If you're like me and growing weary from all the Brees bashing lately, here's something a little different.
But first something off my chest.
This season I made the decision to wait till at least Wednesday after the game to write. I did so to be less visceral in my take. Written last Monday, this would've been an ugly rant aimed at the further decline of Brees, his Farvian transformation and Powerball salary.
But I'm glad I waited. Because as my emotion faded and I calmed the eff down, I started to think about Heath Shuler, Kerry Collins, Doug Nessmeier. Jim Everett, Mike Buck, Wade Wilson, Steve Walsh, Danny Wuerfel, the Billy Jo's(Tolliver and Hobert) and Aaron Brooks.
Then I started counting my blessings. Because there isn't any one of those QB's, NONE, that I would take over Drew Brees, with all his troubles, right now. And It ain't even close.
He's being called overrated(as opposed to who?). He's called overpaid. Resented for a salary that he only asked for but forced no one to pay him. Fans and media are turning against him.
Not me.
Only next time, Drew, take the sack.
This Saturday, LSU plays Ole Miss in Tiger Stadium and are 3 point underdogs. Think about that. LSU is an underdog at home to Ole Miss. Some would say this is a statement on how down the LSU program is in 2014. However I say this a bigger statement on how much the Ole Miss program has risen. Since Hugh Freeze took over as HC of the Rebels only three seasons ago, he has brought them back to the glory days of Archie who?.
Most people may not realize this, but the LSU vs Ole Miss game was once the biggest rivalry in the south. Yes, bigger than the Iron Bowl. The problem is since the era of Archie Manning ended, the Ole Miss football program has been stuck in the bowels of the SEC, save for a few sporadic winning seasons. Sure, LSU had its down years but the one game LSU fans could generally count on was beating Ole Miss. In fact, an argument could be made that at least two coaches were fired because losing to Ole Miss was the final nail in their coffin.
Now the situation has completely turned.
It used to be when Ole Miss beat LSU, you got the feeling they got away with one. LSU was the better team having a bad night. Maybe looking ahead to a stronger opponent or flat from the week before. Example, in 1997, LSU beat #1 Florida and Steve Spurrier only to lose to unranked Ole Miss the very next week. That or something flukish happening like clock mismanagement or trick plays.
That won't happen this week. After beating Alabama at home followed by thumping Texas A&M in College Station, possessing perhaps the best defense LSU has faced since the 2012 BCS championship, Ole Miss has LSU's full attention. Which leads me to this.
How will Ole Miss handle success? Hugh Freeze and the Rebels are playing with house money. It's less difficult for a good coach to start winning when nothing is expected of you. But now every Ole Miss fan is expecting them to waltz into Tiger Stadium and do to the Tigers what Mississippi St did. In fact, since beating Alabama, Freeze can say goodbye to the good old days when just becoming bowl eligible made you an Oxford legend.
Now it's LSU who can be loose, at home, no expectations. "Hey, we're rebuilding. This is your best season ever, Ole Miss. Let's see whatcha got."
No one. I mean no one expects LSU to win this game save for some flukish things happening.
It will be interesting to see if Ole Miss can handle success or fold under the pressure they've created for themselves. I'm certain LSU would love to be the ones to make them.
THAT'S why they call it a rivalry!
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
This Fall is Revealling
As the calendar turns to October, in our football world, we've had better falls.
After a promising off season of signings, draft picks and country club training, five games in, the Saints have the look of a team teetering on decline. The Payton/Brees mystique is all but gone. A once feared road team, today they are greeted with open arms by their host cities. Now, something more disconcerting than the road woes and perhaps the signal of decline, the most dominant home team since 2011 is struggling to win against even the NFL's weaker opponents. At home!
A respected coach lauded as cutting edge in talent evaluation, motivation, play design and a master play caller, Sean Payton has seemed to have lost his magic touch. Sure, statistically, the Saints remain near the top of the NFL in most offensive categories but in reality, this is hardly the pinball machine offense we've grown accustomed to. Every yard seems to be a struggle. Every score a minor victory.
It doesn't help that his defense has once again abandoned him. Actually, it's always been a drag on his team in one form or another. It's not like he hasn't tried to improve it. High draft picks, free agent signings and multiple defensive defensive coordinators all produced pretty much the same results. Though the statistics have been all over the board since Payton arrived, the one constant(except 2009) and the most important factor has been the lack of creating turnovers. Forcing even the most prolific offenses to continuously drive the length of the field to score causes more and more stress increasing the risk of turnovers and injury.
But the biggest sign that this is the beginning of the end to the Payton/Brees era is Drew Brees. Brees will always be the greatest player to ever wear the black and gold. He is permanent royalty. It's been the most fun I've ever had watching the Saints. Ever. But like that teeny tiny little snowball that slowly begins its slide down the mountain, Brees has begun his descent.
It starts with poor road showings against elite teams then average teams then hapless teams. Those road woes start to purge into home games. The deep ball first discreetly falls short then eventually floats and flutters. The interceptions first credited to great plays by opposing defenders become the unforgivable type thrown in the waning seconds of the first half of Sunday's game. Usually thrown by an unseasoned rookie or an aging QB feeling pressure and fearing injury. Even worse to come right back and commit the same sin the very next possession is stunning.
