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Preview by position
QUARTERBACKS

TOP RETURNEE: Drew Brees.

KEY LOSS: Chase Daniel (UFA, Kansas City).

TOP NEWCOMERS: Seneca Wallace (FA, Cleveland), Luke McCown (UFA, Atlanta).

PROJECTED STARTER: Brees.

SPOTLIGHT IS ON: Brees.

OUTLOOK: Despite throwing for more than 5,000 yards for the third time in five years and tossing 43 TDs, Brees is going to be motivated to play even better after an up-and-down 2012 campaign. He threw 19 interceptions last season — the second-most of his 12-year career — and his 63.0 percent completion rate, while still pretty good, was well off the NFL record of 71.2 percent he set one year earlier. With Daniel gone, Wallace and McCown will battle to see who becomes Brees’ backup.

RUNNING BACKS

TOP RETURNEES: RB Pierre Thomas, RB Mark Ingram, RB Darren Sproles, RB Travaris Cadet, FB Jed Collins.

KEY LOSS: RB Chris Ivory (Trade, N.Y. Jets)

TOP NEWCOMER: RB Khiry Robinson (FA, West Texas A&M).

PROJECTED STARTERS: Thomas (RB), Collins (FB).

SPOTLIGHT IS ON: Ingram.

OUTLOOK: The Saints ranked 25th in rushing at 98.6 yards per game, so some marked improvement there — like when they averaged more than 130 yards in both 2009 and ’11 — would help Brees and the offense a lot. Ingram, who finally got healthy at the end of last year, Thomas and Sproles again will form the backfield by committee Sean Payton likes to employ depending on down and distance. Cadet showed something as an undrafted free agent last year, and Collins is a trusted blocker and capable pass catcher.

WIDE RECEIVERS

TOP RETURNEES: Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Joseph Morgan, Courtney Roby, Saalim Hakim, Nick Toon, Andy Tanner (practice squad).

KEY LOSS: Devery Henderson (FA, Washington).

TOP NEWCOMERS: Kenny Stills (D5, Oklahoma), Preston Parker (FA, Tampa Bay).

PROJECTED STARTERS: Colston, Moore.

SPOTLIGHT IS ON: Morgan, Toon.

OUTLOOK: Once again, the Saints return the most productive players in their deep receiving corps as Colston and Moore are back after huge seasons. Armed with a new contract last year, Colston had 83 catches and led the club in receiving yards (1,154) and TDs (10) with his length and size often being no match for smaller cornerbacks. Moore broke the 1,000-yard mark in receiving for the first time in his career and had 65 receptions. Henderson was not re-signed, so the third receiver spot is wide open with Morgan, Toon and Stills getting a crack at it.

Read more: Saints training camp preview | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

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