The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

After bursting on the scene with an unexpected 10-6 record three years ago, coach Sean Payton and the Saints have moon walked into becoming mediocre 7-9 and 8-8 teams in ’07 and ’08 respectively.

The problem has never been putting up yards or generating points during Payton’s tenure, thanks in large part to the leadership of quarterback Drew Brees, who continues to brilliantly direct a pass-heavy West Coast scheme.

But the defense has failed to follow suit. In fact, over the past three seasons, New Orleans has consistently been one of the most ineffective teams at preventing big plays in the passing game.

Under former defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs’ bend-but-don’t-break philosophy, the Black and Gold ranked 23rd against the pass, 23rd in sacks, along with allowing five plays of 40-yards plus, and 53 plays of 20-yards or more. The year prior, Gibbs’ unit gave up an astounding 15 plays of 40 or more yards.

New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been charged with the tall task of turning things around with a style that contrasts the old way of doing things.

The well-traveled coach plans on plugging in his aggressive 4-3 scheme to create constant pressure on the quarterback by blitzing the opponent from all different angles.

But in order for this new disruptive approach to be successful, Williams needs his secondary to be air-tight in man coverage. The team used their first round pick on Ohio State defensive back Malcolm Jenkins to help stop the bleeding.

The heat is on Payton, Williams, and the rest of the coaching staff with a frustrated fan base that’s tired of just barely missing out on the playoffs.

Brees is doing his part in trying to help his defense reach its destination of becoming a postseason-caliber unit.
“With Gregg Williams now on the defensive side of the ball, you know the defense is going to have a lot of new wrinkles—a lot to install,” Brees said recently. “That makes it tough for an offense to compete against on a daily basis. But we’re going to help those guys get better, and they are certainly going to help us get better.”

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks: Things don’t get much better than having Drew Brees as your field general. The 30-year-old has spearheaded the league’s number-one aerial attack in two of the last three seasons. Brees routinely carves up the opposition by accurately diagnosing coverages and using his quick feet to slide in the pocket and find open receivers. The former Big Ten standout is a master at methodically moving his troops downfield by taking advantage of what the defense gives him, but will take his shots when he sees an opening. His back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons in ’06 and ’07 are nothing short of remarkable, as were the 5,069 yards he threw for last season. Backing him up are the aging Mark Brunnell, who’ll be 39 in September, and the dreadful Joey Harrington. Once one of the premiere athletes at his position, injuries have reduced Brunell’s arm strength, as well as his mobility. Harrington, on the other hand, is the quarterback that never was. The once highly-touted passer looks good in practice, but will wilt at the first sign of pressure in the pocket.

Running Backs: Those who expected Reggie Bush to be a do-it-all three-down back soon learned that the oft-injured dynamo is more Eric Metcalf than he is a young Edgerrin James. Bush’s receiving prowess out of the backfield is unmatched, and he was well on his way to over 80-catches last season before going down to a knee injury, which caused him to miss six games. His acceleration in space makes him a threat to score from long distances on screens, sweeps, tosses, as well as punt returns---just don’t ask him to bang it between the tackles. Running it inside is where Pierre Thomas comes in. The third-year back didn’t see significant action in 2008 until it became painfully clear that old warhorse Duece McAllister’s knees had very little to offer. Thomas isn’t a dazzling runner, but he does possess the quickness and willingness to run hard that the Saints truly needed in order to compliment Bush’s perimeter skills. Backing up Thomas will be ex-Bronco Mike Bell, who isn’t as fast, but is quite fearless in gaining tough yards.  Fullback Heath Evans is a versatile performer who can be used as lead blocker, short-yardage back or check-down receiver. Darian Barnes is your more traditional blocking fullback.

