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Anyone remember the beginning of the 1993 Season with the Dome Patrol and when we played the Steelers? For those who do, I'm sure you're upchucking all over again at the thought.
We were just coming off of a very strong 12-4 NFC West showing in 2002 ( the 49er's won the division at 14-2), and many were picking us to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl because we were anchored by a Jackson, Swilling, Mills, and Vaughn Johnson led defense.
We started 93' not disappointing anyone's predictions either... We were 5-0 heading into week six against Pittsburg. We were beating teams with Mora's philosophy of a Strong Defense and a ball control offense. Pittsburg wasn't supposed to be a juggernaut in 1993 either.
Unfortunately, we walked into Pittsburg in week six of 1993, and had our hats handed to us by the Steelers.
They weren't supposed to beat us that day, but they did what no one else had done thus far - They stacked the box with 8 and 9 defenders and attacked our offensive strength - our running game with Dalton, Derek Brown, and Lorenzo Neal.
Mora was stubborn (big surprise), and instead of adjusting to the Steeler's schemes ( we had the QB and receivers to do so - an efficient Wade Wilson, along with Eric Martin, Quinn Early, etc.), Coach Mora continued to try and run the ball the whole game - We lost. In fact, we were embarrassed by Rod Woodson and company.
More importantly, the Steelers exposed our offensive weakness - Make us one dimensional (take away our running game), and you can beat the 1993 Saints.
After that embarrassing lost in 3 Rivers Stadium, instead of Mora and Carl Smith adjusting for the remainder of the season, they continued to try to play ball control, and teams were ready for us: They took away our running game, and the result was a very disappointing 8-8 season.
We finished up the final eleven games, 3-8. This was the beginning of the end of the Mora era.
The reason I asked if anyone remembered 1993 is the following:
The circumstances are a little different now, but fast forward to 2006. The surprising 2006 Saints are 5-1, and riding high with a balanced offensive attack, an efficient defense, good special teams, and an EXCELLENT and SMART coaching staff.
All of a sudden the media pundits are jumping on our 5-1 start, and most predict we'll get win number 6 over the recently struggling Ravens at home in the Dome.
The Ravens come in with a very strong defense, hand us those eight and nine men defensive fronts, and stop our running game. We have early costly turnovers and never recover. The result - we lose.
With such a young team, this could be a season defining loss for several reasons:
1.) The Ravens exposed a "perceived" weakness (make us one dimensional and you can beat the 2006 Saints)... 2.) We're not a veteran team and may not be able to mentally overcome this type of loss right now... 3.) The "unknown" - How would we respond for the rest of the season because other teams will definitely try to follow suit with the Raven's success against us.
...Here comes Tampa Bay for the 2nd time this year, and predictably, Gruden's no fool. He saw what Billick did to us the previous week, and the Bucs open up with a 8 and 9 man front on defense to stop our run again.
However, one thing's different this time - These ARE NOT your Jim Mora Saints.
Sean Payton is not only prepared, he's not stubborn either. Realizing what Kiffin and Gruden are preparing to do (take away our run), Payton and his "Montana Like," Pro Bowl Bound, MVP candidate, and SMART quarterback - Mr. Brees - proceed to carve up the Bucs the way Montana, Rice, John Taylor, and Brent Jones used to pick defenses apart.
What the Tampa game really spelled for me was VALIDATION - These are not my father's Saints!!!!!!
There are not many coaches and QBs in the NFL who could have and would have responded like Coach Payton and Drew... Remember, Tampa was coming off of consecutive wins over the Bengals and Eagles, and starting to gain confidence - They were the 2005 NFC South champs.
All of a sudden, with weapons like Colston, Horn, Devery Henderson, Bush, and McAllister, the Saints greatest quarterback ever (yes, I said it)... Mr. Brees and Mr. Payton know that teams can pick their own poison because we'll be ready from here on out.
What also shouldn't be loss in this "Cinderella" 2006 start is the following: While our Saints don't have any marquee names on defense like Champ Bailey, Michael Strahan, Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher, etc., this unsung group has very quietly worked its way up to the 10th best defense in the league through the first ten weeks of 2006 to compliment our top 10 offense, solid special teams, and one of the 5 best coaching staffs in the league.
Cinderella season?... In name only. Tell ESPN's John Clayton that the glass slipper didn't break yet, and all indications are, it won't anytime soon. If we can remain relatively healthy, we have as realistic a chance as Chicago or New York does in representing the NFC in Miami, come February.
Wishful thinking? Perhaps, but I doubt it... Yes, my heart wants to see our Saints do something very special this year, but my football sense also tells me that I'm not crazy to think it's really possible. Only time will tell. There is one glaring difference for me between this Saints team and ANY others - Sean Payton. For me, that second Tampa game, more than any other thus far, was a defining moment for this team. I'll know if I was right over the next few weeks.
