The real test begins for the New Orleans Saints as they enter Sean Payton’s second season. They should remain productive at putting points on the board. Drew Brees has an instinctive command of the offense. They have a solid offensive line. And Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush complement each other very well in the backfield. They have a nice collection of young receivers, but either Devery Henderson or rookie Robert Meachem must step up as a consistent downfield target to complement Marques Colston. The biggest question again is on the defensive side of the ball. They can get to the quarterback with Charles Grant and Will Smith coming off the perimeter. Now they must prove they can stop the run and create more turnovers if they want to get deep into the playoffs again. They didn’t bring in any high impact players this spring, but added a host of steady contributors. Kendrick Clancy provides quality depth upfront to spell Hollis Thomas at times. Brian Simmons will be a steady veteran presence at linebacker. Jason David and Kevin Kaesviharn add numbers to a suspect secondary. Kaesviharn has a knack for creating turnovers.
If anyone challenges the Saints, it will be the Carolina Panthers. John Fox still has a respectable defense to remain competitive. Ken Lucas should rebound at cornerback after injuries slowed him considerably last season. Richard Marshall proved to be a strong cover guy as a rookie. They still have Julius Peppers rushing the passer. They’ve always been strong along the front four, but Mike Rucker is aging and coming off a knee injury. Kris Jenkins faces an uncertain future after trade talks surfaced this spring. Jenkins is the key to their run defense. They can’t afford bitter feelings affecting his play on the field and trading him leaves a major hole upfront. The offensive side of the ball is a concern. Jake Delhomme remains respected in the huddle, but must protect the ball better. David Carr is waiting in the wings if Delhomme struggles again. Unfortunately, Steve Smith is the only proven target in the passing game. Dwayne Jarrett could become a solid pass catcher to complement Smith, but will have growing pains as a rookie. The run game is concern until proven otherwise. DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams are solid fits in Jeff Davidson’s new zone blocking scheme, but one of them must step forward as a feature back. Williams has the feet and quickness to break a lot of plays if he stays healthy. There should be more stability across the offensive line this season if everyone stays healthy. This is a team at a crossroads after several competitive years under Fox. They have always bounced back from down seasons, but face a lot of personnel questions entering training camp.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain in transition after losing a number of their cornerstone players the past few years. But Jon Gruden is going for a quick fix at quarterback to save his job. Jeff Garcia is the perfect fit to run Gruden’s offense, but I have doubts whether Garcia can remain effective for 16 games. That’s why Gruden is pleading for Jake Plummer to put off retirement. Carnell Williams must prove his durability at running back. Joey Galloway is the only playmaker in the passing game. They jury remains out on Michael Clayton and tight end Alex Smith. They are building solid numbers across the offensive line. You have to give Monte Kiffin a lot of credit for keeping their defense from not falling apart. They’ve lost a lot of key players the past few years. They aren’t creating the same pressure from the front four or generating as many turnovers these days. Gaines Adams was a nice addition as Simeon Rice nears the end. Kevin Carter is a solid stop gap upfront. A healthy Brian Kelly helps the secondary if contract concerns stay off the field.
The Atlanta Falcons are making a paradigm shift under Bobby Petrino. There is more pressure on Michael Vick than ever following an eventful off-season. Vick could be a solid fit to push the ball downfield in Petrino’s offense, but must also become a lot more efficient in the passing game and protect the ball better. Joe Horn brings a strong veteran presence if he can avoid nagging injuries, but Roddy White and Michael Jenkins must become more consistent if the passing game is to take shape. Despite having the top ranked run game last season, questions exist with Petrino going to a power based attack. Warrick Dunn showed signs of wearing down late last season. Jerious Norwood might not be durable enough in this scheme. On defense, they’ll miss the leadership of Patrick Kearney. John Abraham has trouble staying on the field. And they have questions inside as Grady Jackson is at odds with the club over his contract and Rod Coleman is rehabbing a quadriceps injury. DeAngelo Hall is their lone certainty in the secondary. The rest of this group is a concern against the pass. Chris Houston could have inconsistencies as a rookie. Lawyer Milloy and Chris Crocker are vulnerable against the pass inside.
That the New Orleans Saints are favored to win anything makes us life-long Saints fans nervous. Drew Brees is more important to New Orleans than our rebuilt levees heading into the heart of Hurricane Season....
