Question About the Saints....

[Cary Kollins]

Last year it seemed like whenever Graham was taken out of the game, the Saints offense suffered. Now he's not even on the team, so they are gonna have to have someone step up big time.

If no one does, they are going to be in for a long long season. You can't underestimate the loss of the biggest mismatch outside of Gronkowski.

[TheRed]

youre saying we will split with a team that we creamed while playing our best football of the year? a team that got much worse over the offseason? whereas our team has gotten significantly better at many key positions?

not being a jerk. just would like you to defend your argument.

I'm not sure what there is to be confused about. I was stating a fact, last year we beat them in their house, and they beat us in ours.

It was a basic statement about not underestimating our division. Even if the other teams suck, they will generally still play us tough.

[SCP]

All I am 100% certain about is my hatred for those fugers in New Orleans. Good, bad, or great, they can eat my poo regardless.

[Woodie]

Last year it seemed like whenever Graham was taken out of the game, the Saints offense suffered. Now he's not even on the team, so they are gonna have to have someone step up big time.

If no one does, they are going to be in for a long long season. You can't underestimate the loss of the biggest mismatch outside of Gronkowski.

The difference this year is that they are planning on not having Graham, so will create a scheme that is not so heavily reliant on the TE.  I also think they are going to highlight their running game more than they ever have, which will make them less predictive and harder to gameplan for.  Other than Brees (and Cooks may have the potential), they really don't have any star level playmakers on offense.  So, while they should be more complete, I think we have the components to have a better offense (our defense is already the best in the division).  So barring injury, I really don't see them beating us out in the division, but they will be good enough that we can't sleep on them.

[SurvivalSloth]

As long as Drew Brees and Sean Payton are still in NO, the media as always going to see them as the favorite. The loss of Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills is definitely going to hurt them, but Brandin Cooks is a good receiver and as long as Brees is back there...they are dangerous.

What is really going to get New Orleans is there defense. Only a few years removed from having the worst defense in the league and Junior Galette is injured. I think NO finishes around 7 wins because they have the QB that can put up points...but not the defense to stop other teams.

[PhillyB]

they've got talent on the team, no doubt, but i really think they're going downhill. on defense they've tried to fill a few positions but they still may have lost something on that pass rush, which was the only effective unit on the team last year. offensively they've been hemorrhaging talent. despite the addition of max unger on an offensive line that was already pretty good they've lost important pass catchers (is anyone really scared of marques colston anymore?)  and drew brees looks to be in decline.

i think they are the least-improved team in the NFC south, and i think they finish last in the division.

[pantherclaw]

Did the Saints lose Sean Payton?

No? 

Then you better consider them our biggest road block.

[Zach Donaldson]

As long as Drew Brees is their quarterback, and Sean Payton is their coach, they will be somewhat relevant. But, some moves they made were a bit questionable, so I don't know. The Jimmy Graham trade, I personally don't like. It will hurt them, especially in the red-zone. Although, I think it will sting a little bit less, IF Mark Ingram can repeat the success he had last year, and with the addition of Unger and Peat, I think it will be hard not to (even with the loss of Grubbs). I think they just shifted their focus from the pass, on to the run, mostly because of Drew Brees' age. But, you can't win our division just running the football, especially when you have to face our linebacker corp twice a year. You need to be able to throw the football, and outside of Brandin Cooks … their receivers aren't anything to write home about. It still confuses me on why they traded Kenny Stills for a third round draft pick. Their corp could've been speedy, young Cooks, deep threat Stills, and aging Colston. BUT, after they traded Stills for a draft pick (who ended up being their backup quarterback …) their corp insisted of speedy, young Cooks, aging Colston, and Nick Toon. I think that trade will come back to bite them when they face teams that have a shutdown corner, and a stud defensive-line (Carolina, Seattle, Arizona etc…). Honestly, their defense isn't as bad as people portray it as. I think their secondary could surprise some people this year. Jarius Byrd is back, and should be ready to play, they snagged Brandon Browner in free-agency to put on the opposite side of Keenan Lewis, and they also drafted FSU CB, PJ Williams. Junior Galette is still there, they still have Cam Jordan … so not bad. I don't think the Saints will be a bad team, but I don't think they'll be great either. IMO, I'm more worried about Atlanta and Tampa than New Orleans.

