The Saints have been the biggest underachieving team in the 21st Century. With plenty of pontential the Saints have always found a way to be one game shy of the playoffs for the last 4 years. This year Saints fans have reason to believe this year will be different, and here's why. <u>OFFENSE</u> Starting Line Up QB Aaron Brooks WR Joe Horn WR Donte' Stallworth HB Deuce McAllister FB Mike Karney TE Shad Mieir LT Wayne Gandy LG Kendyl Jacox C LeCharles Bentley RG Jermaine Mayberry RT Jammal Brown* The Line - The Saints have two new huge aditions to their some what decent offensive line. RG Jermaine Mayberryand RT Jammal Brown will take their place on the right side giving much needed help to the O line. Last years O line took a nose dive, from 2003's, with plenty of full starts and holding penelties thanks to former RT Victor Riley and former OC Mike McCarthy's attempt of a no huddle offense. Good luck in San Fran Mike. The Run - This year Mike Sheppard, former QB choach, will have a similar approach to the Saints 2003 offense which was ranked 11th in overall yds and 3rd in 3rd down%. RUN, RUN, RUN and RUN. This year Sheppard plans on using Deuce McAllister to his full potential following stud FB Mike Karney along with his new additions to the O line. Deuce ran for 1,641 in 2003 behind former FB Terrell Smith, now in Cleveland, who is said to be by team official no comparison to work horse Mike Karney. Not only that, former RG Kendyl Jacox, now LG, isn't the all pro Jermaine Mayberry is. Along with youngsters Jammal Brown, C LeCharles Bentley and TE Shad Mieir and a proven veteran LG Wayne Gandy you got yourself a promising run game. Oh yeah, we have RB coach Johnny Roland as well. For those who don't know him, he was the RB coach for Walter Peyton, Jerome Bettis and Ahman Green. All of them all pro RB's. The Pass - We all know QB Aaron Brooks has made plenty of mistakes in the past, enough to make Saints fans cry, but there's still no denying he's damn near lethal when he's hot. Aaron Brooks was reported having the best offseason work out in his career and is loving the new additions to the line, along with OC. He still is considered, by many, the best Saints QB since Archie Manning and is still breaking team records left and right. WR's Joe Horn and Donte' Stallworth both had their best season last year raking in a combined 2,100 yds and 16 TD's. Joe Horn is considered one of the most consistant receivers today and continues to show age isn't a factor, so we expect another great year from Joe, maybe not like last years but still worth talking about. With only room for improvement for Donte' Stallworth, the Saints expect him to split the exact same numbers with Horn this upcoming year, if not more. Stallworth has been bugged by nagging injuries and has been missing time keeping him under profile for the last 2 years. This year he has reported as 100% and will show why he should be the future for the Saints at WR. 2nd year receiver Devery Henderson and veteran Az Hakim will battle for the #3 spot giving more speed to the already speedy WR corp and hopefully bring more threat to their opponents. Henderson shown promise last year in the Saints preseason game against the Packers by scoring a 77 yd TD and raking in 4 catches. He also scored a 50 yd TD in their last preseason game against the Dolphins. Hakim has always had the potential but never seemed to get his feet wet, hopefully this year he does it. At the TE position you have Shad Mieir, Ernie Conwell and Boo Williams and to be honest i think Williams will get cut and Mieir will take the starting job. <u>DEFENSE</u> Starting Line Up LE Charles Grant/ Will Smith DT Bryan Young DT Howard Green RE Darren Howard/ Will Smith WSLB Colby Bockwoldt MLB Courtney Watson SSLB James Allen LCB Fakhir Brown RCB Mike McKenzie FS Dwight Smith SS Jay Bellamy/ Josh Bullocks Against the Run - The Saints were ranked 30th last year against the run giving up 2,250 yds and 16 TD's all year. The biggest thing for the Saints was they gave up more than 15 20+ yd runs, which was due to poor DT and MLB play. The Saints haven't really done much to their much needed DT corp, which will still give them a huge dissadvantage going into the 2005 season. 