Chris Price is an award-winning journalist and public relations principal. When he’s not writing, he’s avid about music, the outdoors, and Saints, Ole Miss and Chelsea football.
With the majority of starters returning and some highly anticipated additions and returns in all three phases of the game, the Saints are in position to be a playoff-caliber team; however, the Black & Gold are facing several questions as they kick off their 56th NFL campaign.
The biggest news of the offseason was the sudden retirement of head coach Sean Payton, which just eclipsed word of running back Alvin Kamara’s uncharacteristic Pro Bowl weekend arrest for allegedly assaulting a man in a Las Vegas casino. The NFL is reviewing Kamara’s case, which has yet to be adjudicated, and could impose as much as a six-game suspension on him at some point this season.
Coaching
Dennis Allen was hired as the team’s head coach in February and extends the consistency coveted by the Saints’ front office leadership, owner Gayle Benson, President Dennis Lauscha, and General Manager Mickey Loomis. How well Allen can lead and win over his team will be central to the Saints’ success. He will be assisted by Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren Rizzi, Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael, and Co-Defensive Coordinators Ryan Nielsen (defensive line) and Kris Richard (secondary).
Offense
The Saints finished 28th in the league in total offense in 2021 but should be markedly better this year. Quarterback Jameis Winston completed 59% of his passes for 1,170 yards, 14 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and a 102.8 rating before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 8. It is projected he would have had 33 TDs and 7 picks for the season at the rate he was going when he was injured. The team used four starting quarterbacks over the 17-game season, which rarely translates into postseason play.
Winston looks ready to go, and he has to be excited about the prospect of having former Pro Bowl receivers Michael Thomas — who is returning from an ankle injury that caused him to miss last season — and free-agent signing Jarvis Landry in his arsenal this year. The two add a significant improvement to a unit that will likely include rookie Chris Olave, Marquez Callaway and Tre’Quan Smith. If Kamara gets suspended, look for Mark Ingram to be the feature back in a three-man rotation with Tony Jones Jr. and Dwayne Washington. Clearing the way up front will likely be center Erik McCoy, guards Cesar Ruiz and Andrus Peat, and tackles Ryan Ramczyk and James Hurst. Expect Taysom Hill and Adam Trautman at tight end. First-round pick Trevor Penning should get work on the line and may push Hurst at right tackle.
Defense
The Saints defense finished seventh in the league last year and is expected to be the team’s bedrock again this year. The unit will feature ends Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport and tackles Shy Tuttle and David Onyemata, with Demario Davis, Pete Werner and Zack Baun at linebacker. Cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo and safeties Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu and Marcus Maye will likely make up the starting four in the defensive backfield. Expect to hear familiar names like linemen Carl Granderson and Malcolm Roach, linebacker Kaden Elliss, as well as those of rookies Alontae Taylor (CB), D’Marco Jackson (LB), and Jordan Jackson (DE). In the preseason, it will be fun to see if undrafted free agent Smoke Monday, a rookie safety from Auburn, can catch fire in the secondary.
Special Teams
Special teams will be led by kicker Wil Lutz, punter Blake Gillikin, return man Deonte Harty and long snapper Zach Wood.
Season Outlook
The NFL’s schedule makers have put the onus on the Saints to play well from the get-go.
New Orleans faces its NFC South Division rivals in its first three games — at Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and at Carolina. With QB question marks for the Falcons and Panthers, it looks as if the division will be contested between the Saints and Bucs. Don’t be surprised if the Black & Gold comes out of September undefeated.
October features five games, four of which will be played in the Superdome — Vikings, Seahawks, Bengals, at Cardinals, Raiders. Expect the Saints to go 4-1 or 3-2 in this stretch, with possible losses to Cincy and on the road at Arizona.
November sees the Saints at home against the Ravens, on the road against the Steelers, at home against the Rams, and on the road in San Francisco. This is arguably the toughest stretch of the season. I’m looking at a 2-2 performance.
There are three games in December, at Tampa, bye week, home against Atlanta, and on the road at Cleveland. They should win two of the three.
The Saints close the season in with two games in January — at Philly and home against the Panthers. They’ll likely split these games.
Assuming injuries don’t plague the team again, the Saints have enough talent to post a 12-5 or 11-6 season this year. If they can remain healthy, they’ll compete for the division crown and qualify for the playoffs.
It’s a new era in New Orleans, but it appears the good times will continue to roll. Let’s geaux!
