Complete New Orleans Saints Training Camp Preview

The NFL offseason is officially over, and the New Orleans Saints are scheduled to report to training camp at the The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia on Wednesday.

New Orleans, which finished 7-9 last season, is looking to return to the ranks of NFC playoff contenders after a forgettable 2014 campaign.

This past offseason, general manager Mickey Loomis executed a major overhaul of the Saints roster, as multiple starters on both sides of the ball were either traded or released.

As a result of the changes, a host of fresh faces will don the black and gold in 2015. More than a few of these newcomers will attempt to earn key roles this season, and they’ll be looking to get off to a solid start when practice begins.

Coach Sean Payton’s squad won’t quite be at full strength when camp opens, however. According to ESPN.com Saints reporter Mike Triplett, wide receiver Marques Colston, safety Jairus Byrd and defensive end Glenn Foster have been placed on the physically unable to perform list to begin camp.

Continue reading for a full preview of Saints training camp, which officially kicks off with a Thursday morning practice.

Offensive Overview

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Passing Game

The Saints finished the 2014 season with the NFL’s No. 1-ranked offense in terms of total yards, but the passing game wasn’t as potent as in previous years from a big-play standpoint.

New Orleans appears to have addressed that issue this offseason with the addition of explosive running back C.J. Spiller, who signed a four-year deal with the Saints during the first week of free agency. He accumulated 158 receptions for 1,195 yards and six receiving touchdowns over the course of a five-year stint with the Buffalo Bills.

The team also re-signed speedy wideout Joe Morgan, who provides the offense with another deep threat to complement 2014 first-round draft pick Brandin Cooks.

Meanwhile, wideout Marques Colston is back for his ninth season. As previously mentioned, he’ll start camp on the PUP list, but his chemistry with quarterback Drew Brees can’t be questioned, and he should once again play a major role in the passing game in 2015.

Receivers Nick Toon, Josh Morgan, Brandon Coleman and Seantavius Jones will also be looking to work their way onto the field with impressive showings at camp.

At tight end, Pro Bowler Jimmy Graham was traded this offseason, and the Saints won’t be able to simply snap their fingers and replace him. That doesn’t mean New Orleans can’t have steady production at the position, however, as Benjamin Watson and Josh Hill have both proven their worth as reliable options in the passing game.

Of course, the quarterback position is the most crucial, and the Saints have one of the all-time greats in Brees. The 36-year-old tossed for 33 touchdowns and just under 5,000 yards last year, but he committed some costly turnovers at crucial moments.

He’ll likely be focused on cutting down on the miscues in 2015, and a good way to start is by developing some chemistry with the Saints’ younger receivers in the early stages of camp.

For the backup job, 11-year veteran Luke McCown will compete with 25-year-old Ryan Griffin and third-round draft pick Garrett Grayson.

Running Game

As for the ground game, starting running back Mark Ingram will look to follow up an impressive 2014 campaign, in which he finished just 36 yards shy of the 1,000-yard rushing mark. The fifth-year back re-signed with New Orleans this offseason, and he figures to carry the bulk of the load between the tackles this year for what could be a formidable Saints rushing attack.

Spiller and third-year back Khiry Robinson are also capable of getting it done on the ground, and both should receive their share of carries.

At fullback, Erik Lorig and Austin Johnson will duke it out in camp with the starting position, and possibly a roster spot, at stake.

Offensive Line

Up front, center Max Unger joins a capable offensive line. The former Seattle Seahawk was acquired in the Graham trade, and he’ll provide the Saints with an accomplished run-blocker who will line up next to Jahri Evans on the inside.

Another key newcomer on the line is 2015 first-round draft pick Andrus Peat. With 2014 starters Terron Armstead and Zach Strief both returning after solid seasons, Peat’s presence provides New Orleans with legitimate depth at the tackle position. The 6’7,” 313-pounder is expected to eventually push Strief for the starting right tackle spot.

As for left guard, 2014 starter Ben Grubbs was traded away this offseason. Former backup Tim Lelito will try to fend off third-year pro Senio Kelemete for Grubbs' vacated position, in what should be a highly competitive camp battle.

Defensive Overview

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Defensive Line

While the Saints offense will be working to stay on top in 2015, the defense will look to gain back some respect after a disastrous showing last season.

Coordinator Rob Ryan is back for his third year in New Orleans, and his first order of business will be to shore up a defensive front that vastly underperformed in 2014.

On the inside, there should be some close competition throughout the early portion of camp, especially after the events of Tuesday afternoon. According to Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com, three-year starting nose guard Brodrick Bunkley was released by New Orleans.

With Bunkley out of the picture, 360-pound John Jenkins and newly acquired 12-year veteran Kevin Williams will head into camp as the top two candidates for playing time on the inside.

