My boy Johnny C just came through with this great news!

I didn't even have to start the cut Olin Kreutz.com website I was contemplating, whew! He just up and quit all by himself. So naturally the debate is now going to turn to who is going to be the priveleged enough to have Drew place his "large hands" under their backside? In the very beginning of the article he says that this is going to be "leaving a hole in the offensive line". On the contray Clayton, now that he is gone the offensive line might actually be able to create a hole. I really do feel bad for the guy, because I'm guessing he just lost the will to fight. Man that's depressing!...soooooo let's forget about his personal issues and focus on what makes us happy. Hope. Hope that the next guy performs better than he has this year.

       I'm not getting into to the storyline side, I'm talking the GM side. I think Mickey Loomis & Co. have been very effective at recognizing and coming up with reasonable solutions to problems in the past. While the record may not indicate it, at the beginning of each and every year, the Saints have been a better team than the year before. They haven't done it by jamming some "You can only build championships through the draft." philosophy down our throat, and take 6 years before results. But they didn't take the Dan Snyder's Wil E. Coyote like approach to free agency either. I'll be sure to remember that when I'm giving thanks in November. Point being, the powers at be have taken a rational approach to each and every situation they've encountered. While some decisions are better than others, I feel confident that they are usually well-thought out by competent people. To say that as Saints fan, might be the greatest thing of all this.

P.S. Shout out to my Chicken Gordon Blue avatar from McAllister's Deli...if we could get a little petition going to bring it back, that'd be cool. Thanks.

Finals are finished and my conscience is relived. I took a tactical sick day, dropped baby off at daycare because I "didn't want to get her sick", and watched the game on my DVR, in my own zone. 

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I was thinking about the success the running game was having, and I was wondering how much the passing game is opening up the run game. Did we run so well against Buffalo in the 2nd half because they kept bringing the pressure they brought in the 1st half, that worked so well at ultimately holding Drew to no TD's? It almost seems the polar opposite of play-action pass (Except the aren't technically draw plays, anyway) I'm wondering if we end up losing because we come out and try to establish the run first? I'm anxious to see if we come out in the traditional passer friendly mode to let them start bringing the pressure. Thoughts?

I have been laid up since I had surgery last Wednesday. Nothing to serious, repaired nerve damage from a hernia surgery I had a couple years ago. That made for a percocet induced mini-vaca on my couch. So what do you do on Monday when you have to go back to work?....that's right, call in and re-watch the greatness that was Sunday.  Fair warning, this choppy. It's a lot of thought, but not organized very well, see above mention of percocet. I also want to thank the other posts we've had, they have accurately sumized the game and feelings. I won't get into how great I think they did as a whole, great team effort.

I decided to watch the Lions game by watching EVERY player on EVERY play.  Good news for me, you can't really do that. But you do get to see exactly what the line does on every play. SO I watched hoping to answer some questions.

What's up with the run game? Why it works, and why it does not work?

The D-line, who is doing what?

I watched the Lions and Eagles games this detailed, I have no other basis of comparison for my judgements. I never really   watched games last year so I can not say whether or not we are improved from last year.  I had a blast watching the game that analytically, I suggest everyone give it a shot if it intrest you. I learned more than I expected just by watching watch what every player did on any particular play.

A few things that I noticed along the way.

• There Is holding on every play
• Heath Evans is an upgrade. He is a big reason our run game is improved. Mike Bell follows his blocks well. On several plays his is the misdirection that allows plays to develop. He is also in everybody's ear, I don't know if it's good or bad, but he is always talking to the guy who just made the play.
• Reggie Bush did a good job of picking up blitzes, on several occasions. Oh and the Eagles blitzes are WICKED.
• We don't pull our guard near as often as Philly.
• The offensive line looks good, even with Brown out.  Everybody got beat once or twice. No one person stood out as a weakness and got beat repeatedely. I can say that I thought our Guards played really well. Goodwin seems to always have some help. I'm guessing that comes with being the center though.
• Reggie hesitates to hit the whole when it appears to be blocked. Can't really blame him for that, but when Bell runs, he just follows even when it looks clogged, and the blocks seem to open up once he is there. Bell also helps them open up more by breaking arm tackles of lineman. that seems to be a bit of a difference between the two.
• Reggie's between the tackles TD. It was designed to go right, I believe. The way that the TE, 85, blocked it didn't appear to be a designed cut back. I argued with my brother whether or not he would have had a TD if would have just followed Evans block.
• Reggie's punt return was garbage. Plain and simple. He started to go backwards when the defender was like 12 yards in front of him. I was really big on Reggie getting as many touches on kick returns as he could, but a couple muffed punts, mediocre returns, mixed in with the one backwards return. Not going so well at the beginning of the year.
• Just realized there is a lot of Reggie hating going on up there. Another important question was how much do the reactions of the other teams players depend on Reggie. And the answer is a lot. A number of plays involved Drew reading who bites on Reggie. Shockey got some catches because of it. Reggie also did  good job of picking up blitzes, not just chipping at them, but actually stopping them all together.

