32 in 31: New Orleans Saints

Another year of 32 in 31. Sports News on Tap takes the month of August to preview the National Football League. We spend every day of the month looking at a new team and how they will fare in 2013

I like teams who seem like they are ready to scorch the earth and kick everybody's ass for doubting them. The New Orleans Saints feel like a team who have that sort of attitude.  Drew Brees is carrying the matches while Sean Payton has the gas can.  Obviously, new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has a flamethrower because I mean, c'mon, what else would a Ryan brother be using.  Basically, what I am trying to get to is the Saints are pissed off from last year and they are ready to make another run at a Super Bowl.    

OFFENSE
Drew Brees had a big season in terms of yardage and touchdowns, but if you were to ask Brees, he would probably not call it one of his best seasons.  Brees had 19 interceptions and his quarterback rating was 96.3 which was way down from his 2011 season (110.6).  Although he still threw for over 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns, Brees should have a better year with having Payton back in the saddle calling plays as those two are arguably the best quarterback-coach duo in football.

Brees gets both his 1,000 yard receivers back from last year with Marques Colston and Lance Moore, two players I think get undervalued due to fantasy football. I explained this with Chris Johnson earlier in the month, but because New Orleans spreads out the ball so much, people tend to see their lack of touchdowns versus their actual production on the field.  Jimmy Graham is no slouch either. The former Miami basketball player regressed a bit after his monster 2011 season, but still is the best pass-catching tight end in the game. Graham should also benefit from having Payton back.

The two big questions with this offense lie at running back and left tackle. The Saints have a multitude of good backs with Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles.  There is really no reason why this team should have been ranked 25th in the NFL when it came to rushing the football.  Someone out of these three needs to step up in a major way. Ingram definitely has disappointed in his first couple of years, but as we know, it takes time for some young players to develop into NFL players.

Their offensive line is great for the most part, but they need to replace Jermon Bushrod who left for Chicago.  Right now, Charles Bown will be taking his spot but do not sleep on rookie Terron Armstead maybe playing a couple games mid-season, he has so much raw potential. Also have to worry about someone named 'Charlie Brown' given his inept football playing in the Peanuts strip.

DEFENSE
To say this defense was a dumpster fire last season might be offensive to dumpster fires. They attempted to fix their defense by bringing on Rob Ryan from the Dallas Cowboys. Ryan made the most of what he had in Dallas, and I still believe he is a solid coordinator.  I will say this about the Saints defense, they have a nice mix of young and veteran players which sometimes can be the perfect recipe for a team. With Ryan in charge, they will be going to a 3-4 system and as we have discussed, it takes some time to develop on the front seven.

I believe Cameron Jordan is a player and could be a force as a 3-4 defensive end and do not forget they drafted John Jenkins in the 2013 draft.  Jenkins weighs in around 360 and could be an absolute rock in a 3-4 system.  They added Victor Butler from the Dallas Cowboys and he played under DeMarcus Ware for his first four seasons which should pay off dividends for this Saints team.  Another big addition to this defense is Keenan Lewis from Pittsburgh.  People always talked about Ike Taylor on the Pittsburgh's defense, but people would forget Lewis who always did the little things for the Steelers. The other encouraging thing about Lewis is he knows what it is like to play in an aggressive 3-4 and can help teach the secondary. It is still a transition in the secondary even with  the same four positions out there.  

SPECIAL TEAMS
Garrett Hartley and Thomas Morstead are two of the better ones in the business plus add Sproles taking back kicks, the Saints do special teams as good as anyone.

KEY ADDITIONS
CB Keenan Lewis, LB Victor Butler, S Jim Leonhard, TE Benjamin Watson, QB Seneca Wallace - Touched on most of these guys, but do not be surprised if Leonhard pushes Malcolm Jenkins or Roman Harper for a safety spot.  

KEY SUBTRACTIONS
OT Jermon Bushrod, DT Sedrick Ellis, LB Jonathan Casillias, WR Devery Henderson, LB Scott Shanle

SAINTS DRAFT PICKS
S Kenny Vaccaro, OT Terron Armstead, DT John Jenkins, WR Kenny Stills, LB Rufus Johnson - Vaccaro will be heavily involved with this team. I do not know if he will start out the gate, but he will be valuable. Love Stills as a slot receiver for this team, he could be great.

GAME TO WATCH
Monday December 2nd at Seattle 7:40 pm - The Saints finish the season playing four of their last six games away from the dome. One of their most difficult games will be heading to Qwest Field to battle the Seahawks on Monday night. Hope they do not have the same fate the last time an opposing team played Seattle on Monday night.... Not bitter or anything.

WIN TOTAL 
10-12 - I think they win the NFC South this year.  I feel Ryan will tweak this defense enough to be in fine form by November and while all the road games late sort of scare me, I think New Orleans will be a well-rounded team by then ready for it.

Charlie.