Never Turn Back: A New Orleans Saints 2023 Preview
Just days away from the New Orleans Saints beginning their season and never turning back into what they were last year.
The Saints were something else last year.
It felt like many of the things that did go wrong, in fact did. Michael Thomas getting hurt again, offensive line battling injuries left and right, decline from some key veterans, and substandard quarterback play.
Dennis Allen was already on the hot seat to begin this offseason considering he made some crucial mistakes as well. Felt less aggressive, adjustments felt nonexistent, and penalties were a problem. He also didn’t help himself keeping Pete Carmichael who led a rather poor offense last year. But it wasn’t all his fault. There were a lack of redzone efficient players outside of a brittle Taysom Hill, offensive line was made of glass, and Andy Dalton is a limited QB. And all of it changed pretty quickly in the offseason.
While many expected heads to roll, Allen decided to clean out the defensive staff. No longer were there going to be co-defensive coordinators, instead both were let go. Instead, Allen brought in freshly fired from the Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods, who is just a more highly paid defensive back coach as Allen will oversee the defense in its entirety and call the plays. Allen also brought in Todd Grantham to help the DL and Marcus Robertson to help with the secondary.
Allen kept Pete because of two reasons: One, over half of the NFL Teams have changed offensive coordinators. Left and right, teams were changing out offensive coordinators. Even Super Bowl winner Kansas City Chiefs had made a change at offensive coordinator. What do the Saints had back in late January/early February that would lure an enticing candidate? At that time, the Saints had no real answer at quarterback and no first round pick to select one in the draft. That doesn’t attract many good candidates that either want to be an offensive coordinator, or at least remain as one to use as a leaping point to be a head coach. Pete was probably going to look into retirement like he tried back in 2022, but DA convinced him to stay on one more time, but this time they are going to groom a successor. And it is probably passing game coordinator/QB Coach Ronald Curry.
The Final 53:
Skipping most of the fun from the offseason, the Saints have now finalized their initial roster for week one. Thanks to some trading with the Broncos and some Loomis math, the Saints have constructed an impressive roster and perhaps the most talented team Dennis Allen has ever had as a head coach. Except that’s not really saying something.
Offense:
Derek Carr is a genuine upgrade over the QB carousal from the past two years. Saints have not had one QB start the entire regular season since 2017. I know Teddy only started because “rest the starters” in 2018, but it still applies. I kinda wish Jameis was gone because I’m tired of the Jameis cult. Rookie Sultry Jake Haener will have to wait.
Finally, some good running back depth behind Kamara. Last year was misery as the Saints had to rely on the corpse of David Johnson to run the ball. We added Naruto fanatic Jamaal Williams who is coming off a career year in 2022. Kendre Miller in the third round should be fun as well if he can be healthy. This should do fine while Alvin Kamara serves his three-game suspension.
Olave looks really good, Michael Thomas is getting back to his old self slowly, Shaheed can’t heal his groin, Tre’Quan Smith is still on the team and AT Perry could be a steal. And there’s Keith Kirkwood. I like it.
I cannot begin to describe the absolute happiness of the Saints bringing back Jimmy Graham for one last ride. IDC if he is 37, he needs to end his career with the Saints, and I want it to end with a ring. Also, Juwan Johnson is going to have a breakout season. Foster Moreau kicked lymphoma’s ass.
The Saints are trying to get Andrus Peat off the team. The best bet was Trai Turner, and he suffered a torn quad just four days into training camp. The rest of the possible additions just couldn’t do it. Trevor Penning stayed healthy and got his much-needed reps in at left tackle. The depth is really concerning though, Peat coming back off getting hurt in camp looked out of shape and is still declining. The good news is that this will in fact be the last time Andrus Peat will don a Saints jersey. But it won’t be until the season is over. James Hurst will have to do as the starting left guard. Fourth Rounder Nick Saldiveri will need to be cooked for a little bit before taking over.
Defense:
Props to Dennis Allen for overhauling a rather disappointing group. Let David Onyemata, Shy Tuttle, Kentavius Street, and Marcus “Two Firsts” Davenport all depart in free agency for Khalen Saunders, Nathan Shepherd and spent the first two draft picks on DL Bryan Bresee and Edge Rusher Isaiah Foskey. Bresee should be a core contributor while Foskey gets some development. But perhaps the best thing is Payton Turner. For the first time, Turner was completely healthy for all of camp. OTAs, Minicamp and Training Camp, he was able to fully participate without needing to stop at Boca del Trainer’s table. That is huge for the much disappointing former first rounder. Now let’s see if he can take over for Granderson as the season goes on.
