View from 50,000 feet

xan · 08-20-2005, 08:23 PM

As this will be my first post in more than 4 months, I feel obligated to start from the highest viewpoint rather than mix it up in the trenches on a particular player/coach. However, I have read each and every one of your posts in the interim, even the salacious ones. I did not see the Seattle game, but did see the NE game in its entirety, mostly with the sound off. So, as so many have observed, you can't really comment until you've first hand knowledge:

There is far more talent on the Saints than there is on NE, except at linebacker and QB.

This team is no faster than any other NFL team.

Individual players seem to be trying to "stand out" rather than fit in.

Saints' play calling and defensive schemes are mediocre to poor.

There doesn't seem to be a sense of calmness on offense that comes with understanding the system and confidence in execution.

Whatever the Saints are practicing, it appears to have fleeting relevance to performance in a game.

Tackling is a forgotten art.

Field awareness/ball awareness appears blunted.

This team is three injuries away from a top 5 draft pick next season.

This assessment is eerily similar to last year's assessment. Can an extra year of player continuity have so little cohesive effect? There are gaping holes in each aspect of the team, and the hole is different for each. The secondary is great only when it knows where the ball is AND the opposing player is. The D-line has great control but no tackling. The O-line keeps good contact with their man, even picks up the free blitzer well, but can't define a solid pocket. No play caller runs through route progressions well or reads defenses well, though the can usually hit the stationary target. Rushers don't use blockers well. Receivers miss the (relatively) easy catch or route adjustment. Clock management and extra point management is still baffling.

Pardon the rant, but, how hard is it for putatively experienced coaches and players who are being paid 50 times what I make in a year to do what appears to be easy for top tier teams (though I will concede that QB is really really tough)? What the hell are they doing when they aren't playing mediocre football on national tv?

08-20-2005, 08:23 PM	#1
xan Professor Crab and Site Donor 2014 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Princeton Posts: 3,372 Blog Entries: 34	View from 50,000 feet As this will be my first post in more than 4 months, I feel obligated to start from the highest viewpoint rather than mix it up in the trenches on a particular player/coach. However, I have read each and every one of your posts in the interim, even the salacious ones. I did not see the Seattle game, but did see the NE game in its entirety, mostly with the sound off. So, as so many have observed, you can't really comment until you've first hand knowledge: There is far more talent on the Saints than there is on NE, except at linebacker and QB. This team is no faster than any other NFL team. Individual players seem to be trying to "stand out" rather than fit in. Saints' play calling and defensive schemes are mediocre to poor. There doesn't seem to be a sense of calmness on offense that comes with understanding the system and confidence in execution. Whatever the Saints are practicing, it appears to have fleeting relevance to performance in a game. Tackling is a forgotten art. Field awareness/ball awareness appears blunted. This team is three injuries away from a top 5 draft pick next season. This assessment is eerily similar to last year's assessment. Can an extra year of player continuity have so little cohesive effect? There are gaping holes in each aspect of the team, and the hole is different for each. The secondary is great only when it knows where the ball is AND the opposing player is. The D-line has great control but no tackling. The O-line keeps good contact with their man, even picks up the free blitzer well, but can't define a solid pocket. No play caller runs through route progressions well or reads defenses well, though the can usually hit the stationary target. Rushers don't use blockers well. Receivers miss the (relatively) easy catch or route adjustment. Clock management and extra point management is still baffling. Pardon the rant, but, how hard is it for putatively experienced coaches and players who are being paid 50 times what I make in a year to do what appears to be easy for top tier teams (though I will concede that QB is really really tough)? What the hell are they doing when they aren't playing mediocre football on national tv?