Where are they now?

I know that for most Saints fans we were pre-occupied by the homecoming game we had last week, but did anyone else notice that Donta Stallworth sat out Sunday's game against the 49ers with a strained hamstring. Only a matter of time. Also, has anyone else noticed that Jim Haslett's Rams defense is ranked 18th and giving up about 130 rushing yards per game. Seems like he's still having trouble stopping the run. As for other Saints that we could do without this season, Aaron Brooks has been injured since the second week of the season with wait for it...shoulder issues. Much like he had his second season with the Saints. Maybe that's why he overthrows everyone and has a tendency to toss a couple backwards.

Panther vs. Saints

This week is a big test for the Saints. Coming off a shortened week of practice and facing another top notch divisional foe the Saints once again must prove they are for real. The main test will be to establish the running game because looking back at Carolina's two losses they were run all over the field. It'll be important for the Saints to utilize Duece and Reggie once again while trying to stretch the field with Colston and Horn. Plus with LB-Dan Morgan still out for Carolina (concussion #5 or 6 or 7) this could mean the Saints will have a good chance of attacking the middle of the field. I was unhappy to hear that Rob Ninkovich was seriously hurt on a kickoff coverage last Monday night. He is one of my favorite rookies for the Saints this year. Seems like he could be out for a while with torn ACL, but will have to wait for MRI results. He is was a valuable special teamer not to mention a good rotation guy for our d-line. I would like to see us cover kickoffs a lot better this week because we gave up too many big returns last Monday. McKenzie will be matched up with Steve Smith for most of the game, but I think the Saints will have Roman Harper back there to help with coverage. It's going to be a fierce, aggressive, hard hitting game. If the Saints can establish the run and keep their defensive intensity up for 60 minutes we have a chance to walk out of Charlotte with a win. No matter what it will be a field goal or less deciding this game.

Each week the Saints keep getting underestimated maybe this is the week we show everyone in the NFL that the Saints are not a pity team. I dislike that most of the media seem to be wary of judging the Saints because of what they saw during preseason. Now it looks like many of the writers and sportscasters are noticing that the Saints have some weapons on offense, and the defense is slowing coming together. John Fox said yesterday in a press conference that the Saints are the team to beat because they are hot and playing with an attitude. That's all due to Sean Payton's influence on the team. Let's go Saints!!! Who dat!!!

I know that for most Saints fans we were pre-occupied by the homecoming game we had last week, but did anyone else notice that Donta Stallworth sat out Sunday's game against the 49ers with a strained hamstring. Only a matter of time. Also, has anyone else noticed that Jim Haslett's Rams defense is ranked 18th and giving up about 130 rushing yards per game. Seems like he's still having trouble stopping the run. As for other Saints that we could do without this season, Aaron Brooks has been injured since the second week of the season with wait for it...shoulder issues. Much like he had his second season with the Saints. Maybe that's why he overthrows everyone and has a tendency to toss a couple backwards.

Panther vs. Saints

This week is a big test for the Saints. Coming off a shortened week of practice and facing another top notch divisional foe the Saints once again must prove they are for real. The main test will be to establish the running game because looking back at Carolina's two losses they were run all over the field. It'll be important for the Saints to utilize Duece and Reggie once again while trying to stretch the field with Colston and Horn. Plus with LB-Dan Morgan still out for Carolina (concussion #5 or 6 or 7) this could mean the Saints will have a good chance of attacking the middle of the field. I was unhappy to hear that Rob Ninkovich was seriously hurt on a kickoff coverage last Monday night. He is one of my favorite rookies for the Saints this year. Seems like he could be out for a while with torn ACL, but will have to wait for MRI results. He is was a valuable special teamer not to mention a good rotation guy for our d-line. I would like to see us cover kickoffs a lot better this week because we gave up too many big returns last Monday. McKenzie will be matched up with Steve Smith for most of the game, but I think the Saints will have Roman Harper back there to help with coverage. It's going to be a fierce, aggressive, hard hitting game. If the Saints can establish the run and keep their defensive intensity up for 60 minutes we have a chance to walk out of Charlotte with a win. No matter what it will be a field goal or less deciding this game.

Each week the Saints keep getting underestimated maybe this is the week we show everyone in the NFL that the Saints are not a pity team. I dislike that most of the media seem to be wary of judging the Saints because of what they saw during preseason. Now it looks like many of the writers and sportscasters are noticing that the Saints have some weapons on offense, and the defense is slowing coming together. John Fox said yesterday in a press conference that the Saints are the team to beat because they are hot and playing with an attitude. That's all due to Sean Payton's influence on the team. Let's go Saints!!! Who dat!!!

