Where Does The 2014 Team Rank in Saints History Suckage?

Danno · 12-28-2014, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by SaintsBro

I feel like some people are acting like this year was some kind of strange new thing or a freak deviation for the Saints.... But if you honestly look at 2012 to now? Other than a brief win streak in early 2013 where the Saints got hot for a handful of games, this club has been playing .500-ish ball straight through from 2012 right to now. The only difference between 2014 and the abysmal year of 2012, was that this year you didn't have the lack of Sean Payton on the sidelines to be the excuse for it. (Which turned out to maybe not be as much of a difference maker as we all thought? But that's probably a topic for another thread.)

But from the eyeball test, hey, it's basically the same exact team, folks, that sucked in 2012 and then struggled and dropped a bunch of games later in 2013 after the bye; it's all the same as this year, too. Other than that short win streak in early 2012 when Payton was hot, and a very good game in Philly in the playoffs last year, it all looks exactly the same to me. More often than not, during the past three years the Saints are playing .500 ball, on a typical normal day at the office.

And one of the common denominators is the decline of the interior line. I don't think its a coincidence at all.

Grubbs was OK, but he was no Carl Nicks. Nicks at that time the best OG in the NFL. Evans' game started declining about 2 or 3 years ago. He was still good but he's gotten worse every year since 2011.

We've had mediocre Centers ever since Goodwin left, and now he's a shadow of his former self.

I think the key to fixing the problems on offense are simple. Add an above average Center and Guard and the offense will be fine even without any skill position upgrades. Probably right back to elite.

The defense on the other hand, it needs several upgrades. Most are obtainable though. That #2 CB spot, a DT that can collapse the pocket and some more speed at a couple of LB spots and it should at least be competitive.

neugey · 12-28-2014, 08:56 PM

There have been worse seasons of suckage. I can't speak to anything before 1988, but this was one of the worst seasons coaching-wise, right up there with Ditka's last season. So this season was painful in its own unique way. This team took on the guise of a lifeless, heartless corporation. We are like the Sony of the NFL. And who needs the Lizard Squad or North Korea, when we have the Falcons to take us down.

The Lions game was the worst loss of the season. It was incomprehensible that we lost that game. And all we hear from Payton is usual narrative, "well there's the peaks and valleys in every NFL season" nonsense.

I'll always be a fan, but as I've gotten older I've gotten less patient with underachievement and especially bad coaching. It's hard to stay engaged when your team is being run the wrong way. Maybe I should consult a Cowboys fan for advice on that one.

QBREES9 · 12-28-2014, 09:19 PM

Very disappointing

LivnaLieTimay · 12-28-2014, 09:33 PM

Been a fan since 1986 and this definitely wasn't the worst Saints team I've seen but it was the most disappointing team I've seen. Most of the bad Saints teams I knew were going to bad but this team I had high expectations for. Nothing more disappointing then having high expectations and falling miserably short.

This was a team with no heart and honestly showed me nothing to make me believe the future is bright. I think this team needs a huge overhaul because quite frankly we don't have good players. We've missed a lot recently in both the draft and FA and now we're stuck with young kids who can't play and older guys past their prime. Looking ahead we have virtually no flexibility due to our cap situation which makes this years draft so important. I do know that unless major changes are made my expectations next year will be very low for this team because nothing I saw from this pathetic group makes me think they will turn it around next year.

skymike · 12-30-2014, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by neugey

There have been worse seasons of suckage. I can't speak to anything before 1988, ....

Stop right there.
You've missed half the (un)fun, and much of the worst.

Barry from MS · 12-30-2014, 08:26 PM

I don't think this team underachieved any worse than the Haslett/Brooks teams of 2002-2004 teams did.

jeanpierre · 12-30-2014, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by Barry from MS

I don't think this team underachieved any worse than the Haslett/Brooks teams of 2002-2004 teams did.

Bigger disappointment with this team, this year...

Those teams were like watching a first class, state-of-the-art ladder firetruck pull up with Shakes the Clown and Bobo at the wheels...

Barry from MS · 12-30-2014, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

Bigger disappointment with this team, this year...

Those teams were like watching a first class, state-of-the-art ladder firetruck pull up with Shakes the Clown and Bobo at the wheels...

I dunno...I felt pretty danged disappointed after that 2002 team screaming into the playoffs with a 9-4 record then butt-fumbling 3 straight to miss the playoffs...losing to 3 absolutely garbage Minnesota, Cincinnati, & Carolina teams in a row to close out the season. Two of those at home, by the way.

Felt more betrayed by that 2002 team than by this 2014 team. Hate Haslett & AB to this day for that team.