Wide Receivers: There’s an quite an interesting mix of gifted receivers in the Big Easy, and none was more surprising than the ultra-quick underneath man Lance Moore. The 5’9” dynamo developed some major chemistry with Brees in his third year by running precise routes and catching just about everything that was thrown his way. Big man Marques Colston is the ultimate end-zone threat when he isn’t battling knee injuries. The Hofstra product gained 760 yards despite missing five regular season games. So far, Colston is looking fantastic in off-season practices. His run-after-catch ability seems to be as good as ever after undergoing microfracture knee surgery earlier this year. Deverey Henderson is New Orleans designated deep target. When he wasn’t dropping the ball, Henderson averaged nearly 25 yards per reception. It’s a mystery why a player with his acceleration hasn’t been able to score more than three touchdowns in each of the last two seasons. OTA and preseason phenom Robert Meachem hasn’t been able to overcome mental errors so far in his career. The team has soured on his inability to properly run patterns, but the former Volunteer’s recent performances during team practices have restored the coaching staff’s hope in the tall speedster. Speaking of big wide outs Adrian Arrington is another promising talent that can use his 6’3” frame to get open across the middle. The second-year man seems to be a bit fragile, however. After his rookie season on injured reserve with a turf toe injury, Arrington suffered a hamstring injury during off-season workouts, which has kept him out of action. Ex-Titan Courtney Roby is a much better return man than receiver, and averaged 24.8 yards on kickoffs last season. Similarly, Skyler Green is another special teams option.

Tight Ends: When man-about-town Jeremy Shockey isn’t busy getting dehydrated on the Vegas strip, he can often be seen dropping passes and coming up lame with an assortment of injuries on the gridiron. Shockey has been a flat-out disappointment for the Saints, who foolishly invested second and fifth-round picks in trading for the fading tight end. What’s been even more alarming about the underachiever beyond his poor hands and diminished running skills, has been his failure to get on the same page with his quarterback. Converted receiver Billy Miller is a sure-handed pass catcher with decent agility, but poor foot speed. Dan Campbell is a devastating in-line blocker, who’s recovering from off-season arthroscopic knee surgery. Darnell Dinkins is a top-shelf special teams performer.

Offensive Line: The Saints conference–low 13 sacks allowed in 2008 can be attributed to both the quick release of their quarterback, as well as the skill and chemistry exhibited by the team’s formidable group of big uglies. Jaamal Brown is an intimidating force who plays nasty while burying opponents with his incredible strength in the running game. Past knee issues, though, have robbed him of some lateral mobility, which makes him vulnerable against some speed rushers, as evidenced by his seven holding penalties. Starting left guard Carl Nicks was an absolute steal in the fifth round last year. The 341-pound behemoth not only combines excellent foot work and strength , but he’s an excellent finisher to boot. Fellow guard Jahri Evans is one of the best technicians in the business, who totally obliterates the opposition with his explosive hip and leg drive as a run blocker. Right tackle Jon Stinchcomb is more of a finesse player, who excels at driving ends far and wide from his quarterback. The unglamorous Jonathan Goodwin is a rock at center, but don’t expect to see much lead blocking to the second level from him. The lack of depth on this line is a cause for worry, although backup tackle Zach Strief is a heady player that can be counted on in a pinch.

DEPTH CHART

		FS					SS
	CB	KEVIN KAEVIHARN					DARREN SHARPER	CB
	MIKE MCKENSIE	PIERSON PRIOLEAU		SLB	MLB	WLB	CHRIS REIS	JASON DAVID
	RANDALL GAY			SCOTT FUJITA	JONATHAN VILMA	SCOTT SHANLE	ROMAN HARPER	JASON CRAFT
	MALCOM JENKINS			TROY EVANS	MARK SIMONEAU	JONATHAN CASILLAS	CHIP VAUGHN	USAMA YOUNG
	K			STANLEY ARNOUX	MARVIN MITCHELL			MALCOLM JENKINS
	MARTIN GRAMATICA		LDE	LNT	RNT	RDE		DANNY GORRER
	P		CHARLES GRANT	KENDRICK CLANCY	SEDRICK ELLIS	WILL SMITH		REGGIE JONES
	STEVE WEATHERFORD			BRIAN YOUNG	ANTWAN LAKE	BOBBY MCCRAY
	COACH			HOLLIS THOMAS		JEREMY PARNELL
	SEAN PAYTON
	WR	LT	LG	C	RG	RT	TE	WR
	MARQUES COLSTON	JAMAAL BROWN	JAMAR NESBIT	JONATHAN GOODWIN	JAHRI EVANS	JON STINCHCOMB	JEREMY SHOCKEY	DEVERY HENDERSON
	DAVID PATTEN	JERMON BUSHROD	CARL NICKS	MATT LEHR		ZACK STRIEF	BILLY MILLER	TERRANCE COOPER
	LANCE MOORE		CEDRIC DOCKERY	ALEX FLETCHER		SAM MCNAULTY	MARK CAMPBELL	ROBERT MEACHEM
		FB		QB		RB	DARNELL DINKINS	ADRIAN ARRINGTON
		MIKE KARNEY		DREW BREES		REGGIE BUSH		KENNETH HARRIS
		HEATH EVANS		MARK BRUNELL		DEUCE MCALLISTER
				PATRICK COWAN		AARON STECKER
				JOEY HARRINGTON		PIERRE THOMAS	P.J. HILL