We're 3-0!!! The Saints are in first place!!!

Bless You Boys!!! What a game! If there was ever a time to be proud of our New Orleans Saints it's today. They came home, they showed up, and they kicked ass. I can't boast too much because the season just started and we have a long way to go. Still, I continue to believe that Sean Payton is putting together one of the more disciplined teams in the NFL. Only two big bone head penatlies really hurt us: Jamal Brown's holding call after a huge Duece run and Deloatch's late hit on the Falcons return guy. Both of those calls would have received an angry scowl from our former predecessor (Haz), but Payton jumps on your ass in front of everyone letting you know that you let the team down.

This is a good practice to coach this season because by next year everyone on the team will know whether you've got the balls to back up your tirade. Payton runs a tight ship, good focus, and more importantly preparation. You rarely see a player out of position. I know Saints fans everywhere complain about Mike McKenzie's play. Still you have to admit the guy tackles, matches up against the opponents best receiver all game, and never bitches or moans about the lack of safety help. Last night he got nailed on a long pass by Vick, but the ball was perfectly thrown to the outside shoulder of the receiver and the receiver gave him a push off with the left arm. Not too mention the Saints had Roman Harper (safety) playing up near the line of scrimmage all game guarding Algie Crumpler or spying Vick.

There was a lot of emotion going into last night's game in which the players rode sky high all game. It was the most dominating defense I have seen from the Saints since the Dome Patrol Days. Here are a few things I would like to see more of in the future.

1. Reggie Bush running straight ahead instead of towards the sidelines. He had one nice run up the middle, but two to three he tried to bounce out for little or a loss.
2. Stretch the field more. Use Brees arm to throw some deep balls and open up the field some more. When DeAngelo Hall went out the game I figured we would attack down the field instead we played it close to the vest.
3. Fujita's sack celebration. I loved it. It was so cool that I wish the whole defense would do the same thing anytime they make a big play. Almost like a Japanese thank you ( two hands coming together like you were praying).
4. Sean Payton showing the fist pump a la Gruden style. It was funny and yet symbolic after Deloatch recovered the punt block in the endzone. I've noticed that Payton is very animated guy even though he doesn't always appear to be going insane.
5. Defense to keep up the intensity each game. If the defense can swarm and ball hawk like they did last night, the Saints are going to be able to win those close games.

All of last night's images will forever stay with me sort of like the 2000 Wild Card game. If anything at all the game provides a lasting memory of something good in our Post-K world in which things are slow to change, easy to forget, and difficult to rebuild. The diversion will last for a couple of days then we need to start focusing in on the direction. If we want the Saints to stick around New Orleans we are going to need more business, better schools, and less crime. All of the things we strived for before Katrina. So if the Saints can make believers out of us, why can't we make believers out of the Saints. Bless You Boys!!! Gotta have FAITH!!!

First day as a waiter

Been living in Austin for over a couple of months now and hand't landed a job yet. So I went up to the local neighborhood bar and grill and put in an application. Little did I know that 3 weeks later I would get a call to come in for an interview. 2 days later I was starting my first day on the job of being a waiter at a local bar and grill.

I am not going to go into many details about the restaurant because it really has no baring on my stories. So my first day and I was what they classify in the waiter worl as "in the weeds." Not that I needed that pointed out time and time again. Still I was trying to pick up everything on the menu, learn the tables, and more important learn the POS system. I was there for only 4 hours and then got cut before happy hour started.

What I've noticed about the job is how people act when they get out of the work environment or home environment. It's like a free for all caluous behavior. The job I have is one that requires a lot of focus and attention to detail, but it all thrives around making people feel like kings and queens. I have a new found respect for people who wait tables and manage restaurants because you are not only dealing with hundreds of ballyhooing customers, but some of the oddest people in the world who work in the place. The moment I was introduced to the other waitstaff they were sizing me up like a piece of meat. I could see the questions swirling around there heads.
"Will he steal my tables? I betcha he's some freaking loafer? Why can't we get more competent people to work for us?"

That was my first day on the job. Get to go back for more today as I start off in the kitchen as an expo. Needless to say I have to take a quiz on the menu before I start. Looking forward to that like I cleaning the bathrooms after closing.

ACL, Fall, and the Homecoming

Went to Austin City Limits last Friday to enjoy some good music outside during our last weekend of the summer. Got to see Ray LaMontagne, John Mayer (wife's choice), and heard a little bit of Los Lonely Boys. I have to say that the ACL is just like Jazzfest with more out of town musicians. They still don't have the food and shuttle thing down yet, but give them a few years and they will figure it out. What I love is being out at night and listening to the music underneath the stars. How great it would be if Jazzfest stayed opened until 10pm. Granted Jazzfest is two weekends and ACL is only one, still you could bring in some larger names for the late night concerts. They also did a great job of providing huge screens to watch the concert if you couldn't get close enough which was definitely cool for larger bands. It's a great draw for the city of Austin which has a great music scene for those who love live music.