What's happening to Brees is not unusual. In fact, it's expected. A 36 year old with a family and multiple business and civic interest is nearly impossible to commit the type of focus of a 26-30 year old just hitting his prime. Even if it's a minute, almost undetectable loss of focus. Once it goes, its tough to get it back. Couple the lost focus with the natural deterioration of an athletes ability and you get those poor road performances then eventually those poor home performances.
I understand he just shot a Pepsi commercial this week on his day off. That's where his focus is. I once did a commercial shoot for a one minute spot for a Magazine Street merchant. It took about four hours. A national commercial with a huge budget is taking all day. A man with less distractions and more focus(and who doesn't need the money) would be in the film room on his day off trying to figure out a way to compensate for his new physical limitations. One would think.
At LSU the decline is more obvious. As people point to the defections of juniors and loss of seniors the last two seasons as the main culprit, I take a different angle. Sure, there has been an inordinate amount of attrition but at the same time the SEC West has gotten stronger. Les Miles can no longer count on easy victories against weak sister SEC opponents such as Ole Miss and Miss St. Auburn, up and down during the Miles era has ended Miles three game winning streak against them as they have become a perennial power.
People who state Miles overall record as an indication of his superior coaching ability fail to mention this. Where was Ole Miss, Auburn, Florida and Kentucky in 2011? Miles greatest season. A combined 11-29 in SEC play. Also with an incredible amount of NFL talent on that defense, the offense could be hyper-conservative with below average QB play and still succeed. Not anymore.
Not only the defections but Miles' indecisiveness to pick a starting QB and his unwillingness to use that QB to best suit his athletic ability have lead to agonizing predictable play calling. His overprotectiveness of either starting QB is destroying both of their confidence and crippling the talents of highly recruited and potentially explosive players at WR and RB. Now that the league is much stronger, the offensive deficiencies are heightened.
On defense, his affection for players on defense who are clearly overmatched by SEC talent has been disastrous. The lack of developing highly touted defensive linemen results in undersized and slow-footed D-tackles being manhandled. LSU has given up 645 yards rushing in two SEC games. When a team is leaking yards at that rate, nothing else needs to be stated.
Can these teams turn their seasons around?
Sure. But it will be tough.
The Saints seem to have less daunting road as six of the remaining eleven games on the schedule are in the dome. However their opponents are much tougher. At Detroit, Chicago, Carolina. Home against Green Bay, San Francisco and Carolina.
Guess who has the nations #1 toughest remaining college football schedule?
LSU.
After a promising off season of signings, draft picks and country club training, five games in, the Saints have the look of a team teetering on decline. The Payton/Brees mystique is all but gone. A once feared road team, today they are greeted with open arms by their host cities. Now, something more disconcerting than the road woes and perhaps the signal of decline, the most dominant home team since 2011 is struggling to win against even the NFL's weaker opponents. At home!
A respected coach lauded as cutting edge in talent evaluation, motivation, play design and a master play caller, Sean Payton has seemed to have lost his magic touch. Sure, statistically, the Saints remain near the top of the NFL in most offensive categories but in reality, this is hardly the pinball machine offense we've grown accustomed to. Every yard seems to be a struggle. Every score a minor victory.
It doesn't help that his defense has once again abandoned him. Actually, it's always been a drag on his team in one form or another. It's not like he hasn't tried to improve it. High draft picks, free agent signings and multiple defensive defensive coordinators all produced pretty much the same results. Though the statistics have been all over the board since Payton arrived, the one constant(except 2009) and the most important factor has been the lack of creating turnovers. Forcing even the most prolific offenses to continuously drive the length of the field to score causes more and more stress increasing the risk of turnovers and injury.
But the biggest sign that this is the beginning of the end to the Payton/Brees era is Drew Brees. Brees will always be the greatest player to ever wear the black and gold. He is permanent royalty. It's been the most fun I've ever had watching the Saints. Ever. But like that teeny tiny little snowball that slowly begins its slide down the mountain, Brees has begun his descent.
It starts with poor road showings against elite teams then average teams then hapless teams. Those road woes start to purge into home games. The deep ball first discreetly falls short then eventually floats and flutters. The interceptions first credited to great plays by opposing defenders become the unforgivable type thrown in the waning seconds of the first half of Sunday's game. Usually thrown by an unseasoned rookie or an aging QB feeling pressure and fearing injury. Even worse to come right back and commit the same sin the very next possession is stunning.
What's happening to Brees is not unusual. In fact, it's expected. A 36 year old with a family and multiple business and civic interest is nearly impossible to commit the type of focus of a 26-30 year old just hitting his prime. Even if it's a minute, almost undetectable loss of focus. Once it goes, its tough to get it back. Couple the lost focus with the natural deterioration of an athletes ability and you get those poor road performances then eventually those poor home performances.
