The New Orleans Saints enter another National Football League season with quarterback Drew Brees and head coach Sean Payton at the helm. However, those around the quarterback will be the focus of Week 1 as many observers have doubts about every phase of this team.
Drew Brees is still Drew Brees
Despite coming off a 7-9 season in 2015, Saints QB Drew Brees is still a premier quarterback in the league and with him at center, the Saints offense always has a chance. Brees is a few more years left in him to lead this team to the playoffs and possibly another Super Bowl but those around him need to step up and rally behind the influential quarterback. If the offense, in particular, running back Mark Ingram can stay healthy, it will lessen the pressure on Brees and allow him to call and spread the play at will. That is something he and the Saints would love to see happen.
The Saints offensive line is also something that team can build on. Led by center Max Unger, one of the best around, the offensive line can keep Brees clean and allow him to make the plays that will push their drives forward. Many look to this line of players to step up another gear this season and make themselves the premier offensive line in the NFL.
In the preseason, the offense has not looked so hot. They seem to have struggled with putting together drives and getting the ball into the end zone. As it is only preseason, Saints fans will be hoping that those issues will lessen by the time by the time the Saints open their season against the Oakland Raiders. Everyone knows that if you give Brees the right weapons, for example, someone like wide receiver Brandin Cooks, he will thrive and almost single-handedly win games for the Saints. That is the aim this season for them, let Drew Brees be Drew Brees.
The Saints defense could be a turning point
Led by a veteran defensive end, Cameron Jordan, the Saints defense has been porous for far too often now especially if they want to be considered a perennial playoff team. The Saints' pass rush, probably their weakest defensive standpoint was not something to write home about last season and the front office has made moves to fix that.
Stephone Anthony led all rookies in tackles last season and the linebacker looks set to step up his play this season as well. He has moved from a middle linebacker position to the strong side so his snap count may decrease, which could be a mistake by the Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen considering how well Anthony did last year in that position. At the back end of the defense Kenny Vaccaro continues to be a great Safety for the Saints and if he continues on with his good form and the team adds teammates around him to support his play, the Saints may finally have to stop worrying about giving up so many big pass plays.
Offseason movement
In the offseason, the Saints lost the services of corner Brandon Browner, who had a poor 2015, long-time Saints tight end Ben Watson and wide receiver Marques Colston, and offensive guard Jahri Evans. Bar Browner, the Saints have lost some key personnel in Watson and Evans but they have looked at their depth chart and the draft to try and replace those players.
The Saints only had five draft picks in 2016 but they made the most of those picks. Safety Vonn Bell is definitely one to watch and although, Byrd is ahead of him right now in the depth chart, look for this rookie to make a splash any time he gets onto the field. He could be that good. The Saints also drafted defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins who looked good in preseason but unfortunately, the tackle broke his left fibula in mid-August and will not be available until at least midseason.
Saints GM Mickey Loomis spent this offseason trying to shore up the obvious problems with the Saints. A big signing for the Saints was at tight end, Coby Fleener. In his time at Indianapolis, the tight end made a case for being one of the best in the league and with a QB like Brees to help his progression, Fleener could grow even more. That is if he picks up the Saints playbook which according to reports, he seems to be struggling with. The Saints have also brought in Paul Kruger and Chris McCain through trades to try and give them more impetus in the pass rush.
Season predictions
The NFC South is the Carolina Panthers to lose and it will be a battle between the other three teams to get a wildcard spot into the playoffs. Can the Saints do it? Well, that remains to be seen. They have made some movement to try and fix their weaknesses but the team still looks relatively the same as last seasons and unless the vast majority of that team picks up their form drastically this season, it may be another season watching other teams in the playoffs for the Saints.
The Saints goal is to make the playoffs but the stretch in October and November that sees them play the Panthers as bookends to that stretch, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos could put the Saints in a very difficult position for a playoff spot. As this is football, on any given Sunday, the Saints could win these games but nothing from their preseason form and their acquisitions have shown that they are a better team than last season's roster.
All in all, this team could possibly finish with a 5-11 record all things considered. They need big improvements from almost everyone on their roster and also need to avoid big injuries to key players like Unger, Terron Armstead, Vaccaro or Cooks if they want to make the playoffs this season. Head coach Sean Payton will be hoping that his players respond to the criticism aimed at them during the preseason and surprise people with an outstanding season, like the one that led them all the way to a Super Bowl win in 2009.