At 3-0, We Know Nothing About The Saints

I think right now the team's using Reggie Bush as a decoy, making defenses think he's getting the ball before actually handing it to someone else (see the double reverse last night). I think as the season progresses, Bush'll get the ball more and we'll start to see the human highlight reel we grew so accustomed to at USC.

As for the Saints themselves, I really don't know what to make of them. I like how their defense stops the run, and Drew Brees is the perfect QB for that system, I feel. And you give me a backfield of Busch and Duece, and I'm giddy as all get out.

But is this a playoff team? I honestly don't know, but I think the country's gonna have a lot of fun finding out.

i agree... several times last night, the Saints lined Bush up in the slot and used him as a decoy on passing plays as well. eventually, he'll get his touchdowns.

The Saints are a great story, but they wont SNIFF the playoffs. They have 2 games against Tampa and 1 against San Francisco. Here's the rest of the schedule: Carolina x2, Philadelphia, Baltimore, @Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, @Atlanta, @Dallas, Washington, @Giants. They will need several big upsets just to get to 9-7.

Agreed, the Saints are a great story, and they have done a great job of feasting on a weak schedule, while riding the emotional high that has come in the wake of Katrina. The chances of them maintaining that high amount of emotion for the rest of the season will be very difficult. This means at some point the Saints will have to turn to athletic ability and talent on the field, which is not one of their strong points.

Make that a unanamous vote of the Saints are a great story. Upgraded the offense dramatically... Brees, although expensive - it's proved to be a great move so far... Bush - even though it was only the 2nd pick of the draft, I'm still calling it the steal of the draft... with what Colston has been doing, it just showed how expendable Stallworth was - get max value for him in a trade and it's worked...

While thier offense is improved, I'm not sold yet on thier defense... first 2 games were against a very weak Cle & GB and Atl is too inconsistant at times - almost saw that win coming a long time ago especially for a home opener... in a sense, the saints are like the Colts of a few years ago - questionable defense (unproven) but had such a great offensive game that it won games due to that...

Are they (Saints) a playoff team?? Hard to say... as I already stated, I'm not sold on thier D just yet... however, if they do make the playoffs, it might be as a wild card with an 8-8 or 9-7 record... probably will get knocked out in the 1st round though... but, after last years 3-13 record, I'm sure that the Saints fan will gladly take even a 7-9 season this year...

Call me crazy, but I think they have are enjoying a serious upgrade at the head coach position. Write this down, and come back to it in week 10. If you don't agree with me now, you will then.

You have to remember that the Saints biggest problem has been under center. Aaron Brooks lost a lot of games for them, it seemed like he would always throw an INT or fumble at the worst possible time. Remember, the Saints from 01-04 (throw last year out because of the 16 road games and injury to deuce)were considered underachivers, they had (have) all of the offensive talent in the world they just couldn't put it all together. Well, who normally gets the blame for that? The coach and QB, both are different and IMO upgraded. I'm not ready to say the Saints are for real this year, but can't they win 9 or 10 games? Their offense is perfect to play the short pass, run ball control that will keep a big offense off the field. When they lined up 5 wide the other night they honestly reminded me of the Patriots offense under Weiss only the Patriots never had a Joe Horn or a Reggie Bush and they only had a running back like Deuce one of their title seasons. The defense is suspect, especially the secondary, but they have 2 great defensive ends, and the LBs seem to be playing out of their minds right now. Basically, we all know the keys to winning in the NFL are running and stopping the run, so far the Saints have done both extremely well, if they beat Carolina this weekend and then take care of Tampa in the Superdome the week after they may very well take the division.

I don't think Joe Horn is quite done yet. He was banged up a lot the last couple of years, but he's healthy now. The reason he's been invisible so far, I think, is because as the only proven WR on the field, he's drawing all the doubleteams. A smart QB and playcaller who trust the unheralded, unpoven wideouts will use that to their advantage and lean on the guys who are drawing single coverage. Hence Colston's fast start. Eventually that will come back into balance as opposing defenses begin to respect Colston/Henderson, and Horn will start to get more touches. Horn is definitely at the point age-wise where you start waiting for him to hit a wall, but I don't think it's happened yet. He's doing a great job without the ball and by all accounts is taking his reduced role in a very professional, team-player way (which, for an NFL receiver, is actually kind of shocking.) I think Horn will be as effective as he's always been once opposing defensive coordinators begin to realize that he's not the only Saints wideout that can hurt them.

I'm a Saints fan so forgive me if my take is a little biased. I've sat through the Haslett years and watch as a talented, undisciplined team drove the fanbase nuts. Penalties, missed assignments on D, dropped passes, predictable play-calling and the inevietable Aaron Brooks gaffe. When this season began all I wanted to see was some good disciplined football and the proper use of our play-makers. During the first defensive series of the game against Cleveland I was AMAZED at how we flowed to the football. Everyone played their assignments and the LBs made most of the tackles AT or behind the line of scrimmage. Good sign. On offense we used Reggie extremely well. The run he had against the Titans during the preseason put the league on notice that his speed does translate to the NFL and the effect of that was that he's receiving an enormous amount of attention. Coach Payton is using that to his advantage. We have a boatload of weapons at our disposal. Deuce is back. Horn is still clutch although he may not be as explosive as he once was. Colston is surprising everyone, Saints fans included. Henderson might be faster than Bush and is very dangerous once he catches the ball(he started out as a RB at LSU). The reason Colston is our leading WR is because people know Joe and are going to shade the coverage to him. If our "secondary" weapons keep killing teams you'll eventually see Bush and Horn go off. Deuce is still favoring his knee and he's running very well. I can't wait until he's 100% and can show the explosion he showed in 02 and 03. Are we a playoff team? Don't know yet. We haven't finished the first quarter of the season so I'd be foolish to say yes or no. I do know this. We won't beat ourselves with stupid plays anymore and our weapons will be used properly. That's a step in the right direction and that's what Saints fans have been waiting for since 2000.

We know they're 3-0

Does anyone think the Saints would have been a 3 win team last year with a regular NFL schedule? I think they would have won 6-9 games last year if they played a regular schedule. Is it that far of a stretch for a 6 win quality team to become a 10 win quality team with a great new head coach, a new proven, smart QB, and the deserving #1 draft pick Mr. Bush. Not to mention Colsten, Faine, and Mt. Fuji. This team has made major improvements, and can compete in the NFL, and I expect at this point no less than a 10 win season, and predicting 5-1 or possibly 6-1 at the bye. I would predict 12 wins, but our AFC and NFC east schedule is brutal this year. So I will say it now, and you can call me up in week 17, the Saints will win 10 games and their division.