Former defensive coordinator, Greg Williams, left the Saints after 3 years with the team and joined the Saint Louis Rams’ coaching staff. Saints head coach Sean Payton wasted no time finding a replacement and hired Steve Spagnuolo. Spagnuolo was fired by the Rams this past season after accumulating only a 2-14 record; Spagnuolo spent the last 3 seasons with the Rams. However, there is a lot to be excited about with Spagnuolo despite his former team’s losing season. Spagnuolo is well-known for being the craftsmen of the New York Giants’ defense that defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII in 2007. The Patriots were undefeated up until the Super Bowl as they had a very high scoring offense. Spagnuolo’s defensive plan shut them down as the Patriots only managed to score 14 points in the loss.

So, to answer the question I do think that Spagnuolo can get the Saints to the Super Bowl. You definitely have to consider that Spagnuolo was a key factor to the Giants’ Super Bowl win and Saints’ fans should be very excited for the type of experience he brings. Furthermore, Spagnuolo already has some nice pieces to work with in Jonathan Vilma, Jabari Greer, Roman Harper, and Tracy Porter to name a few. I think if Spagnuolo can get the Saints’ defense to play on an elite level and once that is combined with their superior offense the Saints would have a great chance of winning the Super Bowl next season.

The Saints’ offensive line proved to be one of the best in the NFL as they protected quarterback Drew Brees throughout his record-setting season. The offensive line is very important to a football team and they are the foundation of a good offense. A team can have a good quarterback with a strong arm and good accuracy, but if the offensive line cannot protect the quarterback and give him enough time he will be susceptible to a lot of punishment, just ask Jay Cutler.

The Saints offensive simply was the best in the NFL this past season as they offered more than sufficient pass and run blocking. The offensive line was a big reason why the Saints led the NFL in total offense and were first in passing yards. Furthermore, the Saints’ offensive line kept Drew Brees upright as they only allowed 24 sacks this season, second in the NFL. The Saints have proven they are the best offensive team in the NFL and a lot of that success is because their offensive line plays so hard and they allow the offense enough time to execute. If they Saints can solidify their offensive line, and that means being able to lock in Carl Nicks, then they should be able to make a deep run into the playoffs next season.

Brees and Graham will represent the New Orleans Saints tomorrow in the Pro Bowl and it is encouraging to hear Brees praise his Pro Bowl tight end. The two players seem to have great chemistry on and off the field and this is great for Saints’ fans to see. Although the Saints’ season ended in dramatic fashion there is a lot of optimism in New Orleans as the Saints had a historic season. I know the Saints have Super Bowl aspirations, but unfortunately that quest will have to wait until next season. Furthermore, if Graham wants to be the best he will have to win a Super Bowl or two and his connection with Brees has proven to be a successful combination.

Jimmy Graham is definitely one of the promising rising stars in the NFL today and if he keeps that “chip on his shoulder” then he will definitely go down as the best.

Since Brees joined the Saints they have won their first Super Bowl and have been a perennial playoff team for the past few seasons. Brees was quoted this past Thursday and had this to say in regards to head coach Sean Payton: “Sean Payton gave me an opportunity when a lot of people were not there to give me that opportunity.” Brees owes a lot of his success to the Saints and Sean Payton and it has proved to be a win-win situation for the Saints as well as Brees.

Brees is set to be a free agent and you can expect the Saints would be smart enough to re-sign their Pro-Bowl quarterback. Although no deal has yet been made, I am sure both parties will work hard to get the deal done. Brees is coming off of a record-breaking season and despite the early playoff exit there is a lot to look forward to for Saints’ fans next season, but first the Saints must re-sign Brees.

Roaf was a Saints’ great and is very deserving of a Hall of Fame induction. Roaf is already a hall of fame member of the New Olreans Saints and the states of Arkansas and Louisiana. It is fitting that Roaf would be immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame because he truly was one of the best linemen to ever play the game.

