September 7, 2017
AUSPICIOUS DEBUT
Congrats to Coach Bill Conides and the Jackets for their season opening 45-10 win over Hammond HS last Friday night… Denham Springs HS travels to Ponchatoula HS on Friday night. You can catch all the action on Family Radio, 91.9 FM, Baton Rouge and on the net at JonFineProductions.com or via ITune App. Air time is 6 pm with Sport N Center Jackets Warm-up.
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I know some Tiger fans would have preferred to see LSU throw for 300 yards and run for 300 yards beating BYU 45-0, but all things considered, I don’t think LSU’s opener could have gone any better.
A large number of players were suspended, and if they are serious about playing football this game will help them get their act together. Players who received playing time as a result of the suspensions performed very well, which will speak to the suspended players as much as anything.
LSU made plenty of mistakes which will help this week in practice. Reducing penalties and finishing in the red zone will certainly be an emphasis. Tiger fans should not be concerned that LSU struggled in these areas in the opener. Perfect games are the goal, but don’t actually happen. Fans should only be concerned if these same issues continue to arise over the course of the season.
Naturally fans, coaches, and players will be looking for improvement in these areas. Here are a few other areas to keep an eye.
The special teams were solid, but not special. Considering a few walk-ons were on special teams, I am think this was the biggest area impacted by the suspensions. The kickoff coverage was below average outside of Eric Monroe;s tackle on the last kickoff. Punt and kickoff return did not show explosiveness either. I suggest paying close attention to the personnel on those teams this week.
I give Coach Orgeron credit for managing the BYU game the way he did. I thought he made the right decision to take the points to go up 20-0. I also think he made the right decision to go for the touchdown on the next trip, even though it didn’t work out. Finally, without a full roster and playing a number of freshmen, I think it was the right decision to shorten the game and run the ball in the second half. Kevin Sumlin should take note.
Having said all of that, I will be disappointed if LSU does not look to develop more of the offense this week. I hope to see LSU use some of its size at receiver in the red zone. I am hoping to see Lowell Narcisse in a short yardage package. Also, LSU should have a comfortable lead in the 4th quarter and should that happen, Myles Brennan needs to throw the ball. It is not running up the score, it is developing a backup quarterback.
Now that LSU’s season opener it out the way, it is time to look forward to the Saints and their season.
I’ll begin with the easiest position to breakdown, quarterback. Obviously, Brees must stay healthy for the Saints to have any success. I thought Chase Daniel looked worse as the preseason progressed and that is disappointing. I don’t understand signing Taysom Hill. There is no way a young quarterback like that can be Brees’ backup and keeping a third quarterback who hasn’t proven anything in your system seems like a wasted roster spot.
In the Payton-Loomis era, this collection of running backs could be the best. Yet, my concern is that Ingram and Peterson are the type of running backs that need a lot of carries to get in a rhythm. Payton loves to change formations and personnel every play. As a result, it will be interesting to see how Payton manages the carries, and if Ingram and Peterson are able to be productive in this style of offense. I would love to see him incorporate some sporadic up tempo offense since he could run a few plays with Ingram, wear the defense down and then bring in Peterson.
I think Kamara’s value will be emphasized because I think the Saints are below average at tight end. I thought Fleener would come along, but I don’t think that way anymore. The other tight ends are nice role players, but nothing more.
Willie Snead’s suspension stinks, but the Saints are fine at receiver. If Michael Thomas stays healthy he will eventually surpass Colston as the best receiver in Saints history. Coleman is ready to contribute more and his size could help overcome the lack of production at tight end in the red zone. Ted Ginn is the replacement for Devery Henderson we have been waiting for, and brings an extra dimension with his punt returns. Tommylee Lewis should be a suitable replacement during Snead’s suspension. We need to hope there are no big injuries at wide receiver the first three weeks, though.
The Saints best offenses in past, the ones that could run the ball without having to trick the opponent had Nicks, Evans, and Goodwin in the middle of the line. I don’t know if Peat, Unger, and Warford can match the previously mentioned trio, but they should be in the zip code. As long as they are solid as rocks, Payton can scheme to help Ramczyk, especially since Strief is proving to be an ageless wonder. We know the offensive line isn’t deep, and I am shocked the Saints haven’t picked someone up since all the cuts were made. That is a signal to me that Armstead could be ready very soon.
I don’t like the fact that the starting offense played 1.5 quarters in the preseason and a few practice against the Chargers and Texans. But, I understand that is how it works in the NFL these days. That reality does temper my excitement about this offense, but just slightly. I know the Saints will score points and throw for a ton of yards.
The difference between winning and losing, though, will be if they limit turnovers and if we can run when the other team knows we are going to run. Third and 2, inside the red zone, and with a lead are all situations the Saints could run successfully in 2009.
Everyone is excited about the defense after watching the preseason. I disagree with those who simply point to the defense being more aggressive. How quickly we forget the extreme aggression at times of Gregg Williams or Rob Ryan.
The difference now is the defensive line looks strong at the point of attack, linebackers are filling gaps, and it appears the Saints can cover a running back and/or tight end.
The one quarter of the preseason when Sheldon Rankins and Cam Jordan were on the field at the same time, was very promising. Davison is very solid and Onyemata is making the scouting department look very good. I fully expect Tony McDaniel back on the roster soon in a week. I think he definitely has enough left in the tank to be the 4th defensive tackle.