I understand he just shot a Pepsi commercial this week on his day off. That's where his focus is. I once did a commercial shoot for a one minute spot for a Magazine Street merchant. It took about four hours. A national commercial with a huge budget is taking all day. A man with less distractions and more focus(and who doesn't need the money) would be in the film room on his day off trying to figure out a way to compensate for his new physical limitations. One would think.
At LSU the decline is more obvious. As people point to the defections of juniors and loss of seniors the last two seasons as the main culprit, I take a different angle. Sure, there has been an inordinate amount of attrition but at the same time the SEC West has gotten stronger. Les Miles can no longer count on easy victories against weak sister SEC opponents such as Ole Miss and Miss St. Auburn, up and down during the Miles era has ended Miles three game winning streak against them as they have become a perennial power.
People who state Miles overall record as an indication of his superior coaching ability fail to mention this. Where was Ole Miss, Auburn, Florida and Kentucky in 2011? Miles greatest season. A combined 11-29 in SEC play. Also with an incredible amount of NFL talent on that defense, the offense could be hyper-conservative with below average QB play and still succeed. Not anymore.
Not only the defections but Miles' indecisiveness to pick a starting QB and his unwillingness to use that QB to best suit his athletic ability have lead to agonizing predictable play calling. His overprotectiveness of either starting QB is destroying both of their confidence and crippling the talents of highly recruited and potentially explosive players at WR and RB. Now that the league is much stronger, the offensive deficiencies are heightened.
On defense, his affection for players on defense who are clearly overmatched by SEC talent has been disastrous. The lack of developing highly touted defensive linemen results in undersized and slow-footed D-tackles being manhandled. LSU has given up 645 yards rushing in two SEC games. When a team is leaking yards at that rate, nothing else needs to be stated.
Can these teams turn their seasons around?
Sure. But it will be tough.
The Saints seem to have less daunting road as six of the remaining eleven games on the schedule are in the dome. However their opponents are much tougher. At Detroit, Chicago, Carolina. Home against Green Bay, San Francisco and Carolina.
Guess who has the nations #1 toughest remaining college football schedule?
LSU.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
"Communication breakdown, It's Always the Same...
Having a nervous breakdown, drives me insaaaaaaane!!!!!"
No, that's not a Robert Plant falsetto backed by Jimmy Page riffs. That's LSU DC John Chavis last Saturday after the drumming laid on his defense by MSU QB(and Louisiana native) Dak Prescott. In LSU's lockeroom every level of defensive personnel sang the same chorus. "We just didn't communicate well", said one defensive lineman. "We lacked communication on some key plays", an LSU linebacker said on tape. "We just had some communication breakdowns", said Jalen Mills, LSU's junior and most experienced member of the secondary. A secondary that was supposed to be the strength of the defense this season.
If Jalen Mills name sounds familiar it's because he was the LSU DB seen jumping up and down in disgust last season during similar defensive collapses against Georgia, Ole Miss and Arkansas. UGA and Ole Miss resulted in season killing losses. The reason for the collapses? Communication breakdowns.
It seems to me that when a defense continues to have the same problems from one season into the next, then either the players just aren't good enough or the system is too complicated. The defense is loaded with four and five star recruits. These players were recognized by scouts throughout the country as some of the best coming out of high school. Frank Herron, a five star DE from Memphis. Greg Gilmore, the #1 D-lineman form North Carolina. Kendall Beckwith, a four star LB form LA, top 5 in the country. Tre White, a five star DB from LA and Rashard Robinson, a standout CB from talent rich Florida.
Some say LSU missed on those high profile recruits. No way! Sure every class has their busts, but usually the highly touted recruits pan out and play to their high school rankings. At least at Bama they do.
Some say the recruits are still young. Attrition has hit the defense and the offense so hard, it will take time to recover. I ain't buying it. Texas A&M lost a Heisman winning QB, a left tackle picked in the top ten of the NFL draft and a starting RB. They start this season with a sophomore QB with zero starts on the road in top ten ranked South Carolina and put up 52 points. That's with a true sophomore with less starts than LSU true sophomore QB Anthony Jennings. That's with a true freshman WR and redshirt freshman WR, and new starting left tackle, right tackle and RB.
Attrition has hit LSU, but the OL is as experienced as any in the SEC. They return a QB with two springs, two falls and a bowl season running the offense. Also returned are two senior RBs and FB, a third year Sophomore WR and a senior TE.
So what's my point? I don't know.
I do know that other schools seem to be doing fine with similar experienced talent. I do know that other schools are running twenty first century offenses successfully with lesser rated talent than LSU. These schools are all coached by men less than 60.
Les Miles isn't less than 60. He also isn't a bad coach. He's an old school coach caught in a new school revolution. He's running an offense no longer being used in high school. Therefore he's recruiting round pegs for square holes. He's the old guy in the club. Denny Terrio on late night infomercials hustling 70's disco.
As for Chavis and the communication breakdowns. All I can say is defense is so passé now. All the communication in the world wasn't stopping MSU spreading the defense beyond the numbers. Until some defensive genius figures out a way to slow these jetset offenses down, defensive coordinators should concede between the twenties and try to hold teams to field goals. Otherwise high powered offenses are the wave of the future.
