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The Saints have not targeted many of their own unrestricted free agents from last year, but they put an emphasis on re-signing DT Willie Whitehead. Whitehead started 15 games last year and works in a three-man rotation with veteran Brian Young and Johnathan Sullivan, finally is emerging. Defensive tackle position has been one of the Saints' biggest weaknesses since early in this decade. But with Whitehead, Young and Sullivan all healthy and productive for the first time together last year, the Saints showed great improvement. Whitehead brings a good combination of size (6-3, 300) and athleticism, and he can line up at either tackle position or fit into the nickel and dime defenses. That versatility is nice for the Saints, but they would still love to see Sullivan--a first-round draft bust early in his career--fulfill his potential and earn a larger role. . . . The Saints also re-signed veteran SLB James Allen. They expected big things from him last year after his breakout season in 2004, but a knee injury slowed him throughout training camp, and he played a limited role in three games before going on injured reserve. Allen has never fully realized his potential, but he emerged as a playmaker at the end of the '04 season. There's no reason Allen can't regain that form because of his athleticism. He will enter this year as a backup behind new acquisition Scott Fujita, so the pressure will be off and he can make his mark mostly on special teams. . . . The Saints signed TE Mark Campbell to a three-year deal. Campbell is not a marquee player, but he has been a starter over the past four years in Buffalo and Cleveland. It's unclear what this means for the rest of the tight ends on the Saints‚ roster. Veteran Ernie Conwell, 33, missed the second half of last season after having surgery on his PCL and carries a big cap hit. His backup, Zach Hilton, was an outstanding replacement last year, especially as a receiver. Hilton is a restricted free agent this year, but he has not been seriously courted by other teams and the Saints won't let him go easily. Campbell, meanwhile, is equally competent and reliable as a blocker and pass catcher, adding depth in both departments. Campbell, 30, has a total of 95 receptions and nine touchdowns over the past four years, though the Bills didn't feature the position.

HARD TRUTH: The Saints absolutely did the right thing by signing QB Drew Brees, even though they soared past his market value to get him. No other free agent could have brought the same kind of optimism and excitement to a market that needs those things. But with Brees' shoulder injury and the Saints installing a new offense under coach Sean Payton, the offense will be uneven and inconsistent at times during this season. If the Saints want to return quickly to their pre-2005 level and make a run at the playoffs this year, their new coaching staff will have to get a rise out of the defense. The Saints' defense showed improvement last year, keeping games close and ranking in the middle of the NFL pack in yardage categories. But they didn't make enough big plays, never scoring a defensive touchdown. DE Will Smith is a bona fide stud. S Dwight Smith and DE Charles Grant are above average. CB Mike McKenzie had a bad year in 2005 but should bounce back and be an asset again. And new LBs Scott Fujita and Anthony Simmons are a slight upgrade. Collectively, this is a decent group. But they need to be better than that and set the tone with momentum-shifting performances. The Saints didn't land a premiere free-agent defender, but they might go that direction in the draft. Otherwise, the onus is on first-time defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs and his assistants to maximize the value of this promising unit


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