Saints march to 2-0 in preseason

Well the the Texans may have won the battle during the mid week practice sessions in Houston but the Saints clearly won the war in an impressive 38-14 victory Saturday in reliant stadium pushing the teams record to 2-0 in the preseason. So is this a sign of things to come or maybe false hopes for when the real bullets start flying? I for one wouldn’t mind the Saints dropping a game in the preseason, call me superstitious but the Lions went 4-0 last season and well, we all know what happened after that. As long as the starters win when they are in the game that’s all the matters. Here are some observations through 2 preseason games.
Positives:
The Saints have an embarrassment of riches on the offensive side of the football. Mike Bell who was in a battle to make the roster clearly solidified himself as the #3 back with his performance on Saturday night. 10 100 yards on 10 carries is not to shabby and he proved that he could move the pile on third and short. I also like how the Saints put an emphasis on running on the short down and distances.
The Saints are loaded at the wide receiver position. The Saints put on a show with out their leading receiver in Lance Moore in the lineup. Colston, Henderson, and the emerging Robert Meachem did their thing and Arrington, Rod Harper and Courtney Roby also made nice plays. Its going to be an intense battle to see who gets that final spot on the roster.

How good is Drew Brees?
The defense continues to create turnovers

Negatives:
The starting defense failing to get a sack in two preseason games. I realize that they had one called back because of a penalty but it still doesn’t count in the stats.

Drew Brees getting knocked to the ground. Always scary when you see Drew Brees legs collapse, especially in a meaningless pre-season game.
Hartley misses another chip shot. I believe that he has had a mental breakdown and might not have a job when he comes back from suspension.
So far so good for the black and gold but lets remember that these games don’t count.

LSU in 09

LSU at 8-5 is unacceptable. Even head Coach Les Miles would agree as he said at LSU fan/media day two weeks ago. The bar is raised extremely high for the tigers, anything less than an SEC championship game appearance sets the fan base into a frenzy and two straight years without being in at least a new years day bowl is enough for tiger fans to put for sale signs in the coaches yard. Most pre-season rags have the tigers anywhere from 9-15, which I think is somewhat fair considering the amount of blue chip talent that is on the roster. With that in mind lets take a game-by-game look at the Tigers in 09.

Sept 5 @ Washington: Ask most tiger fans and they think this trip to Seattle is nothing more than a walk in the park, I’m not one of them, and I fear the unknown. Tigers win but closer than most people would like. LSU 1-0

Sept 12 Vanderbilt: The Dores were a great story last year and will be a threat to get to a bowl game again this year, however the tigers do them no favors and when by 14. LSU 2-0

Sept 19 ULL: The rajun Cajuns make the short trip to Baton Rouge to take on the tigers. There will be a battle in the parking lot for best tailgating food between the fan bases; unfortunately for the Cajuns the game will not be competitive. Tigers by 30. LSU 3-0

Sept 26 @ Mississippi State: Dan Mullen brings the Florida offense to Stark Vegas in hopes of jumpstarting the Dawgs. Yikes no Tim Tebow, no Percy Harvin, means MSU once again falls to the Tigers. LSU 4-0

Oct 3@ Georgia: I’m not high at all on the bulldogs from Athens this season but LSU continually struggles between the hedges. This is a toss up game for me but I see Georgia winning a low scoring game against the Tigers. LSU 4-1

Oct 10 Florida: The game losses just a little luster with the Tigers dropping last weeks game against Georgia, but the fact that it’s a night game on CBS against the number 1 team and defending national champions has the fan base in a frenzy. Much like 2 years ago LSU pulls off the upset when Patrick Peterson intercepts Tim Tebow late in the 4th quarter. Tim Tebow vows after the game that the gators wont lose again all year, and say he is glad he never has to visit Baton Rouge again. LSU 5-1

Oct 24 Auburn: LSU comes off a much-needed open week ready for the guys on the plains. It doesn’t matter if AU is in transition or not the war eagles always play a thriller against LSU, this year no different but LSU wins. LSU 6-1

OCT 31 Tulane: Wow this game used to matter. Doesn’t anymore the only thing scary about this game is the score. LSU rolls! LSU 7-1

Nov 7 @ Alabama: Tough pick. The Saban bowl is all tied up at 1-1 apiece with each team winning on the road. I see LSU squeaking this one out in a good one. LSU 8-1

Nov 14 LA Tech: Derek Dooley has the bulldogs and their fans believing that they can do big things. Tech comes in on a nice winning streak but they come back to earth when the LSU d throws a second half shut out. Tigers win but closer than in recent memory. LSU 9-1

Nov 21@ Ole Miss: Once again this game is being called the biggest since Archie was throwing the pigskin for Col. Reb. Ole Miss has already dropped 2 games at this point and can’t afford another one. Snead has a big day and Houston Nutt still somehow has the Tigers number. LSU 9-2

Nov 28 Arkansas: The hogs have given Les Miles fits lately. The tigers need this one to gain a berth in the SEC title game. LSU up by 3 at the half but cause 4 turnovers in the second half to pull of a 10-point victory. LSU in the Georgia dome. LSU 10-2

SEC Championship Game: LSU vs. Florida part 2. Remember that whole Florida won’t lose again thing? It applies here. LSU 10-3

Postseason: Sugar or Capital One????????