Defense - I was interested to see, what kind of fomations we used, what personnel, and how much blitzing.

• Anthhony Hargrove is awesome. I noticed things tend to have a ripple effect on the line. Rarely does just one peson make a play. It takes someone starting to  force the offense out of position, then someone else capitalizes on it. Hargrove starts the ripple a lot.
• Grant and Smith are the opposite of ripple makers. At least in the two games. I was waiting to see wha they did and it's not a whole lot. Not NEAR enough to be considered compensated fairly.
• Seddrick Ellis is almost always double-teamed. He still manages to be a force though. He is rarely flat out beaten.
• Shanle played better than Fujita.
• Randall Gay was at the root cause for secondary woes, what little there were. I hope Jenkins' speacial teams play helps get him some playing time.
• Bobby McRay is fast, he goes so fast, he blows by the QB most of the time
• Will Smith has this spin move that runs right into Sedrick Ellis most of the time. pretty funny, pretty ineffective.
• Really cool to watch some of our blitzes. sometimes we dive all four linemen into the middle of the pocket and that make sit easier for outside rusher to get to QB.

OK, I am going to present each of you an opportunity to revel in the glory that will be the end of this season. From this FanPost, you have the chance to join me in and pledge that you are an individual that really, really, really just KNOWS that THIS is the year. I know, I know, it's been said before....but not by me. I'm freakin' 26, the whole time I've seen nothing but SUCK, with the exception of the past couple of years, in which I predicted a playoff appearence in one, and an NFC Championship in the other. Don't judge me.

So why this year??? We've been over the facts, ALL offseason. We know a few major changes could definitely put us in a good position to make it into the playoffs. But that isn't the thing that gets me excited. For the first time in my life, I think that the intangibles are actually in our favor. Could that be the ultimate dooping? Is there a sheep sitting on my face? (wool over the eyes, get it...) 

The parity in the NFL has proven itself over the past few years. Any team in the playoffs can beat any other team on any other day. SO, the Intangible things such as leadership, discipline, camaraderie, desire and many more have more to do with the outcome that we often give credit for.  

So I have placed a poll below that let's you claim your whole-hearted belief in the Saints. At the end of the year you can look back and feel a little better about yourself, and make it just a little bit sweeter, because you just KNEW that this was it. I mean, I can't imagine feeling any worse than I already will if they don't when the SuperBowl. So c'mon guys, let's shove that cautious optomisim into a very uncomfortable place.....like the back of a Volkswagon. I'm already all-in, I know a lot of you are too. This way you can point at the doubters later and rag them becasue you had total blind faith in a NFL Franchise. I mean what's a Saint without a little blind faith???

You want more poll options...make your own. But 'round these here parts it's all or nothin'!

What's up Skins fans? How are you? I know probably pretty crappy like the rest of us waiting for the season to kick off. I know I'm tired of thinking about my 5th string and who's gonna be on the pratice squad. I'm just sayin.

I live in Virginia Beach and plan on going to the 12/6 game in DC. I was looking at tickets online and found some $95 section 222 tickets, a lot of them in the 200's. The tickets say obstructed view because of the overhang. I was wondering if anyone can enlighten me on exactly where I would and would NOT want to sit. Any help is appreciated.

I have just gotten back to Da Chronic after taking a little break, and I gotta say it feels good to be back. I've played catch up and read a lot of thoughts and ideas in a small amount of time, so this could come out really choppy, but I think there are a few things that need to be said, and the soon to be 3 year old isn't around to tell me about her dire need for Scooby-Doo fruit snacks (I'm admittedly indulging in them right now...don't judge me).

Stu, glad to have you back.

Let's start with Sean Payton, and his "downward spiral." I do not agree with everything Sean Payton does. However, I can not and will not ask for someone to do more than they have done so far. All you windup toys calm down...I know we haven't won  a Superbowl...yet. And that's the point...yet. In the past three years, he has turned a historically underachieving mediocre team of losers, into a historically underachieving mediocre team of winners. And I don't give a damn what you say, that counts for something. That counts for a lot. Listen to the players in their interviews, they sound confident, they sound light-hearted, they sound educated, well mannered, and like real leaders. How many Saints do you hear in the media, minus a couple known exceptions that I'm not real fond of,  making asses out of themselves  sounding like ignorant babies. Sure, partly because the noose on media, more so because we are gathering a team of decent human beings, with exceptional human beings leading it.

