Is the bottom about to fall out for the Saints?
by VikesFaninNM on Nov 17, 2009 3:48 PM CST
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PrintThis has been a question alot of people have been asking. Are the Saints truly the class of the NFC, or primed for a end of season meltdown? I'm starting to wonder if they really came out too hard and fast, and might be on the verge of a physical burnout half way thru the season. The first 5 games, the closest an opponant got was 14 points. Drew Brees was on a tear with 13 TD's to only 2 INT's. (Credit ESPN on the TD/INT stats).
Then along came Miami. It took a 4th Quarter comeback to win the game. The inflated 12 point win margin is the lasrgest they have had since then. During this time, 2 teams which they should have easily blown out, Carolina and St. Louis, kept things to 10 points or less. St. Louis taking it to the wire. Also, Atlanta kep it to 8 points. During this run, Brees has flipped flopped. Going with 6 TD's and 7 INT's (again credit ESPN).
THUD!
Next up are two games against the Bucs who seem to be slowely waking up and I think improving with a very young team, rematches with Carolina and Atlanta at their stadiums, and the Pats come to town. You may say I should include Dallas in on this, but I am not completely sold on that team as of yet. Given the lack of success that has been coming towards Brees the last 4 games and the fact that 4 teams, 1 good, 2 mediocre and one doormat, have kept them on the run, I'm starting to see the breaking of the camels back coming and soon. The Bucs D, while not top of the line anymore, are still very opportunistic. Atlanta is good and Carolina has been good when they've played good and crap when played like crap. Pats, with the return of Brady, are the Pats again.
I know we touched base on this earlier, but given the last few games and the way some teams coming up on their schedule have been playing inspired, I see a very bumpy 2nd half for the Saints with a highly possible meltdown of the passing game as well as the team itself. Perhaps starting out like they did, they may have used up everything they had and with the slow decline in total Offensive points, the declining gap in points differential and Brees's declining ratio, I am now seeing a possible 3 - 4 or 2 - 5 run for the Saints in the second half. I think these guy's may have blown their collective wad in the first half and are starting to play tired. Thoughts?
This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.
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haha, that's funny
because the Titans did at the end of last year, and the beginning of this year
From the only TRUE North division
by thewild_viking_twins on Nov 17, 2009 4:24 PM CST up reply actions
Well I think it has more to do with injuries
The saints are missing four of their starting defensive players including their run stopping NT and Darren Sharper. So there goes there ability to stop the run and get pick six’s. Take away those two people and their defense gets very beatable. They are very lucky they aren’t playing good teams right now or I think their record would take a hit.
However, they have a very easy schedule and most if not everyone will be back by the time they have to meat the pat’s. Just think of us if Jared Allen and Phat Pat for aced out. (knocks on wood)
" Are the Saints truly the class of the NFC, or primed for a end of season meltdown?"
People have been saying the exact same thing about the Vikings. And from what I’ve heard more with the Vikings than the Saints.
ok
Lets talk about these close games
We can start with miami we came out flat and gave up 14 quick points off turn overs ,a fumble in the end zone and a pick six from the 20 then we held them the rest of the first half to 10 points halftime score 24-3
We came out and outscored them 43-10 in the second half including 22-0 in 4th quarter
Atlanta and Panthers were div. rivals they always play us tough and we had our 2 defensive tackles hurt and one of our linebackers out and still beat 2 good running teams
The Rams game was the only real ugly win in the bunch but we were missing 3 starting db’s 2 starting defensive tackles thats 5 starters on the defense and 2 of our wide recievers
all will be back for the patriots
and i believe if our coach thought we needed them against the Rams most would have been back just like they will be out this week against the Buc’s
The only thing that matters about those close games is that you ended up winning them. And so have we, except one. Here’s to a potential NFC champinship game: Vikings VS. Saints in Minn.
yea
being from mississippi i’m a big brett favre fan i want to see him in the championship game against the saints
No
The bottom is NOT about to fall out for the Saints.
These “peaking too early” threads never cease to amaze me. Like talent is something that players (teams) have in limited quantities, and once it’s used up, it’s gone or something.
