For those saying the Saints are miles away from contending

44Champs · 01-01-2016, 11:17 PM

I agree, but we need to keep Sean Payton.

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SmashMouth · 01-01-2016, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by lee909

IMHO those saying the Saints are a long way off contending for titles are wrong.
Look at the core of the team and add some savy FA additions and good rookie scouting

Offensive Line
Armstead,Unger and Peat is a good basis of a line. Kelemete,Lelito and Evans all great level for back ups (if Evans good stay fit he's still a high quality starter. Strief offers good cover at Tackle. So a couple of guards short

Backfield
Ingram,Robinson,Hightower,Cadet
Its a nice RB core,id like to see some more speed back there but i can see Cadet staying with money being short this summer. While he isnt the second coming of Sproles he has good qualities to offer. Only concern back there is health.

QB
Brees,notjing else needs asdded. We live or die by his health

WR
A really nice toung pairing off Cooks and Snead. Coleman needs to show he can take over from Colston. Colston best days are gone sadly,too many big hits have left him struggling health wise. I love everything the man has given but its s massive paycuy or gone imo. Add a good size/speed guy in the mid rounds of the draft/FA to help stretch the field snd allow Cooks to be a moveable piece and its good. Not sure what anyone else thinks of them but if Marvin Jones or Mohamed Sanu hit FA they could be a good salary to performance pick up. They are not going to take big money but will be getting the sort of money the Saints could offer.

Defense
Defensive Line
This is the biggest drawback to the team.
Jordan is good but outside of that nearly everyone is rotation level at best. So your looking at soending snd drafting hesvy here

Linebackers
Kikaha and Anthony is a really nice start but again another starter and depth are needed here. Ellerbe is good but a massive health concern

Secondary
Breaux-Lewis is a gsntastic 1-2 at CB
If fit it allows Browner to be cut or moved inside. Byrd needs to step up and Vaccaro needs to be more consistent. But Bush and Sunseri offer good depth.

I really dont see us far away. A great offseason and possible run in the playoffs is easily achievable,just a good offseason makes us candidates for scrapping back in. Its all about securing both offensive and defensive lines and a upgrade at linebacker.

Seer1 · 01-02-2016, 10:05 AM

We're about eight coaches away from contending...

hagan714 · 01-02-2016, 10:09 AM

a piece here and piece there and the saints can be in the mix. still 2017 is the key year to add playoff FA. So draft and cheap FA that can contribute is key in the 2016 off season

The Dude · 01-02-2016, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by hagan714

a piece here and piece there and the saints can be in the mix. still 2017 is the key year to add playoff FA. So draft and cheap FA that can contribute is key in the 2016 off season

Exactly my thoughts. 2017 draft a QB. I see Brees going 2 more years MAYBE 3. Draft a highly rated QB in 2017 and let him sit for a year. By then we will know what we have with Grayson

SaintsBro · 01-02-2016, 10:51 AM

Get rid of #39, and it is a completely different picture on defense. That guy was ROUTINELY giving up chunks of yards and first downs and extending opponents' drives, and giving up plays that resulted in the other team getting points. When people say "the Saints defense couldn't get off the field on third downs" I'd say probably 60-70% of that was Browner doing it all by himself. The Saints are still bad, and will continue to be "miles away" from contending until his locker is cleaned out and they get somebody else in there in his place. That is the start right there. But if it happens, when it finally happens, I think people will be pleasantly surprised by what a difference it makes in how the team performs.

saintfan · 01-02-2016, 01:07 PM

It isn't so much the distance between us and this place they call 'contending', because we can see it from where we're standing. It is the map to the place that's the mystery.

