Going Back To The Big Easy - Saints Talk

[Diomedes]

re: Garcia's arm strength.

I remember a pass down the middle last night that was a bullet, threaded in between a couple defenders.  Can't recall who caught it..Brown??  Buck or Aikman commented on it at the time, something like "how did he get that pass through?"

[PhillyPhreak54]

True. And like I said - it could matter or it could not.

But one reason Andy did that ws because he had a veteran team with playoff experience.

And apparently Joe Horn is listed as doubtful. That would be nice to not have him out there.

[Dillen]

re: Garcia's arm strength.

I remember a pass down the middle last night that was a bullet, threaded in between a couple defenders.  Can't recall who caught it..Brown??  Buck or Aikman commented on it at the time, something like "how did he get that pass through?"

He doesn't have a great arm but he has a really quick release and no wasted motion.

[Magical_Retard]

ok my take on the game...

we have to pull out all the stops for this one. let reno KR but put in stallworth or westbrook from the start at PR duties. im tired of us having such horid field position most of the time. also we need to pull some "trick" plays. not the flea flicker we have used like 3-4 times already but something...u know the saints will and seeing as how i dont think we are the better team we need to pull out something out of the bag. how about a onsides kick somewhere in the game, how about a pass from westbrook or westbrook takes the hand off runs to one side, passes it back to garcia who launches one for stallworth.

might sound crazy but the dome will be rocking and we need to take the crowd out of it. i also say this cause i believe for us to win we need to score 30+ pts.

also i still didnt like some of the stuff i saw yesterday. on the possesion where the eagles picked off eli, they got into the redzone and i believe passe the ball 3 times in a row, didnt complete one, and had to kick a FG. run the ball early and often and thats why the trick plays might even work.

[PhillyPhreak54]

re: Garcia's arm strength.

I remember a pass down the middle last night that was a bullet, threaded in between a couple defenders.  Can't recall who caught it..Brown??  Buck or Aikman commented on it at the time, something like "how did he get that pass through?"

Yeah, it was Reggie and it was a big 3rd down conversion. That was a good throw and a good catch.

I just hope that Andy and Marty don't go back to the same philosophy this week as they used last time with chucking it deep all the time. McKenzie and Thomas can be beaten deep. But set those guys up and take shots on occasion. One thing that may save them from doing that is Garcia doesn't throw the deep ball as good as McNabb.

L.J Smith needs to be rediscovered too. Since Jeff has taken over he doesn't really seem to look at the TE that much.

[Magical_Retard]

re: Garcia's arm strength.

I remember a pass down the middle last night that was a bullet, threaded in between a couple defenders.  Can't recall who caught it..Brown??  Buck or Aikman commented on it at the time, something like "how did he get that pass through?"

Yeah, it was Reggie and it was a big 3rd down conversion. That was a good throw and a good catch.

I just hope that Andy and Marty don't go back to the same philosophy this week as they used last time with chucking it deep all the time. McKenzie and Thomas can be beaten deep. But set those guys up and take shots on occasion. One thing that may save them from doing that is Garcia doesn't throw the deep ball as good as McNabb.

L.J Smith needs to be rediscovered too. Since Jeff has taken over he doesn't really seem to look at the TE that much.

oh yeah lj smith needs to be involved.

[Munson]

re: Garcia's arm strength.

I remember a pass down the middle last night that was a bullet, threaded in between a couple defenders.  Can't recall who caught it..Brown??  Buck or Aikman commented on it at the time, something like "how did he get that pass through?"

Yeah, it was Reggie and it was a big 3rd down conversion. That was a good throw and a good catch.

I just hope that Andy and Marty don't go back to the same philosophy this week as they used last time with chucking it deep all the time. McKenzie and Thomas can be beaten deep. But set those guys up and take shots on occasion. One thing that may save them from doing that is Garcia doesn't throw the deep ball as good as McNabb.

L.J Smith needs to be rediscovered too. Since Jeff has taken over he doesn't really seem to look at the TE that much.

Actually McNabb got away from LJ first before he went down...then I thought Garcia started using him again...but then also got away from him.....either LB's are tightening up on him or they're not calling the right plays...he needs to be going down the seem/post/flag routes...he's just not the type of TE that should be doing those 4 yard turn around routes. He's too athletic/fast for that.

