NFL 2006: New Orleans Saints

(This is the Corners look at the upcoming NFL season. For the next 32 days we'll be previewing each team and their prospects for the 2006 season. Today we look at the New Orleans Saints.)

The New Orleans Saints are looking to put the past behind them, the more recent past to be exact.

Last season was one that won't be on a Saints highlight reel anytime soon. Displaced because of the terrible devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans was a vagabond team playing in the Alamodome in San Antonio. Deuce McAlister was lost for the season early on and the Saints never recovered, limping through the year with a 3-13 mark.

New coach Sean Payton takes over for the departed Jim Haslett and got off on the right foot when he landed Reggie Bush with the second pick in the draft and snagged Drew Brees from San Diego in free agency.

Offense: New Orleans has plenty of new faces in the offense and how they play together is key for a successful season. Payton needs to get these guys on the same page and to gel by the time camp ends and the real stuff begins.

Aaron Brooks and his inconsistent play are gone and in comes Brees - recovering from a torn rotator cuff that occurred on the last game of the 2005 season. The Chargers decided to go with Philip Rivers and Saints owner Tom Benson is glad they did. Brees (3,576 yards, 24 touchdowns) is a significant upgrade to Brooks. Free agent veteran Jamie Martin and Todd Bouman are the backups.

The biggest news of the offseason was getting Reggie Bush, the most exciting player in college football next to Vince Young, in the 2006 NFL Draft. Bush has already caused season ticket sales to sore and will pair with McAlister, who returns healthy, to form a potentially deadly duo. Michael Bennett (436 yards) is on the roster but may be traded. Aaron Stecker is a solid reserve also. Mike Karney returns at fullback.

Joe Horn (49-654-1) and Donte Stallworth (70-945-7) return at wide receiver with Horn looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2005 season. Devery Henderson, free agent Bethel Johnson and rookie Mike Hass will see action as well. Overall, this is not a very solid group.

Ernie Conwell (13-165-1) had an injury-plagued season and will have to hold off Zach Hilton (35-396-1) for the starting job at tight end. Free agents Mark Campbell and Tim Euhus will fight for a roster spot.

The offensive line lost three starters, including former All-Pros LeCharles Bentley and Wayne Gandy, that could adversely effect the Saints fortunes. They must step up and perform or it may be disaster by mid-season. Free agent Jeff Faine replaces Bentley at center, while Montrae Holland and Jermaine Mayberry are set at guards. Jammal Brown moves over to left tackle to replace Gandy and Jon Stinchcomb moves into the right tackle slot. Darnell Alford, Jamar Nesbit and rookies Zach Strief and Jahri Evans provide depth.

Defense: The offense isn't the only unit that went through major changes in the offseason. Four starters are gone and Payton's new additions hope to improve upon a defense that gave up 25 points a game last year.

Darren Howard packed his bags and moved to Philadelphia, but Charles Grant (62 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Will Smith (60-8.5 sacks) are more than capable of picking up the slack. Tony Bryant and rookie Rob Ninkovich make up the rest of the rotation. Brian Young (51 tackles) and Willie Whitehead return at defensive tackle, but will be challenged for playing time by free agent Hollis Thomas.

Colby Bockwoldt (89 tackles) is the only returning starter left from the linebacking corps as Ronald McKinnon and Sedrick Hoge are gone. New Orleans signed four linebackers in free agency who will battle for the remaining two spots. Tommy Polley (96 tackles, four sacks) and Scott Fujita (53 tackles) will compete for an outside linebacker spot, while Anthony Simmons and Jay Foreman will decide who's the man in the middle.

Mike McKenzie (46 tackles) and Fred Thomas (80 tackles, three sacks, two picks) return at the corners with Jason Craft (37 tackles, three interception) at the nickel. Rookies Josh Lay and Anwar Phillips will fight for a place on the 53-man. Josh Bullocks (67 tackles) is back at strong safety with free agent Bryan Scott (67 tackles) and Jay Bellamy battling at free safety. Rookie Roman Harper is in the mix as well.

Special Teams: John Carney (97 points, 25-32 field goals, 22-22 extra points) returns at kicker and Mitch Berger (43.2) is back at punter. Both are veterans who will be very dependable in crunch time. Stecker (21.7) returns kicks, while Johnson (11.0) or Bush will return punts.

Outlook: Payton has tried to put his stamp on the franchise right away with a new system and new players to fit that system. Reggie Bush will be a multi-dimensional threat that can be used in any situation. Brees is an underrated quarterback who will get New Orleans back on the winning track - just not this year. A lack of depth on offense and defense, along with a rebuilt offensive line spells trouble with a capital T. There's just too many holes and not enough talent around for Payton and his staff to fill it.

Prediction: The addition of Brees and Bush and the return of McAlister make this a better team than the 2005 Saints, but not much better. Payton needs time to complete his gameplan for building the franchise into winners so New Orleans fans need to be patient. Payton is the right man for the job - he just doesn't have all the pieces to the puzzle yet. The Saints will finish 5-11 or 6-10.


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