2017 New Orleans Saints Training Camp

SaintFanInATLHELL · 08-10-2017, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by The Dude

Idk there wasn't much positive about the team last year. I'm not the type of person to sit there after the fourth straight loss to start the season and say "aw shucks, you boys put up a good fight, we'll get em next week. I'm proud of how hard you tried"

That is certainly a glass mostly empty perspective. I view the situation from the incremental growth perspective. I'm the first to admit that there was not a direct translation to wins last year. But there was some encouraging signs. Let's establish the starting point. This is from July 2016:

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/2016-n...144938939.html

The Saints also have an absolutely horrendous defense. Last season they finished last in yards per pass allowed, and last in yards per run allowed. Stop and think about that for a moment. The combination of those two stats means you do absolutely, positively nothing well on defense. A horrible defense in the NFL should at least be able to take away something from the opponent and pray for the best after that. The Saints couldn’t even take away one thing. Whatever the opponent wanted to do, they did with ease.

The Saints allowed a 116.2 passer rating, which is the highest rating allowed in NFL history. Let’s put this in perspective. The best career rating in NFL history is Aaron Rodgers at 104.1. So on average, every quarterback who played the Saints was a souped-up version of Rodgers. Every quarterback suddenly turned into the most efficient quarterback of all time (and by a really wide margin) once he took the field against New Orleans’ defense.

Some comparisons in 2016 to those numbers. Some (passing yards) were still bad (32nd in the league). But the 2015 squad gave up a NFL record 43 passing TD, while the 2016 squad only gave up 27 (20th in the league last year). The team finished 14th in rushing years as opposed to 31st the year before. The passer rating was down to 98.1, which is way too high, but down from the historic 116+ rating from the year before.

This shows incremental growth.

When the team is doing ****ty then there is a reason. You don't just ignore it and hope things will change. If discussing the things the team did wrong is negative and you are to fragile to take it then by all means step out.
Wasn't much positive to say about them last year. I guess the alternative is silence. If everyone thought that way then what would be the point of a discussion board.

OTOH it's equally as frustrating to hear about how bad things were (are?) and to simply presume it's going to be more of the same in the upcoming season simply because that's how it's always been.

It's equally as frustrating because the changes that are being called for, specifically clearing out the front office and coaching staffs, blowing the whole team up, and starting over are both like never going to happen and is unlikely to improve the likely outcomes. If that strategy worked, then Cleveland for example would have a rack full of Lombardi's.

In short complaining about the problems is unproductive. I have the same issue with my brother, who as a season ticket holder wants the Saints offense to be a power running team. After the 58th time of explaining that model simply isn't in the Payton, Carmichael, Brees offensive DNA, it just gets a bit old to keep hearing the complaint.

BTW I saw the videos of the indoor short yardage sets from practice. The same plays such as halfback pitches to the outside and passes to the flat were prominently displayed. Those kind of plays just drives him nuts.

I'm feeling better about the team. We will see tomorrow night.

Actually I'm back with my annual call to temper expectations in the preseason. The best we can all do is to evaluate the fundamental play of the 1st and 2nd string squads. with a minimum of 6 starters out on both sides of the ball, there is virtually nothing that we can extrapolate from tonight that will translate to what happens when the flak starts flying for real in September.

So keep in mind that a month from now half of the Saints squad will be on the street and players who are not on even here may end up on the final 53.

Keep an eye on the fundamentals, especially on defense. Are they lined up right? Are they tackling properly? Are the linebackers flowing to the ball? Are receiver defenders disrupting routes, breaking up passes, and intercepting the ball when the opportunity is there? Does the defense (no matter who is out there) look like they are playing as a unit instead of looking like a scramble drill? Is the defensive line creating push, pressure, and hopefully sacks? Are special teams plays being executed properly?

Preseason is a time to gel and create an identity. If we can see those elements in the first two defensive teams then that incremental growth will hopefully reap benefits during the regular season and beyond.