Pre fall camp season predictions

Coming off an 8-5 season that finished with an independence bowl victory Louisiana Tech fans are chomping at the bit to see that the 09 dawgs can do for an encore. Here is my pre fall camp practice prediction for tech in 09. Subject to change after I see a practice haha.

Sept 5 @Auburn: My friends at BBB are a lot more confident about tech in this game than I’ am. I think tech keeps it close at the half but Auburn scores first out of the locker room to put it away. Auburn by 17. Tech 0-1

Sept 12@ Navy: Tech tries to erase the memory of a blown game against army last year. My heart tells me they do but my head says they don’t. I’ll go with the heart on this one and say that they win a northern Illinois like game. This is really a toss up. Tech 1-1

Sept 19 Nicholls state: The launch of gatavision sees the bulldogs get on track in a big victory over the colonels. Tech 2-1

Sept 30 (Wed) Hawaii: A rare midweek game sees a nice church crowd enter the Joe at the end of the first quarter, by then they have missed tech race to a 14-3 lead. Tech never looks back and puts it on the warriors. Tech 3-1

Oct 9@ Nevada: The wolfpack owns tech and I don’t see it ending this year. Tech 3-2

Oct 17 NMSU: A nice homecoming crowd sees the bulldogs struggle with the aggies but tech pulls it out in the end. Tech 4-2

Oct 24@ Utah State: The aggies are actually a pleasant surprise this year and give the dawgs fits but Dooley’s Dawgs block what would be a game tying field goal. Tech 5-2

Oct 31 @Idaho: Halloween in the kibbie dome, not exactly a house of horrors. The bulldogs avoid the rusty nail that holds down the turf in the kibbie dome turf and are on a bit of a roll. Tech 6-2

Nov 6(fri) Boise: One of the biggest games in recent tech but unfortunately its Friday night in north Louisiana, you know what kind of crowd that means. Regardless Tech shocks Boise with a late Td run by Porter. Tech 7-2

Nov 14 @LSU : Tech vs LSU usually means LSU is good that year. More competitive than in the past but Tigers still win by a comfortable margin. Tech 7-3

Nov 21@ Fresno state: Bulldogs still feeling the after affects of LSU plus a west coast road trip run out of gas in 4th. Tech 7-4

Dec 5 SJSU: Tech finishes the regular season undefeated at home with win over sjsu to sow up a trip to new mexico. Tech 8-4

New Mexico Bowl:
Tech vs. Utah ?

Tough time with that navy game, I went with heart on predictions but think Navy takes it, we will see after fall camp.

Where will the Saints march in 09?

This is my favorite time of year, bar none. Being a life long saints fan this is a time of hope and optimism; we all have a shot at the super bowl on July 30th. Alas reality sits in around November that once again the saints won’t be playing in the big game. We got close in 06 and have been chasing that feeling ever since. This year just FEELS different, I cant explain it but a lot of you know what this FEELING is. As training camp gets started here are some keys to look for:

1) Can Drew Brees stay healthy: The Saints have been blessed that Drew Brees hasn’t missed a game since he signed with the black and gold. If Drew Brees gets injured its over…done. As number 9 goes so goes the saints.
2) Will the defense be better: Sean Payton sure hopes so. He gave Gregg Williams $250,000 of his own money to come in and change the mindset. We would all love to see the second coming of the dome patrol but that’s not going to happen, I’ll settle for a top 16 defense, I think that’s enough to get into the post season
3) Who will be the tailback: Pierre Thomas finally gets a chance to shine and Reggie Bush is coming to camp mostly healthy. I’m going out on a limb and predicting big years for both with one going to the pro bowl. Smart money on Reggie for the number of all-purpose yards he will put up.

That’s just a quick look on July 30th; stay tuned to “ Fox and Company” throughout camp for live reports from Gus Kattengell.

Media day thoughts on the east

Yesterday we looked at the West today a glance at the East

Florida: Sorry Tebow haters this young man is the real deal, he doesn’t just talk about being a Christian he lives the life. Which is amazing because women literally throw themselves at him. On the field as much as people talk about FLA being unstoppable Tebow is still the head of the snake, stop Tim and the gators lose.

Georgia: Joe Cox is very small! I mean I was amazed this kid was an SEC qb. He wont be Stafford but he doesn’t have to be, just turn around and hand it off to Caleb King and don’t lose the game. The defense should be strength with the return of a healthy defensive tackle Jeff Owens returning, he was an entertaining guy at media days.

