Disappointed but not surprised
 

I know many of us had high expectations going into the season. I certainly did. And through the first few games of the season, I blamed a lot of the losses on injuries, lack of defensive consistency and special teams.

Now with three games remaining on the schedule and a winning season out of reach, 8-8 is the absolute best that can be had. The playoffs, although technically still reachable, are a pipe dream, even if the Saints finish the season with three straight wins.

The fact is that the loss to the Bucs crushed what little hope fans (and probably players and team officials) had of reaching the post season and calling the season a success.

Disappointed. Frustrated. Pissed off. All of the above.

Fans are calling for the head coach and GM to be fired and replaced, the entire organization to be overhauled, and now after the last two performances, some are even calling for the illustrious Drew Brees to be traded or replaced.

Lot of hate going on. Some of it well warranted. Some of it a little extreme (IMO).

The season isn't over yet. Theres three games left. And to me it's important that they finish on a strong note. I'd like to see the defense continue to improve and the offense to get back on track.

Whatever happens in the off season is not in any of our control. But I do know that no matter what, I'd like to see some moves that will improve both lines on both sides of the ball and overall team depth.

Regardless, it's been a good season with all of you. I'm not throwing in the towel yet, but that's just me.

Just wanted to say a few words about it all. I'll see you all in chat and forums.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

Last week, after we were drummed by Detroit, a Wisconsin friend emailed saying he was disappointed that the Saints didn't give him a win over the Lions for Christmas. I told him the loss disappointed both of us but was consistent with who the Saints have become.

The last three years the Saint’s seasons have gone pretty much the same way.
1-Have a lack luster preseason then say that it's only preseason and the games don't really count.
2-Start the season like crap and blame it on injuries and youth.
3-Win a few in the middle to make everyone think they are turning the season around and have a shot at the playoffs.
4-End with a giant flop and a losing season.
5-Draft poorly.
6-In the off season pick up a bunch of has-been free agents, many who are cut or released before the season is over.
7-Repeat.

The Saints have mis-managed draft picks and free-agent signings since they won the SB. Add on top the tons of dead money they have with high salary players that were cut and it’s obvious that mgmt is totally screwed up.

Payton & the team haven't been the same since his suspension. There is no fire in his belly which means there is no fire in the team’s belly. That was obvious the last three weeks. One week they nearly score 50 on a relatively decent defense (out of spite for Greg williams) and the next weeks they barely score 10 points. What is really painful is that we have been suffering with a no-show defense for a few years. Now, as soon as the defense shows up for games, the once dominant offense is nowhere to be found.

The only thing that makes these games entertaining is to see if Brees can break a few more records before he retires. After he’s gone the Saints may just step back in time and relive the 60’s, 70;’s and 80’s.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

Is it safe to say that Head Coach SEAN PAYTON has lost his team?

Just asking ...

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

Remember last year, most us thinking we made the right decision by not going for Vic Beasley and getting Stephone Anthony instead.

Now Vic is second in the league with sacks, probably first after yesterdays three sacks and Anthony isn't even good enough to get on the field.

Atlanta has a decent D, especially with Deion Jones playing coverage at LB. As a linebacker, I believe he has more ints than our whole D.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

Payton lost the team after 2013, he's lost the fire and it's showed for the past 3 years.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

Pretty sure Beasley was taken before we picked.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

Key thing with Beasley, they gave him time. Pass rushers sometimes take a while to come into their own.

Glad with guys like Beasley, Bosa and Khalil Mack the NFL is getting some good defensive talent back in the league. If only we had stuck it out with Anthony.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

The only game that Payton wanted to win in the last 3 years was the Rams game.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

while i am disappointed in the overall record

I came into the season with reasonable anticipation and felt if the football gods blessed us with health q 10-6 was in reach if all went well

well it did not and the magical world of FA and the bench the team was able to scrap enough good players to keep us from looking like the Cleveland browns. Of course having Drew and SP was the true factor in saving face in the NFL

Now DA deserves a pat on the back for what he was able pull off. He managed the revolving door at the IR room and did a commendable job at minimizing the bleeding as well as he did.

What I will walk away from the season learn is the saints bench is not as bad as I fear and the saints did find some players worth keeping around. Experience these players got this year will only pay off down the road,

Trust me this season could have gone south real quick and had a real chance of being humiliating to fans and players alike.

I go into the new year happy the saints arrived at 2017 in better shape than my greatest fears had anticipated.

The record suxs but there is no reason not to see plenty of silver linings to a losing season.

For most this season proved one thing. Thank God Rob is no longer here.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

I would say last years draft was pretty good.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

With Dallas's o line and a healthy defense Brees plays till he's 42 and wins another Suoerbowl.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

We're a free agent right guard (Kevin Zeitler, CIN) away from having that line now...

Throw in two of our first four draft picks (being disciplined and staying in our draft slots), and getting a right tackle and a another guard/tackle and Voila'...

...Saints will No. 1 Offensive Line in the league and a defense waaaaay better than the Cowgirls have...

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

I like our chances next year. Just my two cents.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

I liked our chances this year until we suffered a totally absurd amount of injuries.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

Yeah I felt like the whole season got started off wrong with injuries. A lot of staters and impact players got hurt.

I really do feel like we're gpnna have a good team next year. This team with some new draft picks and such maybe a couple free agents. I really wanna take the south back.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

I like the way the Defense improved under Dennis Allen. I also wonder if SP
has lost his fire as many others here have said. Sometimes I think he
figures Drew is going to carry the Offense and has become complacent.
Also noticed he is not very humble at his press conferences he likes to
attack any reporter that asks a negative question so that he can storm off the podium.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

I still don't get all the Dennis Allen love. He was stacked with talent and failed.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

I wouldn't really say DA failed, losing players like Kikaha, PJ Williams, Breaux, Ellerbe and Rankins would kill any defense.

However his 2nd half adjustments are incredibly good.

For the last 7 weeks now, how many teams scored TD's on us in the second half?

2....two teams out of seven - detroit and Denver.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

Deeeeeply disappointed!!!!!! Next year baby. :p

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

After the RR era I think a lot of us had the bar set a little low for DA.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

Stacked with talent?

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

close your eyes and dream what this season would ave been like with Rob in charge.

It would not be

24th in YPG
20th in pts/g

that is huge difference

rob would probably have us setting more records. all the wrong records.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

Agreed!
I think DA has done a good job so far and I think the D will be be even better under him next year.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

It's fairly obvious that there are several people on here that think we have more talent than we actually do. I think we are moving in the right direction. Injuries have been a nuisance, but I feel that if we stay healthy next year we make the playoffs quite easily. Young guys have improved quite a bit.

To say that people are just making excuses by pointing out our injuries problems to me is just a denial of the facts. We had some pretty serious injury problems. We get a few guys back on defense, then our offensive line gets torn to shred by injuries.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

The difference between Beasley this year as opposed to last year is Dwight Freeney. Smart move by Atlanta to sign him and teach Beasley how to rush the passer.

Re: Disappointed but not surprised
 

And signing Dan Quinn, former DC of Seattle.