Losing the Win

Good news! Saints win their season finale!

Bad news. Saints win their season finale.

A season ending victory closes the year on a positive note. Players, coaches and fans can now look forward to next season without that lasting gut wrenching feeling a loss hits you with. A feeling which can only be tamed by the thought of an upcoming game and a chance at redemption. Winning the finale provides redemption, however so remotely, needed to carry you through the off season. After all, after today, the only team that will taste victory in their season finale will be the Super Bowl champion.

At least it's better than losing the season finale.

Or is it? .

It was once said that when you win, you never examine it as much. But a loss invites reflection and reformulating and a change of strategy. It hurts and bleeds. It follows you home and taunts you at the breakfast table.

I think this team could use an off season of taunting at the breakfast table. They need that nagging burn inside. They need to be pissed.  They need to be reminded of how poorly they played.

Winning today will deny them of that. They couldn't handle victory for a week. How are they going to handle it for eight months?

So now we turn to 2015. Coaching changes, salary cap issues, player personnel decisions will be addressed in the coming months. Free agency, the draft, will all be discussed.

Personally, I would like to see a nasty mean guard added to shore up the middle of the OLine. A talented pass rusher is always welcome. A playmaker in the secondary and a game changer at WR would also help.

One more important thing. Add smart, mature players. But with the influx of underclassmen coming in, that feat will be harder to accomplish. Most of these guys are more Johnny Football than Russell Wilson.

Which takes us to what to do about Drew. Some would suggest drafting a young QB to groom as Brees's successor. I say cross that bridge when you get to it. In forty plus years of watching the NFL I've seen "grooming the heir apparent " work three times. Danny White for Roger Staubach. Steve Young for Joe Montana and Aaron Rodgers for Brett Favre. Otherwise you have to ride out the QB you have hoping to get more good than bad from him and let the team pick up the rest.

Then you take the Colts route. The Colts have had three quarterback legends in my time. All three were eventually replaced by at least an equal if not a superior QB. None had the legend as their mentor. Johnny Unitas was gone when Bert Jones was drafted. Jones was gone long before Peyton Manning was drafted. Manning was gone when Andrew Luck became the first pick in the draft. If you're smart and have good scouts, when the time comes, that QB will be there.

So I'll just pass on drafting Brees's future replacement.

To sum up 2014. The Saints had a four game road winning streak concurrent with a five game home losing streak. If that don't some up 2014, nothing does. Good bye, Good riddance!

2015 can't get hear fast enough!

Surviving 4th and Ten

Four weeks ago the Saints were 4-4 and a 4th and ten stop from going 5-4 on three straight wins and gain a stranglehold on the NFC South. The dome was deafening. A stop here then two more home games and this division is ours!

All Who Dats know what happened next.

Clad in red, Colin Kaepernick struck the Saints defense like von Richtofen suddenly firing on a Niueport, causing the stunned crew into a nose dive. A dive which gained momentum as two more ugly defeats seemed to crash and burn the 2014 season.

Then out of nowhere, Pittsburg. WTF was that!?

That was a peek into what the '14 Saints were supposed to be. Complimentary football consisting of an offense so productive they force opponents into turnovers as they race to keep up. A defense with a pass rush capable of facilitating those turnovers with no fear of opponent's run game and focusing solely on getting to the overly stressed and anxiety bitten QB. A secondary in position to make drive killing and field position plays, providing Payton and Brees short trips to the end zone. Opponents finished by the 4th qtr. either desperately hoping for a miracle or giving up to fight another day.

However '14 is a version of the old cliché. You are what your record says you are. And the Saints are a 5-7. Optimist would say a play here or there and they're 8-4 maybe 9-3 if they play Cincinnati with their heads right. Others would say 3-9 or 2-10 is but a dropped pass or missed fg away.

But here's the thing.The Saints are leaders of their division. Most times 5-7 makes you start planning for next season. But the Saints are legit favorites to win the division and host a playoff game or two. Amazing.

The Saints have been granted a do over by the football Gods.

This Sunday we will see if they can take advantage. Free falling Carolina, losers of eight straight, comes to the dome with just enough left in the tank to rip the hearts out of the Saints and who dats everywhere.

To do it, though, the Saints must once again overcome their biggest 2014 obstacle.

Themselves.