It also helps a lot that Graham has such a great quarterback in Drew Brees to get him the ball. Graham does just about everything a good tight end does, but what makes him so great is that he is probably the most athletic at his position. Graham is the evolution of the tight end; standing at 6’7″ and 265 pounds he is a force to be reckoned with. What makes Graham so dangerous is that he is so much taller than defenders and he can jump higher than most of those defenders can. Furthermore, he is a new breed of tight ends that has the ability to almost out run some of the corners and safeties. When you couple his height and strength with his speed he is virtually unstoppable.

I think a big reason why Graham is so good is because he has a basketball background. Graham, like other former basketball players, knew that it would be very difficult to make it to the NBA so when he played his lone season of football at the University of Miami he decided that the NFL was a better route. Graham was a hot prospect and the Saints were fortunate enough to get him; Graham’s basketball skills are translating nicely to the football field. However, his skills go far beyond him dunking the football on the goal post, which I love seeing by the way.

In basketball, players run and they run a lot, so Graham already had great conditioning when he came to the NFL. Also, in basketball they teach you a lot about ball security and since coming into the NFL Graham has only had 2 fumbles. In the NFL combine Graham recorded a 38.5 inch vertical, that is very impressive for a guy who is 6’7″, and basketball players probably jump the highest out of any other athletes. Graham’s jumping ability coupled with his height makes great catches and gains lots of yards. Graham is so versatile that he can set up wide or in the slot which makes it very difficult for defenders to keep track of him. Graham’s basketball skills have helped him become arguably the greatest tight end in the NFL right now, but his biggest skill that he learned from basketball would have to be his spacing.

Like football, basketball is all about spacing and maybe more so since a basketball court is only a fraction of the size of a football field. Graham had to be able to position himself on the basketball court in order to get open and make a shot. The same concept applies in football, Graham has to position himself down the field so he can get open and make a reception. Furthermore, as a big man in basketball, Graham had to be able to box-out and establish position so he would be able to get some rebounds. How does this translate to football? When the Saints are in the red zone I know Brees is looking for Graham because he is “boxing-out” in the end zone and creating enough space to catch a touchdown pass.

There is a new breed of tight ends emerging in the NFL and Graham is at the top of the list. With breakout stars like Graham, NFL scouts might want to start scouting other basketball players in hopes of finding the next Jimmy Graham.

All 10 players have either appeared in a few games for the Saints or have been on the Saints’ practice squad. With all of these additions it is evident that they Saints are already thinking about next season; just less than a week after their season ended. Like I have said before, future contracts are a good investment and it is wise that the Saints have are already started working towards preparing for next season.

I know general manager Mickey Loomis will get a deal done to re-sign Brees as he is the franchise quarterback of the team. I do not think anyone could imagine Brees playing anywhere else and he will probably retire a New Orleans Saint. Brees loves playing for the Saints and the team and fans love him; he did after all give New Orleans its first and only Super Bowl victory in 2009.

Furthermore, Brees posted this tweet on his twitter page on January 15^th: “Thank you Who Dat Nation for all your support yesterday and this season. You made it special for all of us.” Brees is the type of player who will stay loyal to his team and loves playing in New Orleans. For all of these reasons I know Drew Brees will stay with the New Orleans Saints and as long as he is in New Orleans the Saints will be always be contenders.

5,476 passing yards: Set by Drew Brees.

71.2% completion percentage: Set by Drew Brees.

2,696 all purpose yardage: Set by Darren Sproles

626 postseason total offense yards: Set by the New Orleans Saints.

466 postseason passing yards: Set by Drew Brees.

63 postseason pass attempts: New Orleans Saints franchise record set by Drew Brees.

Taking a look at these records it is easy to see how great of a season the New Orleans Saints had. It is unfortunate that the Saints were not able to march on and get to the Super Bowl. Nevertheless, we must take a look at these records and recognize that the Saints had a remarkable season and definitely one to remember. Furthermore, looking at all of these records you can see that most of them were set by Drew Brees. Brees’ obviously had a record-breaking season and should be strongly considered for league MVP.