Tough Changes after 0-3 start bring desired results for Saints - Holder (1 Viewer)

ELLIASJWILLIAMS

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Really good article from Holder. Really cuts to the nitty gritty with some good quotes. Especially like the Laurinitis one that hints at teams faking injuries (happens more than people think, likewise players do it in the off-sesason too to avoid a NFI injury) so that it gives an out/excuse for a player.

Enjoy

Moving on from players en masse is the last thing Sean Payton probably wanted to do in 2016, especially three weeks into a new season.

You're admitting mistakes to the world.

You're admitting a long-term, pricey misstep on Jairus Byrd when you replace him in the starting lineup with rookie Vonn Bell. You're admitting that counting on veteran James Laurinaitis to find new football life as the starting middle linebacker might not have been wise. You're admitting that 2015's first-round pick, Stephone Anthony, isn't even worthy of field time, much less a starting role.

None of this is easy.


Tim Hightower brought more juice in the ground game than we've witnessed all season with 102 yards on 26 carries. Hightower was the last Saints back to rush for 100 or more yards with 122 yards on 27 carries and two touchdowns against Jacksonville in Week 16 last year.

I believe Payton is genuine when he says the Saints will examine the ground game week by week in terms of who earns carries. Could Ingram return to a more regular role in the offense? Sure

Craig Robertson isn't Luke Kuechly at middle linebacker, but he has helped stabilize the defense. Nate Stupar isn't K.J. Wright at weakside linebacker, but he has brought energy and a recent penchant for takeaways to directly contribute to Saints wins.

Bell isn't Earl Thomas, yet. But he proved as early as the improbable win in San Diego that he needed to be on the field on every down.

How have these notable demoted players handled their gut-check?

It's too early to tell from Ingram, whom I still won't view as a full demotion. Anthony really has no choice but to accept any fate the Saints hand him.

Laurinaitis' contributions seem to be more internal than anything else.

Laurinaitis started every game of his eight-year Rams career. He served as an instant leader with the Rams when he arrived in St. Louis in 2009.

Maybe Laurinaitis' quad injury was real; maybe it was fiction to mask the demotion of one of the more respected players around the league.

Yet Laurinaitis seems to be rolling with whatever the coaching staff wants from him. Honestly, it's admirable

Tough changes after 0-3 start bring desired results for Saints | NOLA.com
 
culture change is very apparent with this team to those of the recent past. this is th etype of culture needed to win deep into january and beyond.
 
culture change is very apparent with this team to those of the recent past. this is th etype of culture needed to win deep into january and beyond.

First thing that's noticeable is the quality of depth.

You can't wait on an Ellerbe without a Stupar
Can't bench a Laurinitis without a Robertson
No 3 Safety base/benching of Byrd without a Bell
1st round pick breaks his Fibula insert Fairley
Can't Bench an Ingram without a Hightower

We just didn't have a middle class two years ago and even last year and it showed. We've got some upper class talent on this Roster but we've also now starting to build that all important middle class and combining it with serviceable drafts.

We likely wanted to move on from John Jenkins a couple years ago when we were on the verge of taking Danny Shelton. Still made that possible with a quality selection in Tyeler Davison.

All of the injuries in the secondary are being covered up by good coaching and obviously a solid scheme. We don't have to worry about our staff getting poached for at least another year... I'm proud and excited about where we are headed week 9 and beyond.
 
I still think Anthony is the future Mike and Laurinitis behind the scenes contributions have to be aimed here. Too early to say Anthony is a bust..he justly wasn't as pro-ready as we thought but with the play of Robertson/Stupar there really is no rush with He and Ellerbe.

We should be happy to say that. Why? Because Humber was so trash we were forced to draft/start a MLB that really wasn't ready because even then he was better than what was left on the roster.

Having this adversity isn't a bad thing and shows off the roster improvements in only a years time. Really speaks to a good draft and FA haul this off-season. One of the best in a while.
 
First thing that's noticeable is the quality of depth.

You can't wait on an Ellerbe without a Stupar
Can't bench a Laurinitis without a Robertson
No 3 Safety base/benching of Byrd without a Bell
1st round pick breaks his Fibula insert Fairley
Can't Bench an Ingram without a Hightower

We just didn't have a middle class two years ago and even last year and it showed. We've got some upper class talent on this Roster but we've also now starting to build that all important middle class and combining it with serviceable drafts.

We likely wanted to move on from John Jenkins a couple years ago when we were on the verge of taking Danny Shelton. Still made that possible with a quality selection in Tyeler Davison.

All of the injuries in the secondary are being covered up by good coaching and obviously a solid scheme. We don't have to worry about our staff getting poached for at least another year... I'm proud and excited about where we are headed week 9 and beyond.

Well said, and looking forward to next year we'll have some experienced depth at CB, especially if we bring back Moore and Webb. And if our interest in Haden indicates anything we might be adding another starting CB in the offseason.

