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SCOUTING REPORT: The Saints have plenty of experienced starters to choose from at the safety position. But early on, the two safeties getting the most work with the first team have been 10-year veteran Omar Stoutmire and second-year S Josh Bullocks. Stoutmire, who turns 32 next month, didn't make much of a splash when he signed with the Saints during the first week of free agency, but was a player that Payton targeted. Stoutmire started for the Giants when Payton was an offensive coordinator there, and both have spent most of their career in the NFC East. Stoutmire (5-11, 205) is the kind of reliable and consistent veteran the Saints have coveted during their rebuilding process this year. What he might lack in speed, he makes up for by being in the right place at the right time. Stoutmire has not been a full-time starter since 2003 with the Giants, but he has impressed the coaches enough to work his way into the starting lineup for now, ahead of veteran safeties Dwight Smith, Jay Bellamy and Bryan Scott. He should complement Bullocks well, since Bullocks is a young player with terrific natural ability who is still learning.

REHAB UPDATE: The Saints have several high-profile players returning from major injuries in 2005, but the most prominent are QB Drew Brees (torn labrum in his throwing shoulder) and RB Deuce McAllister (torn ACL). Both were heavily involved during the last four weeks of organized team activities and a full-squad minicamp, and both are targeting a full preseason. Brees has been thrilled with his progress throughout the year, despite a tight timetable -- he suffered his injury in Week 17. He is throwing comfortably up to 40 yards now and has been developing his timing with his receivers, something that he said has vastly improved in just the last couple weeks. Brees has kept himself from throwing with too much velocity, but he has started to let a few balls fly during team drills. The next big test will be playing in preseason games where he takes hits and throws in a less-controlled environment. McAllister is about 90 percent back from his injury, which he suffered in early October. He said he has been running for a few months now and has been able to get into shape, but he wants to keep developing that first-step burst and the sharp cutting ability.

INSIDE DISH: The Saints are one of seven teams with a first-year head coach heading into this season. And while all of the rookie coaches will surely be put under a microscope, one of the more underrated factors in their success is the collection of assistants on their staffs. Several new assistants throughout the league are working in the NFL for the first time. Many of them are coaching new positions. And most of them are working together for the first time with the other coaches as well as the players. That's a lot of learning on the fly.

TACKLES ANALYSIS: C-minus. The Saints have some talent here, but very little experience. Jammal Brown was terrific as a rookie right tackle, but he's moving to the left side this year. Jon Stinchcomb will try to earn the right tackle job, but he's never started a game at tackle and is coming off a severe knee injury. Veteran Jamar Nesbit is a reliable alternative, but he's been a guard for most of his career.

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