2-2 start, what are your thoughts? (1 Viewer)

[SoggyBottomBoy]

My opinion is the same as it was going into the Atlanta game. Actually, the way we lost stung, but they exceeded my expectations. Especially after losing Hill and Gay. With a makeshift offensive line, KK had a good plan and the offense did it's job. On defense, I'm real disappointed in the lack of pass rush. And the bend but don't break style raises the anxiety level, but they are keeping teams from scoring. But on both sides of the ball, we're doing a good job of covering the injuries pretty well.

The first two games were very fun and I knew that level of dominance was not sustainable. Most of our games will be more like the last two where we'll have to scratch and claw and obviously close out the game after taking a late lead.

I think we can play with any team. But, we are starting our stretch of three games in 10 days. On the road against the SB champs, the Bucs on extra rest vs. our short week and four days later a motivated Sean Payton comes home. We can still play well and drop all three. This is a very pivotal stretch. We'll either set ourselves up for a playoff push or fall behind with little margin for error.

On individual levels - kudos to Kamara, Olave and Taysom for not only playing through injuries, but playing great. This team can win and is hungry. But they have to stop shooting themselves in the foot.

 

[No2DC]

While I agree all teams have injuries, not all injuries are the same and they don’t impact all teams equally. Losing McCoy hurts a lot more than losing say Young. If you don't have depth at the position of injury, things get a lot more difficult in a hurry. Injuries matter, and hurts some teams more than others.

We simply don't have the depth of KC or Buffalo or a number of other teams. It is what it is. With McCoy, we averaged 40+ ppg, without him and partially without Hill, it's been half that. I think some people are underestimating just how devastating the loss of McCoy was. And Hill hurts a ton too.

I don't deny that, but good teams still manage to pull out wins when key guys go down because they make sure there is a competent backup just in case. Part of this is a result of coaching. For example, when Drew went down for a few games, we were able to win with Teddy. Yes, losing a center and Hill hurts, but that's where coaching has to adjust. Also, I think too many people were ready to crown us for beating questionable teams. The KC game will tell us a lot.

 

[DaveXA]

I don't deny that, but good teams still manage to pull out wins when key guys go down because they make sure there is a competent backup just in case.

That was precisely my point. We don't have that competent backup. If McCoy doesnt go down, we're 4-0 right now, no question. We're not good enough to overcome both McCoy and Hill being out. Thats just a fact.

Part of this is a result of coaching. For example, when Drew went down for a few games, we were able to win with Teddy.

That's a far different scenario than current. Teddy is a better backup than our OL depth. That has less to do with coaching and more to do with the dropoff in talent. McCoy going out forced us to reshuffle the line, which caused a lot of issues. Its a cascading effect. You don'thave that issue at QB.

Yes, losing a center and Hill hurts, but that's where coaching has to adjust.

As stated above, its not that simple. Replacing a center is not the same as replacing a QB. Not to mention Ruiz got injured as well.

Also, I think too many people were ready to crown us for beating questionable teams. The KC game will tell us a lot.

I wasn't crowning them, and we as Saints fans know better than to crown them 2 games into the season. That said, when everyone is healthy, we can compete with anyone in the league. And for all the grief we give the Falcons, they're a better team than we want to give them credit for. Between the Falcons, Bucs and us, they're all pretty even.

I suspect it will go down to the last 2-3 weeks of the season before we know who the clear leader of the division is.

 

[Bill]

Injuries will be the Saints demise once again this season. But I’m still excited about seeing Kubiak work his magic when we can find some depth on offense in the coming years. By that time we may even find a couple of big time defensive ends.

 

[Cgrob81]

Exactly where we should be, and exactly where we'll be at the end of the season. Hovering around .500.

 

[Saintly Marine]

Division games are hard to come by. I don't believe the Saints will go 0-2 against divisional rivals. What concerns me after the loss to Atlanta is the fact that we also lost to the Eagles. Conference Games is what hurts. If they find themselves in contention for seeding {IF}, those 2 losses are gonna hurt. So it appears we are 1-1 in against the NFC East and 0-1 in the NFC South.
Actually the Saints should have NEVER LOST the Atlanta game. Some costly drops, miscues, and not to mention Penning Hit out of bounds. Some stupid undisciplined mental errors always cost in the end.

 

[NOLA or bust]

We go 12-5

 

[IceHot]

Its been done before and not even that long ago...

