Could our offense be competitive with the Saints and the Falcons O?

[bleys]

Yeah, and all of those teams played great defense too. Even the Colts defense was better in the play offs during their SB run than the offense was. It seems like a lot of fans have forgotten that part.

that seems to be happening often here... lol

BTW, remember how anxious everybody was about this time last year, when we knew that every starter on the O-line was either gonna be starting for the first time (Kalil and Otah) new to the team (Vincent) or playing different positions from the year before (Gross and Wharton)? This will be the first time in years that they will be returning every starter at the same position from the year before, and I'm very excited about that.

I certainly do remember... Can't wait for football to start. We had a fun season last year due to our success. I look forward to another year that's similar...

[N'wahlinsCayenne]

Ok, I stand corrected on the Pats of 2004 (485 passes in regular season to

524 rushes), but I will stand by my argument on the Steelers of 2008. The fact is, the team did pass the ball 46 more times than it ran it and passing accounted for over 66% of its offensive yardage. Basically, they won the S.B. because of their passing game. They couldn't run it at all, only averaging 3.7 per carry. And not comparing the Saints to the Patriots, but now that you mention it, the Saints used tons of short passes to Bush to account for most of their passing yardage until Bush got hurt midway through the season. We were forced to throw the ball downfield more because Brees' most popular target was out of action. I would not call the Saints offense a run-and-gun by any means. Still, I hope we have the players this season, and a head coach with enough determination, to make sure we don't have that huge discrepancy in passes to runs again this year.

[rayzor]

ok, i stand corrected on the pats of 2004 (485 passes in regular season to

524 rushes), but i will stand by my argument on the steelers of 2008. The fact is, the team did pass the ball 46 more times than it ran it and passing accounted for over 66% of its offensive yardage. basically, they won the s.b. Because of their passing game. they couldn't run it at all, only averaging 3.7 per carry. And not comparing the saints to the patriots, but now that you mention it, the saints used tons of short passes to bush to account for most of their passing yardage until bush got hurt midway through the season. We were forced to throw the ball downfield more because brees' most popular target was out of action. I would not call the saints offense a run-and-gun by any means. Still, i hope we have the players this season, and a head coach with enough determination, to make sure we don't have that huge discrepancy in passes to runs again this year.

bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

[N'wahlinsCayenne]

bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

Talking offense only, here. I realize D was their biggest strength.

[rayzor]

that's the thing. the steelers won in spite of their offense as a whole. they lucked out on that holmes TD. what that defense did, though....dominant on a a truly powerhouse passing offense.

[SuperMan]

Ok, I stand corrected on the Pats of 2004 (485 passes in regular season to

524 rushes), but I will stand by my argument on the Steelers of 2008. The fact is, the team did pass the ball 46 more times than it ran it and passing accounted for over 66% of its offensive yardage. Basically, they won the S.B. because of their passing game. They couldn't run it at all, only averaging 3.7 per carry. And not comparing the Saints to the Patriots, but now that you mention it, the Saints used tons of short passes to Bush to account for most of their passing yardage until Bush got hurt midway through the season. We were forced to throw the ball downfield more because Brees' most popular target was out of action. I would not call the Saints offense a run-and-gun by any means. Still, I hope we have the players this season, and a head coach with enough determination, to make sure we don't have that huge discrepancy in passes to runs again this year.

Right............... and the #1 defense had absolutely nothing to do with it.. yep saints fans

[PhillyB]

rhonde barber probably thinks so

[phidelt649]

OBlah blah passing blah blah

I don't really get how you're harping on this. Big Ben was able to have success passing for two reasons:

-Generally, when a team gets a lead they switch to their run game forcing their defense to start creeping up on the line. This frees up receivers for even lackluster QBs to throw to (Exhibit: Jake Delhomme)

-Defense. Defense. Defense. Defense.

The run game and a stout defense with a great leader on offense is what wins Championships. If the pass game was so stellar and unbeatable, Texas A&M would be BCS Champs and the Cards would've made history. It just doesn't happen man.

[monstercat]

I wonder how many times the #1 passing offense has won the Super Bowl since they've been playing it? Anybody know where one could find that information?

For most of my lifetime, it's been defenses that have decided the SB champ more than the offense has. The Bills and Broncos had great passing offenses all through the 80's, but those NFC defenses kicked their asses every time one of them got to the SB.

Anyway...give me a balanced offense and a great defense, and I'll take my chances with that every single season.

[Metal_Sparty]

Reminds me of the Raiders vs. Buc's Super Bowl. #1 offense vs. the #1 defense right?

[N'wahlinsCayenne]

I don't really get how you're harping on this.

Just to have fun to put out an opposing view and see if I can back it up with some facts, every once in a while I'll do this.

And the NFL is a pass dominant league right now.

[Peppers90 NC]

Right............... and the #1 defense had absolutely nothing to do with it.. yep saints fans

Yea they keep digging to justify their video game nerd of a head coach.

Just to have fun to put out an opposing view and see if I can back it up with some facts, every once in a while I'll do this.

And the NFL is a pass dominant league right now.

Uhm is it? Maybe so, but most of the teams suck and it's probably b/c they can't run, or maybe b/c somebody has to try and make up a deficit to get back in a game.

[panthers55]

During the the last 7 game stretch, we only scored under 30 once and that was 28. We scored 30+ a total of 8 games winning all of them. Our offense carried the team during that stretch when the defense eroded. With Williams taking big plays to the house, it was almost like having a great pass attack. It will be up to Jake to bounce back and be the leader of the offense again, with the weapons of Williams and Smitty, and the other role players we should be good, along with the o line. I think if Davidson is allowed to do a little more by being aggressive, we should be just fine. Our playaction was great last year, seemed like Jake had minutes to find the open guy, and especially those misdirection playactions finding Rosario or Williams out of the backfield was nice new treat to see. Just depends on the leash that Fox has on Davidson will be how offensive we can be. We just need to keep the defense off the field and have a few more of them 7+ minute drives each game and we can be a balanced team.

Just like meeks is doing his thing, so is Davidson. It just so happens that Fox picked Davidson because they think similarly which is why he was hired. Davidson was an O line guy which is why he wants a physical punishing run attack.

Davidson has already stated that Fox will give him an idea of how he wants to hand particular type of situations and may make suggestions but that Davidson comes up with the schemes and makes the plays.

Fox is a defensive guy and doesn't control Davidson anymore than he controlled Henning.

You guys who keep rehashing the same misinformation are the reason the urban legend doesn't die.

Fox lets the coordinators do their own thing unless they screw up and then it is his job to come in and help. But there is no way Davidson is on a leash.

[panthers55]

And to answer the question, by the end of the year our offense was better than Atlanta and if I remember correctly we outscored New Orleans in our 2 games by a 68-41 total. We won't put up the passing yards that NO does but we actually had more big plays than they did.