And the future is now.
No, that's not a Robert Plant falsetto backed by Jimmy Page riffs. That's LSU DC John Chavis last Saturday after the drumming laid on his defense by MSU QB(and Louisiana native) Dak Prescott. In LSU's lockeroom every level of defensive personnel sang the same chorus. "We just didn't communicate well", said one defensive lineman. "We lacked communication on some key plays", an LSU linebacker said on tape. "We just had some communication breakdowns", said Jalen Mills, LSU's junior and most experienced member of the secondary. A secondary that was supposed to be the strength of the defense this season.
If Jalen Mills name sounds familiar it's because he was the LSU DB seen jumping up and down in disgust last season during similar defensive collapses against Georgia, Ole Miss and Arkansas. UGA and Ole Miss resulted in season killing losses. The reason for the collapses? Communication breakdowns.
It seems to me that when a defense continues to have the same problems from one season into the next, then either the players just aren't good enough or the system is too complicated. The defense is loaded with four and five star recruits. These players were recognized by scouts throughout the country as some of the best coming out of high school. Frank Herron, a five star DE from Memphis. Greg Gilmore, the #1 D-lineman form North Carolina. Kendall Beckwith, a four star LB form LA, top 5 in the country. Tre White, a five star DB from LA and Rashard Robinson, a standout CB from talent rich Florida.
Some say LSU missed on those high profile recruits. No way! Sure every class has their busts, but usually the highly touted recruits pan out and play to their high school rankings. At least at Bama they do.
Some say the recruits are still young. Attrition has hit the defense and the offense so hard, it will take time to recover. I ain't buying it. Texas A&M lost a Heisman winning QB, a left tackle picked in the top ten of the NFL draft and a starting RB. They start this season with a sophomore QB with zero starts on the road in top ten ranked South Carolina and put up 52 points. That's with a true sophomore with less starts than LSU true sophomore QB Anthony Jennings. That's with a true freshman WR and redshirt freshman WR, and new starting left tackle, right tackle and RB.
Attrition has hit LSU, but the OL is as experienced as any in the SEC. They return a QB with two springs, two falls and a bowl season running the offense. Also returned are two senior RBs and FB, a third year Sophomore WR and a senior TE.
So what's my point? I don't know.
I do know that other schools seem to be doing fine with similar experienced talent. I do know that other schools are running twenty first century offenses successfully with lesser rated talent than LSU. These schools are all coached by men less than 60.
Les Miles isn't less than 60. He also isn't a bad coach. He's an old school coach caught in a new school revolution. He's running an offense no longer being used in high school. Therefore he's recruiting round pegs for square holes. He's the old guy in the club. Denny Terrio on late night infomercials hustling 70's disco.
As for Chavis and the communication breakdowns. All I can say is defense is so passé now. All the communication in the world wasn't stopping MSU spreading the defense beyond the numbers. Until some defensive genius figures out a way to slow these jetset offenses down, defensive coordinators should concede between the twenties and try to hold teams to field goals. Otherwise high powered offenses are the wave of the future.
And the future is now.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
0-2 Could be Worse
As I flip back to Auburn v K-State, leaving the Atl 35-0 first half TKO of Tampa Bay, mute the tv to rest my bilateral tympanic membranes from the tinnitus that is Jessie Palmer, I start to feel better about our 0-2 Saints.
The following will either sound like a rationalization of Yenlike contortions or a big giant glass of half full, but I get the feeling the Saints are about to go on a run.
Why?
Those hated Falcons.
Atlanta at home is like most NFL teams at home. Different. They are explosive offensively and opportunistic defensively. And they needed an end zone int from Drew Brees, an overtime Marques Colston fumble in FG range and two 50+ yard buzzer beaters to beat the Saints. Remember, this was Atlanta's season home opener. That cannot be understated. Also, this game was huge for the Falcons psyche. Had the Saints won, Atlanta's season would be toast. Even in victory, deep down in their minds, they know they got away with one. The rematch in December will put things back in order.
The Saints followed that heart stopping loss having to face yet another team's home opener. Again, this cannot be understated. This time it's Cleveland and the infamous Dog Pound. One of the NFL's best home field advantages. What happens? Home team plays like most home teams do in their season opener. At hyper-intensity, feeding off the crowd that's at a hemorrhagic fever pitch. Throw in some early bad field position and a Paul Kruger sack and your down 10 before Sean Payton's first pack of juicy fruit is unwrapped. A lesser team would've been blown out. But because the Saints are well coached, poised, and have veteran leadership, they were a coverage breakdown away from coming all the way back and winning.
Ohhh that Roger Goodell! Not only does he have his schedule makers put the Saints on the road for their first two games, but facing two home openers! Then, forces the Saints to wait until week three for their home opener!! Clearly his manhood envy with Sean Payton continues.
I'd say all and all, the Saints are looking about as good at 0-2 as you can possibly look.