DEFENSE

Defensive Line: Coach Peyton’s front four played well below the level of its talent last season. End Will Smith wasn’t himself for much of the year due to a lingering sports hernia. A healthy Smith should see him return to being one of the more complete players at his position, who does a great job in backside pursuit. The Queens, NY native notched a career-low three sacks, but also led all lineman with 53 tackles. Partner Charles Grant is more of a collapse-the-pocket type, who earns his keep as a run stuffer. Former Jags Bobby McCray and Paul Spicer will start in place of Smith and Grant while they both serve four-game suspensions for their violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. McCray led the defense with 6 sacks thanks to his overall quickness and ability to anticipate the snap. The 6’6” pass rusher is generally known to be a liability against the run. Spicer, on the other hand, will be filling Grant’s run-specialist role. The 33-year-old lineman’s prior experience with Gregg Williams in Jacksonville should come in handy. Inside man Sedrick Ellis was everything the Saints could’ve hoped for in his rookie season. The three-technique tackle’s non-stop motor enabled him to shoot the gaps and wreak havoc in the opponent’s backfield. Kendrick Clancy is a wide-bodied tackle who plugs up running lanes by occupying two blockers. The athletic, but injury-prone DeMario Pressley will look to relieve Clancy in a backup role. The aging Rod Coleman will also look to contribute if the team deems him durable enough to make it through the season.

Linebackers: Jonathan Vilma’s successful debut as a Saint proved that he was badly miscast as 3-4 inside linebacker in his previous seasons as a New York Jet. Vilma’s exceptional instincts and ability to flow to the ball allowed him to lead the team with 132 tackles. The middle linebacker will be expected to read offenses and call out plays in Williams’ system. Vilma and the rest of the New Orleans linebacker corps all need to make more game-changing plays if the Saint defense has any intention of significantly improving. Strong side linebacker Scott Fujita is a large player (6’5”, 250-pounds), who can immediately read and react what’s in front of him at the line of scrimmage, as well make plays in coverage. There’s not much the eighth-year pro can’t do, but quick and shifty players can give him fits in the open field. Over on the weak side, Dan Morgan’s comeback from retirement was short-lived, as the oft-concussed defender recently decided to definitively call it a career, leaving Scott Shanle as the probable starter. Shanle is toughness personified, but can’t be counted on to make plays in space. The Saints were hoping that fourth-round pick Stanley Arnoux would’ve been able to give the former Cornhusker some competition as a much faster player, but the rookie’s season ended in an instant due to a ruptured left Achilles tendon he suffered in practice.  This probably creates an opportunity for Jo-Lonn Dunbar to get more playing time. Troy Evans and Marvin Mitchell are good special teams options. Mark Simoneau is a smallish linebacker who has trouble shedding blocks.

Secondary: New Orleans has once again brought in several new faces to address the team’s weakest group. The polished Randall Gay is a heady corner that lacks big-time speed. He’ll compete with the instinctive and technically-sound Jabari Greer at one of the corner positions. Tracy Porter and rookie Malcolm Jenkins will duke it out at he other corner spot. Prior to injuring his wrist last season, Porter displayed impressive man-to-man skills along with showing the hands to make plays with the ball in the air. Jenkins physical play and short-area quickness may be better served at free safety, where he could still occasionally cover big receivers one-on-one in the red zone. The rookie’s instincts add a much-needed big-play dimension to a secondary that was often helpless against high-octane passing attacks. Right now, free-safety duties still belong to the 33-year-old Darren Sharper, who didn’t just stumble upon 54 career interceptions and eight touchdowns by accident. Sharper has lost a bit of speed, but his intelligence is second-to-none. The 13th-year pro can still break on the ball in coverage. Strong safety Roman Harper is an in-the-box player, who can lay the lumber. Usama Young is another safety option with long arms that help him get to lots of balls. Rookie safety Chip Vaughn is a speedy, but raw, defensive back, who’ll contribute on special teams, as will Leigh Torrence and Chris Reis. Grizzled veteran Pierson Prioleau is fighting for a spot.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Garrett Hartley is an extremely accurate kicker, as long as you don’t ask him to attempt any 50-yard field goals. Punter Glenn Pakulak has a good leg and gets some nice hang time on his punts. He and Thomas Morstead will square off for punting duties. Look for Reggie Bush to continue his dazzling play as a punt returner. His ability to stop on a dime and change direction make him a terror to bring down. Courtney Roby, Skyler Green, and Lance Moore are the favorites to handle kickoffs.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS OFF-SEASON TRACKER