Second-year man Lawrence Virgil is also in the picture, but don’t count out rookie Tyeler Davison. The fifth-round draft pick will attempt to capture the attention of the coaching staff in the coming days, as will undrafted rookie free agents Ashaad Mabry and Kaleb Eulls.

Starting ends Cam Jordan and Akiem Hicks are two of the more talented players on the New Orleans defense, and both will look to get off on the right foot in camp after disappointing 2014 seasons. Jordan can man the end position out of both 4-3 and 3-4 alignments, while the versatile Hicks has the ability to slide over and play on the inside when the Saints go with a four-man front.

Linebacker

At the second level, three-year starting “Mike” linebacker Curtis Lofton is gone, and the battle for his vacated spot should be one of the more heated competitions of camp.

Seven-year veteran David Hawthorne will go toe-to-toe with first-round draft pick Stephone Anthony for the starting position. Hawthorne occupied the spot during summer workouts, but it could just be a matter of time before the athletic rookie takes over.

Pass-coverage specialist Dannell Ellerbe, who came over from the Miami Dolphins in the offseason trade of wideout Kenny Stills, will also look to make an early impression at inside linebacker. The same can be said for Ramon Humber, who enters his seventh NFL season after making six starts a year ago.

On the edge, the competition for playing time should be wide open, thanks in large to the sudden release of starter Junior Galette last Friday. 

Due to his eight years of NFL experience, former Dallas Cowboy Anthony Spencer may get the initial nod at the starting spot, but that could certainly change in the coming weeks.

Second-round draft pick Hau’oli Kikaha could benefit the most from Galette’s departure. The rookie pass-rusher possesses a potent combination of body lean and hand strength, and he plays the game with relentless intensity.

There’s also nine-year veteran Parys Haralson, who’s looking to start for the third consecutive season on the edge of Ryan’s defense.

Defensive Back

In the secondary, the cornerback spot could be one of the team’s most improved position groups in 2015, as an influx of fresh faces should result in some intense competition throughout camp.

On the outside, Keenan Lewis and Brandon Browner have the starting positions locked down, but the nickel and dime spots, as well as all other cornerback roster spots, are seemingly up for grabs.

According to reports, free-agent acquisitions Kyle Wilson and Delvin Breaux both saw time at nickel in summer workouts, but 2015 draft picks P.J. Williams and Damian Swann could also enter the race at some point in camp.

Young corners Brian Dixon, Stanley Jean-Baptiste and Terrence Frederick return from last season’s squad, and they’ll be battling the newcomers, as well as each other, for roster spots.

At safety, things are much more stable, as sure-fire starters Jairus Byrd (free safety) and Kenny Vaccaro (strong safety) will be backed up by the versatile Rafael Bush. Look for Bush, who can play both safety spots, to fill in for Byrd at the start of camp, as the latter is on the PUP list.

Meanwhile, second-year man Pierre Warren, journeyman Jamarca Sanford and hard-hitting Vinnie Sunseri provide valuable depth to a position that was riddled with injuries a year ago.

Special Teams Overview

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

Like on offense and defense, there should be some fiercely competitive special teams battles during camp.

At kicker, the Saints took a bit of a gamble when they released veteran Shayne Graham this summer. His replacement will be either Dustin Hopkins and/or Zach Hocker, and it’s important to note that neither has so much as attempted a kick in an NFL game.

Still, both young kickers boast strong legs and impressive track records at the collegiate level, and whoever wins out will have an opportunity to handle New Orleans’ kicking duties for the foreseeable future.

Things are much more set in stone at punter, as seventh-year man Thomas Morstead has established himself as one of the best in the league.

In the return game, Spiller’s extensive experience makes him an early candidate to win the job of kick and punt returner. He’ll have to fend off second-year wideout Jalen Saunders, however, as well as rookie running back Marcus Murphy.

As for the coverage units, the Saints have a multitude of talented, well-rounded athletes to choose from, including aforementioned safeties Warren, Sanford and Sunseri, as well as speedy outside linebacker Ronald Powell.

Key Players Looking to Bounce Back After Disappointing Seasons

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Cam Jordan

After terrorizing opposing quarterbacks to the tune of 12.5 sacks in 2013, defensive end Cam Jordan was on the verge of NFL stardom when he entered the 2014 season.

He frequently disappeared for long stretches of games, however, as opposing offensive tackles had their way with him more often than not. The end result was a paltry sack total of 7.5, which was his lowest since his rookie season in 2011.

Entering his fifth season, the former first-round pick out of California will look to return to his 2013 form, and there isn’t a better place to start than training camp.

Jahri Evans

Right guard Jahri Evans was once considered by many to be the very best in the league at his position.