FF, as long as Brees is under center and is healthy, I wouldn't fret too much. The Saints improved their defense by bringing in solid role players that KNOW how to play in a team concept. I especially like the addition of K Squared (Kevin Kaseviharn (sp?)). The guy has a knack for creating turnovers. The one concern is whether or not the Saints can stay healthy. If they can, I think they're the team to beat in the NFC. (And it pains me to say it as a Panthers fan!!) I do think my Panthers CAN challenge the Saints IF their many questions are answered in the affirmative.
Jake Plummer is a GREAT fit in Gruden's version of the West Coast offense. If he reports to training camp, it wouldn't take him long to learn the offense, and he'd be starting by Week 8.
Saints fans will always fret until 00:00 on the clock and at least one more point than the opposition in the Super Bowl.
Did you notice how quiet the Superdome got when Bush fumbled while the Saints were running out the clock and barely managed to beat the Eagles?
Or when the Saints beat the then Super Bowl-defending Rams in 2000? Az Hakim holds on to that punt and Kurt and Co. march right down the field and win.
We have a strange Voodoo down here, man. It's like Hugo Weaving in The Matrix series: "Do you hear that, Neo? That is the sound of inevitability..."
Until it happens, this Saints fan will always be looking over his shoulder.
Last edited by Fightin_Fugee on July 9th at 9:17 PM.
Jeff Garcia is a much better QB then Jake the Flake. The bucs need to stick with Garcia who has a much better grasp on the west coast offense then Plummer.
You know I have to agree with Fightin Furee. Man there have been so many years when those of us who are true fans( No insults intended) were promised a superbowl team. Those are the years we went 3-13. So until they prove it I will cheer for them but I have to be cautious.
Once again , how many times do we see a team get a new coach(Payton) and have offensive sucess only to see the other teams slow that system down in year two. New Oreans will not have the emotional momentun they experienced last year(post Katrina). The Saints defense is middle of the road at best, while Atlanta is on par with N.O.'s, Carolina, and the Bucs will be much improved. Offensively, the jury is still out on Petrino and Co., but the Buc's definitely will be much improved(both sides of the ball)and the Panthers could be explosive once again. I see this as a very competeive division form top to bottom. Injuries as always will probably determine who wins thid division. So if Brees goes down, then what? If Vick goes down, is Harrington the answer? If Jake goes down, Carr might be good enough, If Simms goes down, Garcia has proven what he can do! I only mention the QB position because so few survive the season. In the day where most teams try to have two competent RB's(San Diego, Dallas, Minnesota) it is. time for the same to be said about the QB position
The Saints are still the little sister in the NFC to the Chicago Bears until proven otherwise. Chicago will have home field advantage again and the Saints have to prove that they can get the job done outside of a dome. They were the overwhelming pick by everyone as well going into the NFC Championship game and the Bears embarassed them 39-14 without two of their top defenders that they will get back this year (Tommie Harris and Mike Brown).
Throttle, the Bears will make the playoffs because the North has to send 1 team. Last year the Bears were fortunate to have 10 gimmes on the schedule. They got homefield because of this and went to the SB. This year the Bear schedule is much more difficult, the NFC east and AFC west, and they play New Orleans and Seattle also. The only gimmes this year will be the division games and Oakland. No homefield means an early hiebernation for the Bears.
Thank you QCisco. The Bears are a shell of what they were last year. They play a schedule that is 10X harder and their division actually looks to have a few sleepers. Don't count the Vikings out (I can't believe I just said that).
I would hardly call the saints little sisters to the bears....that game was well within reach until late in the second half. The Saints beat themselves and were just sloppy with the ball, perhaps the rain could have had something to do with it who knows. What I do know is you can't rely on just special teams and defense to win games sometime the offense has to do it for you and vice versa....but given the offseasons both the Bears and Saints had, on paper it looks as though the Saints took two steps forward an the Bears took two back...And I don't think the Bears will manage 5 wins out of there division this coming season so don't be suprised if homefield advantage isn't secured until week 17 when NO travels back to CHI....good stuff.
True, Brees is more important than a levee and we all shudder to think he might go down. However, Payton is the levee and will not go down. In Saints-speak, Payton may actually be the second coming, the saviour personified. As for whether they can win it all, I'll just be stoked on back to back playoff runs. The rest of the division is irrelevant.
