Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

This isn’t it.

The white flag isn’t waving. The Saints aren’t tapping out.

It might be hard to see what’s happening over the pile of bodies in the corner of the room, but there is a retooling taking place in New Orleans. It’s a new beginning, with new philosophies. Where it all leads is yet to be determined.

It’s possible the Saints will drown under all this change. They felt the culprit behind last season’s 7-9 finish was in part the result of shipping out too many familiar faces for fresh ones. Maybe that happens again. But at its core, what has happened in the past week is a refusal to settle for the status quo.

This is setting the house on fire to gain the flexibility and space needed to not just win the NFC South but to transform back into a contender. Will it work? That’s the question that will determine whether this is remembered as one of the darkest periods of the Sean Payton era or the extension of one of the most successful runs in franchise history.


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Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

The draft will certainly be interesting this year.

I just hope they won't throw away too many of their picks to move up in the draft.

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

We're gonna go 3-13 or 13-3 lol. Probably closer to 10-6 to be realistic. No expectations after last year.. I think this offseason will be good for us long-term but hopefully we get some impact rookies.

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

Exactly unless they somehow get more I think its best to stay put as it is right now. I hope they only move up for an OLB but thats it.

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

The only player reasonable to move up to get is Vic Beasley, I hope they stay put and find some players to reduce their cap. They done it with Kenny Stills, hopefully Ellerbe will be worth it.

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

I'm thinking 12-4, I like what we have done so far. I'm not so sure about impact player being taken over solid players that contibute on a regular basis. This draft has a ton of solid players, it's a great draft.

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

I just meant players that can come in and play ball you know? They dont have to be amazing, but some solid starters would be amazing.

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

We have 9 draft picks so far. And since no one will be picking them to make the playoffs I say let's shock the world.

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

I've been pumped with all the wheelin and dealins , its gonna put us in the mix again, we sent some problems away. jimmy grahm started thinkin he was bigger that the team imo, he was sent off and we have and all pro center in return. hell ya i'm gonna miss the cracker but I missed reggie bush too, and he got sent off too when he disappeared in the seattle game back when. i'm lovin payton more and more he wants players with stomick, not run ob .

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

Ya think they might trade a player during the draft?

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

and this team NOT being predictable is a great thing.

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

No one on the outside is giving us a chance. I could care less! The way I see it, we just added 2 super bowl players to our roster in Unger and Browner. Both have been labeled as leaders and I dont think we are getting any kudos for that. Outsiders act like we are doomed because we lost JG. As it has already been stated here, he wasn't on the team when we won our SB.

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

Im concerned about our recievers if im honest. Take away the two vets and they dont have 110 receptions between them

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

I'll be surprised if they don't.:bng:

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

This is exactly right. All the "analysts" think this is a fire sale because of our cap mismanagement. They can't see beyond us moving Jimmy Graham, one of the best players at his position. They think addressing needs and lack of depth is less important than in my mind one of the least important positions in the game.

We were horrific on defense and we had no depth across our roster. Injuries killed us everywhere. We had far too many overpaid and under performing people on this roster and Graham and Grubbs were two obvious ones.

Unger is a massive upgrade from Goodwin/Lelito. Spiller adds on of the most dynamic athletes in the game and replaces the loss we suffered when we moved on from Sproles. We sorely missed that mismatch RB who could exploit the outside and the passing game. We have added a great veteran leader at CB and a promising LB for the 3-4 scheme. All while shedding cap overages.

Most teams that far over the cap purge contracts and don't add anything beyond league minimum players and draft picks. We are doing it while actually addressing major needs positions and with some of the top players available.

This is a re-tooling and not a rebuilding effort. As Loomis put it, we have a 7-9 problem. Being better across the roster is hoping to pay more dividends than being exceptional at one or two positions.

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

I feel confident we're moving up. I also think we get a either White or Amari.

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

Our division was awful last year, and I don't see anybody else making moves to get better. 10-6 wins it

Re: Saints are betting big that their retooling and newfound flexibility pay off
 

The thing I like about the spiller signing is he's not only a third down back

The guy has ran for 1000+ yards before, he had a 1700 all purpose season with buffalo

He's faster than sproles, Spiller has that 4.3 speed, Sproles was quick in space but his long field speed was/is nowhere near CJ's.

The 2011 backfield was perfect and I think we need to get back to that, Ingram and Khiry Robinson running with power and Spiller being the change of pace back.