Now that the Super Bowl has been played and free agency is less than a month away, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be looking at the top three offseason needs for each team. The next franchise under the microscope is the New Orleans Saints.
What to Know
2014 Record: 7-9
Draft Picks: 13th Overall
Notable Free Agents: Mark Ingram, Jonathan Goodwin, Robert Meachem
2014 In Review
Going into the 2014 season as Super Bowl contenders, the Saints ultimately fell short of high expectations by finishing the campaign 7-9 and missing the playoffs for the second time in three years. Although decimated by injuries throughout the 16-game schedule, inconsistent play on both sides of the ball plagued the team’s chances for success.
Entering the new league year with the NFL’s worst salary cap situation, the Saints have tough decisions to make regarding players like Marques Colston and Pro Bowl running back Mark Ingram. In the midst of organizing their finances, they have to reconstruct several positions on their roster, starting with a defense that finished 31st in the league in 2014. What pieces do the Saints need to return to their 2013 form or better?
New Orleans Saints 2015 Offseason: Top 3 Needs
Defensive Lineman
The defensive line play of the Saints was putrid in 2014, starting inside at the tackle spots. The team finished 29th in rushing defense, allowing just under 133 yards per game on the ground. After reports of dominating training camp, Akiem Hicks could not control the middle of the line throughout the regular season. Despite being only 25 years old, Hicks may be pushed by a draft pick for the starting job in 2015. The Saints should also consider moving on from veteran Brodrick Bunkley, who’s played a full season only once in the last five years.
The pass rush also took a huge step backwards last season. The Saints finished with 34 sacks in 2014 as opposed to 49 in 2013. In that 49-sack campaign, edge rushers Cam Jordan and Junior Galette combined for 24.5 of those takedowns. Jordan’s sack total dipped from 12.5 in his Pro Bowl season to just 7.5 in 2014. Although Galette is coming off consecutive 10-sack seasons, his status with the franchise may be in doubt due to his domestic violence situation.
Cornerback
Cornerback has remained the biggest inconsistency in New Orleans since the start of the Sean Payton-Drew Brees era. Since 2006, the Saints have finished in the top half of the league in passing defense three times; they placed 23rd or below the other six years. The franchise has cycled through Fred Thomas, Mike McKenzie, Tracy Porter, Patrick Robinson and so on. Despite each of these guys being very productive during certain stretches, their windows of high-level play were miniscule. Keenan Lewis is currently the team’s shutdown corner, but he’ll turn 29 in May.
Playing in the modern-day NFL, along with competing against big-time receivers like Julio Jones, Roddy White, Kelvin Benjamin and Mike Evans every year, you can never have “too many cornerbacks.”
Offensive Lineman
For the past nine seasons, the New Orleans Saints have perennially boasted one of the NFL’s premier offenses. The Payton-Brees duo is undoubtedly the greatest reason for their success, but continuity along the offensive line has also aided the franchise’s growth. From 2009-2012, the Saints allowed an average of 24 sacks and 57.5 hits on the quarterback. In the last two seasons, the team surrendered 67 sacks and 156 quarterback hits.
A key element to the frontline’s demise has been the departures of various players. Before center Jonathan Goodwin returned to the Saints last summer, All Pro right guard Jahri Evans was the only starter remaining on the roster from the 2009 Super Bowl squad. Pro Bowlers Jermon Bushrod, Carl Nicks and Jammal Brown left for larger paydays elsewhere since then.
Age has become another factor in the Saints diminishing line play. Left tackle Terron Armstead and center Tim Lelito are nice building blocks for the future, but with Evans, left guard Ben Grubbs and right tackle Zach Strief all over the age of 30, younger blood will be needed to restructure this unit.
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