thundercleetz

I am not just talking about the Vikings game, I am talking about the Saints ALL season. Believe me, I have seen every game. They are an opportunistic defense who forces turnovers.

I'll disagree with that.

Max, living here in New Orleans I have seen every Saints game this season. Let me just say this, that defense is scrappy in every sense of the word. By saying Manning is going to tear that defense up you are doing them a major injustice. Gregg Williams has his defense play as a unit, not individuals. Sure, the defense will give up yards (twenty-fifth in the league), but they are second in the league in take-aways (39). A defense is going to give up yards and points when you have an offense as prolific as they have, but the bottom line is that the Saints scored 510 points and only let up 341 points. There is a lot of talent on this defense. Jonathan Vilma is a beast and is the Ray Lewis of their team. Sedrick Ellis is solid up the middle, Will Smith had 13 sacks on the season, and Shanle and Fujita are solid against the run. That secondary is very deep and underrated. We all know what Darren Sharper did this season (9 INTs for 3 TDs), and the starting tandem of Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter was among the best in the league this season. Not only do they have two solid corners, they have two solid backups in first rounder Malcolm Jenkins and former Super Bowl starter for the Pats Randall Gay. They can matchup with the Colts, no doubt. Remember, when the Saints were going through their tough stretch they were without their two starting CBs and had McKenzie and Cmac playing extensively. Both Greer and Porter are full strength now. Do not underestimate the heart of this team. I have never seen a team play for their city and embrace it like this Saints team does. They realize what this Super Bowl would mean for the city of New Orleans, and they are going to win it. The real question is, how is the Colts defense going to stop the Saints offense? Just too many weapons for the Colts to deal with. And as for the Colts fearsome pass rush... Brees was only sacked 20 times in 514 pass attempts.

Here is the difference between getting a mentor for Joe and for someone like Kyle Boller. Joe is already established NFL player, he has 37 games (!) under his belt. He knows how to play the game, no one anything tells him is going to "mess him up". He just needs someone who can keep his mind fresh and point out stuff that maybe a vet has seen through EXP. Zorn would be a great QB coach for Joe. Zorn was instrumental in Matt Hasselbeck's development, and while Jason Campbell was not a very good QB, he did get some good progress with him. Campbell's footwork and accuracy definitely improved, Zorn could not help that Campbell is just not a smart guy.

He had a good year, but so did Ramses Barden and Clarence Moore their senior years (granted they played FCS). I am just going by what the scouting reports are saying on Alexander at the Senior Bowl. It sounds like he is very stiff in his movements and has shakey hands. That does not sound like a good combination. I doubt his 40 time will be as good as Moore's was.

Please no on Clarence Moore version II. Ramses Barden didn't exactly tear it up last season.

How many receivers are like Wes Welker in general? Anyways, a black WR that is like Wes Welker is Davone Bess of the Dolphins. He plays a very similar game. I am not going to get into the topic of stereotypes. However, I do think that game style is influenced by where you are taught to play. Just from my football experience, inner-city kids play a different type of game than suburb kids. Suburb kids play different than rural kids. Race can be associated with this as people grow up in different communities, but it is not universal. I would say where you grow up has to do more with the type of game you play than your race.

I am not saying you are wrong, I am just saying if I had to choose between a cocky guy with confidence and someone he is rolling over on his side and is happy with 400 yards of receiving, give me the cocky mofo. The bottom line is that Clayton is a #1 pick, he doesn't have that luxury of relieving himself of expectations. He needs to be doing whatever he can to be the player we thought he was going to be as a first rounder. I wish one of our receivers would demand the "damn ball." Our guys seem more than content with letting the ball bounce of their hands. In my opinion, it all comes down to winning. If you win, this stuff does not happen. That is why trading for a grumpy receiver is justified, we are expecting to win. A little WR frustration here and there would not be a bad thing. Joe is a big boy and can more than take care of himself. The team respects him, and I am certain he would not take crap. As for Cam, I am sure you would agree with me Spear in that Cam gets way too conservative at times. Would it really be a bad thing to have a superstar receiver yelling at him to come out of his cave? It might open up the playbook a little.

I know you are joking, but there is more to what you are saying than you mean to let on. Did you hear Clayton's quote at the end of the season? Someone asked him what the team needed to do to get better, and he said something along the lines of "obviously we need a playmaker at receiver." How can you expect to play WR in this league if you do not think you can step up and be that guy? I don't care if you are a fourth string receiver, you should always have confidence that you can step up and make a play (for example, Kelly Washington was asked this same question and expressed his frustration of his lack of PT). Travis Taylor had that same passive attitude as Clayton. Clayton's quote took me directly back 2003 when our trade for TO was voided, a reporter asked TT if he thought someone on the team could step up as the go-to-guy. Basically Taylor said he didn't know, and Anthony Wright had to jump in the interview and yell "You be that guy to step up!" If Mark Clayton doesn't think he is a legit receiver, how can anyone else think he is? Running your mouth is one thing, but having a little cockiness to your game is not a bad thing by any means. How come everyone encouraged Flacco to tear out his OC on the sideline, but when a guy like TO or Moss does it they are a cancer? The denominator is the same in both cases, everyone wants to make plays and win. That is why taking a risk on grumpy receivers is justified, because you should expect to win. If you win, there will be no reason for guys to complain, such as the case with Moss and the Pats. Guys like Clayton and Taylor could seem to care less.

