Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylvanfan
NFC South so far is the least impressive division in Football. Saints have been terrible so far, but at 0-2 they can still rally to win that division. If they can go 9-7 that should do it. Although...don't under estimate the Buc's. Garcia is one tough S.O.B. and he competes pretty hard.
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Its funny how things change so quickly. I remember just two seasons ago when the NFC South was considered the strongest division in football. You're right though, with the way the Saints have come out of the gate, the Falcons with Vick-gate, the Bucs finishing last in the division last year, and the Panthers looking up-and-down as usual, the division is not very impressive. But frankly the way my Saints are playing, I'll take it. I dont even want to think about if we were in the AFC.
The Saints are underperforming in every aspect of the game, but I feel the first two games were primarily lost on the lines. Jammal Brown fared better yesterday, but was completely owned by Freeney against the Colts and still doesnt look like the man named best OT not named Walter Jones, as NFL Preview magazines declared him this summer. And RT Jon Stinchcomb has gotten absolutely dominated the past two weeks, I'm seriously wondering if Strief should get a shot over there.
But the DL has been just as disappointing. The secondary is just plain bad, its been this way for years. What happened last year to improve the pass D in my opinion was the sudden emergence of a strong DL, especially in the middle. Hollis Thomas was just powering through people at DT, to the point where he'd have to be double-teamed and our speedy DT Brian Young could fly in there and get some pressure on the QB. I am wondering where this Hollis Thomas is now. Considering Kendrick Clancy seems to have taken over the starting role makes me believe Thomas' career may be just about out of gas. As for the ends, the fact we have two supposed all-world DE's in Will Smith and Charles Grant, its simply laughable with the lack of pressure there's been from them this season. If you give a proven vet like Garcia time to sit back in the pocket and pick his spots on a sub-average secondary like the Saints, he's gonna get his #'s, thats a fact.
After two games its clear that opposing teams; especially opposing defences, are fired up to try to stop the Saints offence. The Colts and Bucs were absolutely swarming to the ball, and Reggie, Deuce, hell even Karney have taken some BIG hits, you can see how excited opposing D's are when they make a big stop on the Saints. After last year, the Saints have to realize they are going to be facing teams like this all year, and theyre going to have to adjust. The only players on offence who I felt earned their stripes yesterday was Colston and our FB Karney.