Worst Case Scenario... (1 Viewer)

[DownWithDisease]

I don't want to get all down in the dumps, because I really believe this team is solid even with the injuries. However, what if the losses of Smith, Horn, Thomas, and the nagging Colston problem prove to be too much to overcome in the next 4 games, and the Saints finish 8-8. Would 8-8 be good enough to get a wildcard berth? Would the spirit of this team take a nose-dive if that were to happen. I'd really hate to see it go down like that, but I think 8-8 would probably still get us in... It wouldn't be pretty, but hey, at least we'd be in.

 

[domedog316]

There's tons of character on this team. I think that Reggie Bush is ready to take on a larger role on offense. The fact that Reggie and Deuce are great recievers means we'll see more of them with the ball in thier hands. On defense it just means that our CB's are gonna have to step up because we won't be getting pressure on the QB like we could before.....but McKenzie has made some good plays and Freddy T is streaky....he's due for some good games......not to mention Jason Craft may be able to step in and produce.

If Reggie can play lights out along with Copper and Henderson.....We'll outscore our opponents. Let's not forget that Drew Brees is our quarterback.......he'll get it to the guys that can make the plays just like this week vs. the Niners........

 

[bradman1965]

http://www.playoffstatus.com/nfl/saintswhatif.html

about a 1/3 chance at this point of making it at 8-8.

I've posted on several other threads about why looking at worst case scenarios at this point is that absolute WRONG thing to do.

 

[ThibodauxSaint]

I'm not as worried about the offense as I am about the defense. Last week without Colston and Horn we put up 34 points. Of course that was against the 49ers and you can't expect Reggie to score 4 touchdowns every week. But Coach Payton has a good offensive mind and I expect him to come up with a plan that uses the strengths that we do have and as long as Brees is our QB I have confindence we can score points.

Defensively is a different story. We weren't a great defense before and now we are missing some key parts, but again I'm confindent that this coaching staff will have the backups ready to play and come up with some kind of gameplan to offset our missing parts. I'm not saying we will definitely win but it won't be all doom and gloom like a lot of people think.

 

[Colin311]

Henderson needs to step up and catch the ball. If that happens then our offense will be just as explosive as it has been the past few games.

 

[longtime lurker]

...I think that Reggie Bush is ready to take on a larger role on offense. The fact that Reggie and Deuce are great recievers means we'll see more of them with the ball in thier hands.

I think Payton is about to truly unleash Reggie as a wide reciever, & it's partly out of necessity. With Horn & Colston both down, I look for Reggie to get 10+ catches against the Cowboys.

This article talks about how the Saints, in the writers opinion, should be using Reggie:

....First off, the Saints should realize that as an NFL player, Bush is primarily a receiver, not a runner from scrimmage. Instead of rotating him with McAllister, they should regularly start both of them, using Bush as a third wide receiver in a basic three-receiver offense.

They did use Bush wide this week, but only when their starters, Marques Colston and Joe Horn, were injured and out. Primarily catching the ball, Bush scored four touchdowns. He also made important yards on everything from reverses and shovel passes to the rarely seen swing screens and middle screens, among other plays.

Football fans can only hope the Saints are catching on. If they'd leave him at wide receiver and put him in motion, Bush could sometimes move in to run the ball or move out to catch quarterback Drew Brees' short, deep or mid-range passes.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-oates120506,1,7256915.story?coll=la-headlines-sports

 

[Guitarzan]

Funny, for the first time in a long time I really don't expect this outcome. I've come to expect us to win.

No rose colored glasses either.

 

[Shadeaux]

http://www.playoffstatus.com/nfl/saintswhatif.html

about a 1/3 chance at this point of making it at 8-8.

I've posted on several other threads about why looking at worst case scenarios at this point is that absolute WRONG thing to do.

neat site.. thanks!

 

[kfran]

I don't want to get all down in the dumps, because I really believe this team is solid even with the injuries. However, what if the losses of Smith, Horn, Thomas, and the nagging Colston problem prove to be too much to overcome in the next 4 games, and the Saints finish 8-8. Would 8-8 be good enough to get a wildcard berth? Would the spirit of this team take a nose-dive if that were to happen. I'd really hate to see it go down like that, but I think 8-8 would probably still get us in... It wouldn't be pretty, but hey, at least we'd be in.

It sounds like you're already allowing yourself to go down in the dumps, DownWithDisease. We'll be fine.

This team can and will win, even in the face of adversity. That's what good teams that are well coached do.

Playoffs? Absolutely... And NOT at 8-8
Division Champs? Absolutely...

 

[LSSpam]

Yeah i'm honestly not worried in the slightest. Which is completely bizzarre. By my nature i'm fairly pessimistic

 

[Guitarzan]

I want the team to continue to play hard, smart, football and continue to work on improving. After that it is lagniape. That recipe has been very useful to us this year.

 

[superchuck500]

And, we can still win the division and get a home field playoff game simply by beating Carolina (as long at ATL doesnt' win out). The other three games don't really matter (though it would be nice to wrap it up before the CAR game new years eve).

 

[St. Reginald]

Look, I know it seems more difficult with a chunk of our starters out, but you have to realize that this team should be able to win two of four here in this final stretch and will play hard and most likely be in all of these games until the end, like they've done in every other game this season, save for the Ravens debacle. We'll see how Payton adjusts to Thomas' suspension and from there we'll have a better idea of how this team will compete. We already know the offense can step on the injury front. Keep in mind that everything so far this year points to this being a totally different team than we're used to. Even Haslett overcame injuries to make the playoffs back in 2000.

 

[superchuck500]

Amen!

Last I looked 9 and 26 were playing better than ever.