Another year and another Saints team, destined for the cellar as usual in the Big Easy right? No so fast, as I think this Saints team may in fact be the surprise of the NFC this year and may exceed expectations. Last year was a nightmare for this team, compounded by hurricane Katrina, which resulted in workouts in parking lots, no home field, and quite frankly a brutal and homeless year for the downtrodden Saints, resulting in Jim Haslett being fired and many issues still to overcome in 2006, such as no home field, a new coaching staff, and a ton of new faces.

Now the good news, starting with Sean Peyton as head coach, and an excellent coaching staff in place, and he is a Bill Parcells guy, and we all know about Parcells influence on coaches, and that is going to breath new life into this hapless franchise in my mind. Winning the Reggie Bush sweepstakes in the draft will cause excitement with fans, and unloading unproductive QB Aaron Brooks, who was a human turnover machine, and getting Drew Brees to replace him was a major boost. With this offense, you have talent and plenty of it, all at skill positions. If this line can provide protection, you have a RB tandem of Deuce McCallister and Reggie Bush, both effective at running and catching, with elusive speed and the ability to make people miss tackles which results in big plays. Add into the mix, 2002 Pro Bowler Mike Bennett, and you have the deepest and strongest RB line-up in the NFL.

At quarterback, you have a patient, heady leader who knows how to win, is an accurate thrower and he has some weapons to stretch the field. With Joe Horn coming off a bad year, I look for him to get single coverage this year with the running threat, and he should flourish, and Donte Satllworth is no slouch and can make some plays over the middle. You have two solid tight ends with Conwell and Hilton who caught 35 passes last year, and should catch more with Brees as he loves to throw outlet passes to tight ends. The weapons and capability here are a serious threat to all who defend this team and oi overlooked in any aspect, will put some serious points on the board quickly. Their balance should be verey effective.

Now the HUGE issue at hand, the offensive line and defense. On the offensive line, you have 5 new starters at different positions, and losing both Kendyl Jacox and Wayne Gandy, and also their starting center to free agency. Having this unit in place and ready, and able to pass protect and open holes for the excellent running game they have on paper here will be the KEY to success this season, and the only stumbling block to a 9 win season, and possible wild card berth, because their is no way they can win this division.

The defense has an emerging star in DE Will Smith who logged 9 sacks last year and is going to be a good one. The linebacker position is a work in progress but picking up Scott Fujita and Tony Simmons in free agency was big, and both will start as the third LB position is up in the air, but a star needs to emerge and this unit is average at best. The line on defense has 2 solid ends with Smith and Grant and picking up Hollis Thomas from the Eagles was a solid trade and will help, but some interior lineman need to make some noise this year. The secondary is solid but thin, with both Mike McKenzie and Fred Thomas good cover corners, but as mentioned, depth is an issue to watch here. Both Josh Bullocks and Dwight Smith as solid safeties and could move to corner is pressed for duty. Look for teams to run on them until the line settles in and the linebackers step up to the challenge, but with a solid secondary, and good rush ends, the defense under Gary Gibbs leadership should be better than average.

The Saints are in a division with Carolina, Atlanta and Tampa Bay, and getting into the third spot here would be a huge feat as all teams in this division could do better than .500 ball this year. If overlooked the Saints could steal a win or two on the road, but with no home field again in 2006, that puts them at a disadvantage. This team is a work in progress, however I assure you a 3-13 season will not repeat, they are talented and will have some excellent leadership from the coaching staff. I actually look for the Saints to have a bright future and a building block type season this year. The OVER 6.5 wins is the way to go at -140 for a futures bet here.