Updated 7/20/2018
The entire New Orleans Saints existence has been led under Owner - Tom Benson, so since his passing a new mark of leadership will unveil, it's "we were made champions in his lifetime, so let's make him proud as CHAMPIONS again in his afterlife". Continue on the path of excellence again!
"This is the "DREAM TEAM" now if their ever was one!"
During free agency New Orleans addressed their defensive needs on the majority over offense, which was expected. The offense has always been that eccentric group that lights up the field each and every week, but they tweaked it to give their offense additional betterment at that level. New Orleans cannot expect to just sign valued players and make expect to make it to the next level, they have to play to "sell-out and go for broke", they cannot go (soft and go home "again") it's "imperative they go hard and win the Superbowl this year" then waiting another year by disappointment. New Orleans exited the playoff run of (4 games) in the "just" the 2nd round, meaning they could've been eliminated in the conference championship (3rd round) which would still be unacceptable. If they played in the Superbowl chances are they would have won due to their track record (1-1) in Superbowl appearances, but there's still a chance they could of exited in the (4th round) losing the Superbowl which is also way unacceptable but on a larger scale losing the big one so close.
Each level of losing probably stings a bit more because of the closer chance of achieving the primary goal winning the Superbowl. How do you think the "entire city/team" of Minnesota feels after being so close again in the conference championship - they lost a bad 38-7, I bet it still stings at a level of 8/10 compared to the Saints sting level at 6/10, and Panthers sting level of 4/10, and the sting level from some teams that had high expectations like Green Bay, Dallas, NY Giants, San Francisco, Seattle and others teams that completely missed the playoffs.
This coming year 2018/19 the competition will be at it's absolute best, every year the NFL becomes a faster growing sport by the superior athletes that play at an excelled level every game. In the NFL's recent years, Pro Bowlers (NBA too with all-stars) and several big named players are joining together as an elite group of athletes with all pro statutes. Year by year these players that seek the dream title will leave for an opportunity to win the "BIG-1". Great veteran players will pair with great teams that have a heavy chance to win the Superbowl or younger players join a team that's in the making to become a great reckoning force some day like Philadelphia just recently, either way players will jump-ship for that championship opportunity.
For a "Hall Of Fame" quarterback in Drew Brees it's a ticking clock for him, Brees has "numerous" records of equality to all the best quarterbacks to ever play the game of football, including the two QB's he's played with majority of his career (Peyton Manning and Thomas Brady). Brees is 1/1 in a Superbowl appearance compared to Manning's 2/4 and Brady's "questionable-?" 5/8 win/losses. At a direct competition level against Brady's 8 SB appearances, it's a slap in Brees' face to compete against a alleged cheating team Patriots with Brady and Bill Belichick both in cahoots all along for decades. They've been "Football Frauds" forever seems like, with recent (pushed-through) assistance from Roger Goodell's money market in New England 18% financial stake constructing the NFL of the organization it is today. After deep thought the Falcons SB loss was "rigged' it was way to coincidental just like last year's Jaguars loss with Jalen Ramsey saying, "coach told us to give the game to New England" "it was best for the league"! So for the Saints/Brees, they have to just win by large margins to avoid any setbacks robbing the great players that deserve a(another) ring!
If the Saints desperately want to win the Superbowl they have an enormous amount of perfection to achieve, because if losing at 2/4 tier level was difficult it will only get extremely challenging next season taking on existing playoff teams that strive to be better and the 49ers, Packers, Seahawks, Cowboys, etc are aiming to excel into playoff form within the NFC. The AFC competition level will be extreme that will crisscross in the NFL through the NFC taking on (hardest/lowest) Ravens, Steelers, Bengals, Browns. The Baltimore Ravens literally own the Saints in all games (even preseason) in over a decade, the other is Denver, can't seem to beat them. So Baltimore's streak is sailing now with hopes to be extend their dominance over New Orleans or will they Saints return a favor of all the those loses "into one big one" and deliver the worst crushing lost ever displayed by any team, EVER 77-0! (I once saw a college score 77-0 maybe a decade ago) so anything is possible, as long a "W" comes out of it even by "1 point". Next the Steelers look to resurge after losing to New Orleans in "Curtainville" 4 years back, their also a team seeking dire balance within their team and cannot be deemed likely come game day.
New Orleans must be greater than all 31 teams and adaptable to (any - all) scenarios they may presented with whomever, it's the adjustments that win games! Saints cannot EVER be down 17 points scoreless, it's setting them up to lose like it unveiled in their final loss.
The simple recipe for improvement is "Think Like A Champion."
Defense:
The Defense received it's major modification acquiring Kurt Coleman first then Patrick Robinson for the immediate help in the secondary.
It's an interesting move replacing Kenny Vaccaro with Coleman and Robinson, Coleman has a ball hog mentality which is drastically needed in pro football and should love both game-days against Cam Newton's Panthers. Also for Robinson, he knows Sean Payton's philosophies in his earlier years as a Saint and has matured into a SuperBowl Champ now after 8 years. So the Saints solid starters in the backfield are (Marshawn Lattimore, Ken Crawley, Kurt Coleman, Patrick Robinson) with Vonn Bell and PJ Williams next on the list, then Marcus Williams.