12-28-2014, 09:19 AM	#31
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,713	Re: Where Does The 2014 Team Rank in Saints History Suckage? Originally Posted by SaintsBro I feel like some people are acting like this year was some kind of strange new thing or a freak deviation for the Saints.... But if you honestly look at 2012 to now? Other than a brief win streak in early 2013 where the Saints got hot for a handful of games, this club has been playing .500-ish ball straight through from 2012 right to now. The only difference between 2014 and the abysmal year of 2012, was that this year you didn't have the lack of Sean Payton on the sidelines to be the excuse for it. (Which turned out to maybe not be as much of a difference maker as we all thought? But that's probably a topic for another thread.) But from the eyeball test, hey, it's basically the same exact team, folks, that sucked in 2012 and then struggled and dropped a bunch of games later in 2013 after the bye; it's all the same as this year, too. Other than that short win streak in early 2012 when Payton was hot, and a very good game in Philly in the playoffs last year, it all looks exactly the same to me. More often than not, during the past three years the Saints are playing .500 ball, on a typical normal day at the office. And one of the common denominators is the decline of the interior line. I don't think its a coincidence at all. Grubbs was OK, but he was no Carl Nicks. Nicks at that time the best OG in the NFL. Evans' game started declining about 2 or 3 years ago. He was still good but he's gotten worse every year since 2011. We've had mediocre Centers ever since Goodwin left, and now he's a shadow of his former self. I think the key to fixing the problems on offense are simple. Add an above average Center and Guard and the offense will be fine even without any skill position upgrades. Probably right back to elite. The defense on the other hand, it needs several upgrades. Most are obtainable though. That #2 CB spot, a DT that can collapse the pocket and some more speed at a couple of LB spots and it should at least be competitive.

12-28-2014, 08:56 PM	#32
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,671 Blog Entries: 13	Re: Where Does The 2014 Team Rank in Saints History Suckage? There have been worse seasons of suckage. I can't speak to anything before 1988, but this was one of the worst seasons coaching-wise, right up there with Ditka's last season. So this season was painful in its own unique way. This team took on the guise of a lifeless, heartless corporation. We are like the Sony of the NFL. And who needs the Lizard Squad or North Korea, when we have the Falcons to take us down. The Lions game was the worst loss of the season. It was incomprehensible that we lost that game. And all we hear from Payton is usual narrative, "well there's the peaks and valleys in every NFL season" nonsense. I'll always be a fan, but as I've gotten older I've gotten less patient with underachievement and especially bad coaching. It's hard to stay engaged when your team is being run the wrong way. Maybe I should consult a Cowboys fan for advice on that one.

12-28-2014, 09:19 PM	#33
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,985	Re: Where Does The 2014 Team Rank in Saints History Suckage? Very disappointing

12-28-2014, 09:33 PM	#34
LivnaLieTimay 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York Posts: 1,498	Re: Where Does The 2014 Team Rank in Saints History Suckage? Been a fan since 1986 and this definitely wasn't the worst Saints team I've seen but it was the most disappointing team I've seen. Most of the bad Saints teams I knew were going to bad but this team I had high expectations for. Nothing more disappointing then having high expectations and falling miserably short. This was a team with no heart and honestly showed me nothing to make me believe the future is bright. I think this team needs a huge overhaul because quite frankly we don't have good players. We've missed a lot recently in both the draft and FA and now we're stuck with young kids who can't play and older guys past their prime. Looking ahead we have virtually no flexibility due to our cap situation which makes this years draft so important. I do know that unless major changes are made my expectations next year will be very low for this team because nothing I saw from this pathetic group makes me think they will turn it around next year.

12-30-2014, 06:28 PM	#35
skymike E. Side Cholo Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Barrio, H-town Posts: 6,089	Re: Where Does The 2014 Team Rank in Saints History Suckage? Originally Posted by neugey There have been worse seasons of suckage. I can't speak to anything before 1988, .... Stop right there. You've missed half the (un)fun, and much of the worst. jeanpierre likes this.

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12-30-2014, 08:26 PM	#36
Barry from MS Site Donor 2014 Join Date: May 2007 Location: TEMPO VC Okefenokee Swamp Posts: 1,985 Blog Entries: 2	Re: Where Does The 2014 Team Rank in Saints History Suckage? I don't think this team underachieved any worse than the Haslett/Brooks teams of 2002-2004 teams did.

12-30-2014, 08:38 PM	#37
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Where Does The 2014 Team Rank in Saints History Suckage? Originally Posted by Barry from MS I don't think this team underachieved any worse than the Haslett/Brooks teams of 2002-2004 teams did. Bigger disappointment with this team, this year... Those teams were like watching a first class, state-of-the-art ladder firetruck pull up with Shakes the Clown and Bobo at the wheels...

12-30-2014, 09:10 PM	#38
Barry from MS Site Donor 2014 Join Date: May 2007 Location: TEMPO VC Okefenokee Swamp Posts: 1,985 Blog Entries: 2	Re: Where Does The 2014 Team Rank in Saints History Suckage? Originally Posted by jeanpierre Bigger disappointment with this team, this year... Those teams were like watching a first class, state-of-the-art ladder firetruck pull up with Shakes the Clown and Bobo at the wheels... I dunno...I felt pretty danged disappointed after that 2002 team screaming into the playoffs with a 9-4 record then butt-fumbling 3 straight to miss the playoffs...losing to 3 absolutely garbage Minnesota, Cincinnati, & Carolina teams in a row to close out the season. Two of those at home, by the way. Felt more betrayed by that 2002 team than by this 2014 team. Hate Haslett & AB to this day for that team.

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