There will likely be a lot of Saints at the Super Bowl. I think the players get an allotment of tix. In all seriousness, the NFC is pretty open this year. However, the Saints' defense will ultimately be their Achilles heel. Especially since Reggie Sayers is being conspired against by the speed of the NFL.
I understand the skepticism and I would be lying if I wasn't antsy coming into the Bucs game this past weekend. But Payton answered all my answers. He had the troops ready and all mistakes were eliminated on the offensive side of the ball. On the defensive side we had that aggressiveness back (lacking in the Ravens game). We don't have Haslett and we don't have #2 anymore. Thank goodness.
Regarding Reggie, his stats are meaningless. You ever seen a player who had -5 yards on 11 carries have so much impact on a game? Watch the big plays in this game and tell me who was the decoy on almost all of them? Linebackers way out of position on each and every play, middle of the field wide ass open. I love it, personally. I also love the fact that he's a great kid too. You won't hear him complaining.
Not for nothing, but stats are never meaningless. I think they are overrated with the sorts of mismatches you mention, but given expectations for him (let's not forget just HOW great he was to be instantly), he's been a disappointment. It takes a savvy QB and talented skill players to utilize gaps in defense. Such gaps do not require the #2 overall pick. See: Patriots. And what does complaining have to do with the average fan? That's the coach's problem, not the people tuning in on Sunday.
Well I guess you need stats then. How's 700 all-purpose yards at the halfway mark? Exact same number as Colston. The Saints are getting their money's worth, and it will only get better.
You may be right, but that's a goofy stat at this point. Five guys have roughly that many yards rushing, and another five have roughly that many receiving. The part that SHOULD be troubling is # of plays over 20 yards -- 0. Over 40 yards? 0. His main attribute was his "home run" potential, and he's had one (and it was huge, and awesome, no argument here.) Sure, the stats don't say it all, but he was supposed to be the gamebreaker of the millenium AND translate immediately. That ain't happened, despite being surrounded by some great talent. I'm not saying that he won't develop. Tiki Barber had an inconspicous start and has turned into a top back. I hope to see some great Reggie Katrina highlights, but the justification from the "experts" to justify their accolades on Reggie are sickening at this point. "Best back since Barry" "Once in a generation" etc. Think back a few months ago -- Reggie was supposed to have a dozen TDs and be at the top of the league in rushing/receiving yards. And anybody that thought differently was dismissed as ignorant. Well, well, well...
I will agree his running style is troubling. It's Sandersesque but without the "home runs" as you alluded to. They will come. He gets enough touches, they will come. His receiving skills are as advertised, if not better. Dude has great hands. Deuce is the ball carrier on this team. But Bush needs to make an impact in that area as well.
Has Coach Peyton complained about Reggies stats? Reggie has been a huge Decoy for this team. All Drew gotta do is pump fake or look toward Reggie and it freezes the D. I'd say the saints are getting there moneys worth for RB. His blocking has improved all season. Once he learns to stop dancing in the back feild and start moving North and South his stats will improve. Defenses know that Reggie is looking to shake them and they aren't buying it. He needs to put his head down and hit a few people. Get them ready for that then shake the **** out of them.
