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Eye ON THE SAINTS |
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June 2008
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Tom Planchet: October 2007 ArchivesDaniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News - perhaps a bit biased as the team he covers was just trounced by the Saints - said that the team now has its swagger back. That might be debatable, but there's no question it isn't the same team that looked so bad starting 0-4. ...A few things to consider for those giddy Saints fans who are looking for a win against Jacksonville this weekend (yes, I know Garrard is not playing and his backup did not look too good this weekend). First, the Saints are 1-5 against the AFC under Sean Payton, winning their first game against Cleveland in the 2006 season opener, and losing 5 straight since by margins of 13, 15, 7, 31 and 17. Second, the Saints are only 5-6 at ... Of course it is FAR too early to get back on the Saints bandwagon, but consider this: After the game against Jacksonville this week, the Saints final eight games come against only one team that currently sports a winning record (Carolina 4-3) and the total won-loss mark is 21-39! That's got to be the worst in the entire league. Here's the ugly eight and their current record. St. Louis 0-8 New Orleans City Business says the city and its fans remain staunchly behind the Saints despite their struggles this season. ...According to Randy Benson of the Louisiana Gannett News Service the Saints are still a work very much in progress. ...Joe Horn and Morten Andersen, two of the most popular Saints players of all-time were both booed on their return to the Superdome Sunday. ...Head coach Sean Payton was a little more expressive after the Saints win Sunday against Atlanta than he was last week when they got their first win over Seattle. Payton said it was a big win, especially against a division opponent, but he said the team still needs to do a better job of playing well at home. He admitted things weren't perfect and that the team's lack of success on third downs made for a lopsided Time of Possessi... Following the game, head coach Sean Payton would have nothing of any talk of the team 'turning the corner.' 'There is no corner,' he said tersely. 'We're 1-4. We won one game and that's a good step.' ...If you were like me, you asked a few questions during Sunday's game. For instance, when the NBC crew pointed out that the Saints hadn't been calling 'pressure defenses' during the season and that they were going to start tonight, did you ask, 'Why not?' Why would a team that had so few sacks and turnovers this year not call more pressure defenses? Did you wonder where the downfield passing game had been all year? Where Patten a... Neal McCready of the Mobile Press-Register and AL.com says Saints fans may want to begin debating who the team will pick if they end up with the top overall choice. He's pondering between LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. ...In a story posted on Charlotte.com Saints running back Reggie Bush gave himself an "F" for his performance Sunday against the Panthers. ...David Wharton of the Los Angeles Times praises Saints fans in an article that highlights their resiliency over the years while cheering for a moribound franchise. ...Larry Holder - in an article appearing in the Biloxi Sun Herald, says the Aints are back in a big way. ...Sean Payton's overall coaching record with the Saints is now 11-11 including postseason games, 10-10 in the regular season. Also, the Saints are 4-6 at home in the regular season and have lost their last 4 regular season home games (two last year and two this season). The Saints did disrupt that skid with a win at home in the playoffs last year. ...Terry Bradshaw and Jimmy Johnson said that you had to write off the Saints season, while analyst Howie Long left open the fact that a team 'making a good run' in the NFC has a chance. Long said the FOX crew said that Reggie Bush is dead last in the league in going down after first contact. The point was made as they talked about Deuce McAllister's absence, though one of the analysts pointed out that the Saints were winless with McAllis... Head Coach Sean Payton said after the game that the Saints have a 'handful of positions' they need to look at to see if they are playing the right people. He said that Olindo Mare is struggling and that the kicking position is a lot about confidence. He said he didn't want to put all of the blame on the kicker. 'It's sickening,' he said of the team's play on Sunday. 'I told the players that if we continue to make the dumb mista... Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme could be facing season-ending elbow surgery, though that is something he is trying to avoid. ...USA Today points out that the four NFL teams that received byes last year are all struggling and struggling mightily. ...Dan Pompei of the Tribune says that after having all offseason to study the Saints offensive success in 2006 their weaknesses have been exposed. ... |
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