Now the Vikings come to the M-B Superdome. With issues. On and off the field. Minus their hall of fame running back and starting a journeyman QB. But the Saints are 0-2 and the Vikings have the their undivided attention. This is the Saints home opener. The Saints are 6-1 in home openers under Sean Payton. They will be 7-1 as Payton's boys will beat his friend Mike Zimmer's Vikings.
The Saints then have the Cowboys in Dallas, the NFL's worst home field advantage, and the Bucs at home, who are down 56-0 in the 3rd as I type. That's 3-2. Then a bye.
Then it's on.
The following will either sound like a rationalization of Yenlike contortions or a big giant glass of half full, but I get the feeling the Saints are about to go on a run.
Why?
Those hated Falcons.
Atlanta at home is like most NFL teams at home. Different. They are explosive offensively and opportunistic defensively. And they needed an end zone int from Drew Brees, an overtime Marques Colston fumble in FG range and two 50+ yard buzzer beaters to beat the Saints. Remember, this was Atlanta's season home opener. That cannot be understated. Also, this game was huge for the Falcons psyche. Had the Saints won, Atlanta's season would be toast. Even in victory, deep down in their minds, they know they got away with one. The rematch in December will put things back in order.
The Saints followed that heart stopping loss having to face yet another team's home opener. Again, this cannot be understated. This time it's Cleveland and the infamous Dog Pound. One of the NFL's best home field advantages. What happens? Home team plays like most home teams do in their season opener. At hyper-intensity, feeding off the crowd that's at a hemorrhagic fever pitch. Throw in some early bad field position and a Paul Kruger sack and your down 10 before Sean Payton's first pack of juicy fruit is unwrapped. A lesser team would've been blown out. But because the Saints are well coached, poised, and have veteran leadership, they were a coverage breakdown away from coming all the way back and winning.
Ohhh that Roger Goodell! Not only does he have his schedule makers put the Saints on the road for their first two games, but facing two home openers! Then, forces the Saints to wait until week three for their home opener!! Clearly his manhood envy with Sean Payton continues.
I'd say all and all, the Saints are looking about as good at 0-2 as you can possibly look.
Now the Vikings come to the M-B Superdome. With issues. On and off the field. Minus their hall of fame running back and starting a journeyman QB. But the Saints are 0-2 and the Vikings have the their undivided attention. This is the Saints home opener. The Saints are 6-1 in home openers under Sean Payton. They will be 7-1 as Payton's boys will beat his friend Mike Zimmer's Vikings.
The Saints then have the Cowboys in Dallas, the NFL's worst home field advantage, and the Bucs at home, who are down 56-0 in the 3rd as I type. That's 3-2. Then a bye.
Then it's on.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
My One and Only 2014 Saints Mock Draft
Here it is, the night before the 2014 NFL Draft. The Saints and the rest of the league have done all they could to find the players they feel will get them closer to a Super Bowl. If you're like me, a draft nerd, your head is swimming from the doses of speculation provided by the Kipers, McShays, and Mayocks of the world providing us with their mock drafts, prospect lists, and scouting reports.
Well I'm going to do a little speculating of my own. My first(and only) Saints 2014 mock draft:
Round 1. Pick #27: Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG UCLA. 6'4" 307. Su'a-Filo is the #27 prospect on many draft boards, the Saints need help on the interior OL. Saints fans screamed and prayed for Drew Brees' life as he was battered more times than ever as a Saint in 2013. Help is on the way as more bulk needed in the middle of an aging Saints offensive line. Need filled, best player available.
Round 2. Pick# 53: Donte Moncrief, WR Ole Miss 6'2" 220 4.34. Big, strong, fast and great hands. I love this kid. Saints are getting old at that position and efforts to reload recently have been hit and miss. Kenny Stills is a play maker while Nick Toon has been a flop.
Round 3. Pick #91: Pierre Desir, CB Lindenwood 6'1" 200 4.5. Saints are giddy that Desir is still there as they passed on Phillip Gaines in round 2. Tall corner with good ball skills makes up for lack of elite speed.
Round 4. Pick #126: Jarick McKinnon, RB Georgia Southern 5'9" 210 4.37. Saints pass on Lache Seastrunk for McKinnon's similar measurables to Darren Sproles and his ability to run between the tackles as well as use his speed to get to the edge. McKinnon can also be used in the passing game much like Sproles with Sean Payton creating matchup nightmares for opposing defenses.
Round 5. Pick #167: Wesley Johnson, OT/C Vanderbilt 6'5" 300. The Saints find their center of the future with the athletic Johnson. A four year starter, he played left tackle for the Commodores, yet projects as a center in the NFL. He was considered the conference's most versatile O-lineman, earning him 2nd team all SEC honors. Johnson was flagged for only 2 holding penalties in four years and allowed just 7.5 sacks in 1281 pass plays. The book says centers must posses intelligence and quick learning ability. Johnson scored a 36 on his ACT and earned a 3.54 GPA at Vandy. He will be the steal of the draft.