Good idea! Who's out there? Kitna was definitely instrumental in mentoring Carson. Joe could use such a mentor. Zorn was not much of a head coach, but he is a really good QB coach. He knows how to workout QBs. He is a stickler for footwork and flexibility for his QBs.

Called it!!!! LOL

Thanks for the info. Aren't all the best WRs trouble though? It certainly sounds like he is talented.

I wonder is Force knows anything about WR Mike Williams of Syracuse. He seems like an interestering prospect.

That is a good comparison. I would say that Cooper is more sudden in his route running, but they have that same physical style, body-type, and aggressiveness for the ball.

Funny you guys start mentioning Cooper, I think he would be a PERFECT fit for Joe. He is a big, physical target with strong hands. He is a solid route runner and knows who how to get open. He has a large catching radius and extends to make catches, which means Joe does not have to be as accurate as he does with the smaller Mason and Clayton, which in turn hopefully leads to Joe being more comfortable throwing the ball over the middle when he has such a receiver. I see Cooper as one of those guys who will get knocked on for not being great at any one thing, but will end up having a productive NFL career because he is good at everything. I am thinking he is in the mold of a Hines Ward/Anquan Boldin. IMO, Cooper seems like a Raven. Here is a Scouts, Inc. Senior Bowl write-up on Cooper: It seems like the Ravens were watching Riley as well: BTW, watch for Cooper at the combine, he seems very confident about his speed. With his size, if he puts up 40 numbers like he expects, he could be a solid second rounder: NFLDraftScout has Cooper's 40 projected as a 4.49, with a low of a 4.37 and a high of 4.62. Here are nice highlight videos of Cooper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1KagXIaQxQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuFI2X64YoQ

ESPN has him ranked as the 14th best receiver. Wow, this kid is a long strider, he eats up ground. He is definitely going to have to put on some size, he has a very lanky build. I like his raw ability though, some nice moves for a tall guy. I am not sure if that would work in the NFL, but you have to like his willingness to pick up YAC. Here is a Senior Bowl write-up on Alexander: The above report is very Clarence Moore-like. The college production is impressive, but his draft stock is likely to be heavily determined by his combine performance. He doesn't seem like he is going to put up impressive 40 or short shuttle times.

http://twitter.com/RavensInsider I completely forgot we had Saunders on the staff. Norv, Cam and Marty have had some great receivers, a stud offensive line, two Pro-Bowl QBs, and the best offensive player of the past decade and still couldn't get his offense going in the playoffs. If Joe had Vincent Jackson to throw to, do you think the result of the Colts game would have been different? At first I did, but I am starting to side with Spear, is Cam the problem?

Cannot disagree with you here at all. Cam definitely learned from his mentor Norv Turner. You are exactly right, Norv is notorious for having an explosive offense in the regular season then for some unknown reason he decides to go conservative in the post-season. Anyways congrats to Hue, he deserves. BTW, Aaron Wilson is tweeting that Al Saunders is in the running for the QB coach.

Damn, you're right. That guy is usually spot on with his predictions too. I guess a seventh is better than nothing...

Mass Effect 2 comes out today! Can't wait until my copy comes in!

Scott got six-years, $48 million, Dom Foxworth got only four-years, $28 million, that hardly cancels out. Jay Brown received five-years, $37.5 million, we do not have a comparable contract for that either. I do not know the formula for determining comp., but how about a couple of fourth rounders?

Lets do it! LOL, you really don't like Cam much, do you? I'm just curious, what makes you think Hue would be a better coordinator? I am not saying he wouldn't, it is just that we don't have much experience to base that on.

Adam Schefter is now tweeting that Jackson is on his way to Chicago to interview for their OC job. That would definitely be a much better job for Hue than the Oakland job.

I think they use the same criteria they use to select the Pro Bowl alternates (mixture of player and coaches votes), they just keep going down the line. The players and coaches vote usually seem to be a couple of years behind. Guys who do not go when they have a great year (Garrard in 2007) will usually get in the next year. For example, Ngata just started to get his recognition. He could probably have a horrible year next season and still get in due to what he has done the past two or three seasons.

Someone who is an insider over on the Orioles Hangout Ravens board claims that Fangio does not get along well with the players and wants out. I think I had read somewhere before that Fangio is not much of a player's coach, which is why Billick kept him as a consultant up in the booth when he hired him and why Harbaugh didn't really consider Fangio for the DC job.