Drew Brees is chasing records as father time slowly gains ground. Sean Payton went through a Jeff Fisher-esqe 7-9 spell before last season’s surprise division title. Mickey Loomis is still building a defense while Mark Ingram fights for a pay raise before serving a suspension. With NOLA’s reputation as a football town being challenged with increasing NBA viewership, the Saints are facing pressure from all sides to make a Super Bowl run.
The Saints offense is usually the headline when missed tackles do not doom the Saints to defeat. Brees’ pursuit of NFL records and the Saints redemption for last year’s playoff heartbreak will shape the narratives early through the preseason. However, the Saints will face the most scrutiny this year than any season since Katrina and perhaps beyond.
Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints Face One of Their Most Challenging Seasons in Years
Drew Brees Facing the Undefeated Father Time
Brees’ championship window is closing, but not as quickly as Brees is closing in on the NFL all-time passing yards record. It may take a few extra games to achieve the milestone, but Brees is on track to eclipse Peyton Manning this season. Behind an offensive line that could go to the Pro Bowl as a unit, Brees should have ample time to pick his spots.
In those gloomy 7-9 years, Brees’ arm was wearing out at the end of seasons. Ingram and Alvin Kamara solved the problems of overuse. No more games of 55 passes and 30 being mid-range out routes and long post. The Saints balanced their offense and found some game-changers in the draft over the last two years. Now they play with and defend leads instead of wearing out Brees’ arm playing catch up.
“The efficiency aspect of it is, I think is, very key being that you know you never know from week to week how it’s going to play out,” Brees said at organized team activities. “I mean, listen, I hope we can run the ball as well as we did last year with the complement of Mark [Ingram] and AK [Alvin Kamara] and whoever else might be in the mix because that just adds balance to your offense.”
There were dozens of articles or television segments addressing the lack of a plan behind Brees. The questions of succession should have ended with the draft. No one in the Crescent City is so drunk as to be oblivious to the fact that if Brees goes down so does the Saints season.
Sean Payton Seemingly Settled?
Payton has been increasingly mentioned as a target for other teams’ coaching vacancies. Possible trade scenarios were floated even after contract extensions. In 2016, Payton signed a five-year, $45 million contract extension. After that season there were reports of the Rams putting in an offer. With an extension not due for another year or two and Brees career winding down, the Payton watch will be on again next off-season regardless of the teams’ record.
Mark Ingram’s Superdome Swan Song?
Ingram came in at 43 in the NFL Top 100 list, but that was before his suspension. Michael Thomas and Kamara look more than capable of carrying an offense captained by Brees. These missed games due to suspension will cost Ingram millions.
Players that miss games do not meet contract incentives. Suspended players are not likely to make any Pro Bowl or All-Pro team. Endorsement opportunities vanish quicker than the lost game checks. Not only is Ingram less rich, the suspension likely cost him an opportunity to re-sign in New Orleans.
A slow start to his career, a breakout season, then a season of touches split with Kamara. Ingram’s looming contract talks kept him away from team activities so far. Any further distractions past this suspension may sour even the most loyal fan. There already aren’t many fans of a contract that is more than two years and $10 million. That would be a slight pay raise with an option to cut bait on the other side of 30.
The Saints need Ingram to come back in shape and ready to perform. The Saints have arguably the toughest schedule against the run. From Week Three on the Saints face the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Falcons again, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Bucs, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Panthers. Every team was in the top third of run-stuffing categories last year or is known to be a historically tough defense.
Michael Thomas: The Next Great Saints Receiver?
Thomas should get half of every dollar Mickey Loomis saves from letting Ingram walk. As a rookie, he hauled in 92 catches for over 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns. His sophomore campaign saw Thomas announce his intentions to be seen as elite. Thomas took over games, compiling 104 passes for 1,245 yards and five touchdowns.
This while sharing touches the Ingram-Kamara duo. The first four games will be an experiment into what the team could be sans Ingram a la the Pelicans and DeMarcus Cousins. Both teams could use those stars, but at what price does the risk outweigh the rewards. Crossing that line due to sentimental value gets teams in trouble.
I love my players, but I want my general manager to do business like Marlo Stanfield, a man not known for sentiment. If Cameron Meredith can work outside the hash marks, it would allow Thomas to work from the slot. Thomas destroyed defenses when allowed a free release. It allows Brees to target him with a whole field to work with.
Is the Defense Built Yet?
Loomis still needs to prove he can build a defense. Former coordinator Greg Williams‘ turnover heavy scheme was a one-hit wonder. Was last year’s draft class? With an off-season to find weaknesses, the Saints will need to sustain the improvements of last year instead of regressing like previous inconsistent squads.
Alex Anzalone only played four games last year. The Saints 2017 third round pick will serve as much needed depth behind free agent signing Demario Davis and Craig Robertson. If Anzalone can show improved coverage skills he would allow the Saints three linebackers and a full complement of swarming safeties on third down passing situations. If he cannot, the Saints will need Manti Te’o or a sixth defensive back to step up. New Saint Kurt Coleman has not been the best-rated safety in coverage in his nine years of experience.
Marcus Davenport cost the Saints assets to move up in the draft. First round picks are usually under pressure to perform but doubly so those who teams traded up to draft. Davenport will need to provide immediate pressure to take the focus off of Cameron Jordan. Working on the other side of David Onyemata and Sheldon Rankins will isolate Davenport on the edge.
If Davenport can grab a few sacks and prove he was worth the draft capital, Davenport will give the young secondary chances to make plays. If Davenport needs time to adjust coming from UTSA to the NFL, last year’s third-round pick Trey Hendrickson and Alex Okafor will provide depth.
Can the Saints Cover Anyone?
The secondary may be the strongest position group for New Orleans after years of being the weakest link. Patrick Robinson is back in the Big Easy, now sporting new jewelry. Marshon Lattimore has shown the skills to be the premier shutdown corner in the NFL. Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams will serve in the roaming safety spots. Coleman is solid against the run and has the closing speed to chase down routes in the flat.
Williams must come back from arguably the worst defensive blunder in Saints history. He is talking the redemption talk. Questions will remain until he walks out and proves it is in his past. Playing with a ghost makes a player slow. He needs to play without hesitation to maintain his top five NFC safety level. If the Saints play up to expectations, there will be late January football played in New Orleans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOwtQ9Ll-oE
Who Will Coach Special Teams?
Also of note: Coach Mike Westhoff faces the biggest challenge. Any issue that is debilitating, paralyzing and could potentially be life-threatening take priority. Payton and the Saints convinced him to come out of retirement for the special teams job. His changes paid immediate dividends, and fans around the league have sent their best wishes. Grayson Hill and Alvin Kamara most notably rewarded his faith.
