Team Report: Inside Slant
 

The Saints have done just about everything they set out to do in the first two weeks of free agency, which is a good start to what they hope will be a rebound season following a 7-9 campaign in 2007.

Throughout the second week of free agency, the Saints continued to work on getting many of their own unrestricted free agents re-signed while beating the bushes to fill some holes -- especially on defense.
With things beginning to slow down around the league, the Saints were sitting pretty after re-signing eight members of their offense that ranked fourth in the NFL in total yards last season and two defensive starters.

But while they wanted to keep their offense intact as much as possible, signing two tight ends, two offensive linemen and three wide receivers, the remodeling of the defense continued.

After finishing 26th last season in total yards allowed and 30th against the pass, which included 32 touchdown passes given up, the Saints know they have to see some improvement if they expect to get back to the playoffs.

Which is why they went out and traded for middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma to get things started. Then, they picked up cornerback Randall Gay, defensive end Bobby McCray and linebacker Dan Morgan, who's expected to move from his normal spot in the middle to the weak side.

That means with more than a month to go until the draft, the Saints have addressed some of their pressing needs -- especially at linebacker and cornerback -- as they go forward.

Which means they'll have a lot more options in which to take the best player available and not have to fill a specific hole when they are put on the clock with the 10th pick in the first round on April 26.

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