TGS 2007 Football Preview Bonus: New Orleans Saints

NEW ORLEANS—In the bigger scheme of things, we’re not quite sure what to make of the rollicking reception the Saints received in their hometown last season. It was certainly a year-long party inside the revamped Superdome, as New Orleans experienced an unexpected thrill ride with its football team just a year after the team, city, and region were thrown for a terrible loop by Hurricane Katrina. The feel-good factor carried over to the media, many of its members attaching Tex Schramm’s old Dallas Cowboys “America’s team” label to the new and exciting Saints, who rebounded from their trying 2005 existence and makeshift headquarters in San Antonio to the NFC South crown and all of the way to the conference title game. As fun as everything was last year, however, more serious observers wondered about priorities. Lots of locals used their FEMA recovery money to party and buy football tickets while much of the city (still with only half its pre-Katrina inhabitants) continued to resemble a ghost town, especially the nearby devastated ninth ward.

But we’ll leave the socio-economic commentary to the Keith Olbermanns of the world, because on the field, New Orleans really was a heckuva story last year. First-year HC Sean Payton appeared to demonstrate a remarkable aptitude for his new position, quickly fitting pieces such as FA QB Drew Brees and rookies RB/KR Reggie Bush and WR Marques Colston into what was to quickly become the NFL’s top-rated offense. Not to mention earning kudos from league insiders for assembling a top-notch staff that included former HCs such as LB coach Joe Vitt (ex-Rams mentor) and d.c. Gary Gibbs (former Oklahoma HC). Payton and GM Mickey Loomis were also able to address most of their priorities in shrewd fashion during free agency, using the draft more as a depth-building vehicle as well as perhaps uncovering more diamonds in the rough (such as last year’s 7th-round pick Colston) in the later rounds, while fortifying their valuable offense with 4 of the first 5 picks.

Brees (left), in particular, was more effective last season than the Saints could have ever dreamed, recovering from a torn labrum in his final game as a Charger the previous year to merit serious MVP consideration after passing for a whopping 4418 yards, including eight different 300-yard games. And even an injury came at an opportune time, as the dislocated left elbow he suffered at the Pro Bowl is expected to be mended in plenty of time for training camp. Meanwhile, Heisman winner Bush (below right) provided many of the fireworks expected of him, scoring 9 regular-season TDs via rushing, receiving, and punt returns, while demonstrating quite an apt for catching the ball when hauling in 88 receptions. Bush’s presence also spurred vet RB Deuce McAllister (1057 YR) into a productive campaign, although we expect Bush’s irresistible influence to grow this season. Payton did reluctantly allow vet WR Joe Horn to walk via free agency (he landed with division rival Atlanta), although first-round pick WR Robert Meachem (via Tennessee) adds another whippet to a growing stable of young, fast wideouts that also includes last year’s surprise Colston (70 catches and 8 TDs in ‘06) and big-play threats Devery Henderson & Terrance Copper, although the latter two battled inconsistency a year ago. Loomis and Payton also re-formatted the kicking game in free agency by adding PK Olindo Mare from Miami and P Chris Hanson from Jacksonville.

Loomis and Payton also went to great lengths in the offseason to ensure that a stop unit that improved to 11th overall in the league a year ago wouldn’t regress, deftly using free agency to lubricate the defensive engine. Particular attention was paid to re-signing key performers such as DE Charles Grant, DT Hollis Thomas, and LB Scott Shanle. Once that was taken care of, the brain trust wasted little time in retooling an aging 2ndary thru free agency, adding CB Jason David as a restricted FA from Indianapolis (which cost the Saints future draft picks) and S Kevin Kaesviharn from Cincinnati. David, in particular, is comfortable in the man-to-man style preferred by Gibbs, and also might come in handy to prevent the occasional breakdowns and resultant long scores (such as in the NFC title game loss to the Bears) that victimized CB Fred Thomas a year ago. David is slated to start opposite returnee Mike McKenzie. It is hoped that the addition of these vets will result in more physicality from the DBs corps. Meanwhile, the MLB position was shored up with the addition of ex-Bengal Brian Simmons. If there is an area where Gibbs would like to see improvement this season, it’s big plays and turnovers, as New Orleans only caused 19 giveaways last season and forced no TOs in both NFC playoff games.

Bottom line...We have seen enough Saints-like resurrections throughout the years to know things can change in a hurry. Unlike last season, New Orleans now gets to experience NFL life wearing a target. But there’s also evidence the Saints are being built for the long-haul. As long as Brees stays healthy, we wouldn’t be surprised to see New Orleans make another trip deep into the postseason, and prove last season was no fluke.

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