M.Williams should still be on the "hot seat" stemming from the "foolhardy" error and should compete for a spot to make the team, Williams lacked the important awareness that cost the Saints/City of NO a critical game. It's the intellectual part of football players must be savvy to not just the crash-and-boom. Just like years back when Jimmy Graham scored to soon against the 49ers in the divisional round, if Graham made an "IQ-intellectual call", he would've took a knee at the inch line thus killing the time clock which then would've given New Orleans 4 downs to punch a touchdown in, opposed to scoring too soon and giving Frisco's (Alex Smith) enough time to eliminate the Saints in a heart breaker.
The sole purposes for parting ways with Kenny Vaccaro for strengthening the defensive core, under Vaccaro's own admission he didn't expect to resign, he must have heard insight of the Saints disinterest in retaining him, he's was streaky player with inconsistencies at times, Vaccaro didn't appear to give 100% each play, he sort of rides the backs of the players. He came up and was molded in an era with an under sized Keenen Lewis, Lewis couldn't make open field solo-tackles and required assistance on numerous plays to bring down open-field ball carriers. Lewis tactics and tendencies seemed to rub off on Vaccaro as a slacked unit, opposing teams would impose a (sell-out hard run blocking scheme at the first & second level opening up the run only to be one-on-one with Vaccaro or Lewis, most of the time they needed assistance making the tackle (that's why the NFL has a "assist tackle stat" for players). If the tackle wasn't made, it was due to Lewis's and Vaccaro's lack of ability that surrendered all those run yards against the Saints.
Why is it that New Orleans defense gives opposing teams/players "career" great games, perhaps even "record breaking" franchise marks or even "NFL records". Remember RG3's debut, "winner" in his very first in game played in New Orleans, the City of his family ties. Would about three years back with Jamis Winston and Marcus Mariota, Saints gave Winston his 'very" first win and then handed Mariota's his second win after "losing six" consecutive games after his only win beating Winston in their rookie debuts's 42-14 starting the season. In a scenario would you ever believe that Bill Belichick would let "two" rookies beat his Patriots, probably not. Regardless of New England's cheating ways they still have a well constructed team that could beat "two rookie QB's" any day. Only the Saints though.
The Saints 1st & 2nd defense stumbled out gates this year on stopping the run, they need to improve as a stifle core, their slacking did allow in their very first game of the season against Minnesota 127 yards to a rookie RB (Dalvin Cook), another rookie to have an all-star performance. . Remember New Orleans shouldn't allow any RB to run up yards on them. Numerous teams in decades used to pride themselves on being a smash-mouth wrecking crew, teams like the (Steelers, Ravens, Bears, Buccaneers, 49ers) all have high standards, they strive to not allow any runner(s) over a 100 yards by from any team, now those are stand-up defenses. New Orleans must "commandeer" that philosophy to be "legendary"at that level. I believe that's their "new credo" now. Now with a dominant 2nd level line-backer core with off-season's acquisition DeMario Davis in the middle the Saints are now stout, powerful group than can prohibit any team from running the football. It's the IQ awareness of defensive angles that Davis understands. Why was Seattle so good on defense because everyone new their on-field placements covering all angles with help by (big brother-Legion of Boom) to "own' their area.. Remember Ray Lewis, Patrick Willis, "Jonathan Vilma", Brian Urlacher, Joey Porter, Derrick Brooks, etc. This players understood the value in inside protection that excelled their career, except for tough breaks for Willis and Urlacher.
New Orleans 1st level and most crucial area did absolutely superb led by Pro Bowler Cam Jordan last year. He led the way improving his entire group after the 0-2 start to an 8 game winning streak before losing to the Rams, he had consistent help from Manti Te'o, Craig Roberson, Dannell Ellerbe, Sheldon Rankins, and Hau'oli Kikaha. With AJ Klein added to the team, it will only pad the 2nd level a bit more along with Alex Okafor "back". Now Jordan has Marcus Davenport to play adjacent to him and force a "C" Hold on defenses (when both sides close in). So the 1st and 2nd levels are in prime position to do well with the close out level "3rd".
When was the last time there was a #1 offense & #1 defense combined in a season? In 2009/10 the San Diego Chargers were a playoff team that achieved that #1 rank on both ends but were eliminated in the wildcard round.
What if a defense can equal the #1 statistics throughout the year? It would be spellbinding especially if New Orleans could be that team to rank #1 in both offensive/defensive levels.
When comparing teams offensive performances, the Saints' rank as the top team just about every year.
Offense:
Since the offense is led by Brees, he perfected his game, he's consider the "most accurate" quarterback to ever play the game of football. He proved it my holding the NFL completion record "again".
With an excelled playbook of Brees' understanding and uniting his teammates the work doesn't stop, that's their profession in football is to study during the off-season. Brees is legendary and helped(s) make other players "legendary". With an explosive talent in Micheal Thomas, Brees' top-option is ready to pad to his career attributes. In just two years, Thomas' accumulated accolades have been beyond pace to become the "most prolific" WR in the history of football. With Thomas, Ted Ginn, and newly acquired Cam Meredith with Brandon Coleman and TE's the Saints are stack in ball receivers. Then comes the ground attack by yours truly Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram, what can be said, but exciting each and every play. Both RB's are elusive on the ground by carrying the ball or receiving it. Their combined facts from last year is historic and they look to do it again. During Mark Ingram's four game suspension, watch for newly signed Shane Vereen to get several touches along Boston Scott and Trey Edmunds. With a blocking attack from Ryan Ramczyk and Terron Armstead, etc the Saints ground attack should open up defenses.
