Could it be
 

That we really have an awesome defense that Payton knows can wreak havoc and terrorize QBs? Maybe he just doesn't want to show his hand and they are so good they don't need playing time in goofy pre season games. Hell he didn't even try to win against the Patriots. He was just balls out practicing going for twos. maybe he just wanted to practice what it would be like if we had no pass rush so he could see how his DBs perform when they have to do all the work.........

Re: Could it be
 

Maybe..........

Re: Could it be
 

Hahahaahhahaaahhah....

Bwaaaaahahhahaahahhahaah....

Oh.... Mann......

I get what you're saying, The Dude. Scary, at best.

Re: Could it be
 

In a choice of

1) no
2) hell no
3) f×÷= no; and
4) stupid is as stupid does,

Only time will tell

Re: Could it be
 

I think we need to face it. The defense will not make a dramatic jump in performance. We all have hope, but not this year, not with the talent on the field. Maybe in a year or two. And this will also be big boys last year in black n gold. We all know it

Re: Could it be
 

Only way I see the D improves is getting turnovers to get off the field. I do like the hell out of Kiki though and think he might be a steal. Jenkins isn't so bad at NT but on a really good D he's a back-up at best. You know coaching goes a long way with how players do, even on great defenses all players were not so to speak studs but they bought in to what was being taught and played as a whole. The culture since Payton has taken over has been offense( which he has put together great ones, 2011 being the best I EVER watched anywhere) with a well below average D. I'm not expecting anything different this season.

Re: Could it be
 

They don't even need to be dominant or crushing, wreaking havoc or breaking bones.... They just need to be decently MIDDLE OF THE PACK. If they could somehow get themselves into the teens in the rankings, 15, 17, 13 -- something below 20 -- then this team could possibly make some noise.

But I don't really think this defense is that.

Other than one series against Brady, minus Gronk, and without their main weapons, this defense has been pretty much bulldozed and steamrolled at will, by every team they've faced so far. If they are hiding something from the world, they are doing a heck of a good job of it.

Re: Could it be
 

Ive had a LOT other teams fans tell me that. If you guys just had a mediocre
10-20 rank D sense 2006 it would have been a different world, cause the offense has always been there.
I watched the Pats,GB, NY, eagles ,etc secondary. We are not even in the same ball park.
Ours looks more like the bengals, jets, below average to bad teams.

Re: Could it be
 

well on the bright side there we can only go up in the rankings last year. oppsss there is 32nd league as an option too

odds should be in our favor

Re: Could it be
 

I thought we could field a defense ranked in the low teens if we could avoid key or excessive injuries, especially at DB. We did neither...

Lewis - Out 4 to 6 weeks
Byrd - Who knows?
Browner - Hurt
Sunseri - IR
PJWilliams - IR
Vaccaro - Hurt
Spenser - IR
Ellerbe - Hurt
Spiller - Hurt

Our offense will have to carry us for a while, again.

Re: Could it be
 

Fast starts: First string players that will be playing 60 minute games starting next weekend.

Slow finishes: 3rd and 4th string players many of whom will be sitting in the stands watching the games just as we will be come next week.

I agree that Arizona is going to be tough. For the defense the stats I plan to examine closely are 3rd down stop percentage (31st in the league last year at an abysmal 46%), turnovers, sacks/pressures, 20+ yard plays, run YPC, and of course points. Reasonable numbers in these categories (35%,1+,3+,<2,<4.0,20 or less) is going to be the true measure of our season. If the defense can get in line with those numbers, we'll be fine. If not, it's going to be a long tough season.

SFIAH

Re: Could it be
 

I'm ready to see a regular season game then I think we will see what our defense will really be like...

Re: Could it be
 

Doh! (nothing more needs to be said!)

Re: Could it be
 

I miss Greg Williams...

Re: Could it be
 

While the rookies take their lumps they'll be learning the strength and speed of the NFL. It may take a few games to become a cohesive unit. If the defense is simplified to start the season and hopefully rookies perform adequately while the vets return we should be alright.

Re: Could it be
 

I actually haven't been this unexcited about a season in a long long time. I just don't know about our defense. It really just looks bad. I could be wrong. Maybe game one will turn on a switch. But wow....I'm probably going to get stocked up on booze.

Re: Could it be
 

hahahahahahaha

(slaps own knee)

Re: Could it be
 

I hope it can. Yes they looked good in preseason but there are still a lot of new faces. Receiver is the biggest question still. I think the line is going to be signifigantly better

Re: Could it be
 

It could be if Sean allows an unimproved defense to take the field again this year, he may be out of a job in New Orleans. As the Head Coach he is responsible for the entire team's performance. Therefore the defensive problems will bring him down.