Let’s be straight here: the Saints opened the year playing way beyond anyone’s expectations. If they finally end that fantastic run and merely become very, very good — meaning that (gasp) they might actually lose a game at some point! — that hardly constitutes a “thud.” That merely constitues "returning to the ability & not total infallibility of every other elite NFL team. A loss or two by the Saints would be no more than the Colts “thudded” Sunday night (in a game that should probably have lost).
“Like talent is something that players (teams) have in limited quantities, and once it’s used up, it’s gone or something.”
Please, tell me where I said anyone on the Saints or any other team was limited in talent? Yes, they have played beyond anyones expectations and hat’s off to them. But they are getting TIRED and INJURY PRONE, not limited in talent. Just like we have the ability to succumb to injuries, and like Winfield, have. What I was trying to say here was it is catching up to them like it can us, hence the bottom falling out. If that is amazing to you, oh well, but don’t try reading into it more then the fact that they are getting tired like all other teams, in the postiion the Saints are, that is more of a THUD then it is to us. And yes, you can over work a team at the start, been on the receiving end of that when I was younger.
"If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk."
"That is the craziest sonofabitch I ever saw, how many more like him do you think are up there?"
"We have clearance Clearance. Roger Rodger, what's our vector Victor?"
by VikesFaninNM on Nov 17, 2009 10:17 PM CST up reply actions
you have to be careful about what may be perceived between the lines. reading is a fading art.
by iseepurplepeople on Nov 18, 2009 10:22 AM CST up reply actions
Yeah, I know, see that more and more these days.
"If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk."
"That is the craziest sonofabitch I ever saw, how many more like him do you think are up there?"
"We have clearance Clearance. Roger Rodger, what's our vector Victor?"
by VikesFaninNM on Nov 18, 2009 6:47 PM CST up reply actions
I would agree with you
But i would also add one more thing. When you’ve perfected something it’s hard to step out of that percieved perfection. The problem is nothing is perfect and sooner or later someone well come by with the perfect idea on how to break what once was perfect. So a lot of teams that come out strong firing on all cylinders in the beginning will end up giving up a lot of tape on what makes them so special.
More importantly when you think your at the peak changing things to something else to avoid schemes is tough to do, not just from a coaching stand point but also from a players stand point. For instance teams that are able to pick on Sharpers greediness for the pick might start a push for all teams to do so, but Sharper has been the man so far and it would take a lot for him to not be quite so much of a ball hawk later on (if this is where offenses look to scheme past NO’s D)
by Grime on Nov 18, 2009 10:59 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
To your first paragraph
Just ask the Patriots.
Purple Haze is the worlds greatest Natural Resource.
by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Nov 18, 2009 11:19 AM CST up reply actions
OK, as you ask I will not “read into it” any more than what you say I should that “they are getting tired and injury prone.” (your exact words). Well … Every team is … Not just the Saints. In fact it might be said the the historical evidence and preponderance of risk (at the QB level as well as the over team) is more with the Vikings going “thud” than the Saints. The only place there may be an exception to that is with Sharper.
As to this argument that what the Saints have been doing is on tape, and someone else will figure it out & everyone else will copy … while that may or may not be true for the Saints D, but on the offense teams have had the “tape” on what they are doing for well over a year now (going well back into last season) and not many teams appear to have figured it out.
If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, go and look at this year & last years results for them. I just did. Since the start of 2008, they’ve been held to < 24 points exactly once.
I'm not saying they are not a great team
but I didn’t see them win the superbowl either. So someone has them figured out. Now with a better D to work with they need to be figured out again. Everyone has weaknesses, the problem is most of the teams they will play in the last half are pretty poor and I don’t think any of them have the nuts to actually see a weakness and then use it well enough to win against them.
Remember they are a darn good team, but they are definitely beatable.
No.
They are the best offense in the NFL, and a defense that’s good enough. Think about some of those state you threw up there…Brees has thrown more INT’s than TD’s in his last 3 games…and they’ve won all three.
The mark of a great team is winning games against an inferior opponent when you don’t have your best stuff. The only teams in the NFL that have done that consistently this year are New Orleans, Indy, and Minnesota.
"We're used to Favre-a-palooza now. We're engulfed in Favre-a-palooza. It's not even Favre-a-palooza anymore. He's family now."
--Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe, on Brett Favre
Yes....
