Why the 2018 saint can go further than 2017 (3 Viewers)

[dutar76]

Sophomore slumps, tougher schedule, etc... there's plenty of potential obstacles in the way, but there's a lot of reasons to be optimistic that this could be our year. What makes you think we could go even further this year?

I'll go first..

The other major contenders in the NFC seem to have upgraded their roster, but maybe they went too far. Already good? Why change qbs? Your entire secondary? And so on...

We managed to add to our team without taking away from it. All the key players are still here, coaches too. We're the most stable team in the conference... maybe even the league.

What you got?

 

[St.Dan]

Look beyond the names you might be seeing on other teams' roster. Team chemistry is something we don't seem to have lost. Meanwhile, the Rams risk not having much cohesion with all those free agents coming in. Our third-stringers and bubble players play their third-stringers and bubble players in the final preseason game, btw. It's vital to take advantage of our seemingly light schedule in September while theirs is a tad tougher. I mention them due to that and all the tie-breakers scenarios that develop during the season. And any shred of better luck with injuries this season, as I've posted before, gives us an even better matchup against our division opponents than we already have. For example, having Lattimore healthy all 16 games will be vital, particularly late in the year.

 

[Bartyboy]

Rookies will get better.
Better DBs LBs D-line WRs TEs.
Maybe better RBs (Lil Boston) after return of Ingram.
O-line may be better maybe not. Health has a lot to do with it.
Over all return from injuries.

 

[dutar76]

I also think the few additions we made were right where we needed them. A two-way safety? Coleman! A true slot-corner? P-Rob! A bonafide monster MLB? Davis!
And on offense, it was obvious we needed an additional threat in the passing game. A 3rd down chain mover and redzone threat. Meredith.

All proven players. None of them are "team changers", but as a few pieces added to an already dominant offense and a young ascending defense... I think we added exactly what we needed. Not too much, not too little.

edit: Davis actually might be a team changer. We can hope.

 

[Big_L]

Davenport is gonna be a difference maker, bet dat!

 

[dutar76]

Davenport is gonna be a difference maker, bet dat!

That would be huge. Hard to expect a lot out of a rookie in the trenches. But if he can make a few plays a game and be solid the rest, out D-line becomes loaded and deep.

 

[WhoDat_SB44]

We upgraded some positions like slot corner, tight end, and wide receiver. We added the best nickel corner to play last year. PRob has been here before, so he’s familiar with coach. Tight end has always been an important position for this team and we got back the last one to have a terrific season from that position. Our receiver group might just be the best in football well at least on paper. Adding Meredith & Smith to replace Snead is a HUGE upgrade. Sounds like both players are looking good thus far. I can’t wait to see the battles in that position group. We got a battle for #2 and a battle for the last few spots as well. It’s gonna be a good one folks!! I forgot that we upgraded the most important player on defense, the QB of the defense in MIKE LB Demario Davis. And last but not least, our future all pro free safety won’t make a JV high school football play to end our season...

 

[Saint Kamara]

Dennis Allen isn't going to have a brain cramp on the last play of the game.

 

[Swimmer]

It's SB this year. You can buy your tickets early. The word is DESTINY. who dat!!!

 

[9thwardsaint]

Sophomore slumps, tougher schedule, etc... there's plenty of potential obstacles in the way, but there's a lot of reasons to be optimistic that this could be our year. What makes you think we could go even further this year?

I'll go first..

The other major contenders in the NFC seem to have upgraded their roster, but maybe they went too far. Already good? Why change qbs? Your entire secondary? And so on...

We managed to add to our team without taking away from it. All the key players are still here, coaches too. We're the most stable team in the conference... maybe even the league.

What you got?

5 words dutar Coaches, talent, depth, injury, luck. We have three of the 5 on our side.

 

[JackT.]

Marcus Williams will be on a mission.

 

[dutar76]

That "L" word... It's real though. No matter how good you are, luck plays a part. That being said... we're due.

 

[Cougar 1]

O LINE!

Last year, we finally got a solid starting 5 of Ram, Warford, Unger, Peat n TA settled in. Not only in pass pro but esp in run blocking,, they played VERY well!

If all goes well (lotsa prayers n fingers n toes crossed!), we’ll have the same starting 5 opening the season for us. It’s been years since we’ve had an O line intact in back to back seasons! Moreover, other than Max manning the middle at C, this group is YOUNG! Gonna miss Kelemete’s versatility, but hopefully we will develop/ have some depth by the start of the season.

This o line is big n physical, but it’s also athletic n intelligent. And I can’t say enough about the importance of O line continuity!

Add it all up, and this O line has all the potential of being not only the best in the SP era, but in the entire NFL this year!!!

 

[Bartyboy]

Agree on the O-line. TA should start the season healthy. Ram has a year under his belt. A vet back up. Some young back ups as well. Run the ball protect Drew control the TOP.
Keep the D fresh. Meredith is well ahead of schedule looks great.
D is looking so good. I see improvement all across the it.

 

[jessy]

The number one biggest thing for me is our schedule starts off with two winnable home games.

If we get on a roll early and build team confidence, we should be able to steam roll everyone on our schedule.

Plus, our hardest games: Rams, Eagles, Steelers are all at home. If we can go 2-1 there, we should be looking at 13 wins or so and home field through out the playoffs.