NFL Betting Online: The Saints were one win away from winning the NFC South last season. Did they make enough right moves in the offseason to lift them in what should be a much improved division?
2014 Season Record: 7-9 SU, 6-10 ATS, 10-6 O/U
2015 Regular Season Wins Total: 8.5, -130 O, +110 U
Odds to Win Super Bowl: +4467
Odds to Win NFC: +2084
Odds to Win Division: +211
The Saints had little difficulty moving the football and scoring points with Drew Brees directing a potent offensive attack. That still didn’t prevent them from changing things up on that side of the ball. Most notably, the Saints dealt all-everything tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks and jettisoned receiver Kenny Stills.
The departure of Graham takes Brees’ favorite target off the field and also hurts in the red zone. The Saints are hopeful 2014 first round pick receiver Brandin Cooks is ready for a more prominent role in the offense. Josh Hill and Benjamin Watson will see increased playing time at tight end.
The Saints were able to land running back C.J. Spiller to replace the departed Pierre Thomas, and along with Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson, who are all capable of being a big part of the offense, will make competition for snaps very interesting.
Offense wasn’t the problem and shouldn’t be again in 2015. The team’s defense was atrocious with many wondering if Rob Ryan was the right choice as coordinator. Ryan did keep his job after the Saints ranked 31st in total defense but the team added former Raiders head coach Dennis Allen as a senior assistant.
“Hey, when you finish 31st in the league, I got a lot to clean up. And I’m happy to have a great coach like Dennis with me,” Ryan said.
Attempting to upgrade the porous unit, the Saints brought in linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Anthony Spencer, cornerback Brandon Browner and signed veteran nose tackle Kevin Williams. There are no big-name, impact players in the group, but they should be better than what the team ran out there last season.
With a schedule on the soft side and a division that’s still eminently winnable, the Saints are a good choice to rebound and get back to the top of the standings.
KEY ADDITIONS: LB Dannell Ellerbe, C Max Unger, RB C.J. Spiller, CB Brandon Browner, LB Anthony Spencer, DT Kevin Williams.
KEY LOSSES: TE Jimmy Graham, OG Ben Grubbs, WR Kenny Stills, LB Curtis Lofton, DT Tyrunn Walker, RB Travaris Cadet, CB Patrick Robinson, RB Pierre Thomas.
The Saints were frenetic in their off season dealings adding a solid group of veteran players in win-now moves that should pay off nicely. We see this team winning at least nine games in 2015 and that could be enough to get back to the top of the standings.
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