Saints Pigskin Blog

Super Saints Weekly 218<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Game Recap

            The Saints managed to start the season off right this week with a victory against the Cleveland Browns.  Traveling to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Cleveland, the Saints started off the Payton era with a win and hopefully help to put some of the pre-season critics to rest.  While the game wasn’t flawless by any means, the Saints were able to put a few things together and help them pull out a victory, giving the young team something to build on.  The Saints managed to get the victory today by making key plays at crucial times and limiting their mistakes.  While they will have a few areas to work on this week, a victory is a victory and the Saints are starting off the Payton era right.  Hopefully the team will be able to continue their winning ways and with a W next week, start off the season right at 2-0.

Player of the Game

            This week’s player of the game is Reggie Bush.  Bush had a strong performance, finishing with 8 catches for 58 yards and 14 carries for 61 yards in the Saints victory against the Browns.  While several Saints players could have been considered for this weeks honor, Bush seemed to provide the most crucial plays at key times to help lift the Saints to a victory.  Hopefully this is only the first weekly award for Bush, with many more to come this season.

Saints vs. Packers Preview

            This week the Saints will be preparing to take on Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers.  While the Packers struggled last year and are expected to likely do the same this season, the Saints would be well served not to look beyond this game.  Fans and team members only need to look back to last season to see what happens when you overlook this team.  For the Saints to find success against the Packers, they will need to play solid defense and not allow the Packers to dictate the tempo of the game.  While Brett Favre is in the twilight of his career, he can still light up a score board when given time and a running game.  The Saints defense will need to limit the effectiveness of the run and put pressure on Favre so that he isn’t able to get comfortable in the pocket.  Offensively the Saints would be best served by setting the tempo with their ground game and utilizing the play-action pass when Green Bay begins to crowd the line.  They also would likely be well served if they utilized Bush’s speed with some screen passes to keep Green Bay’s defense honest.  If the Saints are able to stick to this game plan, then they should be able to come out with a victory next week. 

Q & A

            Q & A is the question and answer section.  If you have a question you would like answered, email it to SuperSaintsWeekly@yahoo.com with the subject heading of Q&A and we will try to answer the question to the best of our ability.

Q – JB, what do you think of the Saints final cuts and are they any players who you believe should have been kept. – Anthony; Dallas, TX

A – Well Anthony, to be honest, I was shocked by several of the Saints cuts.  I believe Colby B. is an exceptional linebacker who could continue to flourish with the Saints, especially in a group that is thin at the position.  Zach Hilton I can understand being cut because while he is a great receiving threat, he seems to struggle to block.  However, I would have liked to see Mike Hass make the final roster and I believe that he could turn out to be a snake in the grass that the Saints regret letting go over some of the players they chose to keep.  Hass has been told he wasn’t good enough since high school and he always comes out on top, he is a guy I wouldn’t bet against.  While there are a few other names that come to mind, I won’t question the Saints early choices, but I do believe they might have let a few key role players slip out of their grasp.  However, two signings that I loved were that the Saints were able to retain promising young running back Jamaal Branch and linebacker E.J. Kuale, both of whom I was very disappointed to see cut, but luckily both were signed to the practice squad. 

Q – I've appreciated your information for over three years now Jarrod. Thanks a lot.
My questions are: who's the #2 receiver? Is that set in stone? Also, is my favorite
Saints player, Deuce McAllister, going to be 100% this year? Who's the #3 receiver? #4?
Thanks, JB – Iceshack149

A – Thanks for the compliments; I’m glad you enjoy the SSW.  Overall the second receiver will likely be Devery Henderson as long as he continues to come through.  Sources reported that the Saints coaching staff apparently had more faith in him than Stallworth and his development helped them to pull the trigger on a deal.  However, don’t rule out seeing Marques Colston the rookie from Hofstra.  Colston has been very impressive and with his size could turn out to be a dominant force for the Saints.  As for the 4th receiver position, I don’t expect that to truly be settled until a few games into the season when the Saints can see over the course of a complete game how players are able to perform. 

Psycho’s View

            With this being the first week of the regular season, I will leave any quick judgments aside for now.  However, the one area I would like to address this week is the cuts made this previous week by the Saints coaching staff.  Overall I believe they have several moves that were very solid by the team; however, I think the Saints coaches might have made a mistake or two with some of the players they released.  Three come to my mind that I believe the Saints should have kept, with a possible fourth or fifth that likely deserved the right to remain.  However, it should be interesting to see how the season progresses and I look forward to watching the Saints utilize their new offensive weapons while watching their young defense develop. 

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