Teen Take - A look at the 2009 New Orleans Saints

Written by Paul Brennan | Monday, 10 August 2009 08:39 | Saints News

Sean Payton's first year in New Orleans saw the Saints advance to the NFC Championship game for the first time in the club's history. Unfortunately, two sub-par seasons followed and many Saints fans are starting to wonder if Payton is another Jim Haslett.

Will New Orleans finally make the run that it has awaited for so long?

For several consecutive years, the last place finisher in the NFC South went on to win the division the next season. Will the Saints continue the trend? Can Gregg Williams get the defense to perform better?

Coaches

Although it was a tough move for Payton, the removal of Gary Gibbs was necessary. In comes the much-heralded Gregg Williams to command a defense that prevented the Saints from consistently winning games last season. Pete Carmichael will look to continue the offensive success that Doug Marrone brought to the table. However, Payton will continue to call the plays, so expect the offense to remain very aggressive and to remain more pass-oriented than most teams are.

Quarterback

Drew Brees is one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks. The fact that he was able to put up the numbers he did last season while having to deal with several key offensive players being sidelined to injury is a testament to his talent. With everybody healthy, Brees shouldn't miss a beat from last season. Mark Brunell is experienced and should be a solid backup. However, at 40 years old, Brunell's age is working against him. Joey Harrington will be the third string quarterback and continues to try to achieve some sort of success after being drafted so highly by the Lions.

Running back

The departure of Deuce McAllister was expected, so Pierre Thomas will assume the duties once held by him. Thomas will be used primarily to run between the tackles, as opposed to Reggie Bush's role. Don't expect Bush to get too many carries between the tackles; however, Payton will use him similarly to the way he did in his rookie season. Mike Bell will be used in the same fashion as Thomas and should be a decent backup option.

Offensive line

All five starters return to a line that allowed an NFC-low 13 sacks all season. Although many believed that Jonathan Goodwin would not be able to match his predecessor Jeff Faine's abilities, Goodwin has shown that he is up to the task. Although Brees's mobility did play a part in the low sack number, the line deserves acknowledgement for its stellar play. There's little reason to think that this unit will not continue to shine.

Receivers/ Tight end

Sean Payton has a lot riding on the Jeremy Shockey deal. After a mediocre season that was hampered by injury, Shockey must replicate his play from his days with the Giants, or Payton will have egg on his face. The receivers will be above average, led by Marques Colston, Lance Moore, and Devery Henderson. After some unsuccessful stints throughout his career, Skyler Green must step up now and contribute. He's been with the Saints before in addition to the Bengals and Cowboys where he never really fulfilled his potential. Adrian Arrington and Robert Meachem both have the potential to really contribute to the offense as well if they can overcome the plateau they both seem to have hit. If one or more of them can step up, the Saints' offense will be just as potent as last season, if not more so.

Defensive line

Charles Grant and Will Smith will miss the first four games due to a suspension, and I expect this to deal a significant blow to the line. Expect Kendrick Clancy and Sedrick Ellis to struggle more during those games because teams are more likely to run the ball on the Saints. If Bobby McCray and Jeff Charleston can step up in these games, they will have more than earned their salaries.

Linebacker

Jonathan Vilma performed very well last season and will be the leader of the defense. Scott Fujita and Scott Shanle didn't exactly light it up last season, but will provide some stability. Dan Morgan's early exit from the team took away Shanle's only true competition for the job. I expect this unit to be slightly better than last season, which will be attributed to better cohesion than last year.

Defensive backs

After receiving a total overhaul, the defensive backs should be better. The youth combined with veteran leadership will be a perfect mix for a much more talented unit. After Tracy Porter missed most of last season to injury, his presence should be a big boost to a defense desperate for his talent. Randall Gay will be solid, along with newcomer and first round pick Malcom Jenkins. Darren Sharper and Jabari Greer are two proven veterans. While Sharper's age will hinder him from having the impact he's had in the past, his knowledge of the game is superior. The defense was among the worst in the NFL last season, but the prospects for this season are much better. Combined with the new talent is defensive guru Gregg Williams who is sure to provide a much needed enhancement to the defense.

Punter/Kicker

Garrett Hartley made every field goal attempt last season after being brought in toward the conclusion of the year. Ever since Sean Payton gave John Carney his walking papers a few years ago, the Saints have struggled to find a consistent kicker, and its cost them mightily. If Hartley can carry his consistency into this season, the Saints may finally have their man. Thomas Morstead was the somewhat controversial draft pick by the Saints after being taken in the fifth round. He'll contend with Glenn Pakulak to start at punter.

Schedule

The schedule is not in the Saints' favor. Ranked as the eighth hardest in the NFL, they will be faced with home games against New England, Dallas, and the Giants while traveling to Philadelphia and Miami. With their bye week early in the season (week 5), the Saints may struggle at the end as the schedule peaks in difficulty.

Area of team that needs most improvement

While the field goal kicking was a train wreck last season (except for Hartley), the defense must improve substantially. The loss of Charles Grant and Will Smith doesn't help. The secondary has to improve quickly and remain consistent especially when they face some of the premier quarterbacks in the league toward the end of the year in Tom Brady and Eli Manning.

Conclusion

For a team to have the best offense in the NFL and still miss the playoffs is something you should not expect to see happen again anytime soon. However, it is obvious where the Saints' problems lie and an emphasis has been placed on those areas. For the season to be considered a success, New Orleans must make the playoffs and make a run for the Super Bowl, otherwise, the clock may start ticking on Sean Payton's time in the Big Easy.