Into the Bye

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; On August 1st and again after the last preseason game I predicted that the Saints would be 5-1, losing only to Carolina (your chagrin over my positive appraisal of this season's fortune is immensely gratifying). After that prediction several things ...

On August 1st and again after the last preseason game I predicted that the Saints would be 5-1, losing only to Carolina (your chagrin over my positive appraisal of this season's fortune is immensely gratifying). After that prediction several things are surprising:

I thought that the offense would be more explosive. With all the weapons, I figured that the team would score more quickly and more from Bush and Horn and Stallworth, though they've come close by utilizing other players; only three scores have come on plays over 20 yards. Brees is by far and away the most surprising aspect of this offense, yet it is equally encouraging that passes that were dropped in the past are being caught and runs are finished with a last push that would have ended with meek flacidity. The offensive line is undeniably the foundation of the success of this offensive scheme. The last drive against a very good Eagles D that ate 8:26 was as riveting in its excitement as the inevitiability of its success.

I anticipated that the defense would be almost sievelike. Now, there are holes to be sure. Yet the play of the front 7 has been nothing less than a par with the best in the league. I am concerned with the lack of depth in the secondary and their overall suseptability against the deep pass. Bad angles continue to hurt pursuit in the open field, but for the most part this defense doesn't let many plays get behind them. While none of the teams save the Falcons have had much of a running game, this team has done a great job of controling the line of scrimmage.

Reggie Bush is a work in progress. He's been used to playing Pac-10 and WAC teams who were lighter and slower than the look-squadders at USC. The NFL is too fast and too smart to let him get by with college moves. Here's to hoping he will adapt and stretch the opposing Ds out.

Payton and Gibbs were the most important offseason additions to this club. Sloughing off the reeking burden of the Haslett/Ditka era must seem remarkably easy, but putting together a team comprised of cast-offs and second-teamers into a legitimate playoff contender is a monumental achievement. Regardless of the outcome of the rest of the season, Payton and his staff should be rewarded with special bonuses. This team is prepared, composed and focused. I can only aspire to such management success.

Two weeks to prepare for baltimore....I like it...Deuce heals up....we have a full WR corps going in...Soudimire get two weeks to catch up....and two weeks to analyze the Carolina and denver tapes of the Ravens...looking forward to seeing Deuce put Haloti Ngata on his arse and Joe, Colston, and Brees carve jup their secondary 10 or 15 yards at a time until the secondary starts squating and then launch one deep...like they did Sunday...I said at the end of the third that the secondary was squating on these short routes because the Saints had not pressured on any deep pass attempts....and then Joe broke out....it feels good being right....

the Ravens offense is not as high powered as everyone thought it would be with McNair...Boller scored some points but two of his TD passes were deflections that should have fallen to the ground or intercepted...they got lucky on those two...It does look to me like McNair will start against us the MRI and CT on him after the game were negative (listed as Questionable)...so it does not look like it was an actual concussion...Carolina proved the Ravens can be passed against to get your points...Foster had 58 yards rushing and the Panthers might have had more had Williams been healthy...Jamal Lewis is not what he once was and the O-line has been suspect...Look for the Saints to gameplan around shutting down Lewis and the rushing game while the DE's put pressure on the QB on passing downs...our secondary is now offically a concern after McNabb's show and I think this will be the weakness that the Ravens look to exploit...