One of the first things Sean Payton had on his things-to-do list was make sure his equipment managers had enough of that white tape used for player’s names on the helmets. When the New Orleans Saints opened training at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.V., there were many new faces and new names to learn.
I’d bet that as he entered his 10th season, the Saints’ head coach had every helmet labeled with a stick-on name plate — from Brees to Peat to Jordan — just to make sure he knew who was who.
This camp marks the largest roster turnover of outgoing veterans and incoming rookies and free agents since Payton joined the Saints as head coach in 2006.
If you take comfort in having a roster loaded with well-known veterans familiar with the Saints’ system, then this season will be a bit scary and uncomfortable.
This off-season, star names evaporated from the line-up quicker than a Louisiana morning dew.
The biggest departure leaving the most concerning void is all pro tight end Jimmy Graham, who was traded to Seattle. Also let go was screen pass specialist and fan favorite running back Pierre Thomas. Former all pro guard Ben Grubbs is gone. So is potential star receiver Kenny Stills, who was second on the team with 63 receptions for 931 yards.
The defense wasn’t spared the culling either, as veteran linebacker Curtis Lofton, who led the Saints with 144 tackles — 99 solo — was let go.
Controversial linebacker Junior Galette, who would dig into a four-point stance so low it seemed he could munch on the turf just below his facemask, is another veteran no longer wearing the Black and Gold. Despite his team-leading 10 sacks, Galette just couldn’t keep his name out of the headlines, and the team grew tired of the headaches and locker room disruption.
It began late last season with an alleged domestic violence charge from a housekeeper. That case, with all its loose ends and shaky evidence, was about to go away. But then a videotape that allegedly showed Galette in a beach brawl surfaced. Charges could be pending, and the NFL will more than likely impose a multi-game suspension.
Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire, and Payton, along with general manager Mickey Loomis, have enough brush fires to deal with this August on the football field. Off-the-field problems aren’t part of their restructuring plans.
Galette was the most stark personnel whiff of the Payton-Loomis era in my opinion.
The team recently signed the emotional and aggressive pass-rushing linebacker to a rich contract extension approaching $40 million dollars. Their decision to rid the team of Galette’s act and troubles will cost the Saints $12 million against the salary cap this season.
That’s $12 million the Saints won’t be able to spend on two or three top-flight free agents who are sure to be on the open market as teams begin to release players and rosters undergo reshuffling league wide.
Galette was not one of your coddled and prized star players coming through the college and NFL ranks. He played hard and rough to make a name for himself. He was near tears in thanking the Saints for the multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract that he said showed the team’s belief in him.
Their support grew thin as Galette’s character and questionable behavior became too much of a liability on team chemistry and the locker room.
This is really Payton and Loomis’ most glaring personnel mistake since they joined forces in New Orleans nearly 10 years ago. You can’t deny this was a huge miss. There have been draft picks that didn’t work out or even make the roster. A number of free agent veterans have come and gone with little impact. That’s all part of the NFL process. But none were signed to a contract with the kind of guaranteed money and signing bonus that was given to Galette.
This move will take at least two years to filter through the Saints, who are already over the top with their budget-busting salary cap.
Side note to the story: Galette has already found work with the Washington Redskins after agreeing to a one-year contract that will pay him the league minimum of a tad over $785,000.
Now that the Galette issue has been settled, the Saints have many more questions to deal with over the next several weeks.
Yes, there are many new players added to the mix, and there is also the belief that Payton intends to beef up his offense with a more physical running game. I just don’t believe Payton is scrapping what got him this far with the Saints and through his NFL coaching career.
I’m buying into the new look Saints from a personnel perspective, but I think the book will stay the same: meaning Payton will put the ball in quarterback Drew Brees’ still capable hands to throw a variety of short and intermediate passes, screen passes, play action with eyes down the field — and, yes, the team will run the football.
Payton’s offensive strategy has always been using the pass to set up the run, and I don’t see that changing. The question remains where Brees will get his passing yards from now that Graham’s team-leading 85 catches, 889 yards and franchise high 10 touchdowns are gone to the Seahawks.
Marques Coltson; promising former top draft pick Brandin Cooks (coming off a hand injury); Nick Toon; along with veteran tight ends Josh Hill and Ben Watson; will be the main aerial targets.
Practice squad receivers Brandon Coleman and Seantavius Jones will get their chances and reps this preseason. Payton is counting on one of them to emerge.
The Saints rushed for 1,818 yards last season, with Mark Ingram accounting for a team-high 964 yards. The hard-running Khiry Robinson returns for his fourth season.
One of the most intriguing free agent pick-ups was running back C.J. Spiller. At 5 feet, 11 inches, 200 pounds, Spiller will be more of a running back than former Saints star Darren Sproles, and a better receiver.
Payton’s offense racked up 6,582 total yards in 2014. Not too shabby. But to beat opposing defenses with an effective and consistent offense begins and ends with Brees and the offensive line.
The change to the O-Line that will have the most impact will be the addition of former Seattle all pro center Max Unger, who was acquired in the mega-trade for Jimmy Graham. Unger will be the best center Brees has had since a younger Jonathan Godwin manned the middle during the team’s Super Bowl season in 2009.
First-round draft pick Andrus Peat will eventually crack the starting line-up from a tackle spot. Right tackle Zach Strief needs to stay healthy. Will left tackle Terron Armstead improve?
This O-Line will have pretty good depth if Peat is effective and the veterans stay healthy and on the field.
