the road: Here's what I think I think. When you play a team outdoors, you are facing elements. Those elements are, heat, humidity, rain, wind, cold and snow. We face some of those elements within our division and with other teams we play every year. Tampa for instance is hot, windy and rainy depending on when the game is played. Same thing for teams like Carolina, GB, Chicago, etc., well you get my drift. So, if we face those elements when we go to play these kinds of teams, and cold and cold and rainy conditions as well, then why don't we practice in those conditions before we go play those teams? We have outdoor fields at our practice facility. When it rains, why do we go indoors? Why don't we get used to playing in rainy and windy and sloppy conditions? We may not have snow, but in the winter it definitely gets cold in the NO. Why not practice in the cold, or the cold and rainy and windy days outside?

So you're concerned about our offense? Well, Drew Bree's is Drew Bree's, and although I won't say that I've seen any noticible drop off in his play, I have seen him throw some very questionable INT's at some very inopportune moments, but all in all he's still one of the top 3 QB's in the game today, and I'm thrilled to have him. The recent move to sign back the new QB Coach, will be a God send for Ryan Griffin, who starred under his tuteledge, and I think I think Griffin will take a huge step forward this year. I for one think we're in good shape at this position.

OL, last year and for several years now, I've been pretty vocal about our LT position. Charles Brown was and is a horrible LT. Chicago will find that out this season. Charles averaged 2.0 seconds of protection for Drew Bree's per pass attempt, and was virtually invisible on run plays no matter where they were directed. I was thrilled when SP benched him and put Armstead in his place. Everyone says he struggled in the first half of our loss to Carolina, but they don't even listen to their own words, ie, THE FIRST HALF. Armstead started getting his act together in that second half and did an admirable job in the second half and on into the playoffs against arguably even better competition. I think I think Armstead has the demeanor and desire to become one of the games best LT's, and I believe he will be.

RT: Last year was the first time I was disappointed by Zack Strief. I have been one of his biggest supporters, but I think his previous injury dogged him all year long. I think I think Zack will be much healthier this season and will have a bounce back year.

C: Goody's back, and that's a good thing. Problem is, that a lot of fans don't really know about all the players on their team, yet in an effort to sound knowledgable just regurgitate what they've read or heard elsewhere. Some of our own fans express concern over Tim Lelito taking over at C because they've heard it somewhere else, but haven't gone back to watch how he played when he got the chance, so here's some info. Like Armstead, Lelito struggled in his first start, but got noticibley better as he got more snaps. Brian DeLapuenta really fell off last year as teams realized that he was undersized and if they could occupy both guards, he was easily beatable and that is how teams like NE, Carolina, NYJ, St. Louis and Seattle (Holding and PI no calls not withstanding.)beat us. I think I think that with Lelito we will be bigger and stronger at C, and he will handle the position better than expected. I also think I think that the move to re-sign Goody, was a stroke of genius by SP and Loomis.

DEFENSIVELY:

DL: Here, I have to say, that I finally am happy and even relieved with the talent we've assembled. For the longest time I have kept complaining that our D-Line was incomplete. We seemed to always be missing one starter and one or two backups. I think I think that finally this year, we have assembled possibly the best D-Line this organization has ever fielded. Cameron Jourdan, Broderick Bunkley, Akiem Hicks, Jenkins, Tyrun Walker and Foster is an extremely talented and formidable group, deep enough to get us through the season as well as the playoffs.

LB's: It seems every coach in the league has an area that every year it seems that they just cannot improve. For some it's offense, for others it's defense or special teams. For example Mora had trouble getting WR's and CB's. For SP, it's LB's. Right now, we have some weak areas on our defense and they are LB and #2 CB. we've made some moves at LB in the past with Fujita, Vilma etc., all proven LB's with other teams prior to coming to the Saints, but our draft pucks at this position group have been shall we say unspectacular? It has taken SP 8 years to come up with only 1 very good LB in Junior Galette, and we really need to get better here, and fast. We have a few players that may prove to be something more than just average players in Reddick, Forte and another UDFA this year, but this is the area that in the next year or two MUST be improved.

CB: Losing Jabari Greer was almost devastating, but acquiring Keenan Lewis was a major stroke of luck and made the loss of Greer a nonevent. Unfortunately Robinson has been a disappointment and White only shows flashes but is wildly irratic. Most teams have multiple holes on their teams to cover up, but luckily we only have arguably 1. The need for a #2 CB. I think I think that Champ Bailey, even in this stage of his career, is better than anyone currently on the roster, and his knowledge will be invaluable to the younger players, especially Stanley Jean-Baptiste, who is the player I hoped we would draft and even in a lower round than I had hoped for. But with Safeties like Byrd, Vaccaro, and Bush, I believe we will be able to cover this weakness this year and allow us to take care if it next season. Sorry for such a long post.

jeanpierre

Saints host is a Parcells impersonator | ProFootballTalk

hagan714

The Saints have the best regular-season road record in the NFL since 2009 (24-13) last was was a abnormal


could not agree more

Goody is a signing that is so far under the radar he is a tree top flyer. he not only gives us a safety blanket at center but he can fill in at guard if needed. now if we can find depth at OT that can do the swing thing too our depth on the OL is better than it has been in years. here is to Litto stepping up. major key to our success


I give the LB position the cute position award this year. Jr maybe the cause of it too. Are the saints hoping they get another late round gem like Jr again this year? well that ideology quickly fell apart at LOT as we all know over the past fewyears. So the saints approach this year at LB is all about hope on a wing and ton of prayers. I feel better about OLB than i do ILB. i like the battle outside with Butler and Haralson. my hope is the saints are able to get Jr off the field and getting him some rest. way too many minutes last year IMO. That is were Powell comes into play. I hope and pray. ILB i really do not see much depth improvement and predict that will be our weak link on pass defense again this year.

Now PRob was drafted with red flags strapped to his knees. Talent is there and the 2 full years he played he really looked good enough to give me hope.

White going into his third year has shown his skill set on the inside. last year was really the first time he got ample playing time outside and it showed. he need to take a page out sweeting play book. keep the play in front of you! I like what i have seen and i have tempered my hopes of him playing outside till he proves he can track down the football and improve his positioning down field. I think this year he will benefit greatly from the Bailey signing. Baily and White will man the nickle and dime positions and improve the play there. Champ getting the quicker WR assignment and White doing what he does best. RB, not so quick WR and run support. Remember he was a Safety in college.

loved it myself great eval in my book

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

zachsaints52

Sorry, I dont know to post pics.

Enjoyed the first day, the guys are amazing!

hagan714

quick some one help this guy out ASAP

jeanpierre

Looking forward to seeing Cooks justify the move to get him, but do we have to overreach on the adjectives?!? I mean "spectacular catch" ? C'mon...just let it build on its own...