Re: Why Saints are preparing as if games' final 2 minutes will determine their season
 

well the last 3 years we have not been a good team. We have not been that close to being a good team either. From what I have seen so far of this team, however, we look better. Have to figure next year is the year we push for a SB, but if you start winning you never know. Winning can be contagious. If the D continues to play solid we could be very good This offense has the potential to be very good. Our line looks to be better than it has been the last few years. We are stacked at RB.

Interested in seeing what we look like Saturday

Re: Why Saints are preparing as if games' final 2 minutes will determine their season
 

Oh, I agree, but the NFL is so tight that you can't always totally eliminate those nail-biters. No matter how dominating a team is they are going to see at least two or three of those a season.

Re: Why Saints are preparing as if games' final 2 minutes will determine their season
 

Time to go back to the fifty burgers of 2009. We can do it!!! :bng:

Re: Why Saints are preparing as if games' final 2 minutes will determine their season
 

As Parcells said, you are what your record says you are. 7-9 three straight years is a consistently losing team. Close losses still counts as a "L" and they eliminate you from the playoffs (unless the division out-sucks you).

Really glad to see they are emphasizing the final 2 mins, but execution on O & D for the 1st 58 mins is the most crucial. That makes the final 2 mins simply garbage time with Brees taking a few knees.

Re: Why Saints are preparing as if games' final 2 minutes will determine their season
 

let's not forget '11

Re: Why Saints are preparing as if games' final 2 minutes will determine their season
 

Bingo! Just because you polish the 7-9 turd it is still a turd.

Good teams win games they're not supposed to and find ways to win the close ones.

In '09 look at the Miami game and Skins game

Re: Why Saints are preparing as if games' final 2 minutes will determine their season
 

Re: Why Saints are preparing as if games' final 2 minutes will determine their season
 

Takeaways = more opportunities to win. Shades of the 2009 defense?

Re: Why Saints are preparing as if games' final 2 minutes will determine their season
 

Guido, it isn't about eliminating them. Or even about executing in the 2 minute drill when the situation occurs. It's about not letting teams back in after dominating for most of the game. Too many examples out there but two stick out in my head from last year:

The Carolina game in October (which I attended). The Saints are up 14 with two minutes in the 3rd quarter. The Kitties score 21 4th quarter points and it takes a 2 minute drive and a Lutz kick with 11 seconds left to win the game.

And of course the Raiders Season opener. The Saints went into the 4th quarter with an 11 point lead. Giving up two bombs let the Raiders back into the game, which was ultimately lost.

My point again isn't about eliminating the close games. My point is that eliminating the other teams ability to get back into the game when there's a two possession or more lead in the 4th quarter.

My hope is that the improved defense and hopefully a full committment to the running game in those situations will eliminate many of the nail biters that have plagued the organization in recent years.

SFIAH

Re: Why Saints are preparing as if games' final 2 minutes will determine their season
 

I don't disagree with that at all. I hope we jump out to 20 point leads all season long and have them coming into the last two minutes, but that just doesn't happen every game even with the best of teams. There are going to be those two or three games that remain tight in the best of years that can make the difference between home field all the way through or not.