With training camp a month away I will look at each team position by position. Remember, this is just what I see that could happen. This does not mean that any team will do any of this at all.
I will start with my home town team, the New Orleans Saints. This team has had to over come so much in the last three years it's hard to judge them to be fair. This year is a make-or-break year for a lot of players. So let's start by looking at the backfield.
Quarterback: At this time the team only has three quarterbacks on the roster. Drew Brees will be hard pressed to improve over what he has done in the past two years, but get ready. Brees has the talent around him to put the team in the playoffs. I would expect him to have around 31 TD's this season. And if Brees goes down the Saints have a player that can come in and take over.
Former All-Pro Mark Brunell will take over as the number two quarterback. He brings leadership and knows what it takes to win. With second year Tyler Palko as the number three quarterback, this group is ready to go. The only drawback is that they still need one more for pre-season. Look for the Saints to get a player that might have been released or signed as a free agent.
The Saints have one of the leagues best backfields on paper; can that translate onto the field? Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush are a good one-two punch. Can they return from injury? Will they help run the ball up the middle? These questions will not be known until the regular season starts. Look for Deuce and Reggie to sit most of training camp. Stecker was resigned but he will have to play more as a kick returner in order to see the field. Pierre Thomas should see more action this year and is willing to go up the middle. He should be outstanding with Deuce and Reggie in the mix. Mike Karney still can open holes and protect the quarterback and should be the fullback in the back field. Kevin Dudley and Chris Barclay will have to show that they can excel on special teams To make the final cut. Look for Dudley to be on the practice list.
Check back tomorrow when I cover recievers and TE.
9 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Marty Washington about 1 year ago
I think your right about looking good on paper, but I also think the Saints need invest in a quality power back just in case. I don't have much faith in Brunell but who knows. Whatever the case be the Saints will be a far different team on defense and that will be the key to at least winning the division.
Saint for Life
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Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago
I agree. A player like Julius Jones would have been a nice fit in New Orleans.
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martin coggeshall about 1 year ago
the saints have done what they needed to do to take care of the defense. . . . . . can reggie do what he was so capable of doing in collage, thats the question. 60 mil is alot to pay for someone in the slot or on special teams. let's face the facts, it's been obvious he can't run up the middle! even with duece on the field.
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Nola Chick about 1 year ago
I think the Saints need to find a way to utilize Reggie's talent. No, he can't run up the middle like a power back, but he has the speed to be a threat like Brian Westbrook. It's going to take lots of discipline and concentrated coaching to get him to resist the temptation to prance to the sidelines, but it can be done. I still have faith Reggie can make a huge contribution to this team. Despite being somewhat of a disappointment, he's pulled off some amazing plays in his first 2 years. And this year, he's out to prove he's not a flake
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David Stidd about 1 year ago
Reggie is going to be used I feel as a slot. Thomas will be more of a running back this year. However the Saints could go after a frre agent. There are some good ones out there.
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Gustavo Destro about 1 year ago
The sooner the Saints realize that Reggie Bush isn't a NFL running back, the sooner they will be back in the playoffs. Reggie is a swiss-army knife of a player but cannot be trusted to carry and offence by running in between tacks. If he is moved arround to the slot or has another back with him in the back field, he can be truly dangerous.
The saints better pray really hard that Deuce is healthy, otherwise I don't think Reggie + Stecker can do the job.
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foggs hatte about 1 year ago
Maybe I'm wrong, but personally i believe that the general concern regarding Bush, is quite understood by the coaching staff, which is why they will find a way to put PT into the roster, as a just in case. having PT around as Deuce insurance is necessary, being as how Deuce is actually insurance for Bush. Give Bush all the support you can muster and he just may become a "miracle man" I would expect to see Bush contribute more in the passing game.
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David Stidd about 1 year ago
I can see that happening. I think the Saints might make a change in the recieving core. Don't be surprised if Reggie gets a few starts at reciever and the Saints open with a 5 reciever set. Would really cause missmatch problems on the first play of the game.
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Tony Perry about 1 year ago
Brunell is a definite plus. He is as rested as he's ever been, this is an offense structured more to his skill set and preferences than he had back in Washington in 2006-07, and he seems happier now than he has been since leaving Jacksonville. He may not be able to withstand the punishment of playing a full season anymore, but he can come in for a series or a game and play as well as most starters.
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