IN THE BIZ SP ORTS
The Sky is Not Falling Saints will hover around .500, but late season push will send team to playoffs BY C HR I S PR ICE
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BIZ NEW ORLEANS
AUGUST 2021
I L L U ST R AT I O N B Y T O N Y H E A L E Y
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. Price also authors the Friday Sports Column at BizNewOrleans.com.
per game, returns. The defensive line is READ THE NATIONAL SPORTS MEDIA AND IT expected to be anchored by DEs Cameron seems like the Chicken Littles think the Jordan and Marcus Davenport and DTs Superdome’s roof is falling. Shy Tuttle, Malcolm Roach, and David Sure, Drew Brees, the greatest player in Onyemata. Demario Davis will remain as franchise history, retired after 15 years as weak side linebacker, with Zack Baun on the Saints’ field general. the strong side and rookie Pete Werner in Sure, there are questions about whether the middle and on two-LB packages. Plus, Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill will be under center when they take the field again. Kwon Alexander, who took New Orleans’ defense to another level last season, could Sure, New Orleans had to shed more be re-signed. The secondary will feature than $100 million in salary commitments Ss Malcolm Jenkins and Marcus Williams to get under the NFL’s $188.4 million and CBs Marshon Lattimore and C.J. salary cap for the 2021 season, meaning they lost veteran leadership including WR Gardner-Johnson, with Patrick Robinson, Emmanuel Sanders, TE Jared Cook, LB P.J. Williams, and rookie Paulson Adebo in Kwon Alexander, CB Janoris Jenkins, DT the rotation. There are a lot of factors that go into a Sheldon Rankins, DE Trey Hendrickson, successful NFL season. The Saints’ goals and P Thomas Morstead. may not be what they’ve been in recent Sure, they may have reached with some of this year’s draft picks, who are being years. Right now, instead of anticipating questioned as to whether they will imme- a No. 1 playoff seed, home-field advantage, and a bye, the team may be looking at diately help the team win. winning enough games to qualify as a wild Sure, Tom Brady and the division rival card. With a new 17-game schedule in 2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reigning Super and a very early, Week 6 Bye, Bowl champions who just the Saints will have to close happen to be bringing back every the season with 12 straight one of their starting players. games, five of which are in The Saints have won the MARK the division. That’s a tough NFC South four straight YOUR challenge. seasons, but winning their fifth CALENDAR I think the 2021 season will — especially after the roster be grinding for the Saints overhaul they ’ve seen this New Orleans Saints and their fans. I predict the offseason and the competition kickoff their first team will hover around .500 they’ll face — will prove chal- game against the through Week 15 and close the lenging. But don’t disregard the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Sept. season with a three-game win Black & Gold just yet. There are 12, at 3:25 p.m. streak to finish 10-7 overall still plenty of reasons to believe: and second in the NFC South head coach Sean Payton, defenwith a 4-2 division record. sive coordinator Dennis Allen, and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael That would put them on rather solid footing for a wild card berth and fifthare still in place; the vast majority of last straight return the postseason. From there, year’s starters are returning; and a change at QB could spark an offensive renaissance. anything can happen, maybe even another trip to the Super Bowl. n While I think Winston will be the Saints starting quarterback, there will be a strong supporting cast to make the transition easier no matter who lines up under center for the Saints. The offense still features RBs Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray; Rs Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, and Marquez Callaway; and TE Adam Trautman, and they’ll operate behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL with LT Terron Armstead, LG Andrus Peat, C Erik McCoy, RG Cesar Ruiz, and RT Ryan Ramczyk. While a number of players have moved on, the core of the defense, which was Top-5 in the league in points, total yards, passing yards, and rushing yards allowed
