2005 Record: 3-13
CJ''S Team Rank: 26
THE CHARLES JAY LINE
To win Super Bowl:150-1
To win NFC West: 10-1
Total Wins: Under 5.5 -125, Over 5.5 +115
nAfter last year''s disasters - on and off the field - there is cause for some optimism in New Orleans. Sean Payton, who as an assistant coach was considered one of the more innovative offensive minds in the game, was hired as head coach. He replaces Jim Haslett, whose act had grown a little old.
There was, in a sense, addition by subtraction, as quarterback Aaron Brooks, who rang up decent numbers over the years but did not produce enough victories, was sent packing. Then, there was addition by addition - and in a big way. It was fortuitous for Payton that the best player in the draft - USC running back and Heisman winner Reggie Bush - fell to him with the second pick in the draft. And if former San Diego QB Drew Brees rebounds from rotator-cuff surgery, he is a major upgrade over Brooks. Brees threw 15 interceptions last year but completed 64.6% of his passes. And he has some targets to throw to. Joe Horn should come back from an off-year which produced 49 receptions, and Donte Stallworth caught 70 passes last season. Zach Hilton (35 catches) is solid at the tight end spot.
Payton has designs on using both Bush and Deuce McAllister (335 yards in five games) in the backfield at the same time. If McAllister is able to produce after knee surgery, that could become an explosive plan indeed. Truth be known, it might become necessary, inasmuch as there has been some question about Bush''s durability as an "every-down back."
Yes, Payton''s team should be able to put points on the board. The challenge will be stopping the opposition. In 2005, the Saints were the only team in the NFL that didn''t score any points from defense or special teams. Scott Fujita has been added to the linebacking crew, and that''s a plus. But there are a lot of holes in this defense. The team was next to last in the league in sacks and has a long way to go in reversing a minus-24 turnover differential. If that can happen, New Orleans has a chance to surprise some people.
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