New Orleans hope for a 2008 Super Bowl run ended early in the season when the team got off to a 0-4 start. Although the Saints rebounded somewhat in the middle of the year, they went on to finish out of the playoffs at 7-9. Expectations are again high this season and Head Coach Sean Payton has some work to do in order to safe guard against face planting in 2008. All indications point to a bounce back as NFL Betting odds at BodogLife.com have the Saints at 1/1 odds to win the NFC South division.
The problems for the Saints last year did not originate on the offensive side of the ball. 
They continued to put up solid numbers despite a drop off from what they produced in 2006. The team ranked 13th in the league in scoring at 23.7 points per game and fourth in yardage at 361.3 yards per game. Quarterback Drew Brees turned in another solid season with an 89.4 passer rating and 28 touchdown passes. This year Brees will again work behind a solid line (16 sacks allowed in 2007) while tossing balls to receiver Marques Colston and newly acquired tight end Jeremy Shockey. The team did, however, lose center Jeff Faine to Tampa Bay.
The biggest concern for the Saints offensively is in their back field. Deuce McAllister's health could go a long way toward elevating those concerns or exacerbating them. When McAllister was well in 2006, he and Reggie Bush formed a dynamic one-two punch at the running back spot. However, when he went down with a knee injury last year the offense suffered for it. Bush, who had some knee issues of his own, was not as effective without his cohort and averaged just 3.7 yards per carry.
What really held New Orleans back in 2007, though, was their porous defense; they were burned for 24.3 points per game and 245.3 yards passing per game. They were not able to make up for their deficiencies by creating turnovers either. The team finished the year with a -7 takeaway/giveaway ratio. The coaches as well as the front office obviously were not pleased with the numbers and they did anything but rest on their laurels this off season.
In all, the Saints will have eight new defensive players. Five players were acquired through either trade or free agency and three players were taken in this year's draft. The new faces should have an immediate impact with former Jet linebacker Jonathan Vilma leading the way. Also coming into the fold are former Patriot cornerback Randall Gay and number one pick DT Sedrick Ellis out of USC.
Prediction: 2nd Place NFC South.
