NFL preview: New Orleans Saints
Though the Saints were last in the NFC South last year, I'm picking them to go to the playoffs as a wild card, despite the fact that their defense will remain one of the worst in professional football.
Projected finish: 10-6 (2nd in NFC South)
Every other team in the division finished above .500 last season, including two teams that made the playoffs in Carolina, a team that doesn't get nearly enough credit for winning the division in this blog as it should, and upstart Atlanta. The Saints were 8-8 despite boasting an offense that was among the league's prolific in most categories. Drew Brees and company should pile up points again in 2009, and I see the Saints winning enough 35-31 games to sneak into the postseason, where they'll be dangerous.
Brees is fresh off a season in which he became the second passer in league history to throw for 5,000 yards. I don't know that he'll do that again, but he should soar past 4,000 if he's healthy. He doesn't have a true No. 1 receiver, though Lance Moore put up numbers reflective of one last season. He does have a deep pool of receivers that includes Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Robert Meacham. TE Jeremy Shockey is very overrated but another guy that might reach 60 receptions, or at least combine with backup Billy Miller on 90 catches.
Pierre Thomas' emergence last season means the Saints might have consistent success running the ball since Deuce McCallister's heyday. Reggie Bush hasn't become what he was supposed to, but is at worst a nice complimentary piece. FB Heath Evans is a nice piece in the backfield as well. Jammal Brown, Carl Nicks, Jonathan Goodwin, Jahri Evans and Jon Stinchcomb allowed Brees to be sacked just 13 times last season. If they can do that again, their run-blocking abilities are almost just a bonus.
DT Sedrick Ellis had a promising rookie season. He is joined on a defensive line that needs to generate more of a pass rush by DEs Paul Spicer and Bobby McCray and DT Kendrick Clancy. Linebacker could actually be a strength. MLB Jonathan Vilma is the leader, Scott Fujita has emerged in the past few years and Scott Shanle isn't a household name, but was voted the team's top defensive player in 2008.
Jabari Greer joins a group of cornerbacks that includes Tracy Porter, Randall Gay and Malcolm Jenkins. New Orleans should blitz a lot more under coordinator Gregg Williams, and these four will have to be way better than the Saints were at the position in 2008 or opponents might exceed their 65 pass completions that went for 25 yards or longer over the past two sesons. Veteran Darren Sharper joins Roman Harper as a starting safety.