The Chicago Bears are the defending NFC champs until proved otherwise. However, this year, I think they will need that home field advantage more than ever. I think the Saints will be significantly stronger on defense than they were last year and should still be able to put eye popping numbers on the board on offense. The Panthers are the best threat in the division to the Saints and must be respected, but I just don't think they have the horses that New Orleans will field this year. I do not see where the Bears have improved themselves in the offseason as much as the Saints have, particularly on offense. If the Saints run the table pretty well this year, they might end up with the home field advantage in the playoffs and if that happens, well ... this might be the hear hell freezes over for long suffering Saints fans ...
In fantsy football, should I start the Minnesota defense against Vick's falcons? THey can stop that insane rushing attack, but can Vick finally throw the ball well now?
Last edited by cofmanaaron on July 10th at 9:43 AM.
Last years game against the Bears was nothing more than a mistake by a rookie coach. He will not make that same mistake twice and i promise you he will have the Saints ready to serve up a nice cold dish of revenge. GO SAINTS!
how i wish that Jones would of Kept sean peyton and let the tuna go....you guys got a good young coach and when i saw what that offense did last year all i could think is how the cowboys could of done so much more.......good luck to the saints but when you meet up with the Boys again it will not be the same cowboys that you hammered last year....go cowboys
I don't think it was so much of a mistake as it was the Boys in Black and Gold were making mental errors. I really think that coach Peyton did a great job of coaching just the little things got to evrybody because for most of them this was their first time in the playoffs.
Thats what they all say mdm. Guess what it won't be the same Saints either. But I can say the beating won't be as bad because Coach Peyton doesn't now the new head coach that well. OH wait I forgot that your head Coach is Jerry Jones so I guess it will be the same.
No. What really happened for New Orleans was the "Clock Struck Twelve" and they turned back into a pumkin. The magic voodoo #### is gone now. No one is going to be suprised. They are not going to have a 7th round pick turning out to be a probowler. They are going to have to win with teams having experience with them and gunning for them. They won't be blind siding everyone. They are in a whole new arena. I think they will have to work their #### off to get 9 wins this year. I think all you guys have your blinders on. You are completely ignoring the facts of the NFC. The first round byes will come out of NFC east (Philly?/Cowboys?) NFC west Seahawks. Bears will only go to the Playoffs because the North has to send someone. As for New Orleans they better get off their high horse or they won't make it at all. I smell one tough season for Sean Peyton and his boys.
KDXR I am just a fan saying my peace but you are all up in arms about it. I am sorry if I offended you by cheering for my team but in case you don't get it try reading some of Adam Schien's coulmns sometimes. As a matter of fact just read anybodies. The bottom line is the Saints are a legit team. Your right they will have to work their butts of to get a playoff berth but what team shouldn't?
I watched most of the Saints games last year. I know they are good, but you have to realize that there were many things that bounced their way. I do read quite alot of Adam Schein. And if you do you must realize that he is very high on the NFC West. And I don't mean just the Seahawks. He is extremely high on the 49ers. Now if Adam is the expert here then the Saints have to play the most competetive division in the NFC as well as all the division winners from last year. That is no picnic. What did they have like 10 wins last year? And that is not to mention that they will have to play the Panthers Twice who were decimated by injury last year. I am sorry for coming off so beligerant. I just think there is more optimism here then is healthy. On the flip side of the coin I am very happy to see the Saints doing what they are doing.
Vick will go to Jail and the Falcons will be 6-10 will Joey Harrington. Drew Brees will get hurt this year and the Saints will be a 9-7 team. The Bucs will be tough team but no one is going to agree that they will go to the play off so they will be 8-8. The Panthers are the wild card for several reasons. 1. Will the new offensive scheme work for or against the Panthers. 2. Can DJ take the spot of KJ? 3. Will Jake show who he real is?
At the begining of the Bears game they had both coaches together interviewing them. When they asked coach Peyton what he did to prepare them for playing the Bears out in bad weather he said they did not change their routine and practiced in the dome that was the mistake that was made. I promise things will be different this year. They have had a good off season and brought in some good players and yes they will have to work for and everybody will be gunning for them. They are ready to go all the way so look out people the Saints are marching to the Super Bowl.
Well I understand what you are saying but as I said in my first post I won't believe it until I see it. I can hope that all the "experts" are right. I do know that no matter what though I am a Saints fan and will root for them till I die. Even if we go 0-16.
I agree with you i will believe it when i see it. Although this has been the most excited i have been in a long time and its hard not to want to say they are going to make it. It should be very good year and i truely believe that the first game of the year against the Colts should have been what we saw for the Super Bowl last year. I really believe that.
