Saints ranked 9th in PFT Power Ranking

Swampy Saint · 07-20-2012, 02:30 PM

Seems a little low to me.

Preseason Power Rankings No. 9: New Orleans Saints | ProFootballTalk

Quote from the article:
You wouldn’t think a team that’s won 37 games the last three years, a team that just signed its franchise quarterback to a record-setting deal, a team that set so many records would be this low.

St.Fury · 07-20-2012, 02:35 PM

Possibly a little low, but that would put us squarely in the 'playoff contender' category.

BIGRON · 07-20-2012, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swampy Saint

Seems a little low to me.

Preseason Power Rankings No. 9: New Orleans Saints | ProFootballTalk

Quote from the article:
You wouldn’t think a team that’s won 37 games the last three years, a team that just signed its franchise quarterback to a record-setting deal, a team that set so many records would be this low.

By week 6 we'll be undefeated and #1 in the polls.

Mardiboys · 07-20-2012, 02:47 PM

Fair enough - I can dispute portions of what he is saying, but I have to concede that we don't get better by losing coach.

Wild Magnolia · 07-20-2012, 02:48 PM

Given the fact that we will be completely without our head coach, I think the fact that we are ranked as high as #9 speaks volumes about how talented we are. Can't complain about this ranking given our situation (although yes, I personally think we will outperform the ranking).

ivo610 · 07-20-2012, 02:49 PM

Preseason ranking should be taken with a grain of salt. No preseason or training camp yet. 9th? (shrug)

los226 · 07-20-2012, 02:50 PM

The teams ranked higher to succeed usually fall short anyway!

KEYSTONSAINT · 07-20-2012, 03:10 PM

I would except #4 but not 9............whaaaaaaaaaat??????

cki3915 · 07-20-2012, 03:12 PM

I tihink it is a fair assessment...its still puts us as division champs.

PayOrPlay · 07-20-2012, 03:30 PM

I can't really disagree with much of this: losing the best-offensive-mind-in-the-league head coach, formerly-revered defensive coordinator, still-revered defensive captain, best OG in the league, former first-round-pick WR, and former Super Bowl hero CB, plus having your ubermensch-QB away for a while during an extended off-season contract dispute and your replacement head coach facing a suspension, all have to count for something.

The team still has the talent to win it all, and they acknowledge that, but it's reasonable to think there might be gelling and stability issues.

And of course this ain't the BCS, so who really cares?

By the way, this line gave me shivers:

Quote:

Payton wouldn’t have won a Super Bowl with Aaron Brooks, and Brees probably wouldn’t have won one with Jim Haslett.

thefifthwall · 07-20-2012, 03:59 PM

Will be top 5 after 1 week. Then it's just the matter of who's next!

Freddy · 07-20-2012, 04:03 PM

I'll take top 10 but if the eagles, cowboys, or falcons are higher than us than that's strait disrespectful and shows the idiocy of the writer. Once again Pete Carmicheal not mentioned therfore credibility shot.

Twyst · 07-20-2012, 06:57 PM

I think it's a pretty fair assessment all the way around considering it was written by an outsider. The saints fan in me knows we are going to be better than 9, but if I was just some random guy with no allegiances to the saints thats about where I would put them considering Payton is gone for the year.

4thqtrsaint · 07-20-2012, 10:45 PM

I'm fine with the ranking overall. What bothers me is the "looking for holes" and picking on the defense.

1) Lofton is a possible upgrade, so in my mind, the "Vilma is lost" argument doesn't hold water.

2) We've done without Will Smith for 4 games before, but I think the replacements are more seasoned/talented this go around, so I don't buy that.

3) Losing Porter is something, but not huge. We don't have Jason David anymore. PRob & JPat will do fine.

4) New LB corp. enough said.

5) Our DT situation is better. Bunkley & Hicks are younger and hungrier than Rogers & Franklin. (though Franklin really didn't fit a 4-3 D)

6) Finally, the biggest argument that has come up in at least 3 preseason rankings/previews: Can the players learn Spags' D fast enough. Come on. Really? Is that all you've got? Let me help these preview/ranking dolts out. Greg Williams was brand new & arguably more complex when when we won SB 44. Seems they learned that fast enough.

These guys have to find something. PFT opened their review with "Are there 8 teams better than the Saints?", or something to that effect. Let's face it, its hard for them to find a true weakness, so they grasp at straws. What they're really saying is "No Sean Payton will hurt this team". I'm not sold on that either.

I'd rather have this coaching staff and team as is going in, than I would having Payton but no Brees. I'm telling any doubters, our chances are much greater than the national media would like to admit. But that's fine by me. I'd like to think I know this team better than those guys anyway. I don't need them telling me what they think about our team. I know this team is upper echelon. No matter what they say, I know this is THE most dangerous team in the league.

BlownGP · 07-21-2012, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4thqtrsaint

I'm fine with the ranking overall. What bothers me is the "looking for holes" and picking on the defense.

1) Lofton is a possible upgrade, so in my mind, the "Vilma is lost" argument doesn't hold water.

2) We've done without Will Smith for 4 games before, but I think the replacements are more seasoned/talented this go around, so I don't buy that.

3) Losing Porter is something, but not huge. We don't have Jason David anymore. PRob & JPat will do fine.

4) New LB corp. enough said.

5) Our DT situation is better. Bunkley & Hicks are younger and hungrier than Rogers & Franklin. (though Franklin really didn't fit a 4-3 D)

6) Finally, the biggest argument that has come up in at least 3 preseason rankings/previews: Can the players learn Spags' D fast enough. Come on. Really? Is that all you've got? Let me help these preview/ranking dolts out. Greg Williams was brand new & arguably more complex when when we won SB 44. Seems they learned that fast enough.

These guys have to find something. PFT opened their review with "Are there 8 teams better than the Saints?", or something to that effect. Let's face it, its hard for them to find a true weakness, so they grasp at straws. What they're really saying is "No Sean Payton will hurt this team". I'm not sold on that either.

I'd rather have this coaching staff and team as is going in, than I would having Payton but no Brees. I'm telling any doubters, our chances are much greater than the national media would like to admit. But that's fine by me. I'd like to think I know this team better than those guys anyway. I don't need them telling me what they think about our team. I know this team is upper echelon. No matter what they say, I know this is THE most dangerous team in the league.

Good post

I hear the same stuff from other fans. Our defense is going to be worse this year? Really?
I dont think we could get any worse. Vilma wasnt even the problem last year.