Fits that these are the three (NO, INdy, MN) that are on top in many ranking polls as well….If you can find ways to win even when not having your best day, for me is the mark of a potential champion…Look at our game with Detroit…We won despite having a more than average number of brain farts (read penalties)…and also managed to show and try some new things – no panic when the mistakes started piling up….and we got the W (was less close than the score indicated by far)…
NO may fall down some as the year goes on, and actually for them a loss may be good, as I think it was for the Vikings (so except for HFA, would wish them an undefeated season!)…but they already have done enough to make the playoffs, and I think they will be more than worthy opponents…They are having to deal with injuries as we are and still getting the Ws…As our guys have, the rest have had to step up, get it done, even if not pretty…
Both of these two teams (MN/NO) have what it takes to go deep in the playoffs…They each will have to bring their A game when/if they meet in the NFC Championship game….no missed FG, no taking a knee, no half-stepping by either side….This game will definitely be the most exciting game I have seen the Vikes play in for a long time…there is some comparisons now (warranted) on the ‘98 Vikings versus this team….and weren’t they fun to watch (except for that last game)…
This goes for the SB as well, should we be fortunate enough to get past NO…Whether we look at Indianapolis, Patriots, Steelers, or Cinci (yes I think that Cinci has a shot at it this year….everything is clicking for them, even luck), I think we have a very good chance at beating them….but we will have to have gelled by then to the point that offense/defense can hold their own and step it up if required to come back/win….There is no doubt it will not be a cake walk….
Wait, this is what we are doing now, no? Let’s see if we can continue this….I look at the game against Detroit as one where we shook off the week bye, worked out some rust, tried a few new things, got a couple of bad calls, and still dominated, as we were predicted to do, albeit in a not so glitzy fashion (exception being Edwards and Rice, and several others)….OK we could afford these mistakes and tries at some new things because of the opponent….
Vikings have the makings to go all the way (we all know this)….I believe they are deeper in talent than NO or any other team, more multi-dimensional….and that they have the desire and swagger (self confidence or “MOJO”) to do it….The ’98 team had it, some of our 70s teams had it, and the ’69 team under Kapp had it….Hopefully the difference this year is that we will get the SB W as opposed to those other great Viking teams! We will have a few more tough games yet to hone our teamwork/skills, i.e. Cinci, Bears (mainly because are divisional games, not because of their talent), and Arizona…
What a great year to be a Viking fan! SKOL!
I would rather be IN the Arena than watching from the stands...That is my life!
* Read Teddy Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" if you need further explanation...
by vikingfanfrom afar on Nov 18, 2009 5:49 AM CST up reply actions
Good point
Im just wondering though, if Brees does keep the trend up, when/will they run out of steam? I do see a few stumbles coming up, but they will make the playoffs and more then likely, if things winwise keep going the way they have been with both of us, we’ve both had our injuries already and close calls, I still see us playing both in the NFC Championship Game
"If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk."
"That is the craziest sonofabitch I ever saw, how many more like him do you think are up there?"
"We have clearance Clearance. Roger Rodger, what's our vector Victor?"
by VikesFaninNM on Nov 18, 2009 6:45 PM CST up reply actions
Doesnt matter
The bottom line is how are they playing when the playoffs roll around. I tend to see alot of the ‘98 Vikings in this year’s Saints. I dont like their defense. Dont get me wrong. They’ve been strong on D & I respect them on that side of the ball. I just dont see the talent on paper & wonder if they can “bend & not break” when the playoffs roll around. Their O is scary good. but, so were the ’98 Vikings. I see a crash in their future…but right now, it doesnt really matter. Talk about it come playoff time. who knows…by then the Giants or Cowgirls may be peaking. Keep an eye on the scary-sneaky Vikings.
Just look at the Saints' remaining schedule
@ Tampa
vs. New England
@ Washington
@ Atlanta
vs. Dallas
vs. Tampa
@ Carolina
Even if they do indeed fall apart, no way they’re going anything worse than 3-4 down the stretch, which means they’ll go 12-4 and most likely get a first round bye. Let’s face it—the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through a dome this year. I only hope it’s through the Metrodome!
by Eric J. Thompson on Nov 18, 2009 2:23 PM CST reply actions
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