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Hall of Fame Game

eriadoc

eriadoc

Texan-American
Anyone watching this? I signed up for the NFL Preseason Live and then found out that the HoF Game wasn't going to be shown live, so I immediately cancelled. Since they are trying to make it hard for me to watch, I don't feel bad for ... well, let's just say exploring alternatives to NFL Network.
 
eriadoc said:
Anyone watching this? I signed up for the NFL Preseason Live and then found out that the HoF Game wasn't going to be shown live, so I immediately cancelled. Since they are trying to make it hard for me to watch, I don't feel bad for ... well, let's just say exploring alternatives to NFL Network.
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I'm watching it on NFL Network. Saints are up 7-0. They look really good.
 
I'm watching which I'm excited because this means the real deal is just around the corner. In four weeks the regular season begins, yes!

17-7 Saints @ halftime
 
I watched it. Saints looked deadly with Brees under center. Kolb injured his ribs, Skelton came in and looked good after he settled down.

There are young players on both teams that should find a place in the league.

The replacement zebras let them play.

Not a bad game after only a week and a half of camp.
 
drs23 said:
I watched it. Saints looked deadly with Brees under center. Kolb injured his ribs, Skelton came in and looked good after he settled down.

There are young players on both teams that should find a place in the league.

The replacement zebras let them play.

Not a bad game after only a week and a half of camp.
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I thought the replacent zebras did great and I have confidence that they'll do fine this season if this thing continues to drag on.

Kolb & Skelton are competing for that QB 1 spot and that injury didn't help Kolb's chances. He didn't look good when he was in, but that O-line of the Cardinals looked like crap too. It's the chicken & egg argument though, so who knows what the main cause is.

I think the Saints will still be a powerhouse this year, even with all of the issues they're having to deal with. I think it'll just add fuel to the fire and they'll play harder to prove a point, kind of like the Pats did after spygate.
 
Fili said:
How was the Saint's D?
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they looked improved in the front 7. Spagnuolo's scheme made several players look better than they did in Williams's scheme last year. Martez Wilson and Junior Galette looked good off the edge. Sedrick Ellis looked a lot better. Curtis Lofton made some really good plays.

There's new personnel in that group with Bunkley, Lofton, Hawthorne that I'm anxious to see. The changes will help with the pass rush and Spags does a good job with DL and the Saints needed help there.

The scheme will also help Malcolm Jenkins - since he won't be by himself on the back end of the defense, left alone as much as he was with Williams.

He had an INT on the Cards' first drive.

Losing Tracy Porter hurts our CB depth.

Still, it's game 1 of the preseason against a porous Cards OL.

Last year, in game 1 the Saints faced the 49ers and got to Alex Smith at will - sacking, hurrying, hitting him several times. Lots of high expectations after that performance. And we know how that ended up last year.

So to say I am cautiously optimistic would be putting it mildly.

We need better, more consistent QB pressure without having to blitz so often. WIth a new scheme and good FA acquisitions, I'm hopeful.
 
RazorOye said:
they looked improved in the front 7.
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I'd keep in mind that the AZ offensive line was just horrid. Kolb didn't look good at all when he was in there, but it's not like he was holding the ball too long, and he was under constant pressure. And the running back (LSH mostly, who I don't think is very good) was facing a wall of defenders the entire time.

Nonetheless, I think the Saints will be a playoff team this year. Anytime you have Drew Brees under center, your offense will be fine. If the defense takes a step back, they'll still outgun enough teams to hit 10-6, I think. Besides, they really only lost a couple players on D, and Lofton is a great pick-up to replace Vilma. Spagnuolo is also a better DC than Gregg Williams, IMO.
 
eriadoc said:
I'd keep in mind that the AZ offensive line was just horrid.
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Didn't I? ;)

RazorOye said:
Still, it's game 1 of the preseason against a porous Cards OL.
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eriadoc said:
Nonetheless, I think the Saints will be a playoff team this year. Anytime you have Drew Brees under center, your offense will be fine. If the defense takes a step back, they'll still outgun enough teams to hit 10-6, I think. Besides, they really only lost a couple players on D, and Lofton is a great pick-up to replace Vilma. Spagnuolo is also a better DC than Gregg Williams, IMO.
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agreed on all points

I think one of our biggest problems last year was the complete inability to get pressure. We'd resort to all sorts of blitz packages and Harper would move up from SS into the box. And we still couldn't get consistent pressure. Not sure how much is scheme. Not sure how much is coaching. Not sure how much is talent (or lack thereof). Probably a combination.

I think (maybe it's wishful thinking) that the new additions of Lofton (upgrade to Vilma at MLB, imo, at this point), Hawthorne, and Bunkley will pay off. And I think Spags will do a better job utilizing the talents of Ellis, Galette, and Wilson - all young.

I really can't imagine the defense taking a step back this year. Not to say it won't happen. But we've upgraded personnel. I like this scheme (insofar as I understand it comparatively). We've upgraded at the DC position. I think mild improvement on the defensive side of the ball is reasonable.
 
Watching the game now (missed it, but Tivo'd it), and Chris Doleman just named DeMarcus Ware, Jared Allen, and Mario Williams when asked who he thought the game's current best pass rushers are, which is all well and good.

But then he said, "All of them have great motors."

I nearly fell out of my chair!

One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?
 
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