The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

Here one from bucsnation.com from the outside looking in with minimal effort. Once again, basing expectation on last season's defensive roster and coaching instead of what is currently in place.

The Saints just can’t get over the hump

And now Drew Brees is in the final year of his contract.

by Sander Philipse Jun 29, 2017, 5:17pm EDT

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The New Orleans Saints have been trying to lean on Drew Brees for about a decade. The result has been a Super Bowl—and a whole lot of nothing the past three seasons—mostly because they can’t put together even a remotely decent defense.

That’s leading to a few problems, as Drew Brees’ contract is set to expire after this season. The Saints are unlikely to let Brees walk, given how well he is still playing and how hard it is to find really good quarterbacks, but it’s making the need to find short-term solutions—to push for another Super Bowl while Brees is still playing—ever more urgent.

That push has resulted in a lot of free agent signings over the past five years or so. Every season, the Saints sign a few free agents that they hope will get them to the promised land. And every year that not only fails, but causes them to rack up massive future salary cap debts, and at some point they’re going to have to pay off those debts.

And yet, the Saints can’t get over the hump. At all. Because their defense is a clown show. Or, as SB Nation’s Jon Benne puts it:

Which means that the Saints are once again looking at what they’ve produced the past three seasons: a good offense, a bad defense, and a 7-9 season.

Here’s my question: why is Sean Payton’s continued employment never questioned?

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

That quote in the middle refers to a Saints "salary cap situation". There is no salary cap situation for the Saints. They still have $10.5 million in cap space for 2017 and another $10.5 million in roster bonuses that can be converted to signing bonuses which can free up an additional $7 - $8 million.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

From another team's prospective it makes since. In fact... I've had many of those same thoughts.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

Yea I don't completely disagree with him

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

In a vacuum it makes sense. If we had the exact same defensive roster and coaching it would make sense. But, the fact is that we have new outstanding coaches in three main area of failure in the recent past, DL, LB and special teams. We also have added true talent in the DL, LB corp and secondary. There is more depth top to bottom.

Anyone that is having those thoughts are clearly not taking those facts into consideration.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

Zzzzzzz. Got a pretty good idea as to what happened last year. From what most writers are writing, it seems like they do too -more or less. Other than the CURRENT health of our team, there really ain't much else to say. So why do they keep writing? Wake me when the preseason starts I guess. Reruns are getting' real old. Zzzzzzzzz

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

There is no reason we shouldn't have been in the playoffs while Mr. Brees is still under center over the last few years. Amazing how far a few bad years of front office decisions and draft picks (pre Jeff Ireland) can set a team back.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

Yup. But we are definitely back on the right track. I think the next several years will be looking very rosy.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

Clown show to say the least!!!

I haven't like the way they sign players but last off season and this one I see things have changed they way they draft. I like unloading Cooks... the value was up there and we need talent on other areas that you can keep the team younger and get those draft picks.

So I am excited about the team again but I learned not to drink the cool aide. I wait until they actually start playing football.

I wish we were another year into this already though. I think that is when the real improvement will show.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

I agree that we should be better in 2018, but I believe we have enough to make a big splash this year. I have no doubt in the offense and with even a fairly more efficient defense we should be able to make the playoffs. After that ... who knows?

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

Unless Brees is sick and tired of 7-9 seasons? Without him or the right qb. in Paytons system we might get a lucky 7-9 season. I'm not drinking the kool-aid yet either until I see solid D. The 6th game of the season will be tell, tell on the D weather their playing good or bad, from game 6 to 16 is time for all the things to come together as one.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

Of course Brees is sick and tired of 7-9 seasons. Have you read his book?

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...WHtCwrvK3im3NI

If not, you do not know why your questioning him is foolish. Check it out.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

HOPEFULLY WE ARE FLYING UNDER THE RADAR AGAIN!!! :bng:
REMEMBER... THE SAINTS ARE THE HUMP IN 2017 INTO 2018!!!

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Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

Why would anyone care what they think?

Id say he is right on the defense front. Yeah we have signed some good looking parts but until they get on the field and prove it they are nothing more than new faces on a poor defense.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

I'm not looking forward to us facing Cooks in week 2, the Patriots will force feed the ball to him just to make a point.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

I hope they do. We'll easily beat them if hey become that one dimensional.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

Dude I just watched the 19 70 plus yard TD's Drew has thrown in his career and there were only 3 repeats (I am pretty sure). Lance Moore, Devery, and the only person with 3 was Cooks. God damn he is fast man.

Look I liked getting rid of him from the sense that we sent him packing at his highest value and before he demanded 10+ Mil a season and we lost him for nothing. I have no complaints about what the front office did there, but yeah he's really good and will likely thrive in NE.

Easily and beat shouldn't be something said by anyone about the back to back to back 7-9 Saints. Let's just win some frigan games and stop talking about how we will easily beat anyone. That false bravado doesn't make sense as of late. Who is the last team we beat easily-probably the Rams and they're not exactly the Pats. I can't think of another team we beat easily as of late. We used to do things like that back during our little three year reign. Plus, NE has done some unconventional things in the past. I remember a few years ago when they beat up on Pitt and threw like close to 50 times...intentionally.

Losing Cooks does matter, but getting oline and D help was a worthwhile pursuit especially considering the other contract circumstances. Really good move by the front office. I also think we should be able to push for a playoff spot this season and next season be very good. (winning is contagious, however, and if we put together some wins who knows what can happen)We are close and getting closer to being a really good team. The pieces are finally coming together.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

Since Ryan Pace went to Chicago (and made them a laughing stock) I am happy with draft results, the players are actually adding value now. Pace played a large role in ruining this team for years. I'm amazed he got a GM job... must give great blow jobs.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

It's not like Loomie has not tried.

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We'll just distract our opponents with boobs this year... all the way to the Super Bowl!

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Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

We'll be just fine without Cooks.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

Yes. The pieces are coming together. :bng:

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

If we had half a defense we would be in the thick of things late into the playoffs.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

I'm all about the kool-aid. I'll keep drinking it as long as I'm a fan. To me, that's the whole point.

If I wanna be cold and analytical, I'll focus on my retirement plan or career track or the tax implications of where I put my money. A 5% return on my blue chip stock (I wish!) would have a much bigger impact on my life than whether Drew breaks 5,000 yards again, but then who does a touchdown dance after reading a prospectus? There are enough things in this life that make me wring my hands and keep me up at night.

Football is my escape. If I don't have hope, what's the point? Focusing on the negative is a bummer. I choose to imagine the possibilities. To me, until proven otherwise, Lattimore is a shut down corner, Ramczyk is a road grader, Williams is an interception machine, Kamara is the next Sproles and when Anzalone gets done with Matt "Skids" Ryan, they'll be legally engaged in 13 states.

So WHEN the Saints get over the hump and go 19-0, I knew it the whole time.

And on the off chance they don't win it all this year (aint gonna happen) well, our food tastes better, our music sounds better, and our girls are prettier so let them have a little joy this time, we'll get em next year. We'll get 'em next year was pretty much the Saints mantra for the first 40 years that I rooted for them so for me anyway, it's easy.


Edit: That's just me. It doesn't work for everyone. Your milage may vary.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

I love posts with class.

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

I think the additions of Ginn and Kamara definitely soften the blow. I think they take most of his receptions

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

Halluhfrickinyulauh! I'm am right there with you brother! Preach the word!

Re: The Saints just can’t get over the hump
 

The sky is not falling but we better hit the ground running or it'll be another long season battling back to 7-9. I hate that our O-line is being reshuffled again and that Fairley is gone. We need to win in the trenches.