Linebackers are about the same but there was a scare when DeMario Davis missed almost all of August with a groin injury. This really tested the depth of the linebacker group as DA needed another veteran that can push these young guys. And that was Jaylon Smith who currently resides on the practice squad. DeMario and Pete Werner need to be fully healthy all season.
The secondary remains the strength of the team. The depth looks better than it did last year, however, I don’t want injuries to pop up again and ruin us. Lattimore looks primed for an all-pro season, Adebo is going to rebound, Taylor takes over as a slot defender. Marcus Maye and Tyrann Mathieu should look much better with a full season together under their belt. The big question is Alontae Taylor at the slot. In training camp, Bradley Roby played slot with the first string, newly acquired safety Ugo Amadi ran with the second string, and Taylor ran with the third. If the plan was Taylor in the slot, why not run with the first string? There is going to be a lot of growing pains.
Special Teams
First in what the actual hell was going on, the Saints went with high-school student posing as an adult UDFA rookie Blake Grupe over Wil Lutz. From Nick Underhill and the NOF gang, both Lutz and Grupe looked great at camp and in preseason. Sure, Grupe missed a 60-yard field goal against the Texans, however, it had the distance, it just didn’t hook. Special Teams coach Dan Rizzi went back and forth on who to keep and who to let go, and we see the decision before them. Saints traded Lutz to Denver for a conditional 2024 7th round pick which is good return for a kicker. This was a win-lose situation through and through. Saints were going to receive flack for whoever they kept and who they let go if one does better than the other.
Second would be the punter battle. Underhill described the situation as who was the not as bad option. Blake Gillikin seemed to have struggled to retain his 2021 form as the kicking inconsistencies kept surfacing. One punt would be a 56-yard bomb, the next would be a 34-yard shank. And the man who beat him out didn’t do too much better. He doesn’t possess the same leg power as Gillikin and shared about the same inconsistency. Saints went with the cheaper option. And while tattoo-Aussie UDFA rookie Lou Hedley has won for now, he will be under constant watch as DA will not hesitate to bring in several veterans ready to take his job.
The Titanic Matchup:
Now the roster is constructed, now we have our first opponent of the season: The Tennessee Titans.
The Titans are pretty much rebuilding on the fly. They have like three or four new starters on their offensive line after being ranked second worst in the league last year. Ryan Tannehill is still the quarterback; Saints will have their first shot at Derrick Henry ever. Lattimore vs Nuk Hopkins rd. 2, Titans have a really good pass rush, the back six for Tennessee is ripe for picking, bottom half in pass defense last year.
Keys to the game:
This will be the battle of the trenches. Saints offensive line is getting a big test as Tennessee has a stout front five. Harold Landry is coming back from injury meaning Penning will have his work cut out for him. They also possess Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry, and also added Trevis Gipson who had ten sacks in two years. On the flip side, the Saints defensive linemen have an opportunity to feast. PFF has Tennessee’s offensive line ranked at 32 with basically having all new starters up front.
If Derek Carr has time, he should feast. The back six for Tennessee is pretty spotty. Outside of Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker manning the safeties, the rest are pretty bad. The linebackers look like Madden generated players and the corners look low-key trash.
Defensive coach vs defensive coach. Dennis Allen will have to out-think Mike Vrabel.
My Picks:
The Saints are currently 3-point favorites over the Titans. Fun fact, the Saints have not beaten the Titans at home since they were the Houston Oilers in 1993. Which was also a season opening game. This game will be a first to twenty.
Saints 21 - Titans 13
Eagles (3.5) vs Patriots
This game should not be this close. Patriots don’t really have the offensive firepower to keep up.
Eagles 38 - Patriots 17
Bengals (2.5) vs Browns
Bengals rocking with two new safeties will be interesting and I’m predicting chaos.
Bengals 27 - Browns - 16
Lions vs Chiefs (6.5)
Detroit’s season could get off to a rocky start but with Chris Jones holding out, this game could get really close.
Lions 38 - Chiefs 42
Cowboys (3.5) vs Giants
Mike McCarthy is running the show, and all that drama should honestly catch up to them in a hilarious fashion