Overview - The Saints were the biggest surprise team in the NFL in 2006. Coming off a nightmarish ’05 campaign that was ruined before it started following the Hurricane Katrina debacle in New Orleans, first year head coach Sean Payton guided his squad all the way to the NFC Championship Game. Last year, with extraordinarily high expectations for one of the worst franchises in all of sports (long term), the Saints never recovered from their 0-4 start, stumbling to a disappointing 7-9 record.
The hype is back again this year, as just about every preseason prognostication I’ve read expects a return to winning form in 2008. The betting marketplace has installed New Orleans as the favorites to win the NFC South. Even with their losing record last year, the Saints finished fourth in the NFL in total offense, and they add pro bowl caliber tight end Jeremy Shockey into the mix this year. New Orleans 26th-ranked defense has been completely overhauled through free agency and the draft. On paper, at least, this team probably deserves the respect they’ve been getting both in the national media and the betting markets.
Offense - In the Saints awful 0-4 start last year, quarterback Drew Brees was the primary culprit. Brees opened up the season by throwing just one touchdown pass compared to nine interceptions in those first four games. But the proven winner rebounded in a big way. From Game 5 on, Brees enjoyed a 27-to-9 TD-to-INT ratio while throwing for more than 3,500 yards. And his leadership skills are simply unquestionable, dating back to his collegiate tenure at Purdue, continuing through his tenure with the Chargers, continuing here in New Orleans. Quite simply, this guy is a winner who inspires teammates with confidence. That being said, the backup situation here is a real problem area – if Brees gets hurt, this team is in trouble.
The recent trade for former Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey shores up an already solid receiving corps. The Saints are loaded at wide receiver with Marquis Colston, David Patton and Devery Henderson, with much more expected this year from their 2007 #1 pick Robert Meachem who didn’t even suit up for a single game last season. If the Saints have a question mark among the skill positions, it’s at running back. Reggie Bush couldn’t handle the load as a feature back last year; a major disappointment in his first two years in the league. Deuce McAllister is coming off a potential career threatening injury that ended his season early last year. One or both will need to step up to improve the Saints 28th-ranked rushing attack from a season ago.
New Orleans has enjoyed tremendous continuity on the offensive line in recent seasons, always a good thing for an offense. The Saints had the same five starters in 2006 and 2007, and four of those same starters will return for the 2008 campaign. New Orleans did suffer a significant loss with center Jeff Faine moving on in the offseason, but Jonathan Goodwin stepped in for Faine when he was hurt last year and performed admirably. The Saints line allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL last year, with Brees getting sacked only 16 times while leading the league with 652 passing attempts.
Defense - Defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant are both coming off disappointing seasons, but as a duo, they can be expected to rebound thanks to the improved talent level around them. First round draft choice Sedrick Ellis out of USC has the potential to be a dominant player in the middle, joining run stuffers Holllis Thomas and Brian Young at tackle. Free agent signee Bobby McCray (Jacksonville) is a pass rushing specialist.
The Saints made another big splash in the offseason, trading for former Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma. Vilma has shown flashes of brilliance in his five year career, but he’s coming off a serious knee injury that ended his season last October. Free agent signee Dan Morgan (Carolina) has battled concussion problems that have limited his effectiveness in recent seasons.
The secondary, too, received a serious makeover in the offseason. New Orleans inked former Patriots cornerback Randall Gay to a free agent deal, signed aging veteran Aaron Glenn for insurance purposes, and drafted cornerback Tracy Porter (Indiana) in the second round. Those three will compete with returning veterans Mike McKenzie and Jason David for playing time. The Saints appear set at safety with youngsters Josh Bullocks and Roman Harper as well as veteran Kevin Kaesviharn getting the lion’s share of minutes.
Schedule - Teams from the NFC South get a significant break from the schedule makers this year, facing two of the weaker divisions in the league: the NFC North and AFC West. Between those two divisions there is only one team lined at more than eight wins – the other seven squads are projected to be at or below .500 from the betting marketplace. New Orleans does have one major negative, however, playing one of their eight ‘home’ games in London against the Chargers. That being said, all eight of the Saints' true road games come against opponents that are projected to be at .500 or worse in 2008, according to the betting marketplace’s season win totals. That is, quite possibly, the easiest road schedule in the entire league for a team that is lined at a very modest 8.5 wins.
For more NFL betting analysis by Teddy Covers, go to www.sportsmemo.com. 