Tennessee: Lane Kiffin looked like he was going to pee on himself during the press conference. Some, as Nick White would say “ Bill Bobbaee 6734323” from a South Carolina message board kept asking questions about Alshon Jeffers “The target of the pumping gas comment” trying to get Kiffin to admit that he said it. I mean Kiffin is a tool but this guy takes the cake…. Note to Bill Bobbaee, USC on the east coast is not relevant, nobody cares! On the field I think UT wins 6 games make a bowl and unfortunately I think Kiffin gets more 5 star kids to play for him in the future, he is HIP!

South Carolina: Quote from late media member to press conference, “Did I miss Spurrier?No big deal”!!! WHAT!!!!!!!!! The visor has lost his mojo, the man who owned the sec at Florida has become an afterthought in the new SEC. Bottom line their qb is a basket case, they are weak at the skill positions but their defense will keep them in games enough to get to a bowl.


Kentucky: Rich Brooks has a ford and bourbon named after him, welcome to the big time sir. This guy has won 3 straight bowl games for the wildcats and yet all people want to talk about in the commonwealth is Coach Cal. The wildcats have a very good defense led by maybe the best cornerback in the nation in Trevard Lindley but I think the bowl run ends and Rich Brooks hands the team over to Joker Phillips. When is midnight madness?

Vanderbilt: This just in….Vandy enters a season with momentum and a bowl victory, yes a bowl win. Bobby Johnson has done an amazing job at one of the toughest places to win in the country. I like the Dores want to see them do well but the dorks inherited the turf last season and I don’t think it happens again. Good news I don’t think it will be forever till their back in the postseason. Yesterday we looked at the West today a glance at the East

more to come

Stay tuned. Tommorow we talk about observations on the sec east!

Wow what a trip to Birmingham for the 2009 sec media days. In the six years we have done the show nothing can quite compare to this event. You ever just go somewhere and it just "feels" different? Thats what you get when you walk into the lobby in the Wynfrey Hotel. From the fans gathered on the first floor, to radio row, and of course the press conferences up stairs you knew it was big. What is it about this game that we are so passionate about? In the south we dont just like football...We LOVE IT!!! We plan our vacation days around the weekends of Sept to Dec. We will sacarafice doing the honey dues for 9 months of the year for 3 months of manna we call the pigskin. The scary thing is its only getting bigger.

Quick Observations from Media Days for each school:

West:

LSU: Great to have a one on one with Les. He remembered the show from the infamous day Rueben Randles dad calls in . Something tells me as long as the LSU faithful wants him he is going to stay, you can tell he has a genuine love for the school and the state, you cant say that about alot of coaches. Also Jacob Cuttrera looks alot like James Laurinitis, hopefully he will play like him. Not alot of love for the Tigers from the rest of media. Everyone is talking about Ole Miss and Bama.

Alabama: Jesus aka Nick Saban has entered the building. Nothing compares to when St. Nick enters the lobby for media days. Easily over 100 people downstairs on a thursday just to catch a glimpse of Saban...Do these people work? unfortunately alot of these folks fit the bama stereotype but also some nice folks. I give them credit they LOVE the tide..Maybe a little to much. For a state with 2 sec schools its clear by being here that Auburn is a distant second among the folks in this state. Rolando McClain is a monter! The media picks The tide to win the west.

Auburn: Gene Chizik is boring and maybe 2o Auburn fans showed up for the day the plainsmen, tigers, wareagles take the stage. The media doesnt think very highly of Auburn picking them 5th in the West. I think thats fair but I also see them squeaking out 6 wins and a bowl. Expect a big year from TB Ben Tate, it may be a "spread" but it will be run first. Very impressive staff for Gene.

Arkansas: Spoiler alert....Nobody wants to play the hogs. The Hogs were picked 4th in the west but they were easily the team labeled " Wildcard". Ryan Mallet will break a few fingers this year with his fastball and they have some nice players at the skill positions. Loads of questions on D but they do have experience. They seem to have LSU's number...Will that end this season?

Ole Miss: Colonel Reb is smiling. I was shocked when the media poll came out and the rebs were picked second behind bama. Everyone I talked to was talking about how impressed they were with Ole Miss. Houston Nutt is a better coach than the hog fans give him credit for but he does tend to struggle when expectaions are high. Safety Kendrick Lewis said the thing that shocked him most about the cotton bowl was how SLOW Texas Tech was. This was a team that was in the top 5 most of the season. Just shows you how scary the SEC is.

Miss State: 1 strike against Dan Mullen. He tweeted as he started his presser. Dont know what to think about the guy. Brings alot of nervouse energy but that can be good or bad. His offense is proven but can he can some horses to starkville. Wouldnt be surprised if they start a true freshman 2 or 3 weeks win. Be patient dog fans, may be 2 or 3 years before you see results.