Evans playing well this year has been beyond huge too. This feels like the year where we build a solid foundation, if we execute in the offseason we can make our real playoff push.
 
First thing that's noticeable is the quality of depth.

You can't wait on an Ellerbe without a Stupar
Can't bench a Laurinitis without a Robertson
No 3 Safety base/benching of Byrd without a Bell
1st round pick breaks his Fibula insert Fairley
Can't Bench an Ingram without a Hightower

We just didn't have a middle class two years ago and even last year and it showed. We've got some upper class talent on this Roster but we've also now starting to build that all important middle class and combining it with serviceable drafts.

We likely wanted to move on from John Jenkins a couple years ago when we were on the verge of taking Danny Shelton. Still made that possible with a quality selection in Tyeler Davison.

All of the injuries in the secondary are being covered up by good coaching and obviously a solid scheme. We don't have to worry about our staff getting poached for at least another year... I'm proud and excited about where we are headed week 9 and beyond.
.

Outstanding post.

Thanks!

.
 
First thing that's noticeable is the quality of depth.

You can't wait on an Ellerbe without a Stupar
Can't bench a Laurinitis without a Robertson
No 3 Safety base/benching of Byrd without a Bell
1st round pick breaks his Fibula insert Fairley
Can't Bench an Ingram without a Hightower

We just didn't have a middle class two years ago and even last year and it showed. We've got some upper class talent on this Roster but we've also now starting to build that all important middle class and combining it with serviceable drafts.

We likely wanted to move on from John Jenkins a couple years ago when we were on the verge of taking Danny Shelton. Still made that possible with a quality selection in Tyeler Davison.

All of the injuries in the secondary are being covered up by good coaching and obviously a solid scheme. We don't have to worry about our staff getting poached for at least another year... I'm proud and excited about where we are headed week 9 and beyond.

All of the clamor about benching so-and-so or cutting so-and-so needs to be answered in exactly this way. You need to have a decent alternative if you are going to replace a player.
 
I still think Anthony is the future Mike and Laurinitis behind the scenes contributions have to be aimed here. Too early to say Anthony is a bust..he justly wasn't as pro-ready as we thought but with the play of Robertson/Stupar there really is no rush with He and Ellerbe.

We should be happy to say that. Why? Because Humber was so trash we were forced to draft/start a MLB that really wasn't ready because even then he was better than what was left on the roster.

Having this adversity isn't a bad thing and shows off the roster improvements in only a years time. Really speaks to a good draft and FA haul this off-season. One of the best in a while.

LB is the most translatable defensive position in football. If you select a 1st round LB it's with the expectation that he will start and be good year one. Anthony shouldn't have been selected at that spot. Kendricks was the better LB. it was a bad pick...and we are seeing the results. Don't hold your breath on Anthony becoming anything more than a serviceable LB. If he was to become good, he would have already been good by now. The truth sucks...but it is what it is. The search continues.
 
I'll admit I was down on the organization but seeing them make these changes is a step in the right direction.
 
Imagine the defense with ellerbe, roberson and Kendricks
 
First thing that's noticeable is the quality of depth.

You can't wait on an Ellerbe without a Stupar
Can't bench a Laurinitis without a Robertson
No 3 Safety base/benching of Byrd without a Bell
1st round pick breaks his Fibula insert Fairley
Can't Bench an Ingram without a Hightower

We just didn't have a middle class two years ago and even last year and it showed. We've got some upper class talent on this Roster but we've also now starting to build that all important middle class and combining it with serviceable drafts.

We likely wanted to move on from John Jenkins a couple years ago when we were on the verge of taking Danny Shelton. Still made that possible with a quality selection in Tyeler Davison.

All of the injuries in the secondary are being covered up by good coaching and obviously a solid scheme. We don't have to worry about our staff getting poached for at least another year... I'm proud and excited about where we are headed week 9 and beyond.

I still think Anthony is the future Mike and Laurinitis behind the scenes contributions have to be aimed here. Too early to say Anthony is a bust..he justly wasn't as pro-ready as we thought but with the play of Robertson/Stupar there really is no rush with He and Ellerbe.

We should be happy to say that. Why? Because Humber was so trash we were forced to draft/start a MLB that really wasn't ready because even then he was better than what was left on the roster.

Having this adversity isn't a bad thing and shows off the roster improvements in only a years time. Really speaks to a good draft and FA haul this off-season. One of the best in a while.

It's like a :potd: Voltron.

LB is the most translatable defensive position in football. If you select a 1st round LB it's with the expectation that he will start and be good year one. Anthony shouldn't have been selected at that spot. Kendricks was the better LB. it was a bad pick...and we are seeing the results. Don't hold your breath on Anthony becoming anything more than a serviceable LB. If he was to become good, he would have already been good by now. The truth sucks...but it is what it is. The search continues.

I wanted to dump on this post, but after re-reading the scouting reports...I have to agree.
 

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