SmashMouth

A scary thought for NFL defenses: The New Orleans Saints offense is better. Potentially, much better.

A unit that gained the second most yards and scored the eighth most points in the NFL last season looks even more explosive and more dynamic.

In fact, this looks like potentially the Saints' best offense since 2011, when the club set a slew of NFL records for offensive prolificacy, including most yards gained in a season.



"The potential is very high," backup quarterback Luke McCown said. "I think you're gonna see us back in that 2012, 2013, even 2011 form. I really do. I feel that way."

The focus of the offseason and training camp has been squarely on the Saints' defense, and rightfully so. The Saints have finished last or second-to-last in the NFL in total defense three of the past four seasons. Obviously, that's the main reason they've finished 7-9 in each of those seasons.

But one of the dirty little secrets about the Saints' recent run of mediocrity was the decline of the offense.

The Saints still produced gaudy numbers and ranked among the Top 10 units in total offense but they weren't nearly as explosive.

When the Saints have been dominant, they have brandished the ability to not only execute clock-eating, multi-play drives, but also to strike their opponents with momentum-changing quick hits.

In the 13-3 seasons of 2009 and 2011, they ranked sixth and 10th, respectively, in big plays, defined as gains of more than 10 yards rushing and more than 25 yards passing. In the past four seasons, they haven't ranked higher than 14th. The past two seasons, as age, injury and trades have conspired to weaken the perimeter corps, the Saints ranked 19th and 20th in big plays.

Look for a dramatic spike in that department this season.

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