2003's #1 pick DT Jonathan Sullivan is considered a bust and has been nothing but negativity for the Saints locker room since his arrival in 2003, which is a main reason why former St. Louis Ram, DT Brian Young was brought in last year. The Saints plan on trying to work with Sullivan before the opening game against Carolina. If they can't get him to bring what he brought at Georgia they better pray for DT Howard Green to become a stud real quick. The Saints MLB position will be battled between Orlando Ruff, Courtney Watson and rookie Alfred Fincher. Watson and Ruff had a combination of 130 tackles and 1 sack last year, neither showing promise of being the run stuffing MLB the Saints are looking for in their 4-3 defense. Watson is only in his second year, and with Fincher at his heels for his starting job it should only make him want it more giving. SSLB's James Allen and Sedrick Hodge are to battle for the SSLB poisition and hope to give the Saints much needed support against the run. Saints fans can only thank god for giving us such a talented DE corp, cause we would have been much worse. Against the Pass - The Saints finished 27th against the pass last year giving up 3,888 yds and 24 TD's and only raking in 13 INT's and 37 sacks. DE's Charles Grant, Darren Howard and Will Smith had a combination of 28 sacks and 13 forced fumbles higher then any other 3 DE combo in the league. Not only that Charles Grant had the most tackles (78) by any defensive linemanin the league. Considering these 3 can't all be on the field at once is the reason why there numbers weren't higher individually. Saints have increased their FS position status by 100% by adding Dwight Smith and releasing Tebucky Jones, who was a complete bust in New Orleans. Saints have also drafted Nebraska's stud FS Josh Bullocks, who is expected to take veteran Jay Bellamy's job at SS by mid season. Returning CB Mike McKenzie raked in 5 INT's in his 10 games with the Saints last year tying for 4th throughout the league. Just imagine if he would have played all 16 games. CB's Fakhir Brown, Jason Craft and new comer Jimmy Williams are said to be battling for the #2 spot this year giving the Saints some much needed competition at the CB position. WSLB's Colby Bockwoldt, Cie Grant and new comer Levar Fisher are to battle for the starting spot at WSLB. Bockwoldt, Grant and Fisher were all considered extremely talented speedy coverage LB's in College, let's just hope it shows this year for the Saints. <u>SPECIAL TEAMS</u> Starting Line Up K John Carney P Mitch Berger KR/PR Michael Lewis Kicking game - John Carney is reaching the end of his career, which is usually a Kicker's prime. Last year he bounced back from a dissapointing 2003 season and continues to show the Saints he good enough to keep around. This may be his last year. Punting game - Pro Bowl P Mitch Berger is also getting old, but he had his best season of his career last year and isn't showing signs of leaving anytime soon. Kick/Punt return - In 2002 Michael Lewis was the most feared KR/PR in the league setting two NFL records and team records. Now in 2005 he may not be the most lethal KR/PR but he still is one of the most potent in today's game. He slowed down alot in 2003, but he showed signs of his 2002 season in 2004. He's expected to have Azhir Hakim on his tail along with Aaron Stecker for his starting job.
I though ole MIke the loudmouth was holding out for a new contract that he still hasn't gotten since leaving Greenbay.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (FLORIDA PACKER)</div><div class='quotemain'>I though ole MIke the loudmouth was holding out for a new contract that he still hasn't gotten since leaving Greenbay.</div> We'll see the before training camp. I think the Saints plan on signing him and LeCharles Bentley to new contracts this year anyway.
The Saints unlike a team that someone in East continually posts about have a legit chance of doing something granted they are in a tough division.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>still arent going to the playoffs. Carolina and Atlanta will stop them</div> I don't disagree that the Falcons and Panthers will be hard to beat, but i think y'all aren't taking the Saints seriously and that may bite you in the ass come week 1. The Bucs are garbage, the only thing they've got is Brian Griese and Michael Clayton. Williams will be a bust, Galloway is still going to be the unproven WR he is, their line is one of the leagues worst and their defense has gotten weaker. They'll be 6-10 tops. The Falcons will be a contender due to Vick, but if Vick gets hurt they're screwed. Crumpler is their only receiver, Roddy White still has to prove himself and Price is still garbage. Dunn and Duckett are still a mediocre backfield and their line is still decent at best. Now for their defense i will agree they're pretty solid. 11-5 tops The Panthers will be good, if they stay healthy. Steve Smith and Colbert need to show up this year or Delhomme will be screwed, not to mention Delhomme will have trouble not throwing to a leaper like Muhammed, who happens to be the main reason why y'all even did well last year. Deshaun Foster needs to win the starting job over Davis cause Davis is old. The defense is solid and they'll continue to be good. It all depends on staying healthy. 10-6 tops
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>Steve Smith is a better WR that Muhammad so it wont be hard for Smith to replace him.</div> He's quicker and a better route runner, i agree. Their hands are equal, but Smith can't go get a ball in the corner of the endzone like Muhammed can, which was about 40% of Jake's TD's last year.
