A Passing Fancy? Brees Will Lead Saints To Super Bowl

Some random thoughts on the 2009 Saints:

• As long as Drew Brees is healthy and is in his prime, the Saints will be a playoff contender and the possibilities are limitless. A healthy Jeremy Shockey gives him another lethal weapon in what may already be the most dangerous group of receivers in football- Marcus Colston, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem.
• Meachem finally looks like the player who was worthy of being a late-round first-round selection and combines with Devery Henderson to give the Saints game-breaking potential at wideout. Brees' confidence level in Henderson has never been higher.
• Don't pay too much attention to the local yocals on New Orleans sports talk radio who preach gloom-n-doom about the lack of a running game. Remember a few of these guys have never played the game yet still sound like they've been hit in the head one-too-many times. They always conveniently fail to mention that last year's Super Bowl participants- Pittsburgh and Arizona- had two of the worst rushing attacks in football. Is the running game a passing fancy?
• Nevertheless, the Saints ground attack appears rejuvenated. As WWL's Hokie Gajan so astutely pointed out, Mike Bell hurls over the top and into the end zone like another former New Orleans RB Wayne Wilson. Gajan is too humble to say it but Bell and Lynell Hamilton run with the same kind of heart he did back in the day. Bell looks like a Pierre Thomas with better moves. A healthy Bush, in space, is a potential game-breaker.
• The offensive line of Brown, Stinchcomb, Goodwin, Evans and Nicks are as good a unit as any in the league. Evans and Nicks may be the best young guard combination in the NFL. The unit showed a good push up front in the running game this pre-season and there pass protection ability has never been questioned.
• Zero one....Zero two....Zero three....Zero Four....kabooooommmm!.......QB BLOWN-UP!!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!!....Doesn't happen to Brees often thanks to this Saints offensive line.
• Gregg Williams' attack style of defense is taking root. It was evident in both practice and games. The defense is running to the football. Playing with aggression. Sacking. Swiping. Stealin' and Stripping. As you know if you have visited the city, stripping is an art form in New Orleans but has rarely been seen in the Superdome since the Dome patrol days.
• Jonathan Vilma and Roman Harper will emerge as All-Pros under Williams. Veteran Darren Sharper remarked that Harper has all-pro potential. Under Williams' tutelage, look for Harper to make that prediction a reality. Vilma is a throwback who plays with reckless abandon. A headhunter. The type of on-the-field bad ass rogue who uses his both his brain and his considerable athleticism to make things happen. 
• In many ways, this season will be about Gregg Williams. Sean Payton thought enough of him to fork over a portion of his salary to bring him here. Legend has it, former Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson parted with some of the cash stashed in his freezer to lure him. Now that's putting your money where your mouth is. It was a hard sell. Williams already liked what he saw before putting his name on the dotted line. 
• Saints partisans don't question Williams' credentials. He's a proven winner, having built outstanding defenses wherever he's been. They do wonder given his penchant for job-hopping, how long he will stay. Williams says as long as the Saints will have him. That remains to be seen. However if he can elevate the defense to Super Bowl level, he would likely depart New Orleans with a Saintly blessing if he so chose.
• My prediction: 12-4 and a Super Bowl showdown with New England.