2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Training Camp at The Greenbrier Presented by Verizon

The New Orleans Saints will open 2015 Training Camp Presented by Verizon on Wednesday, July 29 when players report to The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.V. for physicals, meetings and their strength and conditioning tests. The Saints will begin on-field workouts in a non-padded practice session on Thursday, July 30 from 8:50-11:40 a.m. followed by a walk thru from 4:30–5:30 p.m. At the Greenbrier, the club will also hold a scrimmage on Friday, August 7. All training camp workouts scheduled both at The Greenbrier and in Louisiana will be open to fans and media.

Source: New Orleans Saints | Training Camp at Greenbrier

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

The Advocate

Saints training camp preview: Three players headline group entering contract years

Joel A. Erickson

A contract year can bring the best out of a player.

Facing the uncertainty of free agency and an opportunity to play into a big deal, some players dig deep and find more in themselves than they ever have before. Others struggle to deal with the pressure

New Orleans has 17 players on the roster who will be unrestricted free agents after the 2015 season, according to OvertheCap.com. Out of that group, three Saints fit the prototype of a player entering a true contract year, a chance for a young player to seal his next contract.

With that in mind, The Advocate continues its series leading up to training camp by taking a look at those three players...

Source: Saints training camp preview: Three players headline group entering contract years | Latest Sports | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

DL Akiem Hicks, DB Rafael Bush, WR Nick Toon must step up this season...

Bush and Toon could quickly find themselves on the bubble...

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

The Advocate

Saints training camp preview: Five position battles to watch

Joel A. Erickson

Position battles are the lifeblood of any NFL team’s training camp.

By virtue of a dramatic offseason overhaul designed to upgrade the talent on defense, the New Orleans Saints will have more tightly contested races than most when training camp opens in West Virginia in 10 days.

With that in mind, in The Advocate’s second installment in a series of stories breaking down what to watch when the Saints hit the practice fields, here’s a look at five of the most intriguing position races...

Source: Saints training camp preview: Five position battles to watch | Latest Sports | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Good Battles should be there for Wide Receiver, Middle Linebacker, Nickel Cornerback, Kicker, Right Tackle...

I'm most interested in Middle Linebacker and how the Offensive Tackle Situation shakes out...

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Return of the Offensive Line as an Elite Unit ... that has a nice ring to it, :).

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

DL Akiem Hicks could cash in and wll be the FA must sign in 2016

DB Rafael Bush is already over paid. but he has the saints by the per-verbals because of the question marks still surrounding the safety position, I still see him as a SS not a FS. Could price himself out the door.

WR Nick Toon - still waiting

as for the others FA i do not see a big to do about that list

2017 is the year baby. big things will be happening. There maybe be a few moves in 2015 and 2016 to help set up 2017. that is what i am keeping an eye out for.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

My fear for the offense?

Ingram proves last year was fluke and spend his usual time in the whirlpool as he did previously.

Robinson steps and no team fears him and the next coming of Martin goes up in smoke,

Hightower goes out for the season

CJ takes a pounding

That is why i have the OL as my number unit that must gel quickly.

next fear - saints lead the NFL in dropped passes. but at least if the OL gels Drew does not take a beating like he has done the past two years.


Defense?

i am hyped for moderate improvement from the front 7. which would be huge after last year. a lot players needing to step back up and a lot of new faces to work in the mix. so it is a crap shoot.

In the secondary I will gauging the Dennis effect from day 1 till seasons end.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

looking forward to the offensive line improvement. Hoping for defensive line and linebacker improvement.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

We have a lot of things going for us. Several upgrades on our wishlist from last season were fulfilled. Even if the defense is only marginally improved, if the offensive line is improved giving Brees time and opening holes, 90% of our problems will be solved.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

I'm looking forward to see if the O complements the D and how the D compliments the O. Turnovers will be the key along with close games to see if this season we are a finness team or the real thing.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

I hope we come out running strong behind a solid line. No one is expecting that and, if it happens, Drew will not be talked about as being in decline.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Wow, Im liking what Im reading here. Of course, we're homers, but also, I know this board for telling things the way they are, when they're bad.

If the O-Line really is what we're propping it up to be, and C.J. Spiller (I totally missed this aquisition, man, how did we land him?) (...and the Doobie Brothers broke up too?) (really old, ghey movie reference) --- If the O-Line really does
become elite, PLUS we get a real running game, think about it:

-- we can control the ball, to take pressure off the D.
-- we can seal a lead.
-- we can finally punch it in on the goal line, which has been a problem in the
Payton Era.

I'd love to see it.

There was no option for "Coming Back to The City I Love, New Orleans. I had to sit out the '14 Season, and win or lose, I'm
coming back, and I'm pumped. Also, I have gained some new freedom, and so I'll be able to hang out with any of you on the Board, who
go to the games, do more tailgating, more bar hopping, more NOLA fun.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Defensive line JP. How could you forget.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Anything you say, Yogi! :lol:

http://blackandgold.com/u/5271-albums105-picture864.jpg

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

'76, I really believe the Defensive Line is very good, it was limited by injuries starting with John Jenkins Torn Pectoral Muscle going into last year's training camp...

And with the addition of the rookie linebackers, and added maturity of Edebali, Powell, plus Spencer, we'll be zone blitzing the hell out of passers and using our defensive line to stack those running lanes...

