It is easy to dismiss the Saints after last year's performance. However, it was the team's first losing season since 2001, when they went 7-9. New Orleans had a lot to deal with last season due to Hurricane Katrina, and injuries to Deuce McAllister and Joe Horn didn't help the situation. The Saints did not really have a home field, and it showed with the league's worst home record, 1-7. The Saints return to the Superdome this year and have sold nearly 55,000 season tickets (a new club record). They will be looking to put 2005 behind them and a new head coach, starting quarterback, and electrifying playmaker with help. Sean Payton has been cleaning house and it will probably take at least another offseason to get all of the pieces in place.
The offense boasts one of the most impressive groups of players at the skill positions in the NFL. They added Drew Brees (San Diego) to replace Aaron Brooks (Oakland); they also added Jamie Martin (St. Louis) to back him up. It is hard to judge the seriousness of Drew Brees' shoulder injury. San Diego may have let him go because of concerns over it, but it also provided them with a convenient opportunity to get Philip Rivers and his $40.5 million contract off the bench. Reggie Bush (USC) and Michael Bennett (Minnesota) join Deuce McAllister in the backfield, and they still have Joe Horn and Donte' Stallworth at receiver. Bennett could be traded as soon as Bush signs and McAllister shows he is fully recovered from his torn ACL. The team sill has Aaron Stecker as a capable third running back. Stallworth could also be on his way out because of his attitude, but he was one of the only bright spots on the Saints' offense last year leading the team in yards from scrimmage with 240 more yards than any other player. TE Zach Hilton (6'8") is reportedly an underrated pass-catcher, and Brees will try to turn him into the next Antonio Gates, but he might have preferred TE Boo Williams (New York Giants).
The glaring problem with the offense is the line. LeCharles Bentley (Cleveland) is one of the league's best centers and was the best offensive lineman to change teams this offseason after Steve Hutchinson. The Saints also gave LT Wayne Gandy to Atlanta in a trade. They clearly feel Gandy can no longer play, but they did not do much to replace him or Bentley. 2005 first-round pick Jamaal Brown played well at right tackle as a rookie and he will fill the hole at left tackle. They signed the guy Bentley is replacing in Cleveland, C Jeff Faine, but he is big downgrade. RG Jermane Mayberry went to the pro bowl in 2002, but his best years are behind him. They need to replace Brown at right tackle and it is unclear if Jon Stinchcomb will be up to the task after missing 2005 with a knee injury. They have some talent on this line, but all the changes will hurt the continuity. The Saints could not pass on Reggie Bush, but OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson might have helped this team more in the short-term with McAllister and Bennett already on the roster.
The defense has problems of its own on the line, but it has nothing to do with DE Darren Howard leaving for Philadelphia. DE Will Smith is a star on the rise and has 16 sacks over first two seasons. On the other side they have DE Charles Grant who had 27.5 sacks in his first three seasons before an off-year in 2005 (2.5 sacks). With Howard gone, both will play more. The problem is with the tackles. Sean Payton shipped the sixth overall pick of the 2003 draft, DT Jonathan Sullivan, to New England for WR Bethel Johnson. Sullivan was an underachieving menace and lived up to his reputation almost immediately with New England. Twenty days after being traded he was pulled over for running two stops signs. When asked if he had any weapons, Sullivan handed the police officer a hand gun. He was charged with a seat belt violation, running the stop signs, playing loud music and possession of marijuana. The team is better off without Sullivan, but that does not make them any better on the interior of the defensive line.
The linebackers are not good either. Payton sent MLB Courtney Watson to Buffalo for fourth-string TE Tim Euhus. Watson was no longer welcome in New Orleans for the same reasons as Sullivan. He was charged with a DWI last October; he had a beer bottle in his cupholder and was "combative" according to the police report. Like Sullivan it is a case of addition by subtraction. Anthony Simmons could start for them after being out of football last year. WLB Scott Fujita (Dallas) is with his third team in as many years and they are trying to move Colby Bockwoldt to the middle. If that doesn't work, then last year's fifth-round pick Alfred Fincher will play middle linebacker and Bockwoldt will stay on the strongside putting Simmons on the bench. They also added Joe Vitt (the interim head coach in St. Louis) as the new linebackers coach and LB Tommy Polley (St. Louis) who might start. The secondary is not bad. They are set at safety with Dwight Smith, Josh Bullocks, Bryan Scott (Atlanta), and Jay Bellamy. CB Mike McKenzie is the best player in the secondary, but CB Fred Thomas leaves something to be desired.
New Orleans needs to fix the problems with the offensive line before they can be successful on offense. Drew Brees did well behind a less than stellar line in San Diego, but this line is worse. The weakness of the defense up the middle will not help them stop anyone from running the football, especially in their own division and in the games against the NFC East and AFC North this season. This will be a rebuilding year for Payton and they should finish last in the division. However, the team is moving in the right direction and could be pretty solid in the near future.
Key Additions: QB Drew Brees (SD), RB Reggie Bush (R), QB Jamie Martin (STL), RB Michael Bennett (MIN), LB Scott Fujita (DAL), LB Tommy Polley (STL), FS Bryan Scott (ATL)
Key Losses: OC LeCharles Bentley (CLE), QB Aaron Brooks (OAK), OT Wayne Gandy (ATL), DE Darren Howard (PHI), RB Antowain Smith (HOU), DT Jonathan Sullivan (NE), LB Courtney Watson (BUF), TE Boo Williams (NYG)
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