Last season the New Orleans Saints rededicated themselves to their running game and defense and both were excellent last year as they made it to the NFC divisional round and were one miraculous play away from reaching the conference title game.
In 2018 the Bayou Boys will be without running back Mark Ingram for the first four games of the season due to a league’s suspension, which will put all the pressure on second-year man Alvin Kamara to lead the rushing attack.
Last year Alvin Kamara and Ingram became a two-headed monster for the Saints and it will be interesting to see how effective their rushing attack can be with Kamara shouldering the load all by himself in the first quarter of their schedule.
New Orleans signed Terrance West from Baltimore to give Kamara some rest when he needs it and to take the pressure off him in case he can’t handle the increased workload. Other running backs in the Saints lineup include Shane Vereen (acquired from the Giants) and Jonathan Williams, who spent last season with the Denver Broncos’ practice squad.
Whatever formula the Saints use in the backfield they must find a way to keep last year’s balance and not lean too much on Drew Brees and the passing game during that four-game stretch.
As long as head coach Sean Payton’s commitment to the run remains the same the Saints will remain a dangerous team to play against. Their offensive line is a very solid unit that is capable of not only protecting the aging Brees but opening holes and lanes for the team tailbacks to run through.
Brees is a superb quarterback and with him at the helm, the Saints feel that they are truly never out of a game. The future Hall of Famer is the key to the Saints offense and as he goes so do the Saints. In 2017 he had a phenomenal season and if he picks up where he let off the Saints have a chance to compete to challenge for a spot in the Super Bowl.
The Saints defense is another key reason why the Saints can excel this season. In 2017 this was a group that was brash, aggressive and opportunistic and this season they have the potential to be much better.
The Saints have two stars in defensive end Cameron Jordan and second-year cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who won the 2017 defensive rookie of the year award.
The Saints also have several defensive players who were solid last year even though they haven’t entered their prime yet such as David Onyemata, Sheldon Rankins, Marcus Williams and Vonn Bell. One addition that could have a huge impact is linebacker Demario Davis who comes over from the New York Jets where he was the leading tackler.
If there is one area the Saints need to polish is their run defense. They were 16th in the league last year and if they want to have a real chance at making the Super Bowl they need to become a top-10 defense in that category.
The tight end position is a slight concern for the Saints as they have struggled to find a replacement for the departed Jimmy Graham even though they have tried several candidates that haven’t panned out and as a result, they have de-emphasized the use of the position from their offense. This offseason they brought back 15-year veteran Benjamin Watson as a short-term solution.
With a weak tight end position, the Saints need another wide receiver to step up because right now their only premier option in the passing game is wideout Michael Thomas. The Saints need someone to become a solid number two receiver and a dependable number three option to make life easier for Brees.
Prediction: The New Orleans Saints are capable of winning the NFC South and, at least, making it back to the divisional round. Expect them to win more than 10 games thanks to a rushing attack that will finish inside the top ten and a defense that will rank inside the top eight. If they stay healthy and have better luck than last year they could reach the conference title game or even make it to the Super Bowl.