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First off, I like Coldpizza, a lot, glad he is here. I just needed something catchy to get you reading....moving on

Most of you have been here for a while know Stujo4, or at least have him as a fond memory since it has been soooooooo long since we've heard from him.  A few weeks ago I noticed I hadn't heard anything from Stu in a while. My first thought was, "Hmm, I wonder if he is actually working now....or he's on a vacation....or his computer broke....or the whole Internet broke in Kansas?" Then I realized his name had been removed from the "D-Cord" position. Curiosity set in, and I wanted answers like a pregnant man.

So I e-mailed Saintsational, asked him what was going on. He told me he sent an e-mail to Stu, asking politely to not use harsh language and negative tones. After their exchange, however it went down, ended in Stu asking to be removed as a moderator. He also sent me a link to a Norml912 fanshot. 

Which brings us to the now...and now is boring. It has a lot to do with what time of year it is, the off season in between OTAs and camp sucks really bad. But I also think that it is because Stu isn't around, keeping people on their toes, cracking jokes, making semi-obscure references, posting pictures in replies, showing some conviction, and being a damn fine Saints fan...check that...a Saints fanatic.

So what are we gonna do now? Stu, I want you back around. I'm sure there are a lot of people around here that feel the same way. I'm sure that you have your reasons, and they probably have to do "with the principle of the matter". And you probably have a valid point. I mean the whole thing seems kind of like hiring Gregg Williams and telling him not to blitz. If you don't want to come back, just tell us why....leave a note before you pack up the kids and walk out on us...you heartless bastard.

I don't know if we need some mediation? Apologies? S'mores and Kumbayah? A Blog Hug?(OK, that was crossing the line, my bad) I need you guys to rec this a few times so if/when Stu checks it out he'll see it. I know we don't have all the facts here, but who are you blaming?

     So I live in Virginia Beach, VA and work at a defense contracting company called BAE Systems. I've been "volun-choose" to do something for Mardi Gras this year. Maybe if I wasn't yakking about the Saints so much, I could have gotten out of heading these shennanigans up. Oh well, bringing the Big Easy to office ain't a bad day anyway. I got a sweet little parade planned, and some good food.

     Only one problem....I am drawing a blank for a Krewe name. Krewe of BAE just isn't cool enough. But I'm running out of time and that just might have to do. I was hoping some of y'all cold shot out some ideas, good, bad, I don't care. I just don't know where else to ask. So c'mon Saints and cajun brethren, give me something to work with.  Thanks.

Saintsational, if this doesn't fall under "on topic" feel free to delete me, I understand.

So according to my $40 a year ESPN Insider subscription that never tells me anything I care about until today, Will Smith had surgery to repair a sports hernia injury that "bothered him throughout 2008."

I had a hernia about a year and a half ago. It blew. After the surgery I couldn't physically stand up straight for like 3 days, and I didn't walk right for a week. It also sucked a lot before I had the surgery. I would LOVE to believe that this is one of the reasons he didn't give us any reason to nominate him for a "most production per dollar" award.

Does anyone know exactly what the difference between a "sports hernia" and a regular hernia is?

And for those who don't know what a regular lower abdominal hernia is (because I sure as hell didn't before I had mine)....it's when the abdominal muscle tears and leaves a space for your abdominal cavity to protrude through. They put a plastic piece of mesh over it and let the muscle grow into it. I still have to lift my leg up to sneeze or it hurts.

It's that time of the year, when I like to take a look back and try a little reflecting. Since playoff hopes have been wrapped like a present you would rather not have, I find it easier to look at it a little more subjectively. It's because I have less emotion involved knowing that the season is mathematically over, thank God. Which brings me directly to my first point. The emotion I manage to sacrifice for this silly f-in game really pisses me off sometimes.  I have had a lot of not so great things going on at the home front. I think it's great that the Saint's can still muster up enough hope in the beginning of the season that truly makes me whole-heartedly believe that THIS is the year, THIS is the year when things will come together. SOMETHING will go right. Then it doesn't. And I'm faced to look at the pile of dung that lay ahead of me in reality, just as I look at the pile of dung behind me that is Saint's season(and also reality). So the first question is this...

Why am I such a gullable DUMBASS!

Not to say I don't have some logical answers to that question, like Tracy Porter, like Sedrick Ellis, like a healthy and playing Meachem, like a Vilma. There's a few more but that they are more focused on my real personal flaws of being a dumbass and  I'd rather not get into that.