Acquisitions
FB Heath Evans: UFA Patriots; 2 yrs, terms unknown
WR Paris Warren: FA Buccaneers; $460,000/1 yr
TE Dan Campbell: FA Lions; $745,000/1 yr
TE Darnell Dinkins: UFA Browns; 1 yr, terms unknown
OC Nick Leckey: UFA Rams; 1 yr, terms unknown
DE Anthony Hargrove: UFA Bills; $620,000/1 yr
DE Paul Spicer: FA Jaguars; 1 yr, terms unknown
DT Roderick Coleman: FA; $745,000/1 yr
LB Anthony Waters: FA Chargers; terms unknown
CB Jabari Greer: UFA Bills; $22M/4 yrs, $10M guaranteed
SS Pierson Prioleau: UFA Jaguars; terms unknown
FS Darren Sharper: UFA Vikings; $1.7M/1 yr, $200,000 SB
Drafted
LB Stanley Arnoux, Wake Forest
CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
SS Chip Vaugn, Wake Forest
P Thomas Morstead, Southern Methodist
Undrafted Free Agents
QB Patrick Cowan, UCLA
RB P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
WR Kenneth Harris, Georgia
OT Sam McNaulty, Clark-Atlanta
OG Cedric Dockery, Texas
OC Alex Fletcher, Stanford
DE Jermey Parnell, Mississippi
LB Jonathan Casillas, Wisconsin
CB Danny Gorrer, Texas A&M
CB Reggie Jones, Portland State
Re-signed
QB Joey Harrington: UFA; $745,000/1 yr
WR Lance Moore: RFA; $1.545M/1 yr
WR Devery Henderson: UFA; $12M/4 yrs, $6M guaranteed
WR Courtney Roby: Not tendered as RFA; terms unknown
OT Jon Stinchcomb: UFA; $22.5M/5 yrs, $12M guaranteed/$5M SB
OT Zach Strief: RFA; $1.545M/1 yr
OG Jahri Evans: RFA; $2.792M/1 yr
LB Jonathan Vilma: UFA; $34M/5 yrs, $17M guaranteed
LB Troy Evans: Potential UFA; $1.5M/2 yrs, guarantees unknown
LB Marvin Mitchell: Potential ERFA; $460,000/1 yr
CB Leigh Torrence: RFA: $1.01M/1 yr
DB Chris Reis: Potential ERFA; $460,000/1 yr
PK Garrett Hartley: Potential ERFA; $855,000/2 yrs
Departures
RB Deuce McAllister (released/failed physical)
FB Mike Karney (released)
WR David Patten (released)
DE Josh Savage (released)
DT Hollis Thomas (released/failed physical)
DT Brian Young (released/failed physical)
CB Mike McKenzie (released/failed physical)
FS Josh Bullocks: UFA Bears; 1 yr, $525,000 guaranteed
SS Kevin Kaesviharn (released)
Unsigned
RB Aaron Stecker (not tendered as UFA June 1)
TE Mark Campbell (not tendered as UFA June 1)
OL Matt Lehr (not tendered as UFA June 1)
DT Antwan Lake (not tendered as UFA June 1)
DT James Reed (not tendered as UFA June 1)
NT Montavious Stanley (not tendered as ERFA)
CB Aaron Glenn (not tendered as UFA June 1)
CB Michael Lehan (not tendered as UFA June 1)
FS Terrence Holt (not tendered as UFA June 1)
K Martin Gramatica (not tendered as UFA June 1)

PROJECTION

Barring injury, New Orleans’ offense will continue to move the ball and put up big points, which guarantees that the team should be competitive throughout the year. In order for the Saints to take that next step, however, they need to show major improvement in their defense. This means that they need to generate more pressure on the quarterback, create more turnovers, and limit big plays in the passing game. Payton’s defensive unit doesn’t lack for talent. In fact, it has a interesting mix of crafty veterans and youngsters with considerable upside. I’ll be conservative here and say that new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will have his crew in much better shape to stop their opponents or at least limit the damage just enough to give the Saints a 10-6 record.

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