Team Profile: New Orleans Saints

I’ll start my NFC South profiles with the team who finished in 4th place, the New Orleans Saints. The Saints finished at 8-8, tying the Redskins for best record of a team finishing in last place in their division. Let’s take a look at the Saints’ upcoming draft picks (table on right).

The Saints have the fewest draft picks in this year’s draft, with only 3 4. They spent their 3rd Round pick for Jonathan Vilma, which would convert to a 1st if they re-sign him before he becomes a free agent (which they won’t be doing). UPDATE: The Saints will get back a 4th rounder from the Jets, that the Jets got last season. Thanks to MtnExile for the info. They traded their 6th round pick to the Packers last year for their 7th round pick (Adrian Arrington).

That brings us to their 2nd and 5th round picks, which were traded to the Giants for Jeremy Shockey. To put it nicely, this was an awful trade for the Saints. Shockey only played in 12 games, had less than 500 yards receiving (with a QB who threw for over 5000 yards), and 0 touchdowns. Doesn’t sound like a guy who’s worth 2 draft picks, including a 2nd rounder. But don’t just take my word on it: Here’s what Saintsational, head writer at Canal Street Chronicles, had to say about the trade:

Shockey was a waste this season and Dr. Baden could take him or leave him. The Saints offense would have been just fine without him and the second and fifth round draft picks the Saints gave up to get him would be much more valuable to the team right now moving forward.

I’ve combined rankings for the Saints based on game stats, and from Football Outsiders. Here’s how the Saints stacked up this season:

It’s clearly obvious that the Saints don’t have too many problems on offense, as they have the best offense based on DVOA, as well as Passing Offense, Total Offense, and Scoring Offense. A lot of these great rankings come from 2008 Offensive Player of the Year Drew Brees. They also did this without 2007 leading receiver Marques Colston for a majority of the year. The Saints’ #9 ranking in Total DVOA was the highest for a non-playoff team as well, beating out divisional rivals Atlanta and Tampa Bay.

The struggles for the Saints came on the Defensive side of the ball. There wasn’t one specific area that struggled, but there wasn’t one area where they were better than average either. With so few draft picks, I’m guessing they’ll use them all on defense. They actually did improve defensively from 2007, but it still wasn’t good enough to get them to the playoffs.

They have already taken the first step in trying to improve the defense, firing Defensive Coordinator Gary Gibbs (complete with a Saved by the Bell reference). I think the fans are happy, and maybe had a part in it. From Saintsational again:

Holy crap I can’t believe they really did it. The Saints actually fired Gary Gibbs...I am freaking out! This is like one of those things that you dream about and always wish would happen but you never actually think it’s really possible. It’s like we, the fans, willed it to happen. Kinda feel bad actually.

Gibbs’ replacement? Former Redskin and Jaguar Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams. I’m not entirely sold on this choice. The Jaguars didn’t like him very much this season, and he was passed over in ‘07 to be Joe Gibbs’ replacement with the Redskins, even though he had a “hand-shake” deal to become the head coach after Gibbs retired. Saints fans seem to like the choice, but I think they could have done better.

The Saints have lots of improving to do on the defensive side of the ball, and have to continue their dominance on offense. I won’t have too many picks to screw up for them over the next couple months.