We're only one year into the Ditka Era, but Iron Mike has already had a major influence on the course of the franchise. Has it been a change for the better? Let's have those antithetical associates articulate anguish and adulation. Here's Fleur Daly and Aintny Whodat-
FD: The Saints are on their way! Coach Ditka took control, got rid of the
chaff, and doubled the team's win total. He turned the Bears around,
and he's doing it again with the Saints.
AW: Oh, come off it- Ditka rode Buddy Ryan and Walter Payton to a Super Bowl,
then presided over Chicago's trek to mediocrity. If you look back over
the last 15 years at all the times when an NFL team finished with three
or fewer wins, you'll find that 50% of the time they won 6 or more the
next season. It's hard not to improve on a 13-loss season.
Face facts- the '97 Saints were as bad as the worst teams in the league
(3-3 vs. Cardinals, Raiders, Bears, Chargers, Rams), somewhat worse than
the average teams (2-3 vs. Seahawks, Panthers, Falcons), and much worse
than teams that made the playoffs (1-4 vs. Chiefs, 49ers, Giants, Lions).
And remember, next season's schedule is tougher.
FD: You need to look at the improvement the team made as the season went on.
Sure, there were some growing pains in the first few weeks, but after the
bye week they went 4-3. By the end of the season, the Saints had an
improving offense, reliable special teams, and a strong defense.
AW: Yeah, well, four starters from that defense are gone.
FD: Wait, wait, wait. Let's break down those departures. I'll grant that
losing Winfred Tubbs might hurt, but we shouldn't hold onto players that
don't want to stay. Brian Jones was pegged to start at middle LB in '97
before he hurt his knee; he's back now and will do fine. The team did
well to get a #4 pick for disgruntled Eric Allen; in Tyronne Drakeford
we have a quality player that *wants* to be a Saint. Also, you can't
blame the team for Darren Mickell's decision to retire.
Finally, Chad Cota for Anthony Newman is a superb swap! Cota, Drakeford,
Kevin Mitchell, and Andre Royal show that the Saints are starting to turn
the tables on their NFC West foes. The "poison pill" contracts concocted
by Terry O'Neil were things of beauty!
AW: Break out the party hats- the Saints have signed a safety! The drama
surrounding Cota's acquisition served to distract fans' attention from
yet another substandard free agency period (not to mention the
implication that Rob Kelly was a wasted pick). Then there's the whole
fiasco of Royal's signing / French Quarter romp. I guess he's one of
those "Ditka-type" players, whatever that means.
You left out Irv Smith when tallying our intradivision balance sheet.
Mark my words, Tubbs and Smith will help the 49ers eat us alive this
year. Our answer at tight end is to re-sign Tony Johnson, a guy we cut
last season. He had only one catch in '97, and he fumbled it. In fact,
that catch came in the game at San Fran that allowed Drakeford to pad
his INT stats by picking off both Shuler and Wuerffel.
FD: Give me a break- you were screaming for Irv's head during the second Rams
game! Perhaps we could stand a little improvement at TE, but our strong
defense has been made even stronger thanks to the offseason additions at
LB and in the secondary. On offense, Ditka says he's pretty happy with
the players we have, and that's good enough for me.
AW: Anyone with half a brain knows that the '97 Saints were in desperate need
of quality skill position players. So, did we trade up for a shot at
Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf? No, thanks, we have Billy Joe Hobert. How
about going for Curtis Enis or Fred Taylor at seven? No need- with Lamar
Smith under contract, the feature back position is all locked up. Maybe
Ditka will go for Randy Moss, but doing so would both make Da Coach a
hypocrite and signal the end of the team's interest in Randal Hill, the
best skill position player we had in '97.
By contrast, there was no need to improve the offensive line during free
agency. At least, that must be what the coaching staff thinks- our OL
is exactly the same now as it was at the end of last season. Pathetic.
FD: Come on, we both know that offense is going to be addressed via the
draft. The Saints brain trust was smart not to overpay for the so-so
crop of free agents available this year. We'll bolster the OL by picking
a lineman (plus, Chris Naeole's healthy return will be like having an
extra first rounder this year).
Ditka signed for three years, and I believe his plan is right on-track.
He'll add another three to the W column in '98, then three more the year
after that. I see the start of something good.
AW: Well, I see a self-described flake who quit and recanted in mid-season.
I see two more years of Jake Ditka & Elwood Abramowicz and their "mission
from God" leaving behind a giant car wreck of a franchise. I see no sign
that we're going where we need to go.
FD: Gee, you're fun. Give the guy a chance! Under Ditka's leadership, the
Saints will win their first playoff game.
AW: Wake up.