The New Orleans Saints reported to training camp Thursday with Head Coach Sean Payton back at the helm. Payton brings the Saints a sense of normalcy along with stability at the Head Coach position. Last season the Saints had two different interim head coaches and things did not run as fluently without Payton calling the shots.
Saints players are grateful that the focus is on only football this season. Last year was full of offseason distractions that carried over into the season. Safety Malcolm Jenkins knows the importance of having that sense of normalcy back in the Big Easy. “This whole offseason we’ve been able to focus solely on football and that’s refreshing. Especially to have Sean (Payton) back and just to not have any distractions in the offseason (is important).”
improve on last years 7-9 record
Jenkins and the Saints will look to improve on the defensive side of the ball this year. The Saints were considered the worst defensive team in football a year ago. The Saints Defense was abysmal allowing 444.10 yards per game (Ranked last in the NFL). They also let up 454 points over the course of the season. The only team to allow more than that was the Tennessee Titans. So changes were made. Rob Ryan has been hired as the defensive coordinator and he brings a new 3-4 defensive scheme.
A new scheme means a lot of new changes but when you’re at the bottom as the Saints defense is, the only way to go is up. Saints players like Jenkins are excited about the new scheme and what it brings. “It is a big switch schematically and in theory, but in execution it’s really not “said Jenkins “I think the good thing is it fits our personnel really well. We have a lot of players that are very versatile and can play different positions. When you have that 3-4 scheme and you can add those types of players, I think that’s when it becomes dangerous.”
Though there are a lot of changes going on the defensive side of the ball for New Orleans, offensively Drew Brees and company are just glad to be running the same style, but now Payton is back to call the plays. “Sean calling the plays again…here’s the thing, that is the way it was for five and a half years until he got hurt, and then Pete Carmichael kind of took over for the remainder of the year (2011) and, obviously, last year. I thought that Pete Carmichael did a phenomenal job. Now, I had Sean Payton in my year for five and a half years previous to that, and I am very familiar with that voice and those instructions as well. I have confidence in whoever is calling the plays whether it is Sean Payton or Pete Carmichael. I love the fact that Sean is back, and he is taking the reins and that he is going to be the voice in my ear” said Brees.”
this season now that Payton is back
Brees and Payton have been so dynamic together. Brees has broken records and of course they won a Super Bowl together. Payton and Brees have a great relationship. One that Brees really missed last season. “(I missed Payton as) A mentor and that includes a lot of things. That is not just necessarily X’s and O’s, football. Although there is a lot of that. Obviously there is a great player-coach relationship. There is also a personal relationship. You are talking about the guy who believed in me enough to bring me here and give me the opportunity that not a lot of people were willing to give me. Certainly, he was sticking his neck out by doing that. (He was) a first-time head coach coming to New Orleans post-Katrina. There will always be a special relationship there.”
And that relationship will allow the Saints to return to being the Saints we have grown accustomed to watching over the last few season. High powered complex offense with an opportunistic and aggressive defense. Brees is confident in his teammates and coaching staff saying Thursday “We have a bunch of guys who have worked hard, that have prepared themselves, and that really care a lot about this team and what we are trying to accomplish.”
After missing the playoffs last year Brees, Jenkins and Payton along with all of the Saints a motivated more than ever to make a playoff run and play deep into the playoffs.