2018 Pats
2014 Pats
2007 Giants
2003 Pats
1993 Cowgirls
1981 40whiners
1980 Raiders

 

[saintsmarchin]

If we can survive 6 weeks without any major injuries and nothing major after.. we will make the playoffs

If we don't survive 6 weeks we will have a top 10 pick

Survive means near 500

We can't lose 6 games.. and with the current way things are going we are looking at 2 and 4 or 1 and 5 over the next 6 weeks.

 

[saintmike23]

Idk where to put this but i think we should draft at least 2 OL next year. Like 1st and second round lol. We need depth and at least one more starter,

 

[BoNcHiE]

I'd guessestimate that 90% of Saints fans (and all the national press) had us going 1-3 to start the year so we are ahead of the game.

The same thing applies that I said in week two when I made that thread about us possibly starting 2-3 despite the Panthers win. This season will come down to the back half of the season. We just have to survive right now. Get healthy, stay around .500, and we have a very good chance because this team is legitimately good.

 

[Artifactual]

Division games are hard to come by. I don't believe the Saints will go 0-2 against divisional rivals. What concerns me after the loss to Atlanta is the fact that we also lost to the Eagles. Conference Games is what hurts. If they find themselves in contention for seeding {IF}, those 2 losses are gonna hurt.

Yep. What a difference those two Conference games make. The Saints are now 2-2 in Conference games played when they coulda, woulda, shoulda be 4-0.

So, it appears we are 1-1 in against the NFC East and 0-1 in the NFC South.

Look again brother. You are correct that the Saints are 1-1 against the NFC East but the Saints are 1-1 in the NFC South.

 

[Rexman100]

That was precisely my point. We don't have that competent backup. If McCoy doesnt go down, we're 4-0 right now, no question. We're not good enough to overcome both McCoy and Hill being out. Thats just a fact.

That's a far different scenario than current. Teddy is a better backup than our OL depth. That has less to do with coaching and more to do with the dropoff in talent. McCoy going out forced us to reshuffle the line, which caused a lot of issues. Its a cascading effect. You don'thave that issue at QB.

As stated above, its not that simple. Replacing a center is not the same as replacing a QB. Not to mention Ruiz got injured as well.

I wasn't crowning them, and we as Saints fans know better than to crown them 2 games into the season. That said, when everyone is healthy, we can compete with anyone in the league. And for all the grief we give the Falcons, they're a better team than we want to give them credit for. Between the Falcons, Bucs and us, they're all pretty even.

I suspect it will go down to the last 2-3 weeks of the season before we know who the clear leader of the division is.

I think the negativity (sense of impending doom) is getting out of hand. We lost two games. We lost vs the Eagles becaue we lost McCoy on the first series and had to re-shuffle immediately without having a true back up center. We lost the gamble by not having a back up plan. Even so, we still almost managed a win. After a week to prepare we were a much better team vs ATL. Special teams and a freak batted ball cost us. Our D was, and still is, playing lights out. The biggest challenge for our coaches this week is how will we handle the loss of THill. It’s clear that when he plays we win. And when he doesn’t we lose. However, we will have had two weeks to figure out the Taysom plan B by the time we play KC. Apparently, the staff believes that they have the answer in-house, otherwise we’d be picking up FBs /RB/ TE etc from other practice squads. Imo, I can’t pick us beating KC, but I can see us winning the next 4 games.

 

[DaveXA]

I think the negativity (sense of impending doom) is getting out of hand. We lost two games. We lost vs the Eagles becaue we lost McCoy on the first series and had to re-shuffle immediately without having a true back up center. We lost the gamble by not having a back up plan. Even so, we still almost managed a win. After a week to prepare we were a much better team vs ATL. Special teams and a freak batted ball cost us. Our D was, and still is, playing lights out. The biggest challenge for our coaches this week is how will we handle the loss of THill. It’s clear that when he plays we win. And when he doesn’t we lose. However, we will have had two weeks to figure out the Taysom plan B by the time we play KC. Apparently, the staff believes that they have the answer in-house, otherwise we’d be picking up FBs /RB/ TE etc from other practice squads. Imo, I can’t pick us beating KC, but I can see us winning the next 4 games.

Well said.

 

[EvilMike]

3 years of the same problems, defense can't close out games, penalties and injuries.

Playmakers added to the team, zero

Problems addressed during the off-season, zero