Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

Fox Team Report.
Special Project: Disappointing DT Jonathan Sullivan will be the personal offseason project of line coach John Pease. The 2003 first-round pick irked team officials with his poor conditioning and indifferent attitude last year. As a result, he has been ordered to drop about 30 pounds and spend the offseason in New Orleans, where he can be monitored daily. Sullivan needs to prove to coaches and teammates that he is committed to becoming a contributing member of the team. If not, this is likely his last chance with the Saints, who have already exhausted almost all resources in trying to salvage Sullivan.




The person most affected by the likely departure of offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy is QB Aaron Brooks. McCarthy served as a security blanket for the embattled Brooks throughout his tenure in New Orleans. McCarthy was the coach responsible for coaxing the 2000 trade with Green Bay for Brooks and was a loyal supporter. A new coordinator likely won't be as willing to forgive Brooks for his faults. At the same time, Brooks also might have to adapt to a new offensive system after playing in McCarthy's West Coast scheme for the past five seasons. For that reason, it's a big offseason for Brooks, who finished the 2004 season on a high note with a big win at Carolina. . . .


Back-up running back is a top offseason. RB Aaron Stecker proved to be a valuable addition last offseason but he's not the every-down back the offense needs if Deuce McAllister goes down. The Saints have plugged a variety of veteran cast-offs at the position over the years but none has proven effective. It's imperative that they address this spot in the offseason, preferably in the draft where this year's class is especially deep in runners. With so many needs on defense, the Saints can't afford to spend a top pick on a back. But a mid-round pick would be a wise investment. It wouldn't hurt to have a young runner push McAllister, who is coming off a disappointing season. . . .


The Saints want to re-sign reserve defensive lineman Tony Bryant, who will be an unrestricted free agent. Bryant's strength is his versatility. He can play end or tackle. At 6-6, he is effective at disrupting passing lanes and is also a factor on special teams where he is adept at blocking kicks.


[Edited on 24/1/2005 by Danno]

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

We\'ll be fine, just got to have faith. Sullivan loses weight and becomes NFL\'s comeback player of the year. Wishful thinking isn\'t it?

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

At least they\'ve acknowledged that he\'s a problem, and are attempting to do something about it.
Baby steps.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

Good point Danno. Rarely has accountability been a priority here. Maybe the winds of change are blowing.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

You know that you\'re in good position when your RB picks up over 1000 yards and it is called disappointing.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

And its a bit worrisome when your all-world RB, who should be flirting with 2000 yards comes into camp fat, slow, out of shape, starts fumbling, gets injured, states he\'s a quitter, and people still ignore it because of what he did 1-1/2 years ago. ;)

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

Wow. That was wide open, but I won\'t take it. But I guess several players and a coach get ignored because of past deeds.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

Don\'t try to lump me in with that group. I think you know better. I don\'t think I\'ve ignored anyone. On the contrary, I\'ve ruffled some feathers by pointing out many who shouldn\'t be ignored.

Funny, the 1st post after my comment about ignoring A problem is choosing to ignore it? I find the irony in that quite humorous. Did you do that intentionally? Very clever if so.

BTTT, He\'s not the main problem by far, but his play this year was a problem.

[Edited on 25/1/2005 by Danno]

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

I\'ve read Danno\'s posts for a long time. And I\'ve been impressed with the thought Danno has put in them.

Danno is one of the few who doesn\'t get caught up in the BS between certain members. Unlike me, I like to battle it out with some folks on here.

Danno also calls it like it is.

Deuce isn\'t the God some folks make him out to be. And Deuce was a PROBLEM this year. Like Danno said, he was for from the biggest problem, but he was a PROBLEM.

That said, I\'m not too worried about Deuce. Unless he gets hurt again and the running game suffers. Or he keeps fumbling the ball.

I live in Mississippi and the knock on Deuce coming out of college was that he\'s injury prone. In his short career he\'s had more than his fair share of injuries. That does have me worried somewhat.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

A 1000 yard back isn\'t a problem.

