NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
2009 RECORD: 13-3-0
(1st in NFC South)
HEAD COACH: Sean Payton
Key Additions: DE Alex Brown (FA/Chicago)
Key Losses: LB Scott Fujita (FA/Cleveland), RB Mike Bell (FA/Philadelphia), QB Mark Brunell (FA), TE Dan Campbell (FA), DE Charles Grant (FA)
Offense: What can quarterback Drew Brees do for an encore?
In his fourth season as Saints' QB, Brees led the NFL in passing (4,388 yards and a 70.6 completion percentage along with 34 touchdown passes and just 11 interceptions) as 510 points were racked up.
Outstanding!
Four wide receivers and a big target at tight end are the options for Brees as well as versatile Reggie Bush, who made 47 catches and had three for touchdowns.
Marques Colston (70 catches, 1,074 yards and nine touchdowns) and Devery Henderson (51, 804, 2 TD) along with Robert Meachem (45, 722, 9 TD) are the weapons. Lance Moore, who is battling back from injuries in '09 will be ready this season as well.
In addition, Jeremy Shockey (48, 569, 3 TD) is the tight end along with reserve David Thomas (35, 356, one touchdown) which proves the Saints can really spread the ball around.
Pierre Thomas is the leading rusher, gaining 793 yards (5.4 ypc average) and scoring six TD to go with his 39 grabs for another 302 yards and two scores. Bush ran for 390 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns.
The offensive line is where it all starts and the Saints have a great one, which allowed just 20 sacks all season while providing solid run blocking.
Jonathan Goodwin is the center. The guards are Carl Nicks and Jahn Evans and the tackles are Jon Stinchcomb and Jammal Brown.
The Saints led the league in scoring and in total offense, averaging 404 yards per game, including 272 yards passing per game.
Defense: Opportunistic is the best way to describe the Saints defense and that was never more true than in the Super Bowl when cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted a pass and raced 74 yards for a game clinching touchdown in the final minutes.
The Saints defense had 39 takeaways last season, including 26 interceptions.
Safety Darren Sharper had nine picks to tie for the league lead while Tracy Porter had four interceptions. Along with Sharper and Porter in the secondary is cornerback Jabari Greer and safety Roman Harper.
Up front in the 4-3 defense are tackles Sedrick Ellis and Remi Ayodele along with ends Will Smith (13 QB sacks) and Alex Brown, who comes over from Chicago during the off-season to fill the void of Charles Grant, who left via free agency.
The linebacking unit took a hit with the departure of Scott Fajita to Cleveland. However, middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma is back along with outside LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Scott Shanle.
Getting 39 turnovers was something special and the Saints preach such a defensive scheme.
The knock on the New Orleans defense is giving up too much yardage and points. The Saints ranked 25th overall, allowing 358 yards per game, which included 236 yards through the air. In addition, opponents scored 341 points last season, which ranked 20th in the NFL.
OUTLOOK: Strategy and breaks add up to wins and losses in the NFL and nobody took advantage of the breaks more so than the Saints last season as the magic continued throughout the playoffs all the way to the Super Bowl title.
Can they do it again?
Head Coach Sean Payton is an offensive genius who knows how to put a game plan together each week.
With Brees back again and barring any unforeseen injuries, there is no reason to doubt this team's offensive capability.
The defense will be the key as the Saints defend their Super Bowl crown. They have a big target on their collective backs in 2010 and a rugged schedule will test them.
Everything went the Saints way last year and that cannot be expected to happen again.
Look for the Saints to battle Atlanta all season long for the NFC South division title and finish 11-5. How far they go this year in the playoffs will depend on the defense. Another Super Bowl appearance is not out of the question.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- vs. Minnesota
Week 2- at San Francisco
Week 3- vs. Atlanta
Week 4- vs. Carolina
Week 5- at Arizona
Week 6- at Tampa Bay
Week 7- vs. Cleveland
Week 8- vs. Pittsburgh
Week 9- at Carolina
Week 10- Bye Week
Week 11- vs. Seattle
Week 12- at Dallas
Week 13- at Cincinnati
Week 14- vs. St. Louis
Week 15- at Baltimore
Week 16- at Atlanta
Week 17- vs. Tampa Bay
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