Re: Could it be
 

Well, unless he wants some more butthurt from Goodell, Coach is about to disclose what's up...

And Dude, it could be that the defense only shows up in odd years...

The injuries and lack of continuity, chemistry is the wildcard that keeps projections for this team difficult at best...

Re: Could it be
 

That's right, Payton will have to disclose injuries by the start of game 1 wont he.

Re: Could it be
 

Re: Could it be
 

Re: Could it be
 

can we just fire RR or do we have to make sure we stink in the regular season too?

Re: Could it be
 

Re: Could it be
 

Definitely under the radar having not shown much but think the D is lower half of NFL until it proves different. Hopeful.

Re: Could it be
 

Is that a meerkat?

Re: Could it be
 

Could it be?

http://ohtoptens.com/wp-content/uplo...y-Cat-NO-2.jpg

Re: Could it be
 

I mean, I hate to say it, but I think it would take a miracle this season. They blew the team up this year, fo sho. Anyway....naturally.....WHO DAT.

Re: Could it be
 

Not sure about that. We upgraded every position except tight end.

Re: Could it be
 

Agreed.

And though we took a hit at tight end, we directly improved two (2) priority positions because of that move - center, with All-Pro Max Unger and middle linebacker with Stephone Anthony...

And you can argue that the entire offense will benefit from Drew Brees not getting away from his tunnel-vision of forcing passes to Jimmy Graham any longer...

This team is now in growth mode again...

We've got four, right now five, rookie defensive linemen that just won roster spots...

We've got a kick returner who's actually better than Jalen Saunders who seemed to be the only guy with success in Payton's tenure with that role...

We now have a surging 6' 6" former UDFA receiver, Brandon Coleman, with an amazing catch radius who's just now getting the coaching he needs to learn the game...

We've got three projected starting defensive backs out with injury and we're not as worried because we have depth at that position for the first time in team history...

We've got a rookie pass rusher that is just going to eat that @$$ of enemy passers with an amazoing motor in Hau'oli Kihaha (respect the man, and his name, Saints fans)...

Young, yes, inexperienced, yes; but this team is going to surprise alot of talking-head, group-think network automatons this season...

Re: Could it be
 

So, it appears the "Front Office No Plan" plan may have accidentally created something positive? Heads will roll for that!!(I know a guy who knows a guy who knows two guys in the "Front Office!" ) LOL

Re: Could it be
 

http://images47.fotki.com/v803/photo...koolaid-vi.gif

I'm drinking the Kool-Aid!

SFIAH

Re: Could it be
 

No disagreement with this. I'm operating on the presumption that all these stats will be better simply because each and every one of them are based on an improved offensive line. And if the Saints have done nothing else from a personnel standpoint this offseason, it's improve the offensive line. Unger is an All-Pro caliber center when healthy. Lelito, Unger, and Evans should shore up the interior pocket for Brees. I hope that Armstrong, Lelito, and Unger will bebome the mauler left side of the line that Ingram, Robinson, Spiller, and Murphy will be able to exploit. And most importantly, Bryce Harris, who seemed on a mission to get Brees killed, can not do that job for Matt Ryan.

But it's the usual. If you have a top 5 or top 10 offense in most categories and a bottom 5 defense in most categories, then the focus has to be on the struggling unit.

My analysis is that the offense is complementary to the defense when the team is leading, but not before. According to New Orleans Saints Fact of the Day: July 24, 2014 even with the collapses last season, that Sean Payton led Saints teams win well over 80% of their games when leading at halftime.

So in short, the offense tends to throw early in games to get the lead, then play ball control later on to keep it.

The defense's job needs to be to hold out long enough for that lead to develop. See the first half of the Patriots preseason game to see a nearly perfectly architected first half. Fast starts like that with 2-3 three and outs by the defense coupled with scoring drives by the offense will go a long way towards a successful season.

SFIAH

Re: Could it be
 

See right here in this thread is the total optimism I love to see going into the season. There is no other way to think on it in my book. Yeah it may be drinking the Kool-Aid but I would rather drink ours than the junk they
serve in Atlanta. In fact in honor of Hau'oli Kihaha I'll even drink the Hawaiin Punch!

Re: Could it be
 

We upgraded every position but TE?
How about we changed every position except TE and QB.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...pWwIbWcbgBxd4I

Upgrade class begins on Sunday in Arizona. :help:

Re: Could it be
 

Screw it. It is the NFL and this is why you have to play the game. Anything can happen and surprises happen every year. Preseason hype good or bad usually doesn't mean a thing. Remember the Eagles dream team with TO and all? We could very well step on the field and blow people away. In the grand scheme of things we have not seen anything yet. Who Dat!