Monday, January 28, 2013
Sports World |
| Saints making huge turnaround before 2013 season Posted: 28 Jan 2013 08:05 AM PST The New Orleans' Saints have already taken big steps towards improving their 2013 season by firing two coaches just one day into Sean Payton's new regime. Payton, back in the New Orleans fold after a one-season ban following the bounty scandal, is determined to make swift changes in order to boost the Saints' on-field performances that have dipped so low in recent years. Having been back in the job just one day he has already fired defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, while the NFL betting odds suggest secondary coach Ken Flajole will also walk. The move comes at an important time for the Saints, who must start rebuilding their tactical approaches to games after a 7-9 season that saw them record the second-worst defence in the NFL. Under Spagnuolo they conceded a 28.4 points a game and averaged the worst yards-per-play score of 6.5. Having admitted on Wednesday that the team's defensive problems "keep him up at night", Payton explained his decision to dismiss Spagnuolo in a brief statement: "Philosophically we are changing our defence to a 3-4 alignment, and right now is the best time to accomplish this transition." Indeed, things must change if the Saints are ever going to pose a threat in the NFC South, where they only finished third in 2012 because Tampa Bay are so disastrous at defending themselves. Going forward New Orleans aren't that bad. At 34 Drew Brees is still an accomplished quarterback – throwing 43 touchdowns this season, a career second-best total, while running back Marcus Colston made 10 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards yet again this season. The Saints ranked second for yardage over the regular season (410.9 per game) and first in passing yards (312.3) although their rush game leaves much to be desired. With a new defence strategy next season and possibly a strengthened rush game from the draft, punters in betting NFL markets feel New Orleans under Payton have a great chance to make the playoffs again and maybe even challenge for a Conference championship. |
| Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:51 AM PST Serena Williams' injury concerns flared up again this week at the worst possible time as the American, en route to the final of the Australian Open, crashed in the quarters to Sloane Stephens after complaining of back spasms. Williams, clear favourite at the start of the tournament between punters on Betfair, had breezed through the opening rounds in Melbourne and looked set to take a straight-set victory over compatriot Stephens and charge into the semi-finals. She had taken the first set 6-3 with ease and even broke her opponent in the second before her trainer was called. Her hurt was treated but still visibly affected the world number three as she let Stephens back into the set and when her opponent took the second 7-5, it became increasingly clear there was only going to be one outcome. Williams crashed out 3-6 7-5 6-4 in the end to a young opponent making only her first Grand Slam quarter-final. Stephens looked composed heading into the last set at 4-4 and confident enough to power through a weakened opponent. Give credit the Stephens, for this tennis odds defying victory may send her into the top 10 on the WTA circuit by the end of the season, but also spare a thought for Williams, who now must be wondering if her body can keep up with the strain of the tour. For Williams has suffered injury setbacks before – most notably in the mid-2000s - but has always come back to again dominate the circuit. The 31-year-old won Wimbledon, the US Open and an Olympic gold medal at the second-half of last season and took the WTA Championship title in Istanbul. Yet a toe injury in the winter hampered her preparations for Melbourne and she rolled her ankle in week one. If injuries persist over the coming months expect the American to tighten her calendar and play less tournaments – the solution to her problems in 2006 and the reason she's won so may Grand Slams. |
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