I know we have all read or heard how the NFL is a copycat league.    With our beloved Saints leading the NFL in offense over the last 4 years how did we get there?  We have all witnessed and participated in the many debates throughout the seasons.  Let's take a moment to reflect on last season.  How many of us felt like our receiving corps was widely dismissed as not being among the very best?  Why was this?  Individual stats is and was the culprit.  We recognized what each piece brought to the table with the different skill sets but could not convince others of it.  You don't have to have the No. 1 stat guy at every position.  You only have one football on the field at a time and all 11 players can't have it on every down.  Yadda, yadda, yadda....  I digress.

If we look back at the biggest game the Saints have ever participated in it was a shootout with a team that we emulated in many ways.  A GREAT QB, solid receiving corps, great pass protection, an aggressive defense,  
and an underrated running game.

Now we look at what did the coachs learn from last season?  Hopefully a way to defend what made them sucessful on offense.  As more and more teams are being built much the same way (ie.  Dallas with Witten, Austin, Williams, and now Bryant; Minnesota with Shancoe, Harvin,and company and the list goes on).   Let's look within the division at what many may consider our biggest threat the Falcons.  Last year they added Gonzo who opens up their offense much like that of our Saints and the Colts.  You can spread him out wide or keep him inside.  Now comes the question how to cover such a threat?  Dallas Clark ate the Saints lunch during SB XLIV. 

Can I say that P-rob is the solution?  Short answer, NO!  But do think that G-Dub has a plan?  YES!!!!  Now comes the thing we all hate the most.  The off season waiting in anticipation of another SUPER year when hell refreezes and pigs take to the skies yet again. 

have never won the Super Bowl.   Blah, blah, blah........  Where have we heard this stuff before?  Sounds a lot like the big deal made about no team has lost their last 3 games of the regular season and made it to the Super Bowl.  Well maybe these same supposedly unbiased, all-knowing, and  better-than-you media pundits didn't get the memo the Saints are writing their own history.

Before the season began I remember these same clowns saying the 06 season was a fluke.  As the season progressed they waited/wished for our beloved Saints to stumble.  After the win against Patriots they thought they had gotten their wish.  With the overtime win against the hapless Redskins of the 09 season and the lack of significant blowouts against some of the other teams.  Then came the game against the Cowboys and the 3 game losing streak.  Little if any news was reported nationally on the significant number of injuries the team suffered from about the mid point of the season.  This does not just happen with the Saints though, and I do acknowledge and understand that.  But it does bring one more question into these pundits credibility. 

With starting DBs, LBs, and DTs, out the defense allowed opposing offenses to extend some drives and not create the turnovers they had been accustomed to getting.  Instead they choose to talk about a porous defense based on some easy to look up stats.  No real in-depth research or fact finding.  I think that is probably what is at the heart of what makes us all as fans somewhat hate them.  Now when you allow the opponent to extend drives it comes to reason the game of field position and play calling will also change.  Part of why the offense also struggled.

If this sounds somehow familiar think back a few short years ago.  There was a team in the 06 season that had a suspect defense....  Then their starting safety made it back from injury and they went on to win a Super Bowl....

Now we have just one week remaining to enjoy the ride to this point and see the ink transferred to paper on the last chapter of this Magical Mystery Tour.  Looking forward to a great game and the Lombardi Trophy brought back to the Big Easy.

Anyone else notice in the pregame media hype of games how special teams always seem to be  based solely on the return side.  Little if any thought is given about the kicking side.  Even in the hype preceding yesterdays game much was made by many of the pundits about how the Vikings held an advantage on special teams.  Harvin's 2 TD kick off returns vs Reggie's lone punt return against AZ in the Divisional Round.  How you compare KR vs PR only the media pundits can answer.  As Saints Fans we have all witnessed the amasing job Thomas Morestead has done this season.  Not only punting but kicking off as well.  Morestead had 4 of 7 punts downed inside the 20.  And his kickoffs were booming Harvin only returned 2 kickoffs out of 5 for a combined 33 yards in yesterdays game.  This aspect of the game was just as responsible as the turnovers for the Saints win yesterday.  It is the one category that the Saints dominated in yesterdays game.  As I recall Saints Nation did a story at the end of the season with a poll and if my memory serves me correctly it also contained a poll on the Special Teams MVP where many of us voted for Morestead.  And many gave thanks to Coach Payton for the draft move made to get Morestead  in light of all the disappointment and questioning the move at the time of the trade. 

Don't get me wrong but I find the lack of national media attention is a positive for this team.  All the more to movitate the players and coaches.  While they may not be garnishing the national headlines I am sure coaches around the league are taking notice.  I know this is only preseason but the Saints are currenty 1st in points scored scored and 3rd in points per game allowed at 9.33  behind Minnesota at 8.00 ppg and Pittsburgh at 9.00 ppg.  Take into account this includes a game with everyones favorite EX-SAINT JD covering Chad call me OCHO CINCO.  Yes 2007 was a disappointment and some might say a team Sophomoric slump JD was not the answer but more inconsistentcy and 2008 proved it.  Even SP had to admit it.  But with the changes that have been made on the defense, adding a  new DC, and I know we all hated that Duece was cut but it was a good business move.   Reggie take notice...  We are beginning to see the establishment of a consistent running game and if that continues with the improvement on defense there are plenty of reasons for our optimism.  Yes the Saints may  have only been 8-8 last year but with the exception of a couple of games they were within a play or two of winning many of those losses.  We know how the sports media works they don't want to be wrong they jump on every bandwagon that passes north and jump right off when it turns south.  Last year is a great example Arizona can't beat anyone when they travel east...  Yet they were such a great team when they won the NFC championship game!!!  So I say let Our Saints  fly under the media  radar all the way to the Lombardi Trophy!!!