Recipes aside. The Saints, LSU and Tulane are about to embark on a new season.
How will the Saints respond to an offseason from Hell?
The Saints have seen the motherlode of offseasons. We all know the off the field issues but in case you didn't notice, they have changed defensive coordinators and hit QVC and HSN for new personell. After the heartbreak in San Fran, we were all ready to see Greg Williams' NFL address change. But Williams does deserve credit for the change of culture of a once doormat defense. Although he took that culture too far, it was a significant factor in the Saints Super Bowl victory. Wiliams handled success with immaturity. It was this immaturity which he brazingly displayed with the illfated blitz call in cold damp Candlestick Park. The result being that backbreaking catch and run to the end of the Saints season and his run as Saints DC.
Exit Willams, enter Steve Spagnuolo. As did Williams, Spags brings an impressive resume as a defensive coordinator. He is a disciple of the late legendary Eagles DC, Jimmy Johnson. He too, believes in an aggressive blitzing defense to pressure the opposing QB. However where he differs from Williams is, he insists on protecting the backside of the defense with disguised zone coverages instead of man-to-man. Spagnuolo's signature formation is call NASCAR. In this he utitilizes a front of four DE's for speed. You can't argue with his results. As the Giants DC, his defense ended what would have been the greatest NFL season in history when they defeated the 18-0 New England Patriots. Spags' defense dominated the line of scrimmage of the record breaking Pats offense by applying constant pressure on Sir Thomas Brady.
The good news for Spagnuolo is he gets to practice against the best offense he's ever been around. He also knows he doesn't have to put a supurb defense on the field. He must however find a way to create turnovers,get off the field on third down and force field goals on a short field. That's it. That offense he practices against will have his back.
Offensively, the Saints record setting unit remains virtually intact. A unit that produced huge numbers despite the putrid performance of the defense concerning turnovers and field possition. This is why they are expected to be in the mix for the Super Bowl despite the loss of Sean Payton. Payton will be sorely missed though. His game management skills are among the best in the league. His presence and instinct on the sideline is both comforting and menacing to the players. Very few coaches appear to be in as much control as Payton does on gameday. Joe Vitt has huge shoes to fill. But with #9 on the field, the Saints have great chance to win any game.
Will LSU respond to the humiliating loss in the BCS title game?
Since the loss, starting with Bobby Hebert and continuing on a loop for nine months, Les Miles' BCS gameplan has been questioned, second guessed and criticized. LSU players have had lived with their collapse and watched a team they defeated, a team that didn't even win their division be crowned champions. For some it was their last college game and will sting forever. For Miles, it's a permanent stain on his resume. The early repercussions were brutal. Players openly questioned their coach. Some underclassmen, who could have benefitted from another year of college football, left the program for the NFL. The nation's number one high school QB embarrassed LSU by enrolling into Notre Dame. Leaving Miles and his coaching staff baffled and embarrassed. The top three high school prospects in Louisiana fled the state. Twowent to hated Alabama and the other went to Texas on a signing day flipflop for the ages. Why? "Things are out of control in Baton Rouge", he stated.
Even with the loss and embarrassments, LSU is posied to make another run at the BCS title game in Miami. The best team in 2011 adds a QB, returns depth at RB and All-American candidates on defense. Players and fans are ready to start a new season and put January 9th in their distant memory.
On Willow Street there's new man entusiasm. New Tulane head coach Curtis Johnson has taken on the Herculian task of turning that program around. Having declared Louisians the State of Tulane, he's made an immediate impact in recruiting. With only weeks to work with, Johnson was able to flip a Texas A&M commit and land one of the most talented players of the 2012 class in Darion Monroe from East St. John. CJ's coaching pedigree is impressive. Stops in college at San Diego State and The U, Johnson spent the last six years as Saints WR coach. A unit led by a late round draft pick and an undrafted free agent which Johnson molded in one of the NFL's most productive.
2012 is fast becoming one of the most anticipated football seasons in decades, if not ever.
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