Mike Sheppard. Telll me why?
 

I can give you two reasons why I don\'t like the move.

1) For a while now Mike Sheppard has been the Saints QB coach. His only job was to make Saints QBs into successful players at their position. Bouman is not good. Brooks, despite boatloads of talent, hasn\'t progressed as I would have expected, and he remains one of the most inconsistent QBs in the league. Not exactly the kind of performance you want to see of a guy who just got a whole lot more responsibility.

2) This is typical of the Haslett-era Saints. Don\'t go out and find the right guy, plug a hole with some other (cheaper and less qualified) candidate.

Mike Sheppard. Telll me why?
 

Let\'s address Bouman first. How many games have you seen Bouman play? ZERO!! You sure are quick to write a guy off.

Brooks has progressed every year he\'s been in the league. You want to blame Sheppard for Brooks\' fumbles in 2003? That doesn\'t make much sense to me. And if Brooks is so stupid, maybe Sheppard has done a magical job.


Sounds more like a grudge against Haslett than anything else. Sheppard has coached the 3rd and 13th ranked offenses in the NFL. And did it with very little talent. You sure are quick to write a guy off.

[Edited on 19/2/2005 by GumboBC]

Mike Sheppard. Telll me why?
 

WOW! Really? And just imagine - he was so sought after as an OC that he ended up as the Saints QB coach. You se Monte Kiffin leaving Tampa to come coach the Saints LBs any time soon?

Mike Sheppard. Telll me why?
 

WhoDat --

I know ya like arguing with me, but come on...

Why are you writing Sheppard off so quickly?

What is it about Sheppard that you don\'t like? Besides being chosen by Jim Haslett?

Mike Sheppard. Telll me why?
 

I am not saying that it is impossible for Sheppard to succeed. Nor am I saying that it is unlikely. I am saying that, IMO, he is less likely to succeed. I\'ve given you my reasons. He was not a spectacular position coach for us. Further, the team\'s history seems relevant to me. Maybe it doesn\'t to you. Maybe that\'s why every year you can completely forget about the last one, two, three, four... seasons and expect 12-4, I don\'t know. I mean, c\'mon - if the Saints sign another backup LB that you\'ve never heard of (a la Ruff) this offseason and Haslett comes out and talks about how he thinks this guy can solve the Saints problem at LB - you won\'t be skeptical? IMO, and this has nothing to do with you Billy, but if a person isn\'t skeptical of that, I think they\'re either wishfully optimistic, ignorant of the situation, or stupid. That\'s just my opinion. But in life in general, when a person or organization does the same thing over and over without different results, if you\'re not skeptical of their \"next big thing\" then you\'re a sucker.

Mike Sheppard. Telll me why?
 

WhoDat --

I\'m not convinced our offense is going to be any better than this past year. In fact, it might be worse.

But, I really can\'t say one way or the other on Sheppard. And I don\'t see how anyone else can either.

What Haslett has done in the past has no bearing on Sheppard\'s skills as an offensive coordinator.

Mike Sheppard. Telll me why?
 

I don\'t know that I agree that Haslett\'s history as a coach and in hiring coaches is totally irrelevant in trying to predict how a coach Haslett hired might perform. Would you trust Venturi if he said another guy was a good coach? I wouldn\'t. Know why? I don\'t think Venturi has the first clue as to what it means to be a good coach.


Sheppard might eventually work out, yes. But my point remains the same as it was when the Saints announced that McCarthy was leaving. Even if the defense jumps 10 spots (which is a huge jump in the NFL), they will still finish 22nd in the league. I think that the offense will suffer through growing pains as the scheme changes - that\'s normal IMO. So if they are slightly worse, that makes them what? 18th? 20th?

A 22nd ranked defense and an 18th ranked offense isn\'t a recipe for success in the NFL.

Mike Sheppard. Telll me why?
 

WhoDat --

As it stands right now, I don\'t see us making the playoffs. But, it really has nothing to do with coaching. Not on the offense anyway. If we don\'t get some offensive linemen that can block, coaching isn\'t going to help too much.

But, if we get some offensive linemen, I think Sheppard has a real shot of getting this high-powered offense on track. I don\'t think finishing in the top 5 is unrealistic. IF the offensive line is fixed.

The defense is another story. I think it\'s about middle of the pack in terms of talent. I like the direction the scheme is headed.

A lot is going to depend on free-agency and the draft.

In any case ... I remain cautiously optimistic...

Mike Sheppard. Telll me why?
 

playoff?! playoffs?! if the saints hold true to tradition, they won\'t sign anyone that will significantly enable us in any way whatsoever, draft \"the best available player\" (which, will probably some position we are ok at) and then keep us all in suspense about the upcoming season, keep our hopes up for the majority of the season only to be sorrily disappoint (again)