Danno

Whatever you call it, the Saints' future looks bright if team sticks together.

Nick Underhill

Whether it was intended or not, two years ago the Saints started down a path that led them to this point.

New Orleans has never publicly admitted that the franchise was rebuilding the past two seasons. Using such a phrase would be conceding something about the present. Rebuilding teams aren’t expected to win or compete. It’s throwing in the towel in the short term, and this team, despite enduring bumps and bruises, never expected or accepted the losses that piled up the past few years.

But the trade of tight end Jimmy Graham, at least to outsiders, seemed to signify a change in direction. The team took a step back to take a step forward. Center Max Unger filled a major need, but the draft compensation acquired in the deal was for the future. At least to some degree, there was one eye on the future the past two years, even if the team continued to compete in the interim.

The benefit of the pick acquired in the trade, which was used to select linebacker Stephone Anthony, has been negligible. But even with the potential miss, New Orleans has done a good job the past two seasons bringing in young, impactful players and making other smaller moves in free agency to rebuild the middle class of the roster and add depth.

There's disappointment in the air after a third 7-9 finish in a row, but if this team continues its current trajectory, it feels like it’s a few players away from competing for a playoff spot. And that's reason for optimism.

“Really disappointing because, I mean, we had the guys to do it,” linebacker Craig Robertson said. “We still have the guys to do it. To sit on the couch and watch the playoffs again sucks. But just to know the type of caliber guys we have in this locker room, next year we’ll come ready to work and make (some noise).”

Entering the unknown is a scary thing. No one knows what lurks around the corner. There could be beneficial results. There could also be only doom, heartache, and regret. The optimism here is contingent on everything staying the same and the team walking down the path it seemingly began paving two seasons ago.

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“I think everyone really loves this locker room. Drew (Brees) said it last night when he broke up the locker room,” punter Thomas Morstead said. “I just really enjoy playing with this team. It’s been a really challenging, up and down year, but we just really have a good group of guys, and you just think as an athlete you have to be eternally hopeful that you’re right there, getting close to breaking through. And I think when you have the right group of people, regardless of talent, you have a chance.”

The day will come when change will happen. Nothing can last forever. At some point, it might be a good thing for the team and all parties involved. But it would be hard to make an argument that it would be positive for the Saints to endure a major shake up right now when they're so close to changing their record.

The revamping of this roster is nearly complete and, with a couple of good moves, the benefits will be ready for harvest this fall. In fact, the circumstances have aligned for the Saints to have a legitimate shot at competing for a couple of more years — or as long as Brees is under center and performing at a high level.

After years of wrestling with the cap, and looking at places where moves had to be made to cut costs or create space, the Saints should have the money to acquire some finishing pieces this offseason. The team will use some of its cap space to retain some of its players, but there will be about $30 million to draw from before those moves are made.

Make no mistake. The Saints have had cap issues, but maybe it was never reached the so-called depths of "hell" some claimed. New Orleans has always somehow found ways to add players and work around cap constraints (the team used what can only be called shell years to push cap charges down the line in some contracts last offseason), but it’s probably a little bit easier to develop a plan and execute it when there is money readily available and you don’t have to do creative accounting.

But still, the dead money era is over and that should help a lot. After paying more than $40 million to players who weren’t on the roster, the Saints, as of now, have that figure down to around $9 million next season. That means the money will be there to acquire an impact defensive end, a top cornerback or a middle linebacker. Maybe there will be enough to acquire a couple of those guys. More depth can be added. If the team wants to retain defensive tackle Nick Fairley, and the price is right, it could do that.

Everything is lined up for next season to be the one where the luster returns for this organization. All the hurdles have been cleared. It seems like everything was designed for next year to be the year.

Now, hopefully, the Saints hold on to what they have so it can pay off.

Whatever you call it, the Saints' future looks bright if team sticks together | Saints | theadvocate.com

hagan714

Switching back to a 43 form a 34 yet again is a killer to this rebuild.

NOLA54

I'm not yet impressed with our potential.

frydaddy

I don't think we can call it 4-3. 4-2-5 was our honest to God base defense this year. I'd be willing to bet we lined up in an actual 4-3 5% of the time or below. If we can avoid injury next year I think almost all the pieces are already in place to continue with the 3 safety scheme and be much better than last year.

hagan714

4-2-5 i believe was due to injury more than anything else. Look back at DA's time in Denver and Oakland the 4-2-5 was not the base defense he ran. He was a 43 man for a base defense.

Crusader

That is one of the things I liked this year. DA adapting the defence to get the best 11 players on the field after injuries and guys not producing.

MatthewT

We shall see how 2017 pans out. IMO it's playoffs or bust for this team. Another miss and Brees probably moves on, head coach probably replaced, then a complete rebuild that will probably take many years to complete is underway.

hagan714

I will trump that one. DA gets his but handed to him and at half time he always came out with adjustments and continued on the fly till the end.

This was my number 1 complaint with Rob before we even signed him

AsylumGuido

There has already been a complete rebuild. Look at the roster three years ago and compare it to what is currently there. The only players still on the roster are the top two performing offensive players, Brees and Strief. It takes time after a complete rebuild for a team to gel. We saw the gelling process begin this past season. At least those of us that knew what we were looking at.

AsylumGuido

The only problem there papz is that the OL's in the CFL are valued more for their quickness than their strength. Because of the wider field, only three downs, and the ability of the wideouts to be in motion toward the line at the snap the game is much faster than the NFL. The job of the ofensive lineman is more geared upon clearing passing lanes than opening holes. Those guys wouldn't hold up to the pounding that their NFL counterparts endure.