With the clock ticking on the Payton/Brees regime, I think it is safe to say that the Saints are taking the necessary steps to put themselves in a position to succeed at least one last time before the most prolific player in Saints history rides off into the sunset. Some might call it a change in philosophy, while others might just say the Saints are tweaking their playbook to better suit an aging quarterback. Either way you spin it, it looks like the Saints are going to be running the ball a whole helluva lot more.
Over the last two years the Saints have been drafting defense like crazy. Their consistently productive offense has not been provided the kind of defensive help you need to achieve balance in the NFL. Shootouts and wild finishes are the norm for the Saints these days. With a mindset to change that from happening being implemented a few years ago, it finally looks like the Saints will see a change in the kind of games they play in the 2017 season. A defensive backfield with experienced players who are developing into above average talents in the secondary might finally provide the Saints with some kind of strength on defense. A running game that is stacked with all world talent running behind a ton of beef will finally make the Saints comfortable enough to maybe get into a ball control mode on offense. The 2017 Saints on paper, appear to be a more composed and more patient roster.
Sean Payton will always favor Drew Brees and when in doubt he will of course leave it to his future Hall of Fame quarterback to make plays and move the offense. But with the amount of time left for Brees in question and the composition of his roster, this season, it would behoove Sean Payton to take a page out of his mentor Bill Parcells’ book and rely on his ground game and his defense a little bit more. Not to say Brees still can’t go out there and sling it all over the field and win a 52-49 game, but why do that all season long again? You know that playing in those games all year long is like walking a tight rope from Bourbon Street to Johnston Street; it’s just too long a haul to keep from falling.
The Saints have Adrian Peterson in their backfield and he doesn’t even need to be given a heavy workload. They still have Mark Ingram! Alvin Kamara promises to be that change of pace, safety valve Brees has been missing since Darren Sproles was let go. The defense is definitely going to improve. The depth is too solid for injuries to cripple the secondary and linebackers. The defensive line is underrated and even without Nick Fairley, the is opportunity for improvement. The Saints can afford to play slower and steadier in 2017; but not too slow and steady, because even with the changes to the roster, the Saints can still go pedal to the metal as well as any team in the NFL.