2009 NFL Football Preview - New Orleans Saints
One more leader in the league that could find himself on a warmer seat this fall is fourth-year Saints head coach Sean Payton, who also makes a lot of the personnel decisions as well. The script reads as it has in the past for the Payton Era: the offense is going to score a lot of points and will be up to the defense to try to hold other teams down enough for the offense to win it. The defense still ranked only 23rd in total defense and forced just 22 turnovers - both improvements (!) from 2007. Still, new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was brought in from Jacksonville and expected to immediately improve those numbers. The former head coach in Buffalo has gained notoriety as a defensive coordinator, running aggressive 4-3 schemes that put pressure on quarterbacks - a positive change for a defense that was too passive under former defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs. The Saints went almost strictly for defense in the draft again and added Jabari Greer and Darren Sharper via free agency. The linebacking corps lacks athletes and will be a weakness again. |
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Preview New Orleans Saints for the 2009
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The reason we're calling for a New Orleans uprising this fall is simple: the Saints have to be more lucky. They were just 8-8 last fall, but six of the losses came by a combined 18 points! The offense put up league-bests of 29 ppg and 411 yards per game. Quarterback Drew Brees almost broke Dan Marino's single-season pass yardage record and also tossed 34 touchdown passes, both easily also NFL-bests. All of the offensive weapons were back for 2009, and there's no reason to think the offense can't again be the league's best.
ASK the bookie? - The Saints play four of five at home starting on Oct. 4; at the halfway point they need to be 5-3 at the worst and likely 6-2 to make a real push at a playoff run. The only home game in a five-week tough stretch is a Monday Night game against New England. Three of the last four games are in the division, and there's a good chance all of them are going to mean something in the ultra-tight NFC South. The Bookie likes either 9-7 or 10-6. There's not much value in going OVER 9 wins, but that would be the way to play it with this explosive offense leading the way.
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