[UpstatePanther]

I'm not sure what there is to be confused about. I was stating a fact, last year we beat them in their house, and they beat us in ours.

It was a basic statement about not underestimating our division. Even if the other teams suck, they will generally still play us tough.

i guess what im curious about is why you think teams that suck will still be able to win one of two games against us. how do you think it will happen? what weaknesses do we have that they could exploit? what strengths do they have that we are ill-equipped to deal with?

forget the superficial argument that they are rivals and therefore will automatically play us tough. we gave both Atlanta and New Orleans a hell of a fight at home, while still losing both games, and then we creamed them both in their houses. that tells me that if New Orleans got worse, like many think they did, they might not have enough to get the better of us even once this year. especially since we have a healthier qb, more mismatches in our receiving corps, a better (albeit not above average) OL, and intact defense that will benefit from an infusion of role-playing talent. 

New Orleans' offense will suffer the loss of Graham and the decline of Brees, even if its slight. he may have had bounce-back seasons before, but he had more weapons then and wasnt approaching 40yo. Have the Saints really gotten that much better on defense? i dont think they have. whereas ours will most likely take a step forward, even with Mike Shula at the helm. 

i think the Saints will be the same team they were last year when it comes to threat level and final win total. i dont expect them to get over .500. and frankly, i dont think .500 will be near enough to challenge for the division title this year. 

I also think they are going to highlight their running game more than they ever have, which will make them less predictive and harder to gameplan for.  

idk about that. their passing game, being as good as it was, made them unpredictable. you had to approach every snap like it was a pass, because even when you did, Brees might still burn you for 50+ yards. they ripped off huge yardage in the running game because the defense always had to play one-dimensional football and try to stop the pass. i think focusing more on the running game could backfire on them as wasted snaps. their OL might not be good enough overall to get a good push for the RBs. If they try to make Brees a game manager, their game will suffer. 

that said, you might be right. i guess we'll know when the league starts playing preseason games. 

 

[GRWatcher]

I'll give you the one reason for the Saints' decline:  Luke Kuechly.

Before last year, Payton & Brees would play a chess game of staying even while prodding for soft parts in the defense, then pulling out a trick play or reliable but overlooked players like Colston or Ingram and take over the game. Think about it. How many times in the 3rd/4th quarter have those guys stepped up leading to a Saints win? Colston is was a Panther killer. He remains a legitimate threat.

No longer. Kuechly knows their tendencies & schemes. People think we don't make in-game adjustments. We do. Kuechly does, all game long, & makes sure the other 10 guys are ready too. Payton & Brees now are as easy to read as a book with large type. And the NFL is a copy cat league. Smart DC's will be able to do the same things, depending of course on their talent levels. I predict we sweep the Saints.

Tampa & Atlanta worry me more simply because the learning curve for Kuechly & our defense will be steeper with the changes those teams are going through. Fundamental basics will be key. We may split the wins with these teams.

[Riverboat Ron]

Sean Payton hates losing so they'll win the division.

[UpstatePanther]

Panthers 11-5 (3-peat)

ATL 9-7

NO 8-8

Tampa 6-10

FIFY... im pretty sure thats what you meant haha

[pantherphan96]

the Bucs will finish last as usual, the Winston pick will be labeled a bust after they go 3-13. How the Saints do depends on how CJ Spiller performs and Brandin Cooks continues to develop. Falcons had a good draft, so their success depends on whether their rookies can gel quickly or if they will disappoint. 

 

Also, this quote from Vaughn McClure (beat writer for the Falcons) cracked me up:

The Falcons also could benefit from having their final two division games, against the Panthers and Saints, at home to close the season.

yeah that worked out well for them last year right?

[Verge]

Saints have the best o-line, best secondary, and an elite qb. It would be foolish to count them out.