Don't make your reservations for Miami yet, but I'd keep the first weekend in February (2/4/07) open.
We were just coming off of a very strong 12-4 NFC West showing in 2002 ( the 49er's won the division at 14-2), and many were picking us to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl because we were anchored by a Jackson, Swilling, Mills, and Vaughn Johnson led defense.
We started 93' not disappointing anyone's predictions either... We were 5-0 heading into week six against Pittsburg. We were beating teams with Mora's philosophy of a Strong Defense and a ball control offense. Pittsburg wasn't supposed to be a juggernaut in 1993 either.
Unfortunately, we walked into Pittsburg in week six of 1993, and had our hats handed to us by the Steelers.
They weren't supposed to beat us that day, but they did what no one else had done thus far - They stacked the box with 8 and 9 defenders and attacked our offensive strength - our running game with Dalton, Derek Brown, and Lorenzo Neal.
Mora was stubborn (big surprise), and instead of adjusting to the Steeler's schemes ( we had the QB and receivers to do so - an efficient Wade Wilson, along with Eric Martin, Quinn Early, etc.), Coach Mora continued to try and run the ball the whole game - We lost. In fact, we were embarrassed by Rod Woodson and company.
More importantly, the Steelers exposed our offensive weakness - Make us one dimensional (take away our running game), and you can beat the 1993 Saints.
After that embarrassing lost in 3 Rivers Stadium, instead of Mora and Carl Smith adjusting for the remainder of the season, they continued to try to play ball control, and teams were ready for us: They took away our running game, and the result was a very disappointing 8-8 season.
We finished up the final eleven games, 3-8. This was the beginning of the end of the Mora era.
The reason I asked if anyone remembered 1993 is the following:
The circumstances are a little different now, but fast forward to 2006. The surprising 2006 Saints are 5-1, and riding high with a balanced offensive attack, an efficient defense, good special teams, and an EXCELLENT and SMART coaching staff.
All of a sudden the media pundits are jumping on our 5-1 start, and most predict we'll get win number 6 over the recently struggling Ravens at home in the Dome.
The Ravens come in with a very strong defense, hand us those eight and nine men defensive fronts, and stop our running game. We have early costly turnovers and never recover. The result - we lose.
With such a young team, this could be a season defining loss for several reasons:
1.) The Ravens exposed a "perceived" weakness (make us one dimensional and you can beat the 2006 Saints)... 2.) We're not a veteran team and may not be able to mentally overcome this type of loss right now... 3.) The "unknown" - How would we respond for the rest of the season because other teams will definitely try to follow suit with the Raven's success against us.
...Here comes Tampa Bay for the 2nd time this year, and predictably, Gruden's no fool. He saw what Billick did to us the previous week, and the Bucs open up with a 8 and 9 man front on defense to stop our run again.
However, one thing's different this time - These ARE NOT your Jim Mora Saints.
Sean Payton is not only prepared, he's not stubborn either. Realizing what Kiffin and Gruden are preparing to do (take away our run), Payton and his "Montana Like," Pro Bowl Bound, MVP candidate, and SMART quarterback - Mr. Brees - proceed to carve up the Bucs the way Montana, Rice, John Taylor, and Brent Jones used to pick defenses apart.
What the Tampa game really spelled for me was VALIDATION - These are not my father's Saints!!!!!!
There are not many coaches and QBs in the NFL who could have and would have responded like Coach Payton and Drew... Remember, Tampa was coming off of consecutive wins over the Bengals and Eagles, and starting to gain confidence - They were the 2005 NFC South champs.
All of a sudden, with weapons like Colston, Horn, Devery Henderson, Bush, and McAllister, the Saints greatest quarterback ever (yes, I said it)... Mr. Brees and Mr. Payton know that teams can pick their own poison because we'll be ready from here on out.
What also shouldn't be loss in this "Cinderella" 2006 start is the following: While our Saints don't have any marquee names on defense like Champ Bailey, Michael Strahan, Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher, etc., this unsung group has very quietly worked its way up to the 10th best defense in the league through the first ten weeks of 2006 to compliment our top 10 offense, solid special teams, and one of the 5 best coaching staffs in the league.
Cinderella season?... In name only. Tell ESPN's John Clayton that the glass slipper didn't break yet, and all indications are, it won't anytime soon. If we can remain relatively healthy, we have as realistic a chance as Chicago or New York does in representing the NFC in Miami, come February.
Wishful thinking? Perhaps, but I doubt it... Yes, my heart wants to see our Saints do something very special this year, but my football sense also tells me that I'm not crazy to think it's really possible. Only time will tell. There is one glaring difference for me between this Saints team and ANY others - Sean Payton. For me, that second Tampa game, more than any other thus far, was a defining moment for this team. I'll know if I was right over the next few weeks.
Don't make your reservations for Miami yet, but I'd keep the first weekend in February (2/4/07) open.