01-01-2016, 11:17 PM	#1
44Champs Site Donor Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,589	Re: For those saying the Saints are miles away from contending I agree, but we need to keep Sean Payton. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk jnormand likes this.
44Champs Site Donor Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,589

01-01-2016, 11:27 PM	#2
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,547 Blog Entries: 29	Re: For those saying the Saints are miles away from contending Originally Posted by lee909 IMHO those saying the Saints are a long way off contending for titles are wrong. Look at the core of the team and add some savy FA additions and good rookie scouting Offensive Line Armstead,Unger and Peat is a good basis of a line. Kelemete,Lelito and Evans all great level for back ups (if Evans good stay fit he's still a high quality starter. Strief offers good cover at Tackle. So a couple of guards short Backfield Ingram,Robinson,Hightower,Cadet Its a nice RB core,id like to see some more speed back there but i can see Cadet staying with money being short this summer. While he isnt the second coming of Sproles he has good qualities to offer. Only concern back there is health. QB Brees,notjing else needs asdded. We live or die by his health WR A really nice toung pairing off Cooks and Snead. Coleman needs to show he can take over from Colston. Colston best days are gone sadly,too many big hits have left him struggling health wise. I love everything the man has given but its s massive paycuy or gone imo. Add a good size/speed guy in the mid rounds of the draft/FA to help stretch the field snd allow Cooks to be a moveable piece and its good. Not sure what anyone else thinks of them but if Marvin Jones or Mohamed Sanu hit FA they could be a good salary to performance pick up. They are not going to take big money but will be getting the sort of money the Saints could offer. Defense Defensive Line This is the biggest drawback to the team. Jordan is good but outside of that nearly everyone is rotation level at best. So your looking at soending snd drafting hesvy here Linebackers Kikaha and Anthony is a really nice start but again another starter and depth are needed here. Ellerbe is good but a massive health concern Secondary Breaux-Lewis is a gsntastic 1-2 at CB If fit it allows Browner to be cut or moved inside. Byrd needs to step up and Vaccaro needs to be more consistent. But Bush and Sunseri offer good depth. I really dont see us far away. A great offseason and possible run in the playoffs is easily achievable,just a good offseason makes us candidates for scrapping back in. Its all about securing both offensive and defensive lines and a upgrade at linebacker. jnormand and SaintFanQ like this.

01-02-2016, 10:09 AM	#4
hagan714 LB Mentallity Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15,870 Blog Entries: 68	Re: For those saying the Saints are miles away from contending a piece here and piece there and the saints can be in the mix. still 2017 is the key year to add playoff FA. So draft and cheap FA that can contribute is key in the 2016 off season

01-02-2016, 01:16 PM	#5
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,055	Re: For those saying the Saints are miles away from contending Originally Posted by hagan714 a piece here and piece there and the saints can be in the mix. still 2017 is the key year to add playoff FA. So draft and cheap FA that can contribute is key in the 2016 off season Exactly my thoughts. 2017 draft a QB. I see Brees going 2 more years MAYBE 3. Draft a highly rated QB in 2017 and let him sit for a year. By then we will know what we have with Grayson
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,055

01-02-2016, 10:51 AM	#6
SaintsBro Site Donor Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: in line with my ridiculous CLEAR PLASTIC BAG Posts: 3,650 Blog Entries: 3	Re: For those saying the Saints are miles away from contending Get rid of #39, and it is a completely different picture on defense. That guy was ROUTINELY giving up chunks of yards and first downs and extending opponents' drives, and giving up plays that resulted in the other team getting points. When people say "the Saints defense couldn't get off the field on third downs" I'd say probably 60-70% of that was Browner doing it all by himself. The Saints are still bad, and will continue to be "miles away" from contending until his locker is cleaned out and they get somebody else in there in his place. That is the start right there. But if it happens, when it finally happens, I think people will be pleasantly surprised by what a difference it makes in how the team performs.

01-02-2016, 10:05 AM	#3
Seer1 Site Donor Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bayou Bayfield CO Posts: 4,722	Re: For those saying the Saints are miles away from contending We're about eight coaches away from contending...

01-02-2016, 01:07 PM	#7
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Re: For those saying the Saints are miles away from contending It isn't so much the distance between us and this place they call 'contending', because we can see it from where we're standing. It is the map to the place that's the mystery.

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