A coach who expected a 2000 yard back and couldn\'t adjust his game plan IS a problem.

I\'m not saying that Duece is a man-god, but he is easily (injuries and weight included) still one of the better players on this team. Now that may be saying something about the quality of the other guys on the team.

I\'m inclined to think that if you think Duece is a problem, then you should be willing to say that there is no aspect of this team that isn\'t a problem. I\'m fine if you think that, but it is an odd way of putting things. When someone says x is a problem, I\'m inclined to think that x is something that needs somewhat pressing attention. Sure Duece would benefit from a bit better conditioning and coaching (e.g. attitude control), but he\'ll benefit a heck of a lot more from a pair of good tackles on our line, better playcalling, and a game plan that doesn\'t involve throwing for the last 20 to 30 minutes of the game.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

JKool--

Deuce would indeed benifit from better blocking, better game plan, etc...

However, all of that won\'t help his fumbling. In the last couple of years Deuce ranks in the top 5 in fumbles per carry.

It also won\'t help his injuries. The last couple of years Deuce has gotten hurt. Year before last injuries really limited Deuce in the last few games and the running game really suffered.

This year Deuce was hurt for the better part of the season. He couldn\'t make any cuts to speak of and it really hurt the running game.

A fast race car is great. As long as it runs right.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

Hey Danno, I wasn\'t taking a shot at any specific players, but there are some who have ridden the wave of \"only playoff victory\" too long. As well as a coach. I know very well you don\'t ignore anyone who is a problem. I hope you stay that way cause it is honest.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

I persaonally think he absolutely is. Especially if going into the season he was considered by some outsiders as a top 2 or 3 player (not just RB)in the league.

If LaDanian Tomlinson got fat, started fumbling, admitted quitting, got injured (again), and only gained 1000 yards, I call that a problem. The best player on a team should be held to a higher standard than simply average. Which is what he was this year.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

Hope Pease doesn\'t have to buy him lunch everyday

:hungry:

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

Yeah, I think that Deuce should not be the only player guaranteed a starting position in camp this year, like he was last year. Not that we\'ll have any real competition for him, but just to try and keep him motivated. Deuce is a great running back who did not have a great season. But I think a lot of that is due to us falling behind in the first quarter of every game, the retarded two tight end set we never let die (despite having a killer fullback), and Deuce coming back much too early from his injury (despite better than expected play from Stecker).

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

Can you imagine how long it will take Brooks to learn a new system? Maybe it would be best if McCarthy takes Brooks with him wherever he goes. You can\'t teach a dumb dog new tricks.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

The scary part is, I can imagine. It has been 5 years, and he hasn\'t mastered THIS one. So maybe when he is 37 like Rich Gannon was, he will take us to the Superbowl then everyone who supported him can say the others were wrong. Just think, possibly only 9 more years. :casstet:

[Edited on 25/1/2005 by saintswhodi]

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

OR, you could blame it on the QB. Perhaps the QB infected him and turned him into a quitter. :casstet:

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

Gumbo and Danno,

I\'m agreeing that Duece did not have the season he could have. My point was this - (1) he still had a 1000 yards, lots of teams would pray for that from their back, and (2) you are using the word problem in an awfully strange way. I said all this above.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

Let me see if I can explain my point, JKool...

Just about every team in the NFL had a 1,000 yard runningback.

Even Emmit Smith rushed for 937-yards.

A thousand yard season is average today!!

Rudy Johnson rushed for 1454 yards.

In fact, there were 15 runningbacks who rushed for more yards than Deuce.


Curtis Martin
Shaun Alexander
Corey Dillon
Edgerrin James
Tiki Barber
Rudi Johnson
LaDainian Tomlinson
Clinton Portis
Reuben Droughns
Fred Taylor
Domanick Davis
Ahman Green
Kevin Jones
Willis McGahee
Warrick Dunn

But I\'m NOT blaming everything on Deuce. A lot of the running problems were due to Deuce being injured and poor blocking by the pathetic O-line.