Round 5. Pick #169: Larry Webster, TE, Bloomsburg. 6'5" 250 4.58. The four year starter on the Bloomsburg basketball team set the school record for blocked shots. Webster played one season at DE but many NFL scouts feel he projects as a TE. He's tall with a frame that can build more muscle, long arms and quick in and out of cuts with flexible ankles. Sound familiar? Admittedly, this is a slight reach and Webster will need time to develop. However, he is on a number of teams' radar, so he will be drafted. Why not here? Imagine the possibilities of having two Jimmy Grahams!
Round 6. Pick #202: Jonathon Dowling, FS, Western Kentucky 6'3" 190 4.5. I know, I know, another safety! This pick is purely best player available, With Dowling's range and ball skills, the safety loving Rob Ryan will have another toy in his arsenal. Also with the Kenny Vacarro coming off a broken ankle, this will supply some insurance and depth.
These are my picks and I'm sticking to them, Good luck and enjoy the draft, Saints fans!
Well I'm going to do a little speculating of my own. My first(and only) Saints 2014 mock draft:
Round 1. Pick #27: Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG UCLA. 6'4" 307. Su'a-Filo is the #27 prospect on many draft boards, the Saints need help on the interior OL. Saints fans screamed and prayed for Drew Brees' life as he was battered more times than ever as a Saint in 2013. Help is on the way as more bulk needed in the middle of an aging Saints offensive line. Need filled, best player available.
Round 2. Pick# 53: Donte Moncrief, WR Ole Miss 6'2" 220 4.34. Big, strong, fast and great hands. I love this kid. Saints are getting old at that position and efforts to reload recently have been hit and miss. Kenny Stills is a play maker while Nick Toon has been a flop.
Round 3. Pick #91: Pierre Desir, CB Lindenwood 6'1" 200 4.5. Saints are giddy that Desir is still there as they passed on Phillip Gaines in round 2. Tall corner with good ball skills makes up for lack of elite speed.
Round 4. Pick #126: Jarick McKinnon, RB Georgia Southern 5'9" 210 4.37. Saints pass on Lache Seastrunk for McKinnon's similar measurables to Darren Sproles and his ability to run between the tackles as well as use his speed to get to the edge. McKinnon can also be used in the passing game much like Sproles with Sean Payton creating matchup nightmares for opposing defenses.
Round 5. Pick #167: Wesley Johnson, OT/C Vanderbilt 6'5" 300. The Saints find their center of the future with the athletic Johnson. A four year starter, he played left tackle for the Commodores, yet projects as a center in the NFL. He was considered the conference's most versatile O-lineman, earning him 2nd team all SEC honors. Johnson was flagged for only 2 holding penalties in four years and allowed just 7.5 sacks in 1281 pass plays. The book says centers must posses intelligence and quick learning ability. Johnson scored a 36 on his ACT and earned a 3.54 GPA at Vandy. He will be the steal of the draft.
Round 5. Pick #169: Larry Webster, TE, Bloomsburg. 6'5" 250 4.58. The four year starter on the Bloomsburg basketball team set the school record for blocked shots. Webster played one season at DE but many NFL scouts feel he projects as a TE. He's tall with a frame that can build more muscle, long arms and quick in and out of cuts with flexible ankles. Sound familiar? Admittedly, this is a slight reach and Webster will need time to develop. However, he is on a number of teams' radar, so he will be drafted. Why not here? Imagine the possibilities of having two Jimmy Grahams!
Round 6. Pick #202: Jonathon Dowling, FS, Western Kentucky 6'3" 190 4.5. I know, I know, another safety! This pick is purely best player available, With Dowling's range and ball skills, the safety loving Rob Ryan will have another toy in his arsenal. Also with the Kenny Vacarro coming off a broken ankle, this will supply some insurance and depth.
These are my picks and I'm sticking to them, Good luck and enjoy the draft, Saints fans!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Saints Making Their Move
It was this time last year I blogged that the Saints made a mistake hiring defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Essentially my point was that his scheme took more time to master than the Saints had to master it. What the Saints needed was a turn-around specialist.
Well either Sean Payton, while exiled to Dallas, read my blog or he saw the same thing I did. Upon his return to the Crescent City he fired Spags before ordering his first po'boy. Payton inserted Rob Ryan, who himself had been fired from the Dallas Cowboys weeks earlier.
Here we are, ten games in and Ryan's voodoo has revived a defense so beat up, battered and bruised physically and psychologically, they were left for dead. Then hit Ms Mae's to celebrate the resurrection.
The numbers don't lie. From historically bad results under Spagnuolo in 2012, Ryan's defense of 2013 rank 4th in average yards per game, 3rd in passing yards per game and most importantly from 32nd to 17th in rushing yards per game. And they are getting better.
It's been widely stated that, given the Saints high powered offense, all that was needed was a middle of the road defense to return to the playoffs. However, based on recent performances, this defense is on the verge of becoming, dare I say, dominant?!?!
Yes. Dominant. Ask Dallas and San Francisco. Each held to less than 100 yards rushing and 200 yards passing in respectively.