The panthers have a redzone WR that is about 4 inches taller and better ball skills than Muhammad, and his name is Julius Peppers
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bleedblk&gld)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>still arent going to the playoffs. Carolina and Atlanta will stop them</div> The Bucs are garbage, the only thing they've got is Brian Griese and Michael Clayton. Williams will be a bust, Galloway is still going to be the unproven WR he is, their line is one of the leagues worst and their defense has gotten weaker. They'll be 6-10 tops. </div> The Bucs improved way more than the Saints. They still got Derrick Brooks who is very solid. They have solid LB's and their line is decent. I don't know where you think weak. Carnell Williams will be no BUST. He was the best back taken last season. Their was a reason why he started and Ronnie Brown didn't. Combine is overrated and thats why Brown was taken first. Galloway just has to be a solid #2. Clayton is the RECIEVER of last years class. Not Roy Williams like most think. Griese played 11 games last season and threw 20 TD's. Bucs will finish higher than the Saints this season. :noworry:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>The panthers have a redzone WR that is about 4 inches taller and better ball skills than Muhammad, and his name is Julius Peppers</div> Peppers plays DE and there is a reason why. I don't think he is gonna be a big redzone player. maybe inside the 5 which is the redzone but I would call him a goaline TE.
Well in games last year he was lined up spilit outside like a WR. you should of seen to corner looking at him, it was so funny, it looked like the guy was gonna pee in his pants because Peppers was like 9 inches higher than him. So Fox has plans to play him at WR. Fox tried it out last year, and it worked great to get Muhammad open.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (porky88)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bleedblk&gld)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>still arent going to the playoffs. Carolina and Atlanta will stop them</div> The Bucs are garbage, the only thing they've got is Brian Griese and Michael Clayton. Williams will be a bust, Galloway is still going to be the unproven WR he is, their line is one of the leagues worst and their defense has gotten weaker. They'll be 6-10 tops. </div> The Bucs improved way more than the Saints. They still got Derrick Brooks who is very solid. They have solid LB's and their line is decent. I don't know where you think weak. Carnell Williams will be no BUST. He was the best back taken last season. Their was a reason why he started and Ronnie Brown didn't. Combine is overrated and thats why Brown was taken first. Galloway just has to be a solid #2. Clayton is the RECIEVER of last years class. Not Roy Williams like most think. Griese played 11 games last season and threw 20 TD's. Bucs will finish higher than the Saints this season. :noworry:</div> Y'all are still forgetting about Deuce and our O line, which is 10x's better than Tampa's. Deuce ran all over the Panthers and Bucs last season and he'll continue to do so.
I don't see Carnell doin much this year, the Bucs haven'timproved much at all other than signing a numer 3 Reciever and a Tight End, they lost arguably their best O Linemen in Cosey Coleman, they lost Ian Gold and Dwight Smith along with Jo Jurvecious plus they're still like 6 million over the Cap and are gonna have to cut a pretty big named player to make room.
yeah, the bucs could have make the playoffs this year if they had kept everyone, but since the obviously cant, they wont make the playoffs. my nfc south rankings 1. Atlanta Falcons 12-4 2. New Orleans Saints 9-7 3. Carolina Panthers 9-7 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-11
The reason you guys ran good agianst us in 2004 is because the panthers best defensive player Kris Jenkins was out. It aint gonna happen again, because the d line will be healthy week one, and our secondary now has some really good tacklers in it. Dan Morgan went to the Pro Bowl last year, and Will Witherspoon had more tackles than morgan
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>The reason you guys ran good agianst us in 2004 is because the panthers best defensive player Kris Jenkins was out. It aint gonna happen again, because the d line will be healthy week one, and our secondary now has some really good tacklers in it. Dan Morgan went to the Pro Bowl last year, and Will Witherspoon had more tackles than morgan</div> Mike Karney owns Dan Morgan. Did you even watch the last game last year? He only had 5 tackles from tackling the receivers. He didn't touch Deuce once.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bleedblk&gld)</div><div class='quotemain'> Mike Karney owns Dan Morgan. Did you even watch the last game last year? He only had 5 tackles from tackling the receivers. He didn't touch Deuce once.</div> Dan morgan had 3 tackles and 3 assist on Mcallister in week 17, so i wouldnt call 6 total times bring down Mcallister not touching him
