The three-year postseason drought in New Orleans is something that the current Saints administration is fervently trying to end.
EXPECTATIONS: Head coach Dennis Allen is under pressure to lead the Saints back to the postseason in his third season in charge as the team is currently enjoying a three-season playoff drought. The last time the Saints qualified for the playoffs was in 2020, during the penultimate season of current Denver coach Sean Payton’s 15-year career in New Orleans, and Drew Brees was in his final season as quarterback. Since Allen took over as the team’s defensive coordinator in late 2015, the Saints have often had a solid defense. However, the offense had trouble most of the previous season with experienced quarterback Derek Carr at the controls, especially in the closing moments of many games.
- close defeats that finally prevented New Orleans from making the playoffs. Responding, Allen reorganized his offensive coaching staff, beginning with new coordinator Klint KubiakH, a lead assistant on San Francisco’s Super Bowl-winning squad the previous year. The 49ers’ successful play-action passing system, along with the flexibility to run several plays from a single pre-snap alignment, will be combined with outside zone runs in the new offensive scheme. It is hoped that Carr, leading receiver Chris Olave, and running back Alvin Kamara will all fit in better with the new strategy.
NEW FACES: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, WR Stanley Morgan, OL Shane Lemieux, LB Khaleke Hudson, DE Chase Young, LT Taliese Fuaga, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, and LB Willie Gay. Principal Losses: RT QB Jameis Winston; WR Michael Thomas; DB Ryan Ramczyk (who will be placed on the injured reserve list for the whole season). Yiadom Isaac; LB Malcolm Roach, DT, Zack Baun, S Maye, Marcus
STRENGTHS: The NFL may not have a better or deeper secondary. The Saints were 10th in the NFL against the pass last season despite their inability to produce sacks and the fact that starting cornerback Marshon Lattimore was limited to just 10 games due to injuries. Notwithstanding trade rumors, Lattimore is still a member of the team. The Saints selected McKinstry in the first round to add to their roster, which now includes veteran safety Tyrann Mathieu, young talents Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor, and Lattimore. Along with Demario Davis, Pete Werner, and Willie Gay leading the way, New Orleans boasts a strong linebacker group. The addition of Chase Young to the roster seems to have strengthened the Saints’ edge rush.