Now come those hated 2-8 dirty birds. If this were any other 2-8 team I'd be concerned of a let down. But, this is Atlanta. There will be no let down. The Falcons have called it a season. Hit by mass attrition by key personnel via retirement, free agency and injury, Atlanta's window seems to have been slammed shut. Plus, with their defense ranked 26th in the league, chalk up win number 9 for the good guys.
As for head coach Sean Payton? He must be in heaven. His choice for DC is not only turning his defense around, but he is right out of central casting for New Orleans itself. No coach has engrained himself into the fabric of the city as quickly as Ryan. Is there any place more New Orleans to celebrate a victory than Ms Mae's? He had NOLA at hello after that one.
After shaking off some early season rust, Payton is back to form. He has the offense ranked 2nd in total yards per game. In September, I said let's wait for the maligned offensive line to gel, well based on the last two games, they have and the running game is on the verge of exploding. Note to NFL defenses, don't let the Saints running game get going.
Put this together and it gives me that feeling of '09 and '11. That feeling that right now, no team in the NFL is better than the Saints.
The Saints are making their move.
Well either Sean Payton, while exiled to Dallas, read my blog or he saw the same thing I did. Upon his return to the Crescent City he fired Spags before ordering his first po'boy. Payton inserted Rob Ryan, who himself had been fired from the Dallas Cowboys weeks earlier.
Here we are, ten games in and Ryan's voodoo has revived a defense so beat up, battered and bruised physically and psychologically, they were left for dead. Then hit Ms Mae's to celebrate the resurrection.
The numbers don't lie. From historically bad results under Spagnuolo in 2012, Ryan's defense of 2013 rank 4th in average yards per game, 3rd in passing yards per game and most importantly from 32nd to 17th in rushing yards per game. And they are getting better.
It's been widely stated that, given the Saints high powered offense, all that was needed was a middle of the road defense to return to the playoffs. However, based on recent performances, this defense is on the verge of becoming, dare I say, dominant?!?!
Yes. Dominant. Ask Dallas and San Francisco. Each held to less than 100 yards rushing and 200 yards passing in respectively.
Now come those hated 2-8 dirty birds. If this were any other 2-8 team I'd be concerned of a let down. But, this is Atlanta. There will be no let down. The Falcons have called it a season. Hit by mass attrition by key personnel via retirement, free agency and injury, Atlanta's window seems to have been slammed shut. Plus, with their defense ranked 26th in the league, chalk up win number 9 for the good guys.
As for head coach Sean Payton? He must be in heaven. His choice for DC is not only turning his defense around, but he is right out of central casting for New Orleans itself. No coach has engrained himself into the fabric of the city as quickly as Ryan. Is there any place more New Orleans to celebrate a victory than Ms Mae's? He had NOLA at hello after that one.
After shaking off some early season rust, Payton is back to form. He has the offense ranked 2nd in total yards per game. In September, I said let's wait for the maligned offensive line to gel, well based on the last two games, they have and the running game is on the verge of exploding. Note to NFL defenses, don't let the Saints running game get going.
Put this together and it gives me that feeling of '09 and '11. That feeling that right now, no team in the NFL is better than the Saints.
The Saints are making their move.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Another Miles Classic
Ok. I'll admit it. I'm spoiled.
Since the year 2000, when Nick Saban began the revitalization of the LSU football program, I have become accustomed to a certain football lifestyle. A winning lifestyle.
Not just winning, but WINNING!!
Four SEC and two BCS championships and numerous top ten finishes will do that to you.
So when debacles such as the Ole Miss game occur, it shakes one to his football core.
Coming off an impressive win against an SEC talent rich team, gaining momentum and everything still in play for LSU, they go to Oxford to play a team on the mend. After spanking the Big 12's Texas, who's coach is on a standing eight count, Ole Miss has suffered three consecutive SEC defeats. Missing five defensive starters including three on the d-line plus their homerun hitting runningback, Ole Miss was down to their last out. The only thing head coach Hugh Freez had going for him was the fact that one of their most hated rival was coming to town. So motivation would not be an issue. LSU has long forgotten that this was once an intense rivalry between two border states with rich football traditions. Over the years, as Ole Miss began to flaunder, this game lost it's importance to LSU.
Not to Ole Miss.
Banking that a Les Miles' LSU would read about all those Ole Miss starters missing and will do what they always do, play down to their opponent and coupled with the natural letdown from the Florida win, Freez new Miles' boys were thinking, "Ole Miss, Furman then a bye, three weeks to prep for Bama".
In a great example of scouting a team, Freez new the usually reliable LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis was going nuts trying to get a handle on his own unit and the book on offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was that he just can't stop himself from throwing the long ball. Freez's staff came up with a gameplan of patience on defense and creating confusion on offense.
Just like the turkey that walks right toward the caller, Miles and his staff walk right into Freez's trap.