All I\'m saying is the PRODUCTION from the running game was a PROBLEM!!

I place a BIG part of the offensive problems on the poor prodction in the running game. No matter whose fault it was, the lack of production in the running game cost us BIG TIME!!

vs. Seattle: 57 yards.
vs. 49\'ers: 1 yard.
vs. Rams: DID NOT PLAY.
vs. Arizona DID NOT PLAY

IN THE FIRST 4 GAMES DEUCE GAINED A TOTAL OF 58-YARDS!!

vs. Chargers: 63 yards
vs. Denver: 42 yards
vs. Panthers: 22 yards
vs. Dallas: 83 yards
vs. Tampa: 89 yards

Simply put, in over half the games the production wasn\'t there in the running game.

I think that\'s HUGE?

What about you guys? What do you think?

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

But then we only scored like 10 points in the first quarter all season. Doesn\'t that change the way we use the run game?

Just asking.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

My opinion is that the offensive line was largely responsible for our lack of scoring in the first quarter, the second quarter, the third quarter, and the fourth quarter.

Deuce had no room to run MOST of the time. Brooks had no time to throw MOST of the time.

I\'m not making this up. Is it that hard to believe?

Could Deuce have played better. Yes he could have.

Could Brooks have played better. Yes he could have.

Could McCarthy have called better playes. Yes.

But none of that changes the fact that our O-line caused our offense to struggle big time.

[Edited on 25/1/2005 by GumboBC]

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

No one denies that the line isn\'t getting it done.

I was just wondering if we weren\'t game planning well with what we had and teams know we want to run first so they could plan against the run.

It also raises the question of whether teams are afraid of the current QB beating them with his arm?

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

BMG --

Truth be known, I actullay respect your knowledge of the game. That is when I can get you on something other than Brooks ;)

Look, we can speculate on some of this other stuff.

But, I prefer to look at the \"knowns.\"

I know the offensive line caused Deuce and Brooks problems all year long.

I know stupid penalties put us in bad situations many times.

I know the defense gave up way too many points in almost every game.

I\'m really not trying to deflect Brooks from all blame. I\'m really not.

What I am trying to point out is there were way too many other problems to lay it on Brooks.

Same thing goes for Deuce. Deuce could have 3 more years like this year if things stand pat on our O-line. It still wouldn\'t be Deuce\'s fault totally!!

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

I totally agree with you that there was plenty of blame to go around (from the very top on down) all year long.

I think where the sticking point is, what to do with the current QB as we plan for next season.

It certainly isn\'t ALL his fault. But he is a guy who is due for a bigger cap number this year. He sounds like he\'s making noises for a big Mike Vick like blockbuster new deal. His ego seems to be blinding him to his own limits. However, he\'s in his physical prime and his trade value will probably never be higher and we could get a high pick and a proven player for him right now.

All things being equal, those of us that would like to deal him are convinced that even if we fix every other problem on this team, we still can\'t trust him in the clutch. It\'s a perspective that even if we fixed everything else, we would be winning in spite of the current QB instead of because of him.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

You\'re certainly entitled to that opinion.

But, when you\'ve got so many other problems with the offense, it\'s not CLEAR cut that Brooks needs to go.

And that\'s the problem I have with the folks who are screaming for Brooks\' head.

Do you know how many times folks have laid the blame on the QB and been wrong?

Bradshaw, Elway, and more recently, Drew Brees!!

The list is a long one.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

I\'m convinced.

It had escaped my attention that so many mediocre backs were making a 1000 yards these days.

As far as our play calling hurting Duece (whereas I\'ve come to suspect it is more on our OL), our Run-Pass distribution was 43-57 per 100 plays. It is not like Duece didn\'t touch the ball very often.

Our OLine was cruddy, our RB was stricktly average, no one is excited about any of our WR (except Horn, of course), how did we win 8 games? ... Must have been the QB. ;)

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

Yep, definitely the QB.