Brees was sacked 29 times last season. That’s too many for a 36-year-old quarterback entering his 15th season. He threw for an impressive 4,952 yards with a 69 percent completion percentage in 2014. But the offense struggled and sputtered when it came to scoring points. Consistency in the passing game was much to be desired, as Brees was hampered with 17 interceptions.
The picks were above his normal rate. But it was when and how he threw them that cost the Saints.
As the porous defense continued to give up chunks of yards and points, Brees felt pressure to make up the difference. He forced passes and made too many lousy decisions. Simple as that.
One school of thought is that Jimmy Graham made Brees and the passing game predictable. That was especially the case when the tight end attacked the red zone from the outside in a wide receiver position.
Not having the familiar and end-zone-happy Graham may just give the Saints offense a new sense of unpredictability.
Rob Ryan got a vote of confidence after he was retained as defensive coordinator. He pulled on those long silver locks of his and stomped the sidelines in frustration last year as his defense slumped to a pitiful 31st in the league. The defense couldn’t sack, much less pressure, opposing quarterbacks. They surrendered nearly 400 yards in total offense every game, and were -13 in the critical turnover ratio.
Ryan deserved another crack at turning this defense around. But he needs to make some very quick improvements.
Loomis has given him some new stoppers in veteran cornerback Brandon Browner, fresh off a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. Linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Anthony Spencer are free agent additions from Miami and Dallas, respectively.
There is high interest in whether the high draft pick linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha can translate his NCAA-leading 19 sacks at Washington last year to the NFL. The linebacker crew without Lofton will be hard-pressed, and will need the impact from Kikaha and fellow rookie draftee Stephone Anthony from Clemson.
Defensive end Cameron Jordan got his big money contract extension but needs to return that investment to the Saints with a sack total nearing or topping 15. Defensive tackles Akiem Hicks and John Jenkins need to play more consistently in run stopping and pushing up the middle.
And while I am pointing fingers, safety Kenny Vaccaro must bounce back from an awful 2014 season. He looked confused and out of position and lacked aggressiveness.
The only mainstay in the secondary last year appeared to be veteran corner Keenan Lewis. With Browner in the mix, and safety Jairus Byrd coming off an injury that sidelined him for all but two games last season, Lewis will get the much-needed coverage help he lacked a season ago.
Byrd was going to be the leader of the defense in 2014. His resume included 22 picks over five years in Buffalo. He was signed to a rich, long-term deal. The secondary will need his ball hawking skills and field leadership.
For stretches of years, the Saints’ kicking game had continuity with Hall of Famer Morten Andeson (12 years) Doug Brien (5 years) and John Carney (7 years). That doesn’t seem possible any longer.
Payton cut ties with veteran Shayne Graham in May. He will cast his field goal hopes toward a couple of no-namers with no NFL kicks to speak of. Engaged in a duel for the job will be 23-year-old Zach Hocher and 24-year-old Dustin Hopkins.
Payton has shown little patience for inconsistent field goal kickers, so if one of these young legs can’t get it done, expect to see a couple of veteran free agents swing through the Saints Metairie facility later this month.
Over the past several weeks, you have heard both Payton and Loomis speak about high character players they want to build around: guys who can forge strong locker room relationships; establish mutual respect and leadership; and have a desire to work long and hard when the lights and cameras aren’t around.
Brees and Strief have talked about not playing “smart” last year, and about lacking the tenacity and will to overcome adversity.
Reading between the lines, the 2014 Saints didn’t have the intangibles like team chemistry, a brotherhood-like bond or a strong enough voice to call certain players out and right a wayward ship that limped to a 7-9 finish, missing the playoffs.
The Super Bowl-winning squad from 2009 was led by Brees, of course, but his back was covered by iron-willed players like Scott Fujita, Jonathan Stinchcomb, Jeremy Shockey, Mark Burnell and Pierre Thomas, to name a few.
Sometimes the search for the intangibles comes simply from the tangible men you have strapping it up every day.
One possible distraction that was averted during the off-season was the courtroom family battle royale over ownership of the Saints, New Orleans Pelicans and various sports-related holdings of owner Tom Benson. Benson’s daughter Renee Benson, granddaughter Rita Benson LeBlanc and grandson Ryan LeBlanc brought suit against Tom Benson, claiming he was mentally incapable of making wise business decisions and overseeing his pro sports empire.
The elder Benson eventually prevailed in the long, drawn-out legal proceedings. His intention is to leave control of the sports teams and other businesses to his third wife Gayle Benson.
A season’s success is predicated on many things. On that list is who you play when and where during the grind of 16 regular season games.
The Saints didn’t get any road gimmes this year. They open Sept. 13 against the very strong Cardinals on the road in Arizona. They’re at NFC South defending champion Carolina in week three. They host the Super Bowl-contending Dallas Cowboys in week four, and then travel to Indianapolis and Houston on Oct. 25 and Nov. 29.
The South division title will go through Carolina. Atlanta has a new head coach in former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Tampa Bay has a new starting quarterback in former Heisman winner and No.1 draft pick Jameis Winston.
The Saints have one of the Top 5 quarterbacks in the NFL in Brees.
One of the best veteran head coaches in Payton.
And a book of success that includes several divisional titles, two trips to the NFC Championship and one Super Bowl Lombardi Trophy, of course.
I give them a fighting chance.
Get Rick Sarro’s perspectives on sports on Soundoff 60, which airs Monday through Sunday nights at 9 pm on Suddenlink Channel 60 and Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10 am as well.
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