If Dallas and New Orleans meet this year it will be different because of the new coaching staff. Last year Gary Gibbs knew all of the Cowboys coverages and tendencies on defense according to down and distance. Parcells stubborn as always made no changes for this game. The Saints were able to be in the right formations and playcall to do what ever they wanted, they kneeled late in the game so not to score 50 on the old coaching staff.
With the new coaching staff this inside infomation will not be there to help the Saints. The game will be competitive, instead of onesided.
They dont play the Cowboy's in regular season this year so unless it is a play off game we wont find out this year. I am actually going to the Chicago/ Saints game and the Panthers/ Saints game. Should be exciting trips.
I would agree with that. If they can beat the Colts right out of the gate that will build a lot of confidence and send them off and running. How tough is that going to be playing the Super Bowl champs right out of the gate in their back yard. Jeez.
I wouldn't put alot of importance on the Indy game. It's the Saints toughest game of the year and it's the first one. If they lose, they'll be alright.
THE PANTHERS WILL WIN THE NFC SOUTH, DON'T GET ME WRONG I LIKE THE SAINTS, BUT I AM A PANTHER FAN 4 LIFE, WE BEAT THE SAINTS TWICE LAST YEAR, SO WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU. GO PEPPERS!!! GO DEANGELO!!!!
The Panthers were given the second game we mainly played with 2nd string. One thing for sure the Panthers always play the Saints tough they seem to have our number.
Panthers will fall in the big games. they will get rid of Jake Del-ception after this year b/c he will be under so much pressure and David Carr will start by week 8. Everyone knows that Jake has his good days but who doesnt when you are a starter. (didnt Bret Favre still have good games? jake is just younger but still a has been nfl europe player.) after saying all of this I root for the Panthers butthey pull some of the dumbest things. why let go of Keyshawn? With him you can work Dwayne Jarrett in slowly. now you have a position battle between 3 nobodys. what i woulda done was traded kris jenkins (after their disputes his play will be affected) for Ryan Sims and a 2nd and 4th round draft pick to take a rb for the suspect ground game I think Kenny Irons is a sleeper he would of been still available. trading for a 1st rounder will never happen. oh yeah Warrick Dunn is a small back and he gets the job done. had to add that b/c someone would say Kenny is too small.
This is a fun division to watch even if you're not a fan of them. It seems like every year NO beats ATL, then ATL beats CAR, then CAR beats NO. It's been happening the last few years and makes for great games when your team isn't on. Unfortunately the Bucs and Gruden have 24 QB's on the roster it seems. Even as a UT fan...good thing Simms isn't the starter, that kid chokes anytime the game is important. But at least he showed he can man-up and play with a ruptured spleen. NO will probably win the division because their coach is really good. I'm pi$$ed that the Cowboys didn't try and keep him over Parcells, since Parcells let the game pass him by 10 years ago. ATL/CAR will probably finish around .500 only because of QB's making bad decisions at important times of the game.
QCisco hey I was just making a joke about JJ trying to run everything but you got all crazy about it I guess it was a bad joke because I had to explain it.
It is a great division. Sept. 6th could not get here any sooner for me. Thank goodness for the NFL ticket on Direct tv that way i dont have to miss one Saints game.
I will be putting 8 tickets up for sale on Ebay tomorrow for the Rams@Saints on Nov 11th Sec 129 great tickets. This will be an awesome game. Im sure these two teams will be playing each other for the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP.
KDXR I don't think anybody was blindsided by the Saints after weeek 3 or 4. If they were then they deserved what happened to them. nelsonbranch, as for the Panthers beating them twice last year, they only really one the first meeting because the Saints sat thier stars in the second game since they couldn't improve their standing in the playoffs.
Last edited by teeitupforgolf on July 10th at 10:16 PM.
With the way the Saints have built their team, they are poised for long-term success.
sarg63, whatever you're smoking seems to be pretty damn good! The Falcons as division champs? HA HA!! Even Tampa Bay will go past the Falcons. The Falcons lost too much defensively to be contenders. And your best QB was traded to Houston, where he will get CREAMED.
Brian DeLucia has been a widely respected NFL Analyst for several years including six-years on FOXSports.com
Brian analyzes players, coaches, and personnel guys from a unique front office perspective. You can email Brian DeLucia at bjd@enter.net
