New Orleans Saints 2009 Preview: Is This Finally the Year?

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Though 2006 was arguably the best season in New Orleans Saints history, the campaign was only the beginning of this streak of NFL competitive relevance in the Crescent City. Despite steps backwards in 2007 and 2008, the team has quietly been adding front-end talent and admirable depth since that NFC Championship appearance against the Bears. Now, as Drew Brees put it, "...we're at this stage in our careers where this is kind of our prime. ... So this is our window of opportunity. This is our chance to walk together forever, to go down in history together." After over 40 years and just two playoff wins, is this the year the Saints finally break through?

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Offense: Well, let's see -- No. 1 total offense in 2006, No. 4 in 2007, No. 1 in 2008. They return every single starter from last year except at fullback, and have a wealth of weapons (including a seemingly, finally-healthy Jeremy Shockey, who's had a great preseason) for one of the league's best passers to choose from. The truth is, the only things separating Drew Brees from Peyton Manning or Tom Brady at this point are the rings. Those are obviously significant, but Brees is ridiculously talented, respected unanimously and smart. His receivers are a skilled and deep bunch, led by Marques Colston and perhaps sparked by a breakout season by Robert Meachem. And the new dedication to a strong run game has produced favorable results so far for four guys who can gain yardage and an offensive line with perhaps the best young guard tandem in the league in Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks. Yeah, I think they'll be OK. Heat Index: 10


Defense: This group isn't quite there yet, but they're getting better. The butt of jokes the last few years, the team has completely overhauled its secondary to the point where the unit is now a strength. Free safety Darren Sharper might not have much of it left anymore, but he's smart and experienced enough to get by for another year, and his wisdom should be invaluable. Usama Young is the future at the position, and he looks like a player. Meanwhile, corners Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer, Randall Gay, and first-round pick Malcolm Jenkins are all talented enough to start for other NFL teams. Jonathan Vilma is the Brees of defense, and while the team will suffer from the four-game suspensions that starting ends Will Smith and Charles Grant face at the beginning of the season, keep an eye out for Anthony Hargrove. He's a talented, super-athletic end-turned-tackle who saw his career nosedive due to off-field issues. He hit rock bottom and seems hellbent on redemption. Coaches have quietly raved about his play and attitude and are expecting a big season out of him. He'll have the opportunity to make plays all year long, particularly during those first four games, given his ability to play any position on the line. This unit is still going to give up its share of big plays, but under new coordinator Gregg Williams' aggressive scheme and fiery personality, they're going to take the ball away a lot more. Heat Index: 7

Special Teams: The Saints have put their faith in preseason stud and undrafted rookie receiver Rod Harper to return kicks, and it looks like Reggie Bush will have a more regular role returning punts. But Harper's ability to play against first-teamers in real action and Bush's ability to stay healthy are both in question. Many people scoffed when the team took punter Thomas Morstead with one of their only four picks in this year's draft, but Morstead has looked fantastic thus far, and punting/creating good field position was one of the team's biggest weaknesses in 2008. In the Saints' last preseason game, Morstead punted seven times for a 44.7 average with three downed inside the 20 and no returns. That might not make a difference to the casual fan, but it certainly matters in determining wins and losses. A big question lies in the kicking game, however. The team has been cursed with place kickers since letting John Carney go after 2006, but he's back while Garrett Hartley misses the season's first four games because of suspension. Hartley was 13-for-13 in field goals as a rookie, but it remains to be seen if he can keep anything resembling that pace with a bigger sample size. In his absence is Carney, whose strength is questionable at best at this point, despite his Pro Bowl appearance last year. And they still don't have anyone incredibly reliable for kickoffs. Heat Index: 6

Coaching: Sean Payton has done a remarkable job turning the entire culture of the franchise around, on top of his work molding the roster itself. He's also one of the league's best offensive playcallers. Payton is still maturing as a coach after his share of growing pains, but his positive impact on the franchise and region is undeniable. The players, ownership, and city love him; he's got a symbiotic relationship with Brees; he's young and energetic; and he's not afraid to bring in a commanding presence to work under him. Gregg Williams rivals Payton's intensity, aggressive style and talent, and he's breathed new life into the defense so far. Payton saw such a kinship between he and Williams that he volunteered to take a lesser salary if it meant the team could afford to hire him. If Williams could get a fraction out of the defense what Payton has with the offense, they'll be a complete team. Between those two, the Saints are in very capable hands. Heat Index: 8

Intangibles: On the plus side, this team has a strong bond and very sound work ethic, both due to Payton. On the minus side, they are the Saints, meaning you have to account for a fair share of awful luck; as if the Superdome were built on top of a cemetery, there seems to be something significant that goes wrong every year. Last season it was injuries, and that could be the team's undoing again this year -- Pierre Thomas is already questionable for Week 1, Bush and Shockey can almost never stay healthy, and starting left tackle Jammal Brown will likely miss the first game or two with a sports hernia as well. On top of that, the four-game suspensions for Smith, Grant, and Hartley at the beginning of the year will take their toll, and if the Saints come out of those games less than .500 doubts and whispers are going to begin. If they can weather those punishments and stay relatively healthy this year, they should be gravy, but those are tenuous assumptions. Heat Index: 7

Total Heat Index: 38/50. This is the cautiously optimistic score, which is not to be confused with the homer score or the seasoned Saints fan sky-is-always-falling score, though if I were to be honest I'd say they probably perform slightly better than this gives them credit for. The Saints are a playoff team and likely division winner, and if they can stay healthy and this defense jumps to the middle of the pack or better, they can very well take the leap the franchise has never made -- to the Super Bowl.