Michael Wilbon on 980 ESPN - Saints are a fraud

[aikemirv]

The Cowboys defense has shut down some of the highest flying offenses this year. What they did to NO was just another example.


If you look at the defenses of many other teams in the NFL and then look how the Dallas defense has shut these teams down to a certain degree, I think it just gives the Dallas defense much more credibility.

For example, what Dallas did in holding Green Bay to minimal points, what Dallas did to NO Saturday and the bigest example is how the Cowboys limited D Jackson from making big plays like he does against EVERY other team

 

[kmd24]

The biggest problem the Saints have right now is the injuries to Jabari Greer and Randall Gay. They can't stop anyone, and they aren't getting the turnovers they were.

On offense, Bushrod looks like he's in over his head.

I think the corners will be back in the playoffs, so they should be tougher on defense, but the LT situation is going to continue to be a problem if Bushrod doesn't pull it together.

 

[Don Corleone]

So no credit given to the Cowboys defense? We are holding opponents to around 17 ppg. IMO, that gives you a chance to win each and every week.

 

[Bloodbunny]

LOL, if ANYONE other than the Cowboys knock off the Saints, this discussion isn't happening.. But since it was Dallas that won, all of the sudden the Saints are frauds and should have been 0-14.

Embrace the hate people.... That needs to be the tone for the rest of the season; us against the world, like the 07' Gnats.

 

[sonnyboy]

The Saints are frauds..Say what you want, that team is not a superbowl caliber team - PERIOD. I said it before Dallas beat them on Saturday. Now do not get me wrong, the Saints are a damn good team and I am not taking anything away from Dallas' Victory. It was arguably the best all around performance by the Cowboys in years. What I am saying is that the NO Saints will NOT win the NFC. So when I say they are frauds, all I am saying is they are not as good as many thought they were but they are still a very good team. Their defense is just not good enough to win in the playoffs.

Very good teams are Super Bowl caliber teams.

We're the Saints as good as many made them out to be, of course not. I said this myself and believed it was why we could win.

But they are a SB caliber team and still have the inside track to win the NFC.

This was a great regular season road win by the Cowboys. You have to go back to 1991 to find one that tops it.

 

[Don Corleone]

The biggest problem the Saints have right now is the injuries to Jabari Greer and Randall Gay. They can't stop anyone, and they aren't getting the turnovers they were.

On offense, Bushrod looks like he's in over his head.

I think the corners will be back in the playoffs, so they should be tougher on defense, but the LT situation is going to continue to be a problem if Bushrod doesn't pull it together.

I agree with that, but some of the things they did scheme-wise are just arrogant regardless of the names out there. Like putting Sharper on Austin. Austin wins that battle 99 times out of a hundred.

Gregg Williams is a brilliant d-coordinator, but sometimes too brilliant for his own team's good. I mean, there is a reason why he doesn't hold a job in one place for too long.

I was at the game on Saturday night, and the Saints radio guys on WWL were salivating at the exotic schemes that Williams was planning to throw at Romo. Romo is no rookie. Give the QB a little bit of credit.

 

[AsylumGuido]

The biggest problem the Saints have right now is the injuries to Jabari Greer and Randall Gay. They can't stop anyone, and they aren't getting the turnovers they were.

On offense, Bushrod looks like he's in over his head.

I think the corners will be back in the playoffs, so they should be tougher on defense, but the LT situation is going to continue to be a problem if Bushrod doesn't pull it together.

Yup. We have been treading water waiting for Greers return. He is extremely close. At least we finally got our other starter back, Tracy Porter. We will also not be missing Sedrick Ellis, who is clearly the highest impact player on our defense. We just can't get the same pressure without him in the middle and our run defense is no where near as good.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

You don't win 13 games in a row if you are a fraud. If they were frauds they would have lost before now.

They are a good team. Now that does not mean they will goto or win the Superbowl but calling them frauds is foolish at best.

 

[Hoofbite]

Why does anyone listen to this guy?

Why does anyone listen to ESPN?

 

[JBS]

Very good teams are Super Bowl caliber teams.

We're the Saints as good as many made them out to be, of course not. I said this myself and believed it was why we could win.

But they are a SB caliber team and still have the inside track to win the NFC.

This was a great regular season road win by the Cowboys. You have to go back to 1991 to find one that tops it.

By no means am I one of those guys talking down about Dallas' victory, it was as impressive as I've seen from any team all season. My belief is that you cannot win consistently in the playoffs playing the way the Saints play. If you watch basketball at all it is similar to the Phoenix Suns trying to win an NBA championship, it just does not happen.

Of recent memory, the St. Louis Rams are the only team that has been able to accomplish winning it all playing the way the Saints do. Am I sitting here saying the Saints have no chance? No, I am just giving you my opinion and telling you that I will side with the percentages, and the percentages state they will not win it all, let alone the conference.

So, when I sit here and say they are frauds, all I am saying is they are NOT the best team in football like many people had them marked down as prior to Saturday.

 

[sonnyboy]

The biggest problem the Saints have right now is the injuries to Jabari Greer and Randall Gay. They can't stop anyone, and they aren't getting the turnovers they were.

On offense, Bushrod looks like he's in over his head.

