EXCLUSIVE: A Pre-Season Look at The New Orleans Saints

2005 was a difficult year for the New Orleans Saints as they were not able to play one game in their home stadium, the Louisiana Superdome and had to deal with the hurricane Katrina ordeal which ravaged the city, but 2006 looks much brighter for the city and the New Orleans Saints who want to put the tumultuous '05 campaign behind them and move forward. In new coach Sean Payton the New Orleans Saints have an innovative offensive that should breath life back into the franchise, and there's second overall pick running back Reggie Bush from USC and quarterback Drew Brees who was acquired from the San Diego Chargers in the off-season, those two acquisitions will automatically make the New Orleans Saints more formidable, but in a division like the rugged NFC South that includes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, and Atlanta Falcons, it will take more than that to compete.

Defensively the New Orleans Saints were average giving up 312.1 yards per game but didn’t force enough turnovers and were very poor in stopping third down conversions which will have to get better if they are to improve on their 3-13 record and make an impression in the NFC. On defensive line for the New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith is a terrific pass rusher and run plunger who is already in just his third season turning into one of the most complete defensive linemen in the NFL and veteran DE Charles Grant, with DT Jonathan Sullivan not far behind in progress, those two alone make the front four stout, and with mammoth DT Hollis Thomas who was obtained from the Philadelphia Eagles in the off-season this unit could be plenty tough on opposing offensive lines. The linebackers are a group with real stars and may need to be upgraded in the near future, but WLB Colby Bockwoldt is a keeper with his all out hustle and style and SLB Terrence Melton is another physical, tough minded player who will have to excel for this unit to become an asset. Cornerback Mike McKenzie is an above average cover man with good tackling skills and has been a pro bowler in the past, he will team with CB Fred Thomas is a solid defensive back but lacks top end speed which can get him into trouble against high level speedsters, the safeties are good with young FS Josh Bullocks having the potential to one day be an all pro and SS Dwight Smith who is a hard hitting ballhawk.

The offensive line of the New Orleans Saints took a hard hit when pro bowl center LeCharles Bentley was signed by the Cleveland Browns, but OT Jamaal Brown was their best blocker by the end of the season and is approaching dominance going into his second season, he is everything you want in a tackle, he can protect the passer and paved the way for big gains on the ground, C Jeff Faine was acquired from the Cleveland Browns and while not the physical specimen Bentley is he is a great protector and is fundamentally sound in all phases of the game, this unit could be outstanding especially if massive OG Jermaine Mayberry who was plucked from the Philadelphia Eagles can play up to his all pro level of previous seasons. At wide receiver Joe Horn is superb with his sure hands and fearless style, he along with burner Donte Stallworth make up one of the most dangerous pass catching duos in all the game, this group has tremendous depth with Devery Henderson and intriguing Chase Lyman who is a six-foot four jumping jack with 4.4 speed, at tight end veteran Ernie Conwell and Zachary Hilton will share the position, as Conwell will be the blocker and Hilton will provide the New Orleans Saints with a pass catching option at the position.

The running back spot for the New Orleans Saints should be one of the most talent rich units in the NFL with Deuce McAllister and rookie Reggie Bush and will form a devastating inside-outside combination, in McAllister the Saints a bruising between the tackles runner who can also break off the long gainer, and in Reggie Bush they have the ultimate weapon who is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball with his 4.3 speed and bevy of moves, simply put Reggie Bush is a once in a lifetime talent on the level of Barry Sanders and will make this group one of the most feared in the NFL.QB Drew Brees comes from the San Diego Chargers with great credentials as he was voted to the pro bowl last season, he is intelligent and accurate and figures to be one of the best at his position in the NFC, Jamie Martin and Todd Bauman will be competing for a roster spot, with Adrian McPherson more than likely assuming the role of backup with his interesting skills. The New Orleans Saints will be better in 2006 but more than likely that wont be enough to secure a playoff spot in the rough southern division of the NFC, but look for Reggie Bush and Brees to excel and for the defense behind its very good defensive line to be better, so a six to seven win season is a possibility.....Great moment in team history......

The 2000 season brought the New Orleans Saints the NFC West title and their first playoff win in franchise history as they defeated the defending Super Bowl Champion St. Louis Rams 31-28 at the Louisiana Superdome in the NFC playoffs.

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March
•Reggie Bush Vows to Focus on Football

February
•Bush teams with Shaq to host All-Star charity event
•Dog thinks 2 $900 Super Bowl tickets tasty treat
•Boonton man scores big with Super Bowl tickets
•Dog thinks 2 $900 Super Bowl tickets tasty treat

Super Bowl Weekend
•OK!'s Guide to the Super Bowl Parties
•"Hannah" primed to claim Super Bowl weekend
•Paris Hilton, Ludacris party alongside 50 Cent at pre-game Super Bowl concert

January
•Reggie Bush Engaged to Kim Kardashian?

December
•Eagles vs. Saints Preview 12/23/07
•Bush Hoping to Play Against Eagles 12/18/07
•Cardinals 24, Saints 31
•Bush Out For the Year 12/12/07
•Falcons 14, Saints 34 12/10/07
•Falcons vs. Saints Preview 12/10/07
•Buccaneers 27, Saints 23 12/02/07
•Buccaneers vs. Saints Preview 12/02/07


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