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5 areas Sean Payton must improve the New Orleans Saints
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Sean Payton arrived for media breakfast at the NFL owners meetings Wednesday carrying a briefcase containing the contractual paperwork that will tether him to the New Orleans Saints for the next five seasons.
"Another five years means a lot," said Payton, whose future in New Orleans was cloudy at the conclusion of the 2015 season. "It doesn't guarantee anything, but it gives you a chance."
Payton must now take advantage of such job security to start fielding a consistent winner once again. Here are five areas where improvement is needed for the Saints to get back in the Super Bowl mix:
Re-discover the running game
Offensive balance was a major reason for the success of the championship-winning 2009 Saints squad. New Orleans averaged 131.6 yards on 29.2 carries a game. In comparison, the 2015 Saints were down to 93.2 yards on 24.8 carries.
Better ground production will create more opportunities for Drew Brees in the passing game while taking some of the stress off a defense that surrendered an NFL-record 45 touchdown passes last season.
Replace the production and leadership of two offensive mainstays in wide receiver Marcus Colston and right guard Jahri Evans
Brees' security blanket is gone with Colston being released last month after 10 seasons in New Orleans. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis told co-host Bill Polian and I last month on SiriusXM NFL Radio that Brandon Coleman is "in many ways is the heir apparent" to Colston.
Brandon Coleman
At 6-foot-6, Coleman is a bigger target than the 6-foot-4 Colston. Coleman also came on strong to end last season with 15 of his 30 catches coming in the final five games.
Still, Loomis' comment puts a lot of pressure on a 2014 undrafted college free agent from Rutgers to fill the giant shoes of Colston, who is the franchise leader in receiving yards (9,752) and touchdowns (72).
Evans also was a 10-year starter for the Saints whose release last month came when he declined to accept a pay cut. Payton said New Orleans looked closely at guards during the start of free agency but instead opted to sign tight end Coby Fleener away from Indianapolis as the team's big-money player acquisition. Thus, the o-line search continues as the offseason unfolds.
Get better production from free-agent signings.
Brees receives heat because the five-year, $100 million contract he signed in 2012 has consumed a large chunk of the Saints' salary cap space. The Saints, though, have done themselves no favors with free agents like cornerback Brandon Browner (now released), safety Jairus Byrd and running back C.J. Spiller, who didn't provide nearly the bang for the buck that was expected.
New Orleans must hope Byrd and Spiller, both of whom have battled injuries since joining the Saints, begin showing some of the same flash from their previous time in Buffalo.
Better defensive performance under new coordinator Dennis Allen
The bar was set extremely low by last year's unit under Rob Ryan, who was fired in-season as Saints defensive coordinator (as first reported by FOXSports.com) following a horrific effort against Washington. One of the few positives was Saints rookies logging the most defensive snaps in the NFL, which helps lay the groundwork for the future.
James Laurinaitis
New Orleans has added a strong veteran presence at middle linebacker In James Laurinaitis, who was released earlier in the offseason by Los Angeles despite never having missed a start for the Rams in his seven NFL seasons. The Saints also are in prime position to add another defensive lineman or pass rusher with the No. 12 overall pick in April's draft.
Regain the pre-Bountygate mojo
In retrospect, the harsh penalties levied upon New Orleans in 2012 for allegedly offering cash rewards to defensive players for debilitating hits on offensive opponents effectively closed the window of opportunity for the Saints to make another Super Bowl run while a significant number of contributors from the 2009 championship squad remained on the roster.
Although the 2013 Saints made the playoffs in Payton's first season back from a year-long suspension, New Orleans has fallen into mediocrity with consecutive 7-9 records. Once seemingly unbeatable inside the Superdome, the Saints have won only seven of their past 16 home games.
Payton must find a way to get that swagger back for the Saints while the 37-year-old Brees is still playing at a Hall of Fame level. Otherwise, Payton may well never see the final years of his contract from the Saints sideline.
