The AFC North or the AFC South: Which Division Is the Best?

I continue my quest to find the best division.  In part one of my series, I introduced my bracket-style tournament by pitting the NFC North against the NFC South. 

Now, I am looking at the AFC’s version of the civil war.  The AFC South posted a 10-6 edge against the AFC North in the regular season, but the playoffs were a different story.

The Baltimore Ravens avenged a regular season loss to the Tennessee Titans by upsetting them in an AFC Divisional playoff game.  The North sent two teams, including the eventual Super Bowl champions Pittsburgh, to the AFC championship game.

The South, on the other hand, didn’t win a playoff game.

Each division’s top teams are pretty even, but the bottom of the AFC South seems to be a little bit stronger than the AFC North’s cellar dwellers.

 

NFC North						AFC North
	NFC South
NFC South						AFC South
NFC East						AFC East
NFC West						AFC West

 

 

All-AFC North Team

Offense

Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger

Wide Receivers: Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, and Derrick Mason

Running Backs: Jamal Lewis and Le’Ron McClain

Tight End: Heath Miller

Tackles: Joe Thomas and Willie Anderson

Guards: Eric Steinbach and Chris Kemoeatu

Center: Matt Birk

 

Defense

Defensive Ends: Aaron Smith and Trevor Pryce

Defensive Tackles: Shaun Rogers and Haloti Ngata

Outside Linebackers: James Harrison and Terrell Suggs

Inside Linebackers: Ray Lewis and James Farrior

Cornerbacks: Brandon McDonald and Leon Hall

Strong Safety: Troy Polamalu

Free Safety: Ed Reed

 

Special Teams

Placekicker: Phil Dawson

Punter: Sam Koch

Kick Returner: Josh Cribbs

Punt Returner: Josh Cribbs

 

 

All-AFC South Team

Offense

Quarterback: Peyton Manning

Wide Receivers: Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, and Kevin Walter

Running Backs: Maurice Jones-Drew and Chris Johnson

Tight End: Owen Daniels

Tackles: Michael Roos and Tra Thomas

Guards: Jake Scott and Chester Pitts

Center: Kevin Mawae

 

Defense

Defensive Ends: Mario Williams, Dwight Freeney

Defensive Tackles: John Henderson, Tony Brown

Outside Linebackers: Keith Bullock, Justin Durant

Inside Linebackers: DeMeco Ryans, Gary Bracket

Cornerbacks: Cortland Finnegan, Rasheen Mathis

Strong Safety: Bob Sanders

Free Safety: Michael Griffin

 

Special Teams

Placekicker: Rob Bironas

Punter: Hunter Smith

Kick Returner: Chris Carr

Punter Returner: Jacoby Jones

Which NFL Division Is Best?: NFC North Vs NFC South

It’s time to settle the debate once and for all over which NFL division has the best collection of players. 

This is the first of a seven part series that pits one division against another.  I’m going bracket-style.  Eventually, I’ll have the best division of the NFC versus the best division of the AFC.

Today, I’m going looking at the NFC: North vs. South.  It’s an NFC civil war.  Will the North repeat in victory or will the South rise up?  By the way, the NFC South went 13-3 against the NFC North last year.

You, the esteemed readers, will decide which division moves on the face the NFC East/NFC West winner by simply answering the poll question.

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NFC North						AFC North
NFC South						AFC South
NFC East						AFC East
NFC West						AFC West

 

 

All-NFC North Team

Offense

Quarterback: Jay Cutler

Wide Receivers: Calvin Johnson, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings

Running Backs: Adrian Peterson, Matt Forte

Tight End: Greg Olsen

Tackles: Bryant McKinnie, Chad Clifton

Guards: Steve Hutchinson, Roberto Garza

Center: Dominic Raiola

 

Defense

Defensive Ends: Jared Allen, Aaron Kampman

Defensive Tackles: Pat Williams, Kevin Williams

Outside Linebackers: Lance Briggs, Julian Peterson

Inside Linebackers: Brian Urlacher, A.J. Hawk

Cornerbacks: Charles Woodsen, Antoine Winfield

Strong Safety: Kevin Payne

Free Safety: Nick Collins

Special Teams

Placekicker: Robbie Gould

Punter: Nick Harris

Kick Returner: Will Blackmon

Punt Returner: Devin Hester

 

The All-NFC South Team

Offense

Quarterback: Drew Brees

Wide Receivers: Steve Smith, Roddy White, Marques Colston

Running Backs: Michael Turner, DeAngelo Williams

Tight End: Tony Gonzales

Tackles: Jordon Gross, Jammal Brown

Guards: Jahri Evans, Aaron Sