New Orleans Saints 2016 Season Preview

(photo credit: iancfriedman.com)

The New Orleans Saints finished the 2015 NFL season with a 7-9 record, earning third place in the NFC South division, ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but behind the Atlanta Falcons and Super Bowl-bound Carolina Panthers. After on 0-3 start, New Orleans won four of five to reach .500 at the midway point of the season. Four subsequent losses in a row ended their hopes of a playoff run, though they won three of their last four to end on somewhat of a high note heading into the offseason.

Heading into the 2016 season, the Saints offense doesn't seem to be lacking for production. They finished with the 8th-most points in the league and second-most yards, lead again by quarterback Drew Brees. His 4,870 yards led the league, and his 32 touchdown passes ranked seventh. Of his top six targets last season, he returns almost 70% of their total receiving yards, led by Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead. Tight End Ben Watson left for the Baltimore Ravens, but he is ably replaced on the depth chart by Coby Fleener, who had at least 50 receptions each of the last three years with the Indianapolis Colts. If running back Mark Ingram can stay healthy for a full season (missed 12 games in the last three years), the backfield can help balance the offensive workload.

Defense is full of all of its own question marks. New Orleans allowed the most points (29.8 ppg) and second-most yards (one of three teams to allow over 400 per game) in the league. With only one standout player in the front seven (defensive end Cameron Jordan had 10 sacks and five pass breakups), the Saints needed to add some play-making during the offseason. And they did.

Nick Fairley brings his 6'5", 290-pound presence to the middle of the line from the Rams, and they drafted Louisville lineman Sheldon Rankins to add to the front four. The defensive backfield is lead by second-year corner Delvin Breaux (3 interceptions, 19 passes defended), veteran safeties Jairus Byrd and Kenny Vaccaro, and hope that P.J. Williams can rise to the level he showed at Florida State after spending all of his 2015 rookie year on injured reserve.

The NFC South faces the West division in both conferences, so that means going up against powerhouses Seattle, Arizona, Denver and Kansas City, with up-and-comers Los Angeles and Oakland posing serious threats. Plus their two matchups with intradivision foe Carolina, and traveling to New York to play the Giants. While the offense will be able to keep up with anyone as long as Brees is at the helm, the defense will have to prove they have made major improvements and strides in the right direction.