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.