Did you see the Eagles Lesean McCoy hitting the O2 tank in Denver like Norman Hand? That’s all talent going to waste. The man has tons of natural talent, but he’s whizzin’ it away. The Eagles weren’t conditioned well enough and it showed. Sean Payton got “buffed up” in the offseason, now he’s working on the team.

XBuddy Dee’s Ghost, Staff Saints Writer/Analyst

Now by contrast, observe Jimmy Graham after his 2nd touchdown catch. The man doesn’t even break a sweat. Watch Darren Sproles as he scurries around like a lab rat time and time again, bouncing off defenders like the steel ball in a pin ball machine. Both young men seem to have limitless energy, but they didn’t end up with it by accident.

No, there’s plenty of proof that the game is won at least in part inside the gym before the players even hit the field. A great man once said “Genius is 1% inspiration + 99% perspiration.” A large part of the success in 2013 is a direct result of Dan Dalrymple, the New Orleans Saints strength and conditioning coach.

Meet Coach Dan Dalrymple, who the Saints pulled out of college football at the University of Miami of OH back in 2006. Dan designs extensive workout programs tailored to the needs of every player as well as the demands of each position group. Dan has done well in the transition from college ball to the pro’s and the progress made during the Sean Payton and Drew Bees era stands as his personal testimony.

There seems to be an emerging pattern among the 2013 Saints. They look like they let other teams spin themselves out rope-a-dope style. After the other team has spent its adrenaline, the Saints start to slowly take over. We may start a lot of games this year looking like chumps, but at the end of the 4th quarter, it is the other team that starts needing medical attention.

Getting back to the point, there are several things I look for on the field during the game, it’s sort of a “When / Then” situation :

When you see:

A) a team that seems to get progressively stronger as the game goes on

B) a team does not have to keep stopping the game with minor injuries

C) a team does not look winded in the 4th quarter, or worse yet the 3rd quarter

Then: You know the strength and conditioning coach is doing a good job! Great job Coach Dalrymple. Keep’em in the gym!

Picture Credits: Pics courtesy of waltonsun.com and athleticstrengthandpower.com

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