The weather is slowly changing around here. For the better that is. Today I woke up and it was 59 degrees. That's a great contrast to Sunday morning when I woke up and it was 81 at the same time. I love fall. There is something about it, leaves changing, cool breezes, and that crap. It's a great time of the year to be outside. Just wish it would stay like this for the next 4 months. I can't remember the last time I drove my car with the windows down and ac off. Can you still do that? I thought it was illegal to turn off the ac.

Went back to the Shoal Creek Saloon (Austin's unofficial headquarters for the New Orleans Saints games) this past Sunday to catch the Saint go to 2-0. It was amazing. They actually came from behind and won. Fans inside the bar were chanting Who Dat and Bring on the Dirty Birds. This has prompted a lot of optimism in our hometown which is much needed, but let's not get ahead of ourselves everybody. I love my Saints, but one thing I do notice is that we've got a long road ahead of us in so far that we can be a playoff team. Last week Favre didn't score a touchdown against the Bears, and this week he threw for 350 yards and three TDs. I am hoping the Saints can keep the biggest game of the season close on Monday night at the Superdome. Emotions will be running high and the city is anticipating a victory, lets root on our team no matter what the score is because it's a blessing just to have them back in the Dome. I think the Saints can score on the Falcons, my issue is whether we can stop Vick and Dunn. Dunn has made it a hobby of his to tear the Saints defense a new hole everytime they play. Although the Saints defense has made some strides against the run this year they still have not witnessed a ground attack like the Falcons. I think the Saints are only going to get better each week, and I think that the Falcons game will be a stepping stone to see what type of team we'll be this season. Bless you boys. Let's get a victory; not for all of us trying to recover, but for the team as we build for the future. It's great to be back on Monday Night. Looking forward to seeing Charles Grant announce the defense. The Dome will be a rocking so don't come a knocking.

A win is a win.

Who would've thunk it? 1-0!!! We already have a third of the victories we totalled from last year. The wife and I went to a local saloon here in Austin that had an advertisment about being the official headquarters for the Saints. I was pleasantly surprised by how many fans there are living here in Austin. Much less that there are people who actually root for the Saints outside of New Orleans. The world has gone mad. It seemed like there were about 45 fans packed into this tiny bar with McAllister, Bush, Brees and even a Morten Anderson jerseys. It was like being at an Arabi crawfish boil. Wow what fanatics. There were loud screams and hollars everytime Reggie touched the ball.

I have to admit I was more thoroughly impressed by the aggressiveness of our defense. It seemed like we were swarm tackling, chasing French Frye all around, and stuffing the Browns on consecutive 3rd and 1's. I loved it. I even started the Who Dat chant after Colston caught our first touchdown of the season. He's a surprise to everyone, and don't tell me you knew he was going to be the real deal. This isn't Alex Molden or Vaughn Dunbar. Seventh round!!!

What was even better is that we sat with a group of guys from New Orleans, two of them recently moved here and were previously living in Lakeview. He kept saying to me. It's going to be a whole lot better living here in Austin. I looked at him and said, "Nothing will ever better New Orleans, but I can take living in Austin as a close second." We shared stories about the storm, the rebuilding, the Saints, Vince Marinello, and lastly LSU football.

Things I worry about going into Game Two:
1. Fullback position - No one knows who will be back there blocking for Duece and Reggie. Right now it'll look like Conwell will line up back there on certain packages. Not too promising, but I expect Payton to have a game plan ready.
2. Defense returns - Yeah it's great to shut down the Browns, but the Packers will be ready for us with Ahman Green and Donald Driver. Not too mention Favre will have a chip on his shoulder wanting to prove to everyone they can play. Let's just say we need the defense to show they same aggressivenes they showed the Browns.
3. Say it ain't so Joe - Where was Joe Horn? We need him to make those catches and be the mouth of our offense out there on the field. On the goal line we should have thrown it to him atleast once. I like Devery, but Horn is a prove All-Pro.
4. Red Zone - We need to punch the ball in the endzone a little bit more. I like to win, but it's more comforting when we get the ball in the endzone and cruise to victory. No offense to Payton but the play calling down on the goal line needs to get better.
5. Duece is loose - No ill affects from last year's game when Duece got hurt. I wanna see Duece smashing it up the gut and tearing apart there defense. It was great to see the exchange between Duece and Reggie, just want to see a little more of Duece this week to reaffirm that he's back.

