47-year old head coach Sean Payton needs to get his Saints back on the right track.  Sure the Saints were 11-5 last year, but the season ended with a thud in Seattle when the Seahawks beat the Saints 41-36 in the playoffs.  That should be motivation enough for Payton to have his team focused and in a better frame of mind in 2011.  Payton is 49-31 (61.3%) during the regular season in his first five years with the Saints.  He is also 4-2 (66.7%) in the post-season, leading the Saints to a win in the Super Bowl in 2009.

32-year old Drew Brees is hoping to get the Saints a lot further in 2011.  Brees played in 16 games (all starts) for the Saints last year and he completed 448 of 658 passes (68.1%) for 4,620 yards with 33 TD passes and 22 INTs (90.9 QB Rating).  Brees also carried the ball 18 times for -3 yards (-0.2 ypc) last year.  Brees is one of the best QBs in the entire NFL and he’s a tough guy as he played most of last year with a bum knee.  I think he will cut down on his pickoffs big time in 2011 with a return to full health.  Brees has now played in 138 games (137 starts) in his first 10 years in the NFL and he has completed 3,145 of 4,822 passes (65.2%) for 35,266 yards with 235 TD passes and 132 INTs (91.7 QB Rating).  Brees has also carried the ball 262 times for 479 yards (1.8 ypc) with 7 TD runs so far in his career.  Brees has a 79-58 (57.7%) record during the regular season during his NFL career so far.

24-year old Chase Daniel will be Brees’ backup in 2011.  He got into the first 13 games (0 starts) of his NFL career last year for the Saints and he completed  2 of 3 passes for 16 yards with 0 TD passes or interceptions (79.9 QB Rating).  Daniel has also carried the ball 2 times for 16 yards (8.0 ypc) in his NFL career.  Daniel was a solid QB in college but it’s hard to say how well or poor he would play if he had to step in for Brees.

24-year old Sean Canfield was the Saints’ #3 QB last year and he will likely have the same job in 2011.  If the Saints get down to him on the depth chart, they are likely in deep, deep trouble.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SAINTS QBS IN 2011:  A+

27-year old WR Courtney Roby has a outstanding year for the Saints in 2009 but not many people talked about him.  He often gave the Saints’ offense outstanding starting field position as the kickoff returner.  Roby played in 15 games for the Saints last season and he returned 42 kickoffs for 1,154 yards (27.5 avg) with 1 TD return.  He has now played in 46 games in his NFL career and he has returned 88 kickoffs for 2,222 yards (25.3 avg) with 1 TD return.  It seems as if Roby has found his niche in the NFL after somewhat failing as a WR.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SAINTS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  A

The LT on the Saints this season will be Jermon Bushrod.  He filled in pretty well for Jammal Brown when he got hurt last season.  With Brown now in Washington it will be up to Bushrod to block on Drew Brees’ blind side once again in 2010.  He does have problems with speed rushers though so he has some room to improve.  LG Carl Nicks is a powerful blocker especially in the running game where he can attack defenders.  Center Jonathan Goodwin is a solid but unspectacular center.  RG Jahari Evans is very nasty both in run and pass blocking as he has one of the best guards in the NFL.  RT Jonathan Stinchcomb played for the NFC in the Pro Bowl last season due to his nastiness blocking in the running game.  He has trouble with speed rushers but he can handle guys who try to play the power game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SAINTS O-LINE in 2010:  A

46-year old head coach Sean Payton is the perfect coach for the Saints.  He led them to a 13-3 (81.3%) regular season record and he then went 3-0 in the post-season to win the Super Bowl.  Payton sometimes lives on the edge as he called for an onside kick to start the second half of the Super Bowl.  The Saints recovered it and it changed the tone of the game in the Saints’ favor.  Payton has a 38-26 (59.4%) record in his four years as Saints’ head coach during the regular season and he’s 4-1 (80%) in the post season.  Sean Payton + Drew Brees is going to equal a lot of wins in the near future for the Saints.

24-year old kicker Garrett Hartley has a very strong leg and the Saints need him.  He missed a lot of last year due to a league suspension.  But if his head is on right he will be another weapon for the Saints on offense.  Hartley played in 5 games for the Saints last season and he made 9 of 11 field goals (81.8%).  He also made 10 of 11 extra points as he finished up with 37 points last year.  Hartley has now played in 13 games in two years for the Saints and he has made 22 of 24 field goals (91.7%) and 38 of 39 extra points good for 104 points. 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SAINTS KICKERS in 2010:  B

27-year old Marques Colston is Drew Brees’ go to man.  Colston played in 16 games (14 starts) for the Saints last season and he caught 70 passes for 1,074 yards (15.3 avg) with 9 TD grabs.  He has now played in 57 games (46 starts) in his four years with the Saints and he has caught 285 passes for 4,074 yards (14.3 avg) with 33 TD grabs.  Colston is a outstanding blend of speed and hands as he is one of the best kept secrets at WR in the NFL.

28-year old Devery Henderson is the speed merchant of the WR corps.  He played in 16 games (11 starts) for the Saints last season and he caught 51 passes for 804 yards (15.8 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Henderson also carried the ball 4 times for 13 yards (3.3 ypc) last season.  Henderson has now played in 76 games (43 starts) in his six years in the NFL and he has caught 157 passes for 3,094 yards (19.7 avg) with 16 TD grabs.  He also also carried the ball 13 times for 89 yards (6.8 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.  When Drew Brees is looking deep it’s usually Henderson that he’s chucking the ball to.