But, you're right, should've thrown it up on the wall and see if it had stuck...

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Stephone Anthony. Our offense will be fine... I'm psyched to have some athleticism at LB again.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Must be something wrong with that poll since I can't choose "All of the above"...

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

So there's my answer - our front seven is the group I'm most anticipated about.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

I chose "end of long offseason" since our season basically ended in November of 2014...

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Thanks Boo Boo! Been a long off-season. Really looking forward to see if our D can do much better this season and our O not being so predictable. After a D ranking of 31st just about anything will look good and that scares me. I never cared about rankings, some are very mis-leading but it's the 2015 season and we will see what we have soon enough.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Nice one Smash!

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

I am mostly looking for a change in overall attitude -- the past couple of years this team has lacked discipline, fire, focus and heart, compared to so many of the past Sean Payton/Brees teams. When you have the right attitude and smart coaching, even a mediocre player talent-wise can rise to play over his ceiling and make a big impact.

That 41-10 rout by Carolina in the Superdome, in our house, Newton jawing and picking fights and doing his Superman thing, then the team completely falling apart at home against the Falcons a couple of weeks later....I'm sorry but it left a bad taste in my mouth. Even going back to the 2013 season and earlier, before that, this team needs leadership and to get its swagger back.

To me THAT is the key to pretty much getting "all of the above" on the wish list...because whether it's O-line or linebackers or passing D or running game, in all these different areas we need big or better performances from rookies and unproven guys and trusted veterans alike....

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

From what I've read and seen of the 2015 draft picks, they'll geaux a long way in improving that attitude; even though P.J. Williams had his blunder, he brings a competitiveness that will contribute to an improved team attitude...

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

I really do have a good feeling this year. Our D can't possibly be any worse and our line and running game should be stout. Our receiving corps worries me a little. We really need at least two players to step up pretty big time. That unknown is what worries me.

Brees has always made his average receivers look good and his good receivers look great. Up until now we have not had the need for an all pro type receiver. As he ages we will need to find one.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

I'm not worried about our wide receivers one bit, and that includes the tight end corps...

We've got decent depth on the offensive line...

On the defensive line, there are some question marks such as 'will Cam Jordan's play justify his contract?' and 'do we have quality depth, rotation?'

There's some cautious optimism for the first time for our linebacking corps; two biggest questions 'are will the Saints trust their draft picks and play them as rookies?' and 'will Ellerbe recover from injury and have an impact?'

And finally, 'will Drew Brees redo his contract to a team-friendly contract that also restores faith in his teammates and allows more players to share in the Saints cap number?' especially after a stupid, premature contract to Junior Galette...

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Crusader, the question asked "most"...

We're all dying to open our presents these next two months...

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

For me filling the void at CB is where my focus is. More than anything else we need to be better at CB.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Two draft picks (P.J. Williams and Damian Swann) and three free agent signings (Brandon Browner, Delvin Breaux and Kyle Wilson); alot of options, and competition for that void...

Equally needed was an honest pass rush and we had three draft picks (Hau'oli Kikaha, Tyeler Davison and Davis Tull) and five free agent signings (Kevin Williams) four of which are Undrafted Free Agent Rookies (Kaleb Eulls, Bobby Richardson and Tavaris Barnes); plus an offseason of recovery for some injured interior linemen...

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Man we just need our defense to be really stoked this year and this worries me the most. I think the right moves were made so I have hope. Anxious to see Spiller do his thing. I think he stays healthy we can give notice to the rest of the division early on that we can win the whole thing.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

I'm now a little concerned about our receiving corps and Dline. If Colston goes down there is really no one who is not an unknown except arguably Cooks. In the past Brees accuracy has made average receivers look great. As he ages he is going to need more talent to make up for any decline. I don't know if that will be the case this year but he is aging.
I have no idea what to expect from our D line.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Defensive Line now is a huge, big concern with the release of Bunkley and this idea that Cam Jordan is fast enough to play a Jack Linebacker...

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

I'm like a kid waiting for Santa... Will it ever get here?

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

We never ran the 3-4 defense if we want to be honest.

We ran a modified 5-2 for the last 2 years, and in passing situations we ran a 4-2. How many times did JR drop into coverage as the "JACK"? Ill be MR. positive and say that our front 7 has never looked better; this is easily the most athletic group we have had in a long time.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Black, you're right, and we've honestly not had the talent until now...

...and we're still a draft and free agency away from truly rounding it out...

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

C.J. Spiller is a speed beast with vision. A true RB that can juke and see the field without sight. I dont believe we have seen a RB with his ability and hard working ethic ever in NO. This kid can run up the middle, thread the needle, burst, screen, Catch, keeps his eyes at the QB. I wanted NO to draft Spiller.
This is one of the most dangerious RB's in the game. This kid will keep defenses thinking way more than RB ever did. This kid just loves football and being a RB and he wants to make a mark. Love this guy, he will be a fan favorite very soon.
I know RB, and going on a limb here , this might be the best RB NO has seen period, but we will see.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

This reminds me of the first roster role over we had with SP. just this time around it is a huge youth movement.

I am wondering all across the board and how long will we have to listen to the catch phrase time to gel.

Re: 2015 New Orleans Saints Season Anticipation
 

Looking forward to our mid-fielders on defense (ILBers, Safeties) just absolutely bringing the wood...