With the approach of the new season, it's time once again to eavesdrop on that sanguine/sour set of Saints supporters, Fleur Daly and Aintny Whodat-
FD: I *love* the new Saints! The malaise of the last four years is over, and
we're respectable again. Even the usually-uninterested national media is
taking note- look at all the attention we've been receiving.
AW: Those reporters don't care about our team, they just know a good story when
they see one. Mike Ditka's return to coaching, Heath Shuler's fresh start,
Rickey Jackson's comeback attempt, and the drafting of the top two Heisman
vote-getters all make for good copy. You can expect the hype to peak with
the Sunday night game vs. the Bears, then become nonexistent. The Saints
will become just another team with a losing record that the national media
doesn't give a crap about.
FD: What makes you so sure we're going to have a losing record? In case you
didn't notice, Ditka cleaned house. This isn't the 3-13 team we suffered
with last year. Instead of watching Torrance Small drop passes thrown by
a cowering Jim Everett, we'll be seeing Heath Shuler connect with our
brand-new WR corps.
AW: Who cares about the passing game? The problem with last year's team was
the run- we couldn't do it and we couldn't stop it. In '96 poor Lorenzo
Neal threw some monster blocks that Mario Bates had no idea what to do
with. So does Ditka summon the Wussy Wagon? No, he makes Bates the
featured back and dumps Neal. On defense, our front seven routinely gave
up big plays. The net offseason result? A waiver-wire no-name (La'Roi
Glover), an undrafted rookie (Keith Mitchell), and a so-so free agent
(Pio Sagapolutele) replace Renaldo Turnbull, Rufus Porter, and Willie
Broughton. Are we better off? Not really.
FD: Now, that's not fair. Mitchell deserves more respect- he is a player.
Everybody knows that Turnbull had to go. Porter and Broughton weren't
that hot. On offense, Ditka wanted to keep Neal, but the FB was so burned
by the collapse of the Mora Era that he wanted out no matter what. Plus,
Troy Davis is there if Bates falters.
AW: Gee, it *will* be nice if *one* of our draft picks contributes *something*
this year. Chris Naeole, Rob Kelly, Jared Tomich, Keith Poole, and Nicky
Savoie were invisible during the preseason.
FD: Hey, their playing time has been hampered by injuries. Give them a chance
to develop. You also conveniently forgot to include Danny Wuerffel, the
wonderkid who continues to prove his critics wrong.
AW: Great! Just what Shuler needs- something to threaten his confidence.
By making DW the #2 QB, Ditka has encouraged fans to start yelling for the
weak-armed one when Heath throws his first interception. No matter who
calls the signals, they'll be playing behind an unimproved offensive line.
Jerry Fontenot for Jim Dombrowski is a wash. With Naeole out, we'll again
have a bench warmer at right guard. Ricky Siglar failed to supplant
Clarence Jones at right tackle (wow, *that* was a brilliant acquisition).
FD: Our line has been doing a great job of protecting the quarterback over
the past few seasons, so I won't mind if the OL plays at the same level
in '97. Anyway, you're missing the big picture with your player-by-player
analyses. Ditka has changed the team's spirit. He's got things moving
in the right direction. It isn't necessary to make it to the Super Bowl
in one leap. The team will add talent each year and continue to improve.
AW: Just how are they going to do that? Ten percent of the '98 salary cap is
already shot because we have to count the leftover signing bonuses of
Everett, McMillian, and Turnbull.
FD: It's not Ditka's fault that he inherited some nightmare contracts. He's
done a great job of replacing old, overpriced players with young
go-getters.
AW: Too bad the numbers don't back you up- the average age of the team has
decreased by only one-half year. Big deal. The bottom line is that the
Saints still aren't a very good football team.
FD: Sorry, but you're wrong.
AW: Same old Saints.