I think the corners will be back in the playoffs, so they should be tougher on defense, but the LT situation is going to continue to be a problem if Bushrod doesn't pull it together.

Gay is nothing special. The DT they're missing is hurting them.

But I'm sure missing Columbo and Hamlin certainly contributed to are recent losses to the Giants and SD.

The eagles have significant injuries to their OL and LB core and have managed to win 5 straight.

Chargers have multiple injured defensive players right now.

What team has it's opening day projected starting 22?

 

[Bach]

If the Saints are frauds then every team in the league are frauds too.

The Saints could pull a one and done in the playoffs, but at this point I think they have as good of a chance as any and should be considered one of the top favorites, at least in the NFC. There's question marks about all the other teams in the conference. The Vikings looked bad last night and I would rate them a fraud before I did N.O. After that you have Philly/Dallas in the NFCE, GB and Arizona. All of them have a chance to make a run, but all also have looked bad at times and have their blemishes.

The one thing about the Saints is that they aren't really proven or battle tested in the postseason. That often is a huge factor, but as the Cardinals showed last year, it doesn't always mean anything though.

 

[percyhoward]

Michael Wilbon on 980 ESPN - Saints are a fraud

Sounds like somebody exposed them.

 

[JBS]

If the Saints are frauds then every team in the league are frauds too.

The Saints could pull a one and done in the playoffs, but at this point I think they have as good of a chance as any and should be considered one of the top favorites, at least in the NFC. There's question marks about all the other teams in the conference. The Vikings looked bad last night and I would rate them a fraud before I did N.O. After that you have Philly/Dallas in the NFCE, GB and Arizona. All of them have a chance to make a run, but all also have looked bad at times and have their blemishes.


The one thing about the Saints is that they aren't really proven or battle tested in the postseason. That often is a huge factor, but as the Cardinals showed last year, it doesn't always mean anything though.

No chance in heck would I consider the Vikings frauds before the Saints. The Vikings play a playoff winning brand of football. They play solid defense, they can run the ball, and if you don't stop their running game, they can also throw the ball. The Vikings would annihilate the Saints H2H, that is a terrible matchup for NO. Football is ALL about matchups, and the Saints do not matchup well vs Minn.

In order to beat Minnesota you have to stop AD. Look at the teams who have beaten them recently, they both shut down Peterson. If you shutdown Peterson you force Favre to beat you and that gives you the best chance to win. The NO Saints have 0 chance of shutting down Peterson. Plus J. Allen would feast on that Bushwhacker they have at LT.

 

[Bach]

No chance in heck would I consider the Vikings frauds before the Saints. The Vikings play a playoff winning brand of football. They play solid defense, they can run the ball, and if you don't stop their running game, they can also throw the ball. The Vikings would annihilate the Saints H2H, that is a terrible matchup for NO. Football is ALL about matchups, and the Saints do not matchup well vs Minn.

In order to beat Minnesota you have to stop AD. Look at the teams who have beaten them recently, they both shut down Peterson. If you shutdown Peterson you force Favre to beat you and that gives you the best chance to win. The NO Saints have 0 chance of shutting down Peterson. Plus J. Allen would feast on that Bushwhacker they have at LT.

It's possible. But I see the Vikings having risen to this point due to Farve, the same way in '07 he got the Packers to the NFC championship game. But, I think the 40 yr old will run out of steam and get exposed in the playoffs.

 

[trickblue]

Saints are a fraud for losing to a pretty good team, while the Vikings are not after getting pummeled by a below average team...

 

[JBS]

It's possible. But I see the Vikings having risen to this point due to Farve, the same way in '07 he got the Packers to the NFC championship game. But, I think the 40 yr old will run out of steam and get exposed in the playoffs.

I can definitely see that happening as well. That is why I continue to say that in order to beat Minn you have to make Favre beat you because if Peterson beats you, you have no shot.

My stance on the entire situation 4 plus weeks ago was that neither the Saints or the Vikings would win the NFC. It just seems to me that teams come flying out of nowhere to win this conference year after year. Let's just hope the Cowboys are that team this year!

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Wilbonehead would rather cut his own throat than give the Cowboys credit for doing something no one gave them a chance to do. I'm not impressed with him at all. Too bad he even has a voice.

:laugh2:

 

[Bach]

Saints are a fraud for losing to a pretty good team, while the Vikings are not after getting pummeled by a below average team...

Well, one has Farve and one doesn't. Totally explains it.

 

[cowboyed]

No chance in heck would I consider the Vikings frauds before the Saints. The Vikings play a playoff winning brand of football. They play solid defense, they can run the ball, and if you don't stop their running game, they can also throw the ball. The Vikings would annihilate the Saints H2H, that is a terrible matchup for NO. Football is ALL about matchups, and the Saints do not matchup well vs Minn.

In order to beat Minnesota you have to stop AD. Look at the teams who have beaten them recently, they both shut down Peterson. If you shutdown Peterson you force Favre to beat you and that gives you the best chance to win. The NO Saints have 0 chance of shutting down Peterson. Plus J. Allen would feast on that Bushwhacker they have at LT.

How can you state that when the Panthers took the Vikings to the woodshed last night.