Training camps starting, and with them teams begin the long road towards the Super Bowl. As the start of the NFL season draws ever closer, we take an early look at every team’s offseason activities, training camp projections, as well as team previews. Read on for everything you need to know about the New Orleans Saints and check out our Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons pieces for more on the NFC South.
The New Orleans Saints in the Drew Brees era have been one of the most consistent playoff teams in the NFL. And with a handful of key acquisitions in the offseason, the Saints are looking to continue that playoff tradition and replicate their Super Bowl triumph in 2010.
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New Orleans Saints Team Preview for the 2014/2015 NFL Season
Offseason Update (8/7/2014)
Heading into their first preseason game against the St. Louis Rams, Drew Brees’ status is still up in the air on whether he will suit up for the Saints after suffering a strained oblique muscle during training camp. The injury is nothing serious though, and he is expected to be fit before the start of the new season.
[sc:NFL240banner ]The Saints’ offense is already a given with Brees calling the shots but the focus on the Saints’ camp this time around is on the defensive end with cornerback Keenan Lewis taking center stage. He was snapped up by the Saints this past offseason after an impressive year with the Steelers in 2013 where he made 47 total tackles with four interceptions to boot. He has made life difficult for Brees during scrimmages and if he can do that to an all-time great, then certainly he will pose some problems for the opposition this year.
Overview
2013 Regular Season Record: 11-5 SU/8-7-1 ATS
After going 7-9 SU in 2012, which saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in four years, the New Orleans Saints got off to a rocking start last season by winning their first five games.
Drew Brees once again had a fantastic season, passing for a total of 5,162 yards (446-for-650 for a 68 percent completion rate), his third season in a row with at least 5,000 passing yards to his name. Therefore, it was no surprise that the Saints made their way back to the playoffs as they finished the season with an 11-5 SU record and set up a Wild Card playoff with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Saints were able to edge past the Eagles, 26-24, but they couldn’t get past the eventual champion Seattle Seahawks in the divisional playoffs.
After finishing third and second in the NFC South the past two seasons respectively, the Saints are desperate to regain the division crown they last won in 2011. They will be tested once again by the Cam Newton-led Panthers, who nipped the Saints last year by a game to win a tightly-contested division crown. In fact, the Saints are the overwhelming favorites in the NFC South, where they are priced at -165.
Since that magical run back in 2009 that led to their first ever Super Bowl, Brees has churned out impressive numbers for the Saints but they’ve failed to get back to the big game just yet. This year, the Saints are at +1,200 to win their second Super Bowl title in six years.
Offseason Highlights
With the New Orleans offense in good hands with Drew Brees at the helm, the Saints management decided to invest on their defense to help improve their chances of winning the title.
The Saints made a big free agent splash by signing safety Jairus Byrd from the Buffalo Bills on a mammoth six-year, $56 million deal. Byrd will improve a Saints defense that ranked second in opposing passing yards with a 194.1-yard average and 19th in opposing rushing yards at 111.6 yards/game.
Apart from Byrd, the Saints improved their secondary defense when they signed cornerback Champ Bailey to a two-year deal worth $7 million. The 12-time Pro Bowler struggled with a foot injury last season limiting him to a career-low five appearances, but the Saints feel the 16-year veteran can ably fill the shoes of the departed Jabari Greer.
The Saints re-signed seven of their own free agents, including right tackle Zach Strief and part-time starting linebacker Parys Haralson. However, they’ve yet to finalize a long-term deal for tight end Jimmy Graham, who was a vital cog in their offensive attack last year leading all Saints receivers in receptions with 86.
New Orleans also added another weapon via the draft with Oregon State wide receiver Brandin Cooks. During his junior year in 2013, Cooks set Pac-12 records for the most receptions (128) and most receiving yards (1,730) and he seems to be a perfect fit for a Saints offense built around the passing game of Brees.
Cooks will sort of replace the role vacated by Darren Sproles, who was traded to the Eagles for a fifth round pick. Sproles’ designation was a running back but he had the skills of a wide receiver and this unique skillset was utilized to the hilt by Drew Brees. Cooks will have to step it up big time to cushion Sproles’ departure.
Key Betting Matchups of 2014 NFL Season
The Saints have entered the playoffs in four of the past five seasons going an amazing 55-25 during that stretch. This is the main reason why their season win totals is set at 10.5. The Saints have to hurdle some key contests though for them to seal another playoff appearance. Two of these matches are:
October 30 – @ Carolina Panthers
The Saints and the Panthers resume their battle for dominance in the NFC South in a Thursday night showdown in North Carolina. The Saints are 1-4 ATS against the Panthers in their last five encounters in North Carolina but with a much-improved defensive line-up, the Saints will looking to buck the trend and gain the victory.
November 24 – vs. Baltimore Ravens
In a battle of recent Super Bowl champions, the Saints take on the Ravens, where Super Bowl MVP’s Drew Brees and Joe Flacco are set to engage in a high-scoring battle.
Writer’s Prediction
The Saints with a much-improved defense will regain the NFC South crown with a 12-4 record and go over their season win total of 10.5 wins.
