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The Hornets have some work to do before they can call themselves an elite club.

Here's why:

1) Rebounding was again a problem tonight. Hornets were outboarded by 10, Atlanta grabbed 13 offensive rebounds.

2) Hilton Armstrong is going to have to improve quickly. His line tonight: 3 points in 4 fouls in 13:24 of play time. Not good.

3) I am going to go ahead and say it now. Before, the trade deadline the Hornets are going to have to make a deal for a point guard. Mike James is just not comfortable at the spot. Chris Paul sat out the first 2:28 of the 4th quarter. The Hornets went from 4 up to 2 down.

4) Byron Scott was brutally honest. He basically said that the "book" on his team was to hit them hard, they may not punch back. They did not tonight. Result: Atlanta 3-0 for the first time in 11 seasons.

note: Hornets announced attedance at 16,030. A 14 game sellout streak was broken.

Ed Daniels
New Orleans Arena
10:41 pm 11/5/08

My guess is Jarrett Lee will one day be a very good SEC quarterback. But, his growing pains have cost LSU a shot at a BCS bowl.

Lee was intercepted 4 times against Bama, three by Tide safety Rashad Johnson. Johnson returned a second quarter interception 54 yards for a touchdown that tied the game at 14.
Lee has now thrown 14 interceptions, 6 have been returned by the opposition for touchdowns.

Head coach Les Miles was asked if he considered turning to true freshman Jordan Jefferson? Are you kidding me? Jefferson has had so little game experience, playing him against Alabama was simply not the right thing to do.

Bama is a very good team, but they are at least a level or two below Florida. Team speed is the difference. But, Bama is well coached by Nick Saban. They do what they do. Their quarterback is a senior, they have a real good offensive line, and their defense is solid. However, I think Florida is at least 10 points better, and they will prove it December 6th in the SEC championship game.

Give LSU's defense credit. They were outstanding. Patrick Peterson , true frosh corner, will be one of the best five defensive backs in school history.

LSU also ran the football for 213 yards. That was very impressive considering Alabama was allowing 65 yards a game on the ground.

Ed Daniels
Baton Rouge, LA
9:28 pm
Saturday 11 08

SHOW ME HOW A MAN SPENDS HIS TIME, AND I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO HIM.
SEAN PAYTON SPENDS A LOT OF TIME ON THE PASSING GAME BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HE BELIEVES. HE LOVES HIS QUARTERBACK, AND HE SHOULD. IT IS WHY HE TRADED TWO DRAFT PICKS TO THE GIANTS FOR JEREMY SHOCKEY.
PAYTON WANTS TO BEWILDER OPPONENTS, AND PUT UP TELEPHONE NUMBERS ON THE SCOREBOARD.
BUT IN THE NFL, IT IS ABOUT RUNNING THE FOOTBALL AND PLAYING DEFENSE. WHY IS TENNESSEE NINE AND OH WITH KERRY COLLINS AT QUARTERBACK? RUN IT AND PLAY DEFENSE. HOW THE DID THE GIANTS WIN THREE STRAIGHT ROAD PLAYOFF GAMES LAST YEAR AND THEN BEAT UNBEATEN NEW ENGLAND IN THE SUPER BOWL? ELI MANNING COULD RELAX AND PLAY, AND NOT FORCE THROWS, BECAUSE HE KNEW THE GIANTS COULD RUN IT AND PLAY DEFENSE.
THE GIANTS OFFENSE HAS THE BALL FOR 34 MINUTES A GAME. THE DETROIT LIONS HAVE THE BALL FOR 26 MINUTES A GAME. ANY QUESTIONS?
IN THE OFF SEASON, IF I AM TOM BENSON, I AM ASKING MY GENERAL MANAGER AND HEAD COACH, ARE YOU PREPARED TO ADDRESS THE OBVIOUS?

Saints quarterback Drew Brees has played 43 games in black and gold. He never played better than he did in Monday night's 51-29 rout of Green Bay.

Brees' numbers are outstanding: 20 of 26 for 323 yards and 4 TD's. But, what really stands out is that Brees accomplished the feat against the stingiest pass defense in the NFL. The Packers led the NFL in fewest passing yards allowed. For three quarters, the Saints tossed the running game out of the playbook, and completed pass after pass against a bewildered Green Bay secondary. You don't see that very often in today's NFL.

Once the Saints got ahead, the defense was able to play aggressively. Jason David had two of the Saints three interceptions of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

So, its off to Tampa this week. The Bucs are a whole different animal than Green Bay. Tampa Bay leads the division at 8-3. As well as the Saints played against the Packers, a win at Tampa would be the Saints biggest by far this season, and truly propel the team into playoff contention.

Wide receiver Marques Colston said he was admonished by his coaches for tossing the ball too quickly after scoring on a 70 yard reception from Drew Brees in Sunday's win over the Packers.

Colston tossed the ball in the air as he crossed the goal line. He came very close to tossing the ball away before he scored. Said Colston of the next time he scores, "I will carry it (the football) to the bench with me."

The catch was Colston's only of the game and his first TD of 2008. He says last week he was fitted for a smaller splint on his surgically repaired thumb. And, he liked the switch.

Tampa Bay has trailed in its last three games, and won. The Bucs are 5-1 in games when their opponent scores first.

Tampa Bay is not known as a passing club. But, the Bucs are 6th in the league in passes attempted. Tampa Bay has thrown 396 times, the Saints 425 (#2 in the NFL).

The Tampa Bay defense is allowing only 32.5 % third down conversions. That is second best in the league.