Kikaha, Okafor, Muhammad, and Hendrickson are not going to force opponents to game plan against them, but I know two things. One, they are better than the combination of Edabali, Gwacham, Tull, and Richardson we had at times last year. Second, the Saints will be better on defense simply because they have more athleticism on the field in their front seven.
I don’t need to say anymore about the linebackers than I already have this month. The difference between our linebacker play the last couple years and the potential of Klein, Teo, Robertson, and Anzalone is as enormous the difference in offensive design between Canada and whoever Miles had offensive coordinator.
I am not impressed by Vonn Bell. I hope he shows me wrong, but he looks undersized and slow without an ability to cover. Fortunately, Marcus Williams looks like the free safety the Saints have been unable to find the last few years. I think Vaccaro, Bush, Williams, and Bell can be average, and that would be nice since I think the Saints safeties have been among the worst in recent years.
The issue at cornerback comes down to health. Lattimore will be great, but has injury issues in his past, and was hurt a bunch in August. PJ Williams has looked good when he has played, but that hasn’t been often due to injury. At this point Delvin Breaux can’t be counted on, but instead would have to be considered a bonus if he gets healthy and plays well. The odds are just as good that Crawley, Harris, and Moore will be the Saints starting cornerbacks at some point in the first few weeks as Florida completely relying on their defense again this year. Did you see them on offense against Michigan’s 10 new starters on defense? Ugly.
My hope is that this is the year the Saints prove that you should choose a quality front seven over a quality defensive backfield if you have to choose. For the Saints to win, this defense needs to create turnovers, and find a way to get stops in the last two minutes of halves and games. If they do that, forget about yards and all that. The Saints will win.
Finally, I am just looking for solid special teams that don’t cost us games. I hate to have such low standards, but again, anything will be an improvement. Morestead is the one area the Saints can be great. Lutz just needs to be good. The coverage teams have a chance to be solid with Banjo, Lasco, and a few others in the mix. I will be happy if Ginn is just average in the return game.
Most experts were picking another 7-9 season a month ago. After a good preseason, I have seen some change their predictions to 8-8. Is it a cop-out to say it depends on injuries? I can hear you shaking your head, “yes.”
The NFC South is once again one of the best divisions in football. I have been jealous of the Patriots for years because they play against bad quarterbacks in 6 of their 16 games every year. This year it will be Cutler, McCown, and Taylor (or maybe Peterman?). Are you serious?! For the record, I absolutely had to look up who the starting quarterback for the Jets is going to be this year.
Meanwhile, the Saints will face Ryan (last year’s MVP), Newton (the MVP the year before), and Winston (Rookie of the Year by some and progressing). I know the Saints are better this year. The key will be starting 2-2 or better, and I think the only way that happens is by beating the Vikings in the opener (a tall task).
Why not go for broke? I think the Saints will beat the Vikings and start 2-2. Then it is a matter of regaining the Domefield advantage. If the Saints can take care of business at home and win a game at the Bills and Rams, which they should, then I see a 10-6 season coming our way. Who Dat!
HEY REF
My intention was to end any debate and answer those questions asked of me by coaches because the refs I’ve talked to are dead set against any type of talking or meeting with the coaches in an effort to restore the quality of the officials that call their games. Notice I used the word “CALL” and not “WORK”. It’s simple to explain since the majority of guys out there feel they’re doing the schools a favor by throwing flags on any given Friday night.
First thing that baffled me is some coaches didn’t know the process of getting an assignment secretary that will be responsible to getting the best officials to their games and get those that have promise working more games so they’ll be seasoned. All I ask the coaches to do is try and picture a system where the older officials are just sent out to 4A and 5A games while some of the best talent Baton Rouge has will never see anything higher than a 2A game.
“How can that be” is what one coach asked me while he tried to find the right oil filter for his car. Well, it’s simple there’s nobody watching the store. The LHSAA knew that something drastic needed to be done. So someone, I don’t know who but they conned the LHSAA into setting up an organization that would be the “go between” between the LHSAA and the Officials. Of course the first they did was hammer a wedge between the principals and the officials in demanding a raise or we’ll strike.
The best thing that should’ve happened is to allow a strike to be called. That would tell who was doing the job for money and who was doing for the love of the game. I agree there was a need for a pay raise but it should’ve been done with a gun to the heads of the principals. There is this “THING” guiding the powers that be for the high school officials to look like the NFL officials. When I went back the first thing I had to do was plunk down $50.00 for a certain brand of shoe. I protested since the shoes only came in ONE WIDTH! Here’s a secret; not all officials wear a “D” width shoe. When I said they are too tight and uncomfortable I was refuted by the assignment secretary “If it came down to wearing uncomfortable shoes or not calling a game I know what I’d do”.
Oh really, I was taught “an official must feel comfortable on the field so nothing but the game enters his mind”! The reason behind the shoe deal someone thought if the officials all look the same it’ll be better for the game. All I could think of “If you put lipstick on a pig, you got a pig with lipstick”. The reason I was told is not all officials come to games with freshly polished shoes and it looks bad. So my response was “Give each official a can of shoe polish as part of his dues and if he comes to a game with unpolished shoes he wouldn’t work the next week. OH NO we can’t do that was the reply I got back.
So, I’m ending this week’s words of wisdom by telling each and every coach to get involved in who and how the assignment secretary is chosen because your livelihood depends on it!
Till next week…
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