NEW ORLEANS (AP) -Missed opportunities cost the high-scoring New Orleans Saints dearly in 2008.
So when players returned for training camp this summer, conversations inevitably turned to how much closer they were to making the playoffs a year ago than their 8-8 record indicated.
Five Saints losses came by three or fewer points – a classic example of how small the margin is between going 10-6 and making the playoffs, as the Saints did in 2006, or languishing in the middle of the pack and sitting out the postseason.
“If we can swing those games this year and win those games instead of losing those games, then obviously we’ll be right where we need to be,” wide receiver Lance Moore said as the Saints prepared for Sunday’s season-opener at home against Detroit. “We know we’re better than our record indicated last year, but that’s what our record was. We can’t justify that to anybody. We were 8-8 and sitting at home watching the playoffs.”
the Saints of the past two seasons as “an inconsistent team that can be really, really good one week and then play poorly the next week and you never know what Saints team you’re going to get.”
“That’s not who we want to be,” he stressed.
Since Brees arrived in New Orleans in 2006 – the same season Payton took over and began calling offensive plays – the Saints consistently have fielded one of the NFL’s best attacks.
Last season, New Orleans led the league in yards per game (410.7) and points per game (28.9), while Brees’ 5,069 yards passing made him only the second quarterback in NFL history to surpass the 5,000 mark. Only Dan Marino has passed for more yards in a season, with 5,084 in 1984.
Had the Saints’ defense ranked anywhere near the top half of the NFL, odds are they would have pulled out a few more of those close losses and wound up back in the playoffs. Instead, the defense ranked 23rd in yards allowed per game (339.5) and 26th in points allowed per game (24.6).
Payton responded by firing defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs and replacing him with Gregg Williams, who had a history of fielding top-10 defenses in his years with Tennessee, Buffalo and Washington.
so signed free agent cornerback Jabari Greer, selected Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins in the first round of the draft and welcomed back a healthy Tracy Porter, who started at cornerback early in 2008 but missed most of the season with a broken wrist.
“I think we have good depth there,” Payton said. “It’s probably the best depth that we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
There’s also depth at defensive end, though for different reasons. Starters Will Smith and Charles Grant each are expected to be suspended for four regular season games, a punishment stemming from last year’s positive tests for a banned diuretic that can be used to mask steroids.
If and when the NFL enforces those suspensions, Bobby McCray will occupy one starting slot, as he did effectively last season when Grant was hurt. The rotation at end also could include Jeff Charleston and Anthony Hargrove. Hargrove worked well during preseason at both tackle and end since returning from a drug-related yearlong suspension from the league.
Offensively, it’s possible the Saints could be even better than a year ago with a little luck in the injury department. Reggie Bush, who missed six games last season, took it easy on his surgically repaired left knee during camp. He played only once in the preseason, carrying three times for only 5 yards, but he has impressed coaches when he’s practiced.
ense,” Payton said. “He’s a big reason for some of the success we’ve had offensively.”
A full season for him could make a difference, as it could for receiver Marques Colston, who missed five games with a broken hand last season. Tight end Jeremy Shockey missed four games with a sports hernia last season, said he was never fully healthy when he was able to play and didn’t score a single touchdown. He, too, is fully healthy again and has been one of Brees’ top targets during the preseason, particularly on third down, and has caught just about everything thrown his way.
“I want to have a chance to be healthy and help this team,” said Shockey, who also was hurt when the New York Giants won the Super Bowl without him two seasons ago. “Last year’s last year. The year before that is the year before that. I’m just trying to forget about the past and prove to myself and everybody else I can play at a high level.”
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