After a couple of three and outs and getting a feel for what Chavis was doing, Freez's offense went to work. Compiling over 500 total yards, converting an agonizing 11 of 18 third downs, all seemed to be 3rd and long, Ole Miss wore down the unit which, unlike their counterparts, started the game with all hands on deck. But the unkindest cut of all was that someone named Jalen Walton, a little used 5'8" 168lb RB, who, I'm certain, no one associated with the LSU football program ever heard of, gashed Chavis' once proud defense for 106 yards rushing and an astounding 5.6 avg per carry.
Freez's plan for LSU's high powered offense worked even better. With a unit as undermanned as King Leonidas against the Persians, Freez used Cameron's impatience against him. In a game very revealing as to why he was canned in Baltimore, Cameron couldn't resist going for kill shots on three first half occasions when body blows were all that was needed. Freez's defense was ready. He had his safety in position and waiting for the opportunity Cameron would present him. The result was three influential interceptions. Score changing, momentum swinging and inspiration providing pics that sucked more life out of LSU and injected more into Ole Miss with each one.
Watching the game, one had the sense that by the 4th quarter, as Ole Miss' valiant defensive effort would wear down, LSU would pull away. The Ole Miss defense did wear down, but by then, the damage of mishandling the first half was done. For someone who demands discipline from his quarterback, Cameron displayed very little.
Freez doesn't deserve all the credit, however.
Les Miles' mind blowing knack for giving lessor talented teams hope continues to amaze. His gametime decisions and clock management gaffes baffle even his most loyal apologists. And his incoherent explanations embolden his detractors. He preaches respecting every opponent by giving your best effort yet rarely displays it on gameday.
Some would suggest the players must shoulder the responsibility for the Ole Miss loss. To that I would respond that in college football, you play as you are coached.
Into his ninth season, we all have a true reading of how Miles' teams are coached.
Since the year 2000, when Nick Saban began the revitalization of the LSU football program, I have become accustomed to a certain football lifestyle. A winning lifestyle.
Not just winning, but WINNING!!
Four SEC and two BCS championships and numerous top ten finishes will do that to you.
So when debacles such as the Ole Miss game occur, it shakes one to his football core.
Coming off an impressive win against an SEC talent rich team, gaining momentum and everything still in play for LSU, they go to Oxford to play a team on the mend. After spanking the Big 12's Texas, who's coach is on a standing eight count, Ole Miss has suffered three consecutive SEC defeats. Missing five defensive starters including three on the d-line plus their homerun hitting runningback, Ole Miss was down to their last out. The only thing head coach Hugh Freez had going for him was the fact that one of their most hated rival was coming to town. So motivation would not be an issue. LSU has long forgotten that this was once an intense rivalry between two border states with rich football traditions. Over the years, as Ole Miss began to flaunder, this game lost it's importance to LSU.
Not to Ole Miss.
Banking that a Les Miles' LSU would read about all those Ole Miss starters missing and will do what they always do, play down to their opponent and coupled with the natural letdown from the Florida win, Freez new Miles' boys were thinking, "Ole Miss, Furman then a bye, three weeks to prep for Bama".
In a great example of scouting a team, Freez new the usually reliable LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis was going nuts trying to get a handle on his own unit and the book on offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was that he just can't stop himself from throwing the long ball. Freez's staff came up with a gameplan of patience on defense and creating confusion on offense.
Just like the turkey that walks right toward the caller, Miles and his staff walk right into Freez's trap.
After a couple of three and outs and getting a feel for what Chavis was doing, Freez's offense went to work. Compiling over 500 total yards, converting an agonizing 11 of 18 third downs, all seemed to be 3rd and long, Ole Miss wore down the unit which, unlike their counterparts, started the game with all hands on deck. But the unkindest cut of all was that someone named Jalen Walton, a little used 5'8" 168lb RB, who, I'm certain, no one associated with the LSU football program ever heard of, gashed Chavis' once proud defense for 106 yards rushing and an astounding 5.6 avg per carry.
Freez's plan for LSU's high powered offense worked even better. With a unit as undermanned as King Leonidas against the Persians, Freez used Cameron's impatience against him. In a game very revealing as to why he was canned in Baltimore, Cameron couldn't resist going for kill shots on three first half occasions when body blows were all that was needed. Freez's defense was ready. He had his safety in position and waiting for the opportunity Cameron would present him. The result was three influential interceptions. Score changing, momentum swinging and inspiration providing pics that sucked more life out of LSU and injected more into Ole Miss with each one.
Watching the game, one had the sense that by the 4th quarter, as Ole Miss' valiant defensive effort would wear down, LSU would pull away. The Ole Miss defense did wear down, but by then, the damage of mishandling the first half was done. For someone who demands discipline from his quarterback, Cameron displayed very little.
Freez doesn't deserve all the credit, however.
Les Miles' mind blowing knack for giving lessor talented teams hope continues to amaze. His gametime decisions and clock management gaffes baffle even his most loyal apologists. And his incoherent explanations embolden his detractors. He preaches respecting every opponent by giving your best effort yet rarely displays it on gameday.
Some would suggest the players must shoulder the responsibility for the Ole Miss loss. To that I would respond that in college football, you play as you are coached.
Into his ninth season, we all have a true reading of how Miles' teams are coached.
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