Five New Orleans Saints Position Battles To Monitor This Summer

Competition brings out the best in athletes. Nothing says “expendable” quite like the next guy’s resume which, in the NFL, is on display every day on the practice field and in the film room.

When fostered properly, though, competition can blossom into a harmonious coupling of cooperation and sharing, capable of producing immediate results (see Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister, version 2006).

The Saints have spent the offseason adding needed depth at some of the biggest holes on defense, while making sure the offense didn’t lose too much of a step.

Here are five positions on the Saints depth chart that could be up for grabs this summer:

Weakside Linebacker

Sean Payton was familiar with Scott Shanle before either one of them came to New Orleans. Both, along with Gary Gibbs, were Dallas Cowboys before giving the Saints a face lift in 2006.

The defense over-achieved that year, and so did Shanle. But Saints fans haven’t been able to say anything of the sort since then.

The slowest of the three starting linebackers, Shanle has been a placeholder waiting for the next best thing to show up. This year that could be Dan Morgan.

Morgan missed all of last season after he retired due to multiple injuries and concussions. The former first round pick was beat up at the middle linebacker position while in Carolina, a position he necessarily wasn’t best suited for.

Morgan is unquestionably a better linebacker than Shanle. But if he can’t get through the preseason without getting hurt, the position is Shanle’s to lose.

Morgan has said that he’s felt better than he has in years. Let’s hope so. It would be a shame to see a player of Morgan’s caliber reduced to a backup role or worse, get cut.

Running Back

Reggie Bush can find success outside of the backfield regardless of what the running game can produce. But the Saints want to rely on him to do more than just catch the ball and be a decoy.

His best performances were turned in during his rookie season, when he was sharing the load with former Saint, Deuce McAllister. It was also the only time in his short career that he played all 16 games.

Though 2006 was Bush’s worst year as a rusher, it was his best as a receiver. In short, a productive running game keeps the Saints’ most dangerous weapon healthy and productive.

If Bush could pass block, pick up third-and-ones, and run between the tackles, there would be no competition. But Saints fans live in the real world and so does Pierre Thomas.

Thomas has proved to be a better option on the ground than Bush—really, the only option since McAllister’s departure. Nevertheless, he’s shown that he can carry the ball 20 to 25 times when he’s asked to, unlike Bush.

Sean Payton isn’t looking for a clear cut starter as much as he’s devising a way for Bush and Thomas to co-exist.

In his last six starts of 2008, Thomas averaged 18.7 touches per game and 112.8 yards from scrimmage per game. He also scored nine of his 12 total touchdowns in that span.

If Thomas can carry those numbers into 2009, the Saints won’t have to rely so much on Drew Brees for offensive production (which isn’t the worst option in the world, by the way).

Defensive Line

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to the defensive line, which is why I have grouped the DTs and DEs together, rather than individually.

Starting with what we know, Charles Grant and Will Smith are the team’s starting defensive ends - but that's after each serves a four game suspension for violating the NFL substance abuce policy.

The Saints still have Bobby McCray, who got better as the 2008 season progressed, and signed Paul Spicer from Jacksonville, who new defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams can trust to fill in admirably in Grant and Smith's absence.

Smith and Grant were both recipients of huge long-term contracts last year, but their play worsened from 2007 to 2008.

Williams was brought in to weed out the underachievers, so don’t be surprised if you see Spicer and McCray pushing Grant and Smith for starting reps.

Ellis will be one of the starting defensive tackles, but the exit of Hollis Thomas and Brian Young leaves a hole to fill. Kendrick Clancy was decent last year but Coleman is the most likely candidate as he has the most experience.

Coleman, like Dan Morgan, didn’t even play football in 2008. Coleman got to the Pro Bowl in 2005 by getting after the quarterback, something Williams will take advantage of in his new-look defense.

The unlikelier option at DT has upside going for him. DeMario Pressley missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury.

But the coaching staff likes him and his potential will, if nothing else, keep him on the team as at least a backup.

Also look for Grant to move to DT in some passing situations.

Backup Wide Receiver

Not only is the WR position arguably the deepest on the team, it is also the most productive. Thanks in large part to Drew Brees, some Saints wideouts could be the first option on many other teams in the NFL.

Even though missing five games last year to a thumb injury, Marques Colston came back with a flurry, scoring four times in the last three games. He is unquestionably the number one receiver on the team.

After him, the order is a little unclear.

After every practice last summer, Brees and Lance Moore would spent about an extra half-hour or more putting in extra work together. The results showed up big time on the field as Moore caught a career high 10 touchdowns in 2008.

He plays the Wes Welker role to perfection and has found his niche in Payton’s offense. Though Moore didn’t get the four-year contract extension that Henderson did, the signing was aimed more in the direction of Robert Meachem.

Meachem showed up at times last season, but just not enough. Most of his highlights came on the deep ball but Henderson’s extension proves that the Saints still look to him first when going downfield.

2009 will be Meachem’s make or break year. The good news is that The Times-Picayune reports Meachem is feeling better than ever and is having some of the best practices of his career.

Adrian Arrington rounds out the bunch and has maybe the most upside. He too missed his rookie season last year to injury but the staff liked him enough to keep him on the roster.

Cornerback

The most criticized unit of the past three years enters the summer as one of the deepest on the team.

Losing Mike McKenzie didn’t help, but the Saints have given themselves enough options to find an adequate replacement.

Critics will point out Jason David as the worst of the bunch, but to his defense he’s gotten better every year as a Saint and should continue to improve under Gregg Williams.

Still, David will be watching the action mostly from the bench, instead of the field. Malcolm Jenkins was the Saints’ only day-one pick in April’s draft for good reason.

His first-round status will get him on the field early and his versatility and ball-hawking skills will keep him there, even in special situations.

Playing opposite Jenkins will either be newcomer Jabari Greer or sophomore Tracy Porter.

Porter looked promising last year before breaking his wrist, but he’ll have to go out and win that job again if he wants to stay on the field.

Greer will most likely start opposite Jenkins, though, since he has more experience and Gay is best suited playing in nickel packages.

Either way, the Saints made great strides to improve the secondary as a whole.

Darren Sharper replaced Josh Bullocks at free safety, giving the Saints a much-needed upgrade at that position. Sharper’s quarterbacking skills will have everyone in the unit playing better immediately.