New Orleans Saints Review

• It’s media day!  So, why wasn’t I invited?   Regardless, if you have NFL Network, tune in starting at 9:30 am eastern. I’m sure ESPN News will have full coverage as well.
• I actually watched the Saints plane land yesterday.  Never was I so excited to see a plane land, at least, a plane that I wasn’t on…
• Lots of talk about Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams saying that he wants his guys to hit Peyton Manning. How controversial!  You think the Colts want to just let Drew Brees stand back there?  Please.
• This has got to be the happiest February in the history of the Saints franchise.
• One thing I previously missed in the NFC Championship Game:  When Garrett Hartley hit the game winning field goal, Saints mascots Gumbo and Sir Saint shared a big hug in the background.  Pretty cool!
• This past weekend I was at a grocery store and they had Saints and Colts logos plastered all over the checkout lanes.  Keep in mind that I live in Pennsylvania.  It was almost surreal.
• South Florida has been hit with a good bit of rain and it’s even forced media day inside.  If it rains on Sunday, does that give either team an advantage?  If the passing games are affected, maybe the Saints’ ability to run will win out.
• One of the questions I have for both defenses is who in either squad’s front 7 will be able to get to the quarterback?  Not sure Dwight Freeney will be able to make his normal impact for the Colts, so maybe it’s Robert Mathis.  For the Saints, I’ll go out on a limb and say that Sedrick Ellis causes some problems.  He’ll need to get a push up the middle.
• It amazes me how teams that don’t run the ball are making it to the Super Bowl in recent years.  Last year, neither the Cardinals or Steelers were very effective in the running game.  This year, Indy was one of the worst running teams in the league.  The game is changing.  Still, things like this are usually cyclical.
• If you’re the Saints, are you worried more about Reggie Wayne or Dallas Clark?  Wayne is certainly the home run threat but Clark is the guy who always seems to move the chains on 3rd down.  New Orleans has to find a way to get off the field.
• So much talk about how the Saints stop Manning, but how about the Colts stopping Brees?  I’m sure Sean Payton is enjoying the fact that hardly anyone is talking about it.  I realize Manning has earned all the accolades that he gets, but these two offenses are right on par with each other.
• Speaking of respect, remember that the Patriots didn’t get much of it when they faced the Rams back in 2002.  The Rams were the more experienced team and people seemed to think that Tom Brady was just a flash in the pan.  Turns out the “experts” underestimated New England.  So, don’t be too distressed, Saints fans.  Let them talk up the Colts.  The Saints will have their shot to grab the spotlight.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 8:37 am and is filed under Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.