The Saints have brought 25-year old Robert Meachem along slowly and it started to pay off last year.  Meachem played in 16 games (7 starts) for the Saints last season and he caught 45 passes for 722 yards (16.0 avg) with 9 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 6 times for 82 yards (13.7 ypc) last year.  Meachem has played in 30 games (10 starts) in his two years with the Saints and he has caught 57 passes for 1,011 yards (17.7 avg) with 12 TD grabs.  Meachem also carried the ball 7 times for 102 yards (14.6 ypc) with 1 TD grab in his career.  I would not be surprised at all if Meachem had a true breakout season in 2010 for the Saints.

26-year old Lance Moore was banged up a lot last season.  He played in 16 games (7 starts) in which he caught 14 passes for 153 yards (10.9 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Moore has now played in 43 games (10 starts) in his four years with the Saints and he has caught 126 passes for 1,393 yards (11.1 avg) with 14 TD grabs.  I look for Moore to be involved a lot more in the offense in 2010.

27-year old Courtney Roby did most of his work on special teams for the Saints last season.  He played in 15 games (0 starts) for the Saints last season and he caught 1 pass for 6 yards.  Roby has now played in 46 games (6 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 24 passes for 323 yards (13.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has also carried the ball 3 times for 19 yards (6.3 ypc) in his career to date.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SAINTS WRs in 2010:  B+

29-year old Jeremy Shockey is still an elite TE when healthy.  He played in 13 games (12 starts) for the Saints last season in which he caught 48 passes for 569 yards (11.9 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Shockey has now played in 108 games (105 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 469 passes for 5,280 yards (11.3 avg) with 30 TD grabs in his career.  Shockey is a 4-time Pro Bowler who could make if 5 if he can play all 16 games for the Saints in 2010.

27-year old David Thomas is a TE on the rise.  He played in 15 games (8 starts) for the Saints last season in which he caught 35 passes for 356 yards (10.2 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Thomas has now played in 47 games (21 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 56 passes for 617 yards (11.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  The Saints are in great shape at TE this season as Thomas is more than capable of starting if something were to happen to Shockey.

Rookie 3rd round pick Jimmy Graham out of Miami (Fla) has the size at 6’6″, 259 pounds and solid upside to be a good player down the road for the Saints.  But for now he will be learning from Shockey and Thomas.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SAINTS FBs in 2010:  A-

31-year old Heath Evans will be the Saints’ starting fullback in 2010.  Evans played in 6 games (5 starts) for the Saints last season in which he carried the ball 5 times for 16 yards (3.2 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 10 passes for 70 yards (7.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs last year.  Evans has now played in 127 games (17 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 162 times for 577 yards (3.6 ypc) with 4 TD runs.  He has also caught 50 passes for 398 yards (8.0 avg) with 3 TD grabs in his career.  Evans could also fill in at tailback if the need arouse for the Saints as he is that talented.

23-year old Marcus Mailei is currently #2 on the depth chart for the Saints.  He is 6’1″, 245 pounds and he brings youth to this crew.  He played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Saints last season in his first taste of the NFL and he didn’t get to touch the football.

30-year old Jason McKie is #3 on the depth chart as training camp opens but he was a starter for the Bears last season.  McKie played in 16 games (11 starts) for the Bears last season in which he caught 5 passes for 13 yards (2.6 avg).  He has now played in 88 games (47 starts) in his NFL career in which he has carried the ball 29 times for 84 yards (2.9 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  McKie has also caught 68 passes for 364 yards (5.4 avg) with 3 TD grabs in his career.

28-year old Zak Keasey will also be in camp for the Saints.  He did not play last season.  Keasey has played in 20 games (3 starts) in his NFL career in which he has carried  the ball 2 times for 4 yards (2.0 ypc).  He has also caught 3 passes for 25 yards (8.3 avg) in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SAINTS FBs in 2010:  B-

UPDATE:  (7/29/2010) – The Saints have released Jason McKie. 

25-year old Pierre Thomas has really emerged after signing as a undrafted free agent out of Illinois three years ago.  He played in 14 games (6 starts) for the Saints last season and he carried the ball 147 times for 793 yards (5.4 ypc) with 6 TD runs.  Thomas also caught 39 passes for 302 yards (7.7 avg) with 2 TD grabs last year.  Thomas has now played in 41 games (12 starts) in his three years with the Saints and he has carried the ball 328 times for 1,670 yards (5.1 ypc) with 16 TD runs.  He also has caught 87 passes for 737 yards (8.5 avg) with 6 TD grabs in his NFL career.  Thomas is the tough guy of the Saints’ RBs as he likes to run downhill.  They need to keep him healthy in 2010.

25-year old Reggie Bush is back for more in 2010.  He played in 14 games (8 starts) last season for the Saints in which he carried the ball 70 times for 390 yards (5.6 ypc) with 5 TD runs.  Bush also caught 47 passes for 335 yards (7.1 avg) with 3 TD grabs and he returned 27 punts for 130 yards (4.8 avg).  Bush has now played in 52 games (35 starts) in his four years with the Saints and he has carried the ball 488 times for 1,940 yards (4.0 ypc) with 17 TD runs.  Bush has also caught 260 passes for 1,934 yards (7.4 avg) with 11 TD grabs.  Bush has also returned 78 punts for 628 yards (8.1 avg) with 4 TD returns.  The Saints would probably be smart to find someone else to return punts because Bush’s focus needs to be on offense in 2010.

24-year old Lynell Hamilton got his first real action in the NFL last season.  Prior to last year, Hamilton played in 1 game in which he didn’t even touch the football.  Hamilton played in 9 games (1 start) for the Saints last season in which he carried the ball 35 times for 125 yards (3.6 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He also caught 5 passes for 48 yards (9.6 avg) last year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SAINTS RBs in 2010:  B-