A beacon of durability, the 31-year-old has started all 16 regular season games in eight of his nine pro seasons, with the only exception coming in 2013, when he started in 14.

Although he was still good enough to be named to the Pro Bowl, the 318-pounder took a noticeable step back in 2014, particularly in the pass protection department.

Evans will attempt to help the Saints get back into the playoffs this year, and he’ll have the added benefit of playing alongside newly acquired pivot man Max Unger. Evans and Unger could make for a menacing combination in the running game, and Mark Ingram shouldn’t lack for holes when running through the right A-gap.

Jairus Byrd

Three-time Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd will start camp on the PUP list, as stated earlier. Given his status as a six-year veteran, there’s no reason for the Saints to rush him back onto the field until he’s fully ready.

Byrd was New Orleans’ biggest offseason acquisition of 2014, when he was signed as a free agent. The former Buffalo Bill came in having racked up 22 interceptions and 11 forced fumbles in just five NFL seasons.

After getting off to a slow start in New Orleans, his season was cut terribly short last year, as he went down with a knee injury in practice just four games into the season.

Possessing outstanding coverage abilities in the deep secondary, Byrd will attempt to make his long-awaited impact in New Orleans this season.

Rookies to Keep an Eye on

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Both of the Saints' 2015 first-round draft picks, Andrus Peat and Stephone Anthony, are obviously worth keeping a close eye on during camp. There are numerous other rookies, however, who are looking to make their mark when practice opens, and we’ll take a look at some of them here.

Hau’oli Kikaha

Hau'oli Kikaha truly mastered the art of the sack at the collegiate level. He comes in having piled up 32 sacks in his last two seasons at Washington, including an astounding 19 in 2014.

With Junior Galette having been shown the door, the Saints could certainly stand for another capable edge-rusher to step up and make some noise in training camp.

A former judo champion, Kikaha enters his first NFL season with polished pass-rushing skills. If he can improve on his run defense over the course of camp, he could quickly become a fan favorite in New Orleans.

Delvin Breaux

The Saints starting nickel corner job is up for grabs, and 25-year-old rookie Delvin Breaux has a great chance to step in and claim it. Given that he worked with the first team at nickel during June minicamp, he has to be considered one of the favorites to win the job. 

The 6’1” former CFL star has made a full recovery after suffering a broken neck in high school, and he has a chance to one day replace either Keenan Lewis or Brandon Browner on the outside. For now, however, he’ll concentrate his efforts on locking down the nickel job. That quest begins when practice starts Thursday morning.

Tyeler Davison

With the release of Brodrick Bunkley, New Orleans has an opening at the starting defensive tackle/nose guard slot.

While John Jenkins and Kevin Williams are the leading candidates for the job, a dark horse in the race could come in the form of a 309-pound rookie from Fresno State.

Due to his lack of ideal nose guard size, Davison is currently well-suited to play in a four-man front. The possibility exists, though, that he could eventually develop into a 0-technique who can line head-up on the opposing center. After all, he demonstrates outstanding upper body strength at the point of attack, and his quickness off the snap is equally impressive.

Either way, Davison’s progress in the coming weeks should be worth keeping track of, as he competes for a roster spot.

Second-Year Players Looking to Make an Impact

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Seantavius Jones

With two key weapons in the passing game (Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills) no longer wearing Saints uniforms, there should be plenty of opportunities for some of the younger New Orleans receivers to step up and make a statement during camp. 

Second-year wideout Seantavius Jones is certainly one of those players. 

After spending the bulk of last season on the practice squad, the impressive athlete out of Valdosta State is looking to earn significant playing time in 2015. The 6'3," 200-pounder has nice body control and soft hands, and a solid camp could catapult him into the mix at wide receiver. 

Brandon Coleman

Brandon Coleman is another second-year wide receiver who has a chance to make an impact in 2015. At 6'6" and 225 pounds, he certainly doesn't lack for size, and this has led to comparisons to Colston. 

Coleman and Jones both stood out during OTAs, and they earned praise from Brees, per Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate back in June:

"

They are light years ahead of where they were just at the end of last year. You can tell that it's been at the forefront of their mind throughout the whole offseason, and look at what's happened here.

 

"

Kasim Edebali

Another 2014 rookie, outside linebacker Kasim Edebali, made a solid showing in his first NFL season. 

As one of only two Saints undrafted free-agent acquisitions to earn a spot on the opening day roster, he saw action in all 16 games last season. 

Playing on both defense and special teams, the native of Hamburg, Germany turned in his most memorable performance against the Green Bay Packers in late October on Sunday Night Football. In a 44-23 New Orleans win, Edebali registered four tackles and a forced fumble, and he sacked Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers twice. 

In 2015, he'll be looking to build on his respectable rookie season, and that process begins at training camp's first practice Thursday morning.