Pre-Katrina Levels

Every year on my birthday and on New Year’s Eve I have that same moment of revelation, of wonderment:

“Wow, where did that year go?’

 

The Saints have that feeling today.

When, exactly did 2007 begin slip-sliding away?

Was it actually on that cold day in January when they arrived in the Windy City with the wrong game plan in their briefcase?

Was it that “mock funeral” that suggested they had actually accomplished something last season?

Was it when they caught fumbleitis from Tyler Patko?

 

The conclusion is inevitable.  The slide began when they blew their chance at a Super Bowl.  The stars were aligned.  Shoulda won.  Getting back isn’t that easy.  Ask Dan Marino.  Getting past that game is so tough.  Ask Donovan McNabb – he that plays in the city of brotherly love where they boo everyone who is not their brother.  If they only appreciated it like we did.  Yes, we now know Peyton would have pummeled us.  But now we know how close we came and how hard it will be to get back.

 

As bad as last night was, the centerpiece that fell off the table was Deuce McAlister,  Jim Haslett’s lasting gift to the Saints.  I remember when they drafted him and his injuries out of Ole Miss andwe thought “What, we’ve got Ricky Williams (even though he stunk.) Why draft another running back?

Seems Uncle Jim knew what the world would soon find out – that Helmetcam Ricky was nuttier than that fruitcake you never eat.

Deuce would bring his 5 yards and a cloud of Astroturf to a team that needed that commodity, and end up as the Saints' all-time leading rusher.

The question is, will there ever be additions to that record?

 

His apparently season-ending knee injury rubs sea salt into an ever-widening wound.

 

Only fitting that after a summer of horror movie sequels, lowlighted by Rush Hour 3, we move into the fall and Nightmare on Poydras Street 35.

 

I knew going into the year it would be tougher.  We wouldn’t surprise anyone and the defensive coordinators had 3 months to dissect our offense.

 

Could the Saints continue to innovate on offense and had the defense improved?

Well not only is the answer to that no,

but

Suddenly, the offensive line looks awful.

Suddenly Brees has no protection.

Suddenly the Saints offense is limited to 6 and 8 yard curls and slants as well as predictable swing passes designed to get our running backs killed.

Suddenly the defenses are sitting back in a deep zone and waiting for the Saints to make a mistake,which they do frequently with the constant pressure on Brees.

Suddenly there is no deep threat.

Suddenly there is no running game.

Suddenly Colston is drawing coverage worthy of his all-world talent because Devery has disappeared.

And has anyone else noticed that if Aaron Stecker is in the game he gets the ball. 

Every single time. 

If I’ve noticed, hasn’t the defense?

And that’s just the offense.

 

On the defensive side we can’t pressure the quarterback nor stop the run and in that scenario you could have 4 Deion Sanders in pass coverage and they’d be standing in the end zone with their hands on their hips watching celebrations.

With all that girth on the front line you’d think we would have 10 sacks at this point.

You’d be 10 off.

 

Is the season over?  Not really because the NFC South is weak and 9-7 will probably win it. 

Can the Saints turn it around and make it to that? 

 

Only in the movies. 

 

Someone better start writing thescript.

 

A Damn Good Whacking 9-7-07

I always say there are 2 things I know about the NFL:

1.  You win by hitting the other quarterback and protecting yours

2.  Defensive coordinators will eventually catch up to an offense

Both were in play last night when the Saints laid an egg and made the Indianapolis Colts look like Super Bowl Champs.

I have again boldly predicted that the Saints will go to the Super Bowl.  This is a prediction that I will boldly make each year from now on, because

a.  I will be right some day

b.  I can say I told you so

c.  I can mortgage the house and go

d.  I’m in the twilight of my life and 40 years of this is enough damn it.

 

Last Night the Saints opened the NFL season and didn’t hit Manning and let Brees get pressured.  We know that if you hit Manning over and over your chances of beating him increase from 10% to 20%.

Tony Dungy apparently spent every minute since the Super Bowl devising a defense to slow down the Saints innovative offense, which displayed none of the sharpness it did just 2 weeks ago. 

He employed one of my old flag football strategies:  Don’t get beat deep.  If they catch the ball in front of you with a 4 yard gain, you can come up and make the tackle, plus they have to do it 3 times in a row to get a 1st down.  I think this is a new strategy for their defense, as Jason David, whom we stole from their roster, was not familiar with it.  Be honest, you were yearning for the good ole days and Fred Thomas, weren’t you?

 

The word is blueprint.  I suspect this will be the blueprint for every team that plays us going forward and if Sean Payton’s offense is going to be successful, it will have to mutate and develop to attack this.  The game from last year which has stuck in my memory was the loss to the Redskins when the master Joe Gibbs, who otherwise has not done much, did a great job of shutting down the Saints.  Tony must have been illegally watching that film.

 

So, the dreams of a no-hitter went up on the first batter.  We won't be breaking the Dolphins record for going undefeated.  Not this year.  But, it's a long season, and I think the Saints will be fine.  I won't be surprised if the offense gets slowed from time to time.  But there is no question the defense will have to play better.  Getting thoroughly beaten on both sides of the ball will usually wake a team up.  They should be in a foul mood going to Tampa.

 

We got whacked.  Now, snap out of it. 

Countdown to Kickoff 9-3-07

It’s that time again.  It’s time for us to have some Saints-watching parties, with the price of admission being that you have to put up with these emails that I will post on my blog.

 

Thursday night it finally comes – The Super Bowl.  Saints vs. Colts – the way it should have been just 7 months ago.

 

So much has changed.  Offensively, we should be even better.  What an array of weapons.  Pierre Thomas looks like a Reggie Bush clone.  As a free agent he sent Antonio Pittman packing.  (Quick, name a great pro who came out of Ohio State.)

Lance Moore and David Patten both look better than Joe Horn did last year.  Meachem can’t get off the pine with the talent ahead of him. 

 

Defensively, the Saints look better and deeper.  I don’t see a game breaker on special teams unless Reggie is back there.

 

The Colts look weaker and depleted.  I’d say the Saints should win this virtual rematch.

But, there is one great equalizer – Peyton.  When he’s not shooting commercials he’s working hard and studying and is the consummate pro.  The Colts will always be a threat.

I’m calling it Saints 41 Colts 31, but I’m hoping the Saints are up 41 with 5 minutes to go.

 

Are these two headed for the Super Bowl?  No way to tell.  Unfortunately the NFL Championship is not really about who plays the best all year long.  It’s about qualifying for “the tournament” then getting hot and healthy at about the same moment – say about January 1st.

 

Nevertheless, here’s my bold prediction.

 

Saints (12-4) beat the Rams (10-6) in the NFC Championship in the Super Dome.

The Patriots over the Chargers in the AFC Championship game for the right to lose to the Saints in Glendale.  Which they will.

 

You laughed at me last year at this time when I said the Saints were going to the Super Bowl.  Bet it doesn’t sound so far fetched this time.

What's your prediction?
See you in Glendale.

 

But first, I’ll see you at my house Thursday Night.  RSVP please.  If enough are coming I’m cooking a ham and potatoes au gratin.  If not, it will be something smaller.

Depends on how many want to join the party.