GumboBC

Well, I didn\'t say it was all sunshine...

I just don\'t believe it\'s as bad as some make it sound.

In reality we only need to improve our record by 2-games to make the playoffs. That\'s not that much to improve. Unless you believe we are doomed to winning only 8 games every year.

I don\'t know if there\'s such a thing as a good or bad 8-8 team. I do know that some teams who finish 8-8 are considered to have a huge upside entering the new season and some are considered to have a bleak chance.

When I look at the Saints I tend to see an upside still. Winning the last 4 games and and improving defense. And hopefully Deuce will stay healthy all year.

I think the fans who think coaching is most responsible for the losing are very pessimistic about next year.

Myself, I don\'t think coaching was even close to the reason we didn\'t make the playoffs.

I think we had some players on defense who weren\'t able to carry their load. I think some of that was corrected during the season.

I think we had (and still have) some players on the offensive line who can\'t play well enough. That can be corrected with Haslett still here.

I believe penalties have been a major problem for a long time. And its been the same players (Gandy and Victor Riely) who have made most of them. Both need to go, IMO.

We\'ve got the draft and free-agency to improve this team.

I\'m hopeful.