New Orleans Saints 2009 Preview

For the past two seasons since a surprise run to the NFC Championship game, the New Orleans Saints have been the epitome of an inconsistent team. One week their offense, led by star quarterback Drew Brees, will look like a reincarnation of the 98' Vikings or the Mike Martz Rams teams and the next week, they will struggle to protect the ball and generally play down to their opposition.

In 2008 - the inconsistencies we saw from the Saints a year prior to that were ever present once again. The season started off well for New Orleans, as Drew Brees passed for 343 yards and 3 touchdowns in an opening day victory over division foe Tampa Bay.

The next week however, Brees would struggle to get into any kind of rhythm and turn the ball over twice, while the Saints defense would all but disappear in a loss to the Redskins on the road.

The yo-yo effect of exchanging wins and losses would basically become a running theme for the Saints the entire season. Throughout 2008, the Saints offense would post outstanding numbers en route to ranking first in the league in total yards per game, passing yards per game, and points per game.

However, their defense was a whole different story. Last season the Saints defense, an obvious achilles heel for the team, would be ranked 23rd overall and surrender over 24 points a game.

In other words, when the Saints would win, it would come via a shootout - but when their offense would struggle to get into any sort of flow, the game was all but over.

What this resulted in was another very average season. While Drew Brees came within 16 yards of breaking Dan Marino's single season record for passing yards in a season, the Saints quarterback also threw 17 interceptions, with only Brett Favre and Jay Cutler throwing more during the year.

And while it may seem unfair to nitpick about a season that saw over 5000 yards passing and 34 touchdowns, with as shaky a defense and place kicker as Brees was playing alongside, the big interception would often prove to be a deathblow.

As the 2008 season drew to a close, with the Saints finishing at 8-8, coach Sean Payton knew he had to get his franchise quarterback some stability on his other units so that the weight on Brees' shoulders would not be too much for him to handle.

CB Jabari Greer (Buffalo)
FB Heath Evans (New England)
S Darren Sharper (Minnesota)
LB Anthony Waters (San Diego)
C Nick Leckey (St. Louis)
S Pierson Prioleau (Jacksonville)
DT Rod Coleman (Atlanta)
DE Paul Spicer (Jacksonville)
TE Dan Campbell (Detroit)
OT Anthony Davis (St. Louis)
TE Darnell Dinkins (Cleveland)
WR Paris Warren (Tampa Bay)

None

FB Mike Karney (St. Louis)
S Josh Bullocks (Chicago)
WR David Patten (Cleveland)
RB Deuce McAllister (Released)
CB Mike McKenzie (Unsigned)

1-14. Malcolm Jenkins, FS, Ohio State
4-116. Chip Vaughn, SS, Wake Forest
4-118. Stanley Arnoux, ILB, Wake Forest
5-164. Thomas Morstead, P, SMU

New Orleans began to reconfigure their defense by removing Gary Gibbs as defensive coordinator and hiring Gregg Williams to become their new defensive coordinator.

Then between free agency and the draft, the Saints began to add much needed pieces on their depth chart. Veteran safety Darren Sharper was signed to play safety, and corner Jabari Greer came over from Buffalo to fill a spot vacated by the departure of Mike McKenzie.

The Saints also drafted Malcolm Jenkins out of Ohio State, who can play either corner or safety, with their first round pick in 2009.

On the defensive line, the Saints added a couple of veterans to their rotation in Paul Spicer and Ro

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