I'm trying to find solice. This is all I've got... (1 Viewer)

[Bill]

What a bummer of a day! We really wanted this 'repeat' thing to work out. And while we must NEVER say 'never', there sure seems to be a LOT of things working against our boys as they prepare to defend our world championship in this NFL 'second season'.

However, I did think of a couple of positive points that has lifted my spirits a bit as we anticipate this Saturday's contest in Seattle.

First is how the Seattle coaches must be looking at the news that the Saints released today. Obviously teams tend to prepare to defend the things you do best. We all know that our running game will be 'tanked' and everything will be determined by our passing prowess.

Hmmmmmm... or will it?!?!?

No one knows what these news guys will bring to the table on Saturday. If the plan is a wholesale attempt to stop our passing game, would not that encourage the Saints to showcase these relatively unknown RBs? What kind of success should the Seahawks expect from our running game? See where I'm going here? Sometimes the unknown and unpredictable can create a less effective gameplan from the opposition. I'm reminded of times when lesser known or new players had been showcased in games against us when there was no film to judge their game-changing performance or to prepare for schemes that featured these unknown talents.

Frankly, none of us knows what to expect from these new guys... but then again neither does Seattle!

There is also a now famous saying from John "Bluto" Blutarsky where he reiterated, "When the going gets tough, (long pause) the tough get going!"Let's face it, every game is tough in the NFL and the difficulty only increases once the ball is kicked off in the playoffs. Each and every player knows that it will take a better than average performance by each and every player to make up for the loss of our main running backs of this season. This type of added urgency can go a long way toward energizing this year's playoff squad.

Obviously, execution and momentum early in the game will go a long way toward taking the locals out of the game and building confidence in our players in all phases of our game.

So, look for a fast start from the Saints this Saturday. If we keep the mistakes down and execution & intensity up from the opening whistle to the final gun (did they ever fire closing guns at football games?), we are going to WIN this playoff game.

And our Saints will make us as proud as ever!

 

[Super Hooper]

Bill, great post as usual. Our boys will prove the naysayers wrong. We did it last year and will do it again this year. Who Dat!

 

[Saint Kamara]

I found some solace.

Just saying.

 

[justdave]

I think if the Saints can enter one of the biggest games (pre-Super Bowl) ever with a couple of corner backs off the street and win (New England) they can pull one out against the Seahawks.

 

[GuerillaOntology]

What's the deal with Jenkins and Graham?

Cheers,
GO

 

[Heybilox]

Great post Bill. One thing I think most of forget is that under the Payton tenure we are better on the road every season except 2008.

 

[sykobob671]

They don't have a lot film on Arrington either.
RB's with fresh legs can do some real damage in the 4th quarter.
Seattle is coming off an emotional win and just happy to be there, nobody
expects them to win, so if we take them to the mat early with the
passing game, the run game will find it's own and the victory will be ours.
Just my 2 cents. Peace

 

[Bill]

I found some solace.

Just saying.

Man you're right. I hate when I do that.

Makes me want to throw my illiterate body onto the jagged rocks below.

 

[AceD]

Brady and Peyton have shown they can carry their respective teams to great heights without any semblance of a rushing attack at times, time for Brees to do the same. Brady, as a young QB, won a SB with a team that barely managed 1000 yards rushing....for the season (2003).

As I said in the other post, this year's "Juggernaut" of the Patriots is a great example.....they are doing what they can on the ground with their BJGE, an undrafted pickup who was their 4th string running back four months ago who only managed an unimpressive 4 ypc in college. What they are able to do on the ground is a product of excellent QB play- precision short and intermediate passing that allows for a respectable running game because the LB's are so occupied with coverage responsibilities.

Look at the Patriots empirically, are they better? We try to equate Brees and Brady, so that's puts that as a wash.... Their OL is very good but are made better by Brady and their offensive playcalling, which consists primarily of quick drops and short passes. Are their receivers better than ours? That would be a tough sell... Defensively they are ranked 26th in the league and we are 4th, so there's a dramatic advantage there.

They don't commit turnovers, and they hide their deficiencies by adjusting their style and playcalling. We take note of that and play to our ability, there is nothing that says that we can't have the same results they have had the last three months and are projected to have going forward.

 

[Bill]

They don't commit turnovers, and they hide their deficiencies by adjusting their style and playcalling. We take note of that and play to our ability, there is nothing that says that we can't have the same results they have had the last three months and are projected to have going forward.

Thanks! Good things to keep in mind. Especially the highlighted point above. This may very well be the key to our getting back to the Big Dance.

 

[AceD]

Absolutely, they are +28.

Huge difference from where we are down here in negative territory. Imagine what our record would be with 35 turnovers given to us over the season...

Or theirs with 35 turnovers taken away?

 

[Jhoniten]

With what we know of how our coach thinks and comes up with new tricks for each game, I would not be surprised to see Bell get some carries. A few of them in short yardage situations. Simple stuff for any running back to understand and execute, run right, run left, run middle. All of this to set up Bell for a halfback option to Graham. New guy has no clue about the playbook so if he is in, it obviously is a run play, perfect setup. His 4 TD passes in college prove he can throw it.

Not saying I want it to happen or that it is even likely but it is the kind of chicanery Payton is capable of.

 

[sandiego_dre]

Reggie Bush.

 

[Sophandros]

After the injury reports, the line in Vegas is unchanged. That should tell you something.