Now, what can we take from this painful recurring lesson? I think some notes for us to put in a digital "time capsule" so to speak, and come back to these thoughts, notes, and helpful reminders right before training camp next year. For instance,

PEOPLE GET INJURED! This year has been horrible on the injury front. But remember this, we are one late hit 15-yd late hit personal foul on Drew from a 4-5 win season. This would be devistating. Honeslty, nausea just set in, moving on. But I mean really, it's always somebody, and they are key people most of the time. I don't know what it is, maybe strength and conditioning suck, maybe we got fragile players?

Our division is GOOD now. The Bucs keep getting older, and KEEP taking it to us. ATL....really.....you assholes. Way to do what we did without a hurricane, all you needed was a someone that liked to fight dogs for an overhaul. Carolina, you inconsistent Steve Smith coatail riding, using our should-be backup quarterback division winners you...you.... Really, piss off!

So let's hear something....ANYTHING you want to say at the beginning of next year's training camp.

I know it's a horrible thing to say, but hey, I got your attention, so hear me out...First off, I'm by no means happy to see anybody injured, let alone Reggie. We all know how important  he is for the offense. But I am going to welcome a new game plan with OPEN arms.

Now Sean Payton can't possibly find a way to hand Reggie the ball in the backfield. I understand why it needs to be done, I hear ya "You gotta keep 'em honest." guy. But the fact of the matter is...Reggie does not hit the line of scrimmage fast enough. The worst part is that he can do just that, run to the line of scrimmage, faster than just about anybody. Use the talent you have damnit! JUST RUN and you'd probably hit more homeruns anyway! I'd love to see the YPC when handed the football, and reverses don't count, stat padders. Reggie's dancing in the backfield usually results in a very minimal gain, if not a loss. Naturally setting us up with third and long. Luckily, Drew is there to bail us out most of them time.

But now we will be seeing more Duece, and Duece equals consistency, consistency equals rhythm. While Reggie is out Payton will be forced to have a new gameplean. I believe he is intelligent enough to properly use Duece with no Reggie. And even if he goes back to giving Reggie that many touches a game, he's at lest going to see that he can get more out of the running game with Duece, and give him more touches even when Reggie is in. It's not that I want to see Reggie get less touches, it's just that I think that's why our running game is lacking. I mean, please give Reggie the ball, just don't give up our running game because of it.

Ugh..Hmm. I'd like to start off by saying that I am popping my fanpost cherry with this one guys.

First off my initial inspirstion. Yasisnskas over at ESPN qouted Will Smith as saying the following,

"We're a lot faster and a lot smarter," defensive end Will Smith said. "That's a different feel than last year."

(Hey Saintsational Dave, like my box?)

FINALLY!!! Somebody on the defense admits we were slow and dumb! AMEN!

     But know I will continue with the post, instead of doing some on-line classing that is due tonight, but I just can't focus until I let a little of this excitment go. I am the proud father of an addorable 2 year old little girl. I know proud. And I'll be damned if that's not the word that best describe's today's performance. Also proud of the fact that my little terror loves to run around and say "FOOBALL", but she wen't apeshit when scored the first touchdown. Largely in part, OK, entirely because I jumped off the couch and literally hit the fan. Bottom line...she digs it.   

     Pierre doing what he does, and got a chance to do it. I would have loved one to break, but over 5 ypc. Can't complain. Reggie "Just f-in run you fast SOB, and you wouldn't get tackled" Bush, did just that and put one to the two yard line, IN THE ENDZONE FOR A TOUCHDOWN! Bress was solid, got rocked a few too many times if you ask me, we need to get on that. I just hope it's because it was Tampa, and they do that to us even when no one else does. Devry, really, I mean c'mon, just when my Tiger lovin' homer ass is actually giving up on you, and ready to say adios. I just don't know what  to say. I sincerely appreciate it, becuase if you would have dropped it.......Anyone ever hear about the Argentinian Goalkeeper?

     Porter. Ellis. Gay. Vilma. Without those guys on the field today, you KNOW what our defense is, it's OK....I'l wait. Oh, What's that, Will says he does, slow and dumb. Ladies and gentleman, my favorite of the day, Charles Grant! Applause and confetti, celebration commences (I'm sure he wouldn't mind a couple of strippers and a turkey leg or two either). Lots of pressure, lots of sticky coverage from Porter and Gay. Although Glenn was getting on my nerves. Even in preseason, I haven't been a huge fan. I saw him being an ass during a preseason game, shoved some dude in the face, rubbed me the wrong way. Performance did get better at the end of camp though. Tackling was suspect, and that dink and dunk game is absolutely nerve wrecking, ESPECIALLY with poor tackling. They turned 3 to 4 into 7 to 9 way too much.

       I think that getting off to a good start was key to the outcome of this season. They had to know that all the hard work they put in this offseason would pay off. After last years early season slump, 1-0 is perfect.