2010 NFL Predictions: New Orleans Saints

August 26, 2010

The New Orleans Saints enter the 2010 season trying to join the short list of teams that have won back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Last year, the NFL’s No. 1 ranked offense led them to Lombardi, and that unit should be every bit as good this season. However, it’s hard to imagine that the defense can be as opportunistic as it was a season ago when it picked off 26 passes and recovered 13 fumbles. If the Saints are going to win another Super Bowl, a unit that ranked No. 25 in total defense must improve.

Offense: New Orleans ranked No. 1 in the NFL in both total and scoring offense in 2009, averaging 402.8 yards and 31.9 points per game respectively. Finishing in the top six in both rushing and passing offense, the Saints were one of the most balanced teams in football.

Quarterback Drew Brees is the leader of the NFL’s most prolific offense. Brees threw for nearly 700 less yards than he did in 2008, but he was more efficient. He completed 70.6 percent of his passes for 4,388 yards and led the NFL in touchdowns (34) and quarterback rating (109.6).

New Orleans was finally able to mount a running attack to take some of the pressure off of its Pro Bowl passer. Pierre Thomas, who rushed for nearly 800 yards and six scores, anchored a solid running back unit. The Saints won’t have Mike Bell this season, but Reggie Bush appears ready for a breakout season. I was really impressed by the way he finished his runs in the playoffs. Ladell Betts has also been brought in to give the Saints added depth.

It’s really easy to throw the football when the running game is working, just ask Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and Jeremy Shockey, who owned defensive backs that were cheating up in run support. These four anchor a deep and talented receiving corps.

Defense: The Saints ranked in the bottom half of the league in both scoring and total defense in 2009, but they made up for it by making one big play after another. New Orleans ranked No. 3 in the NFL in interceptions (26), and it returned five of its picks for scores. It also tied for fifth in fumble recoveries (13), returning three of those for touchdowns.

Safety Darren Sharper was the among the top playmakers in the entire NFL last season. He picked off a career-high nine passes, and he returned three of those for touchdowns.

It’s hard to imagine that the Saints can be as opportunistic this season, but they’ll have to be unless the defense can improve. And that may be easier said that done after saying goodbye to Scott Fujita and Charles Grant.

Jonathan Vilma and Scott Shanle are back to keep the linebacker unit solid, but the Saints will miss Fujita’s tenacity.

Alex Brown has been brought in from Chicago to replace Grant. He could end up being an upgrade, but he has never recorded more than seven sacks in a season in his career. Regardless, the Saints will be counting on another big season from Will Smith, who recorded 13 sacks last year.

If big Sedrick Ellis can finally play like the All-Pro he was expected to be when he came out of USC, it will go a long way toward helping the Saints improve against the run.

Prediction: 1st NFC South – Since division realignment in 2002, the NFC South is the only league that hasn’t seen a team win back-to-back titles.  The Saints have an opportunity to change that this season, and I like their chances.  Carolina and Atlanta are both good football teams, but neither of those squads have a Drew Brees.   The NFL is a quarterbacks league.  Look around and you’ll see that the teams with the best signal callers win the most games.  NFL lines makers have listed the Saints as the -150 favorite to win the NFC South. Check out my 2010 NFL predictions to see which teams I have winning the other seven divisions.

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Posted by Jimmy Boyd · Filed Under Football Picks, Football Predictions, Football Rankings 

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