More coming on Friday. Like our chances against the Packers. And like I told my brothers, we are only going to get better.

Take back the t.v. Men, men, manly men.

Wonder if Nick Saban is allowed to throw overhand, but maybe all that Miami mojo has questioning his ability to be assertive.

Steelers defense looked like what everyone else wished there defense looked like. A well oiled machine. Troy Pala-(I wanna lei ya) hair can be found in the bloodstream of Rickey Williams. That thing has to be an NFL violation of something. I mean if the NFL is worried about gold shoes and high socks, why the heck can't they mandate a hair net.

Looking forward to this weekend and college football and my Saints. Since I'm a diehard Domer it will be hard to pull me away from NBC on Saturday even with Pat Hayden butchering my game. It won't be the Snow Bowl of 1992, but it definitely will be a great game to watch. Look for the Irish offense to come alive at home under Touchdown Jesus.

Living in Austin has it's advantages. Like #1 vs. #2 on Saturday night. It's seems to me that it's the Superbowl for most of these fans. Tickets ranging from $2 grand to your left nut are being offered by scalpers. Not pretty. Still I wonder what will happen after this weekend if Texas loses. Will they hang Mack Brown or take it as an early season loss? Ohio State is ridiculous fast on offense. They remind me of Texas last year except their defense is unproven. Look for Ohio State to sneak into Austin and pull of a victory. They have an edge to them after losing out last year in Columbus, plus Troy Smith wasn't Troy Smith of today last time they met.

Saints and Browns. Too fan bases that love to love the losers. I love Cleveland fans. They have as much pride in their team as Saints fans do in theirs. Problem is neither one of them have won anything. I know this for sure. I can't stand the Browns. As a new franchised team in 1999 they collected their first win against a Ditka team that refused to win and on a freaking Hail Mary. Only Saints are allowed to execute that play. Saints should establish the run early in hopes to keep their defense off the field. The less you see of the defense the better. I like the Saints chances. Just trying to keep level headed about the season. One cool thing to watch for is Bush returning punts. I just hope we can force them to punt. If so, I will be chanting "Another Bush, please beerman."

Madlib-- The 2006 Saints will be (adj.)_______

Expectations are running at an all-time medium for my beloved Saints. In what many believe to be a rebuilding year with a new coach, new system, and new players it could be a little bit more promising. Just remember when the Saints aren't expected to win they hold up pretty well. In all honesty they have some big questions.

1. Will they ever stop the run?
The have lead the league with the worst rush defense this side of the NFC for the last couple of years. Hopefully, new coordinator Gary Gibbs will be much better than the last one Rick Venturri, who was collecting social security and pension money from the Saints. Not only was Venturri a hold over from the Ditka-less era, but he was kept after the Saints defense progressively got worse every year after Ron Zook left. I can't heap too much blame on Haslett other than the fact that he couldn't pick a character guy out of crowd of Kramers. He was consistently picking up players who would either be over-weight, stealing money out of others lockers, or just getting arrested in strip clubs the night before games.

2. Will Sean Payton bring us a winner?
The one thing that I hope and pray happens to Sean Payton is that the Saints build a team instead of a flash in the pan. Haslett won right off the bat and expectations from that point were excessively high. If Payton can build a team like Bellichik did in New England than us Saints fans we will be happy for years to come.

3. Can the offensive line protect Brees?
Definitely. Still it will be a learning process as most of the guys on the line are new to the position or team. I think it will be decent year for the running game. That's the only way we are going to protect our QB.

4. Will St. Reggie be a prime time player?
This is a hard one. I think his adjustment to the NFL will not be immediate as so much as a process of learning how to get him the ball. The thing about playmakers is that they need the ball in their hands to do something special. I am sure Reggie will make some great highlight plays. Just don't expect them to happen everytime he touches the ball. This isn't the Pac-10 and the d-ends are much quicker to the ball. Plus Deuce is going to need to get touches to keep the defense honest on the run game.

5. How many games will the Saints win in 2006?
I project that the Saints are viable for a 7-9 type of season. Now if they get some breaks it could be 8-8. I like anything better than 3-13. Still they have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL with double games against NFC South and NFC East as their other schedule games. Why couldn't they have given us the NFC West? I look for the Saints to get better as the season goes along especially on defense. I'm not expecting playoffs, but I really want to see my team compete in every game this year especially against Dallas, Philly, Carolina and Tampa because that will reassure us that next year we can take them.

Here's to the 2006 New Orleans Saints. Love'em like they were your own kids. This is going to be a fun season. Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints? Who dat?