Improved Defense, Short-Yardage Offense Key to 2009 New Orleans Saints

Two factors are likely to determine the fate of the 2009 New Orleans Saints.

The most obvious area is on defense after the Saints finished the 2008 season ranked 23rd in total defense, allowing 339.5 yards per game.

Of that total, New Orleans ranked 17th against the run, allowing an average of 117 yards per outing on the ground, and 23rd in pass defense, surrendering 221.7 yards per game through the air.

New Orleans made several personnel moves in the offseason to try and improve on those numbers.

The most important was the re-signing of middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma. Vilma ended up costing the Saints a third-round pick in the 2009 draft after finishing eighth in the NFL in tackles with 132. That effort earned Vilma a new five-year contract, reportedly valued at up to $34 million.

Vilma proved to be a valuable asset, giving the New Orleans defense some sorely-lacking athleticism at the linebacker position.

The Saints looked toward free agency and the draft to address their woeful secondary. New Orleans signed 13-year safety Darren Sharper, the league’s active career interception leader with 54. Although a safety, Sharper will help to fill the veteran leadership lost with the release of aging cornerback Mike McKenzie.

New Orleans used its first-round pick in the 2009 draft on Ohio State defensive back Malcolm Jenkins. Jenkins gives the team versatility in the secondary, able to play either cornerback or safety.

Where he ultimately lines up may have more to do personnel groupings among the secondary than Jenkins’ own ability.

If Saints coaches believe they have two better safeties than Jenkins to open the season, then Jenkins will end up at cornerback. If not, he may open at safety. Either way, he is a candidate to see action at both positions.

Due in large part to defensive deficiencies, the Saints posted an underachieving 8-8 record in 2008. The additions of Sharper and Jenkins to key areas of need might give New Orleans fans hope for better results in 2009, but another glaring weakness has emerged for the Saints on defense.

The defensive front could be extremely thin, especially early in the season. New Orleans has millions wrapped up in defensive ends Charles Grant and Will Smith. Grant signed a seven-year deal in 2007 with a reported maximum value of $63 million, and Smith signed a reported six-year, $70 million extension in 2008. Both still are facing possible four-game suspensions to open the season, resulting from a positive test for a banned diuretic last season.

Even without that cloud hanging over their heads, both Smith and Grant are in need of bounce-back seasons. Smith was disappointment after signing his big, new deal a year ago while Grant missed half of the 2008 season with a torn tendon in his left triceps. Bobby McCray, who had six sacks a year ago in his first season in New Orleans, may have to carry an especially big load early in the season.

New Orleans will be a lot more inexperienced at defensive tackle this season following the release of Brian Young and Hollis Thomas. Both were adequate run stuffers in their prime, but showed the signs of age a year ago.

Sedrick Ellis, the team’s No. 1 pick in 2008, showed promise in his rookie season and will be counted on to have a big year after the departure of Young and Thomas. Still, it will be a year of transition along the interior of the defensive line.

Additional help along the defensive line likely will have to come from within the organization. With so much money tied up by Grant, Smith, McCray and Ellis, it’s unlikely the team will be able to go out and add significant defensive line help as the season progresses.

The other factor likely to determine the fate of the 2009 Saints is their short-yardage offense. Drew Brees threw for more than 5,000 yards a year ago, but too many drives were halted when the team was unable to convert on third down when the team need to pick up two yards or less.

With his ability as a runner, receiver, and return man, Reggie Bush has the ability to lead the league in all-purpose yardage. His status as an every-down back with the ability to gain the tough and much-need inside yardage, however, remains in question.

To help address short-yardage concerns, the Saints signed former New England Patriots fullback Heath Evans as a free agent. The nine-year veteran only has rushed for 561 yards in his career, but could serve as a needed lead blocker and tough inside runner.

An internal candidate to fill the void by the release of Deuce McAllister is Pierre Thomas. The three-year veteran and formerly-undrafted free agent rushed for 625 yards a year ago.

The NFC South appears to be weaker than a year ago. Tampa Bay has undergone a coaching change and a personnel purge, while Carolina is getting old at several key positions and Atlanta is unlikely to sneak up on anyone this year. The overall schedule is significantly tougher than the one that produced an 8-8 finish for the Saints a year ago. This season, the Saints face teams from both the NFC East and AFC East.

If everything falls into place, the Saints could possibly top out with a 10-win season. More realistically, New Orleans looks like another .500 team, give or take a win on either side of the win-loss total.