The first bit of real Super Bowl hype has officially come! Whew, and you thought we were actually going to have to be resigned to analyzing the Semi-Pro Bowl. Thankfully, 10 days before the game, Saints coordinator Gregg Williams has given the starving media something interesting to dissect, analyze, and go bonkers over. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported, here is what Williams had to say that was either part nutty, part offensive, part stupid, or part brilliant... depending on your outlook on life.
About pressuring Manning...
"The big thing is that he throws the ball so early that we're going to have to do a good job of finding ways to get to him and when we do get to him we're going to have to make sure he gets a couple 'remember me' shots when we get there."
About punishing Manning and perhaps drawing penalties...
"When you put too much of that type of worry on a warrior's mind, he doesn't play all out," Williams said. "If it happens, it happens. And the only thing you'd like for me to say is that if it happens you hope he doesn't get back up and play again."
Mike Florio is scared to death that the Saints will try and take Manning out of the Super Bowl by playing dirty and delivering late hits on purpose... please. Other pundits believe Williams is just plain ignorant in thinking that his defense has a chance to get to Manning at all. Others laugh and say that the Saints D will remember Manning torching them for 350 yards and 4 TDs. Some say this quote is good bulletin board material for the Colts. If you listen to the actual quote in context, the last bit was more of a light-hearted remark, not a threat to Manning's career.
While it's easy to hyperventilate over a defensive coordinator speaking with an open mind, here's 5 doses of reality...
1) We are still 10 days from the Super Bowl and anything relevant said during this time will be taken out of context.
2) Should Gregg Williams say that his team has no chance to sack Manning and will concede 40 points?
3) Would you rather face Peyton Manning in the biggest game of your life or Curtis Painter?
4) Defenses... are supposed... to try and hit... the quarterback.
5) Williams' comments mean about 0.01 % of the grand Super Bowl Scheme, the Saints punishment of Kurt Warner and Brett Favre means much more.
The real story is the transformation of the Saints defense into a physical unit that can punish the best QBs in the game. Granted, the remark about knocking Manning out of the game might be too much candor. But, it's taking the comments out of context to say that there is a bounty on Manning's head. Behind Williams' comments though is an underlying attitude and nastiness that can help the Saints D. They said Kurt Warner would kill the blitz of the Saints - all New Orleans did was usher him into retirement.
Then in the NFC Championship Game, the Saints punished Brett Favre for 60 minutes, thinking that their hits would pay off and Favre would make a mistake in the end. Favre showed unreal toughness, but did make the mistake that the Saints were anticipating. The Saints beat up Favre like few QB's ever have without actually getting sacked. The physical and emotional toll was evident for #4 after the game.
Now, the Saints defense faces its toughest test. There is no other way to beat Peyton Manning than to punish him and put him on the ground. Pittsburgh, San Diego, and New England have shown the blueprint to beating Peyton Manning is to get in his face, make him uncomfortable, and hit him. The Saints have absolutely zero hope of winning if they want to sit back in a zone all night and let Manning go to town as The Sheriff (sorry, had to make fun of Jon Gruden's nicknames at some point).
The culture of QBs in bubble wrap has led to a surprised reaction by most at Williams' comments, but this is the old-school attitude that has taken the Saints to where they are. Peyton Manning might complain to get calls, the league and its puppets will want to protect its stars, and folks can pretend that this is flag football. Should it be expected that the Saints play nice with Manning so he can look good for his next "Cut That Meat" commercial? Or for his next dress up act?
When Super Sunday comes, it'll be the players on the field that win the game and not Gregg Williams' mouth, overprotective referees, or offended talking heads. As a Saints fan, it is refreshing to hear the team admit that they are coming into this game to win and play with the same fire and physical nature that has taken them to the team's first Super Bowl appearance. The NFC Championship was nice, but now it's time to win a world championship. Sure, they might not get to Manning, and he might throw for 400 yards in a blowout win. Or, the Saints might be able to punish Manning like Favre and Warner before him and lift the Lombardi Trophy. Whatever the outcome is, it's not going to be dependent on innocuous comments by a defensive coordinator 10 days before the game.
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