A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

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.

http://image.nola.com/home/nola-medi...0300-large.jpg

"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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Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

Dare we say, Championship? :broccoli:

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

I love the way that sounds. We will see Sept 11.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

I'm having that feeling again.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

Brees
Cooks
Snead
A healthy CJ Spiller
Ingram
Fleener ...

Pick your poison.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

Don't forget the real thing, Michael Thomas.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

2 more days til live action.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

The right side of our OLine is still a question mark. I feel good about all the other positions.

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Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

Peat is proving he can play where ever he is needed. Every team always has some "question mark", but as long as the defense comes through and the offensive skilled player's impact works like we know it can, defensive pressure from the right can easily be absorbed.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

Can't wait to see this team play in the opener. Defense is going to be much improved and the offense looks insane fast and good. Oline is the only true scary thought. But if the guards can play, we're all good.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

Been a long off-season the early reports seem promising hopefully
this turns into a good year for us.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

I dont know about using the word "easily" there, but it looks like Kalemente (sp) has stepped up and is doing a good job at the RG spot. I'm more concerned w Strief but he realizes that the OLine will be the deciding factor in our offense:

"...we have a ton of good skill players, with our backs, and Michael Thomas coming on like he has, and (Brandin) Cooksy and (Willie) Snead and a dangerous tight end. To me, it comes down to how our line plays, and I feel real good about where we're at right now. This offense has all the potential in the world."

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Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

And at the same time, no O-line in the world will stand a chance if the skill players can't beat their guys. Its just like the defensive backfield and the D-line, the groups feed off each other.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

biggest ? to me is the Oline. That's the one thing I am worried about. Would feel better if we added an abobve average guard, but SP has shown the ability to find guys and go into the season to find the guy could get it done.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

One of the things I really like about our squad in the past was the size. I always loved having dev, Meach, and Colston because they were big. Underrated for Colston was his downfield blocking. We have a lot of big guys. Thomas, Fleener, Hill, and Coleman (if he makes the team) mix that with the speed of cooks and spiller and I like it

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

Be careful of the flavor kool aide you are drinking...

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

Can Thomas replace Colston production of last year?
should not be so hard

Can Fleener replacing Watson out put?
Big question should be close

Will the play of the OL improve?
QB Hits/Hurries are way to high and lead to stupid turn overs.

Sacks are an issue but only tell part of the story
2015 31
2014 29
2013 37
2012 26
2011 24
2010 25
2009 20

Once again can the OL give Drew an that extra split second in the pocket and keep him off the turf? Can the OL open running lanes to keep the defenses honest

OL is the key as usual despite the love for the glamor positions

Drew needs the defense to step up and silence the little voices in his head telling him " You needs to score on every drive because the defense can stop squat."

Do that and this will be a fun season to watch

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

I'm a Saints fan. I always drink the kool aid.

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Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

Is "Hurricane" a flavor?

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

One day we hear the offense is struggling and the next it is going be the best offense of all time?

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

I personally think the uptick in sacks was partially due to a wide receiver corp that could't get separation. Brees was forced to hold the ball longer or throw into tight coverage. Whether this was due to receivers aging or not, who knows.

Across the board, the current slate of receivers are young and fast. Very fast. Take into consideration some of the UDFAs like Lewis, and we may have one of the fastest receiving corps in the NFL.

That should help keeps sacks down.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

Plus it sounds as though CJ Spiller is fully healthy and has that cut on a dime agility he didnt have last year.

Payton will be drawing all sorts of plays up for a healthy CJ.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

Agree. Watching some of the press conferences, Payton has had that gleam in his eye again. Haven't seen it since the bounty days. Like opening presents on Christmas Eve, he can't wait for the sun to come up so he can take them outside and play.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

I don't know what to attribute it to either, but I saw it too. He (Drew) seemed indecisive, which just looks weird on Brees, and you could tell. At times I'm sayin.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

My scary thought is depth at O-line.....oh wait, that's not right.

My biggest fear are the two guard positions. If Armstead misses ay time Peat won't be playing RG. And we're counting on him staying healthy.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

I just looked up YAC (yards after catch) numbers for '09 - '15. Last year was one of Brees' better years. '10 and 14' were the only years where he was below 5.35. So, it doesn't seem like this trends with sacks. I just recall game after games it looked like our receivers were covered, Brees would squeeze a pass into a seam and we were getting little yardage after the catch.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

Valid point!!

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

Excuse me? There were never any "bounties". That was a fallacy perpetrated by a lowlife named Mike Cerullo and bought hook, line and sinker by that freakin' arsehole Roger Goodell.

:evil:

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

Strief struggled early last year but finally got his feet under him.
Brees needs 3 solid seconds; 4 would be tremendous for progresssions.
At one point Brees couldn't look down field for watching Strief get beat so early in a play.
All it takes is one good lick to cause the happy feet thing.
Haven't heard the story on Armstead. Hope he's not missed much at Brees' back.
Running the ball solves all of that.
Kind of an automatic 1 second pause by pass rushers if we are gouging them for 4-5.
Kind of not an option and no help at all on 3rd and long.
If we can average anywhere near 100yds per game, we will be a force to reckon with.
At our best, we get a lead and just could not be caught from behind.
Our defense was much more effective when teams were forced to take chances.
I would LOVE to get back to that.

Re: A scary thought for NFL defenses: Saints' 2nd-ranked offense looks even better, more explosive
 

I like the Brandon Cooks, Michael Thomas, Willie Sneed concept. It'll give the announcers the opportunity to plug BMW in the Mercedes-Benz superdome......lol