SFIAH

08-10-2017, 12:28 PM	#11
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,786	Re: 2017 New Orleans Saints Training Camp Originally Posted by The Dude Idk there wasn't much positive about the team last year. I'm not the type of person to sit there after the fourth straight loss to start the season and say "aw shucks, you boys put up a good fight, we'll get em next week. I'm proud of how hard you tried" That is certainly a glass mostly empty perspective. I view the situation from the incremental growth perspective. I'm the first to admit that there was not a direct translation to wins last year. But there was some encouraging signs. Let's establish the starting point. This is from July 2016: https://sports.yahoo.com/news/2016-n...144938939.html The Saints also have an absolutely horrendous defense. Last season they finished last in yards per pass allowed, and last in yards per run allowed. Stop and think about that for a moment. The combination of those two stats means you do absolutely, positively nothing well on defense. A horrible defense in the NFL should at least be able to take away something from the opponent and pray for the best after that. The Saints couldn’t even take away one thing. Whatever the opponent wanted to do, they did with ease. The Saints allowed a 116.2 passer rating, which is the highest rating allowed in NFL history. Let’s put this in perspective. The best career rating in NFL history is Aaron Rodgers at 104.1. So on average, every quarterback who played the Saints was a souped-up version of Rodgers. Every quarterback suddenly turned into the most efficient quarterback of all time (and by a really wide margin) once he took the field against New Orleans’ defense. Some comparisons in 2016 to those numbers. Some (passing yards) were still bad (32nd in the league). But the 2015 squad gave up a NFL record 43 passing TD, while the 2016 squad only gave up 27 (20th in the league last year). The team finished 14th in rushing years as opposed to 31st the year before. The passer rating was down to 98.1, which is way too high, but down from the historic 116+ rating from the year before. This shows incremental growth. When the team is doing ****ty then there is a reason. You don't just ignore it and hope things will change. If discussing the things the team did wrong is negative and you are to fragile to take it then by all means step out. Wasn't much positive to say about them last year. I guess the alternative is silence. If everyone thought that way then what would be the point of a discussion board. OTOH it's equally as frustrating to hear about how bad things were (are?) and to simply presume it's going to be more of the same in the upcoming season simply because that's how it's always been. It's equally as frustrating because the changes that are being called for, specifically clearing out the front office and coaching staffs, blowing the whole team up, and starting over are both like never going to happen and is unlikely to improve the likely outcomes. If that strategy worked, then Cleveland for example would have a rack full of Lombardi's. In short complaining about the problems is unproductive. I have the same issue with my brother, who as a season ticket holder wants the Saints offense to be a power running team. After the 58th time of explaining that model simply isn't in the Payton, Carmichael, Brees offensive DNA, it just gets a bit old to keep hearing the complaint. BTW I saw the videos of the indoor short yardage sets from practice. The same plays such as halfback pitches to the outside and passes to the flat were prominently displayed. Those kind of plays just drives him nuts. I'm feeling better about the team. We will see tomorrow night. Actually I'm back with my annual call to temper expectations in the preseason. The best we can all do is to evaluate the fundamental play of the 1st and 2nd string squads. with a minimum of 6 starters out on both sides of the ball, there is virtually nothing that we can extrapolate from tonight that will translate to what happens when the flak starts flying for real in September. So keep in mind that a month from now half of the Saints squad will be on the street and players who are not on even here may end up on the final 53. Keep an eye on the fundamentals, especially on defense. Are they lined up right? Are they tackling properly? Are the linebackers flowing to the ball? Are receiver defenders disrupting routes, breaking up passes, and intercepting the ball when the opportunity is there? Does the defense (no matter who is out there) look like they are playing as a unit instead of looking like a scramble drill? Is the defensive line creating push, pressure, and hopefully sacks? Are special teams plays being executed properly? Preseason is a time to gel and create an identity. If we can see those elements in the first two defensive teams then that incremental growth will hopefully reap benefits during the regular season and beyond. SFIAH
	Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

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