[SD_Eagle5]

January 8, 2007


FOX Sports' Brian Baldinger is confident that the Eagles will march past the Saints into the NFC Championship Game ...
"The last time the Eagles played the Saints, the Eagles defense couldn't get off the field. But this defense isn't the same as it was then. That defense gave up too many big plays and made too many mistakes. This defense has improved in its third-down play. There are two things to look for here: I broadcast the game a few weeks ago in which the taterskins broke down the Saints protection and applied all kinds of pressure to quarterback Drew Brees.


The Eagles need to contain the Saints explosive offense
"Jim Johnson is capable of putting together the same kind of scheme. If the Eagles can get to Brees and make him move, the defense will have a much better chance. The second thing is defending wide receiver Marques Colston. He is such a big kid, and the Eagles need to body him up. If he catches the ball and falls down, he gets a first down. The Eagles need to get up on him, maybe use a big body like Michael Lewis to man him up and get physical with him.

"The Saints had the ball the last 8 ½ minutes of the game in October. This Philadelphia defense is much better at getting off blocks and limiting the big run, which they didn't do in October.

"Offensively, I think the Eagles match up very well. Ladell Betts had a huge day running the football for Washington against New Orleans. Even with Hollis Thomas back in the lineup, the Eagles should have success. There isn't much inside that worries me as far as the New Orleans defense. I just think the Saints are very, very soft inside. Washington exposed them. The Eagles will do the same with inside zone running and I think they should be getting 5 yards a pop, like they have been.

"Hollis is better than what they have, but it shouldn't make a difference. Who is going to move Shawn Andrews on that team?

"I like the Eagles in this game. I don't even worry about this game. This is a completely different Eagles team than the one that played in New Orleans in October. New Orleans has been exposed and the Eagles are smart enough to take advantage. I don't care about the bye week, because the Saints have never been in the playoffs. They don't know what the playoffs are about.
"The problem you would worry about with most teams is, 'How will you handle the atmosphere of the Superdome?' A lot of teams have had trouble with that. But I haven't seen Jon Runyan or William Thomas flinch yet in any of these games on the road. And Jeff Garcia thrives off the crowd. I think it's almost a benefit for the Eagles to go on the road and play New Orleans.

"Look, the Eagles beat a tough Giants team on Sunday and did it by ramming the ball down New York's throat on the last drive. Every move Andy Reid has made - whether it is bringing Koy Detmer back to the team, or keeping his team focused - is working."

[Zanshin]

Thankfully, most of the talking heads are picking the Saints as a mortal lock.  I feel much more comfortable that way. 

[Tomahawk]

Baldinger is more of an Eagles homer than Jaworski.

[rjs246]

The fact that the Saints lost to some bad teams gives me hope.
The fact that the closest thing to a guaranteed win in the NFL is a home game after a bye completely erases that hope.

Go Birds.

[Tomahawk]

The fact that the closest thing to a guaranteed win in the NFL is a home game after a bye completely erases that hope.

Is that just something you believe, or have you seen the actual numbers? I wouldn't mind seeing the numbers of the post-season only.

[Wingspan]

The fact that the closest thing to a guaranteed win in the NFL is a home game after a bye completely erases that hope.

Is that just something you believe, or have you seen the actual numbers? I wouldn't mind seeing the numbers of the post-season only.

2005
Seattle and Denver won at home
Indianapolis and Chicago lost at home
2-2

2004
all 4 teams won at home
4-0

2003
Kansas City and Tennessee and St Louis lost at home
Eagles won at home
1-3

2002
home teams 4-0

2001
Philly, New England, Pittsburgh won
St Louis lost at home
3-1

2000
Oakland, Giants, Vikings won
Tennessee lost
3-1

1999
Jacksonville, St Louis, Tampa won
Tennesee lost
3-1

1998
home teams 4-0

1997
home teams 3-1

[rjs246]

Post season numbers for teams with byes are even more lopsided than the numbers during the regular season... I'll see if I can find the exact stats but it's something like 65% win percentage for home teams after a bye during the regular season and 70%+ in the post season.

[BigEd76]

Another stat to throw out there:  the Eagles are 3-0 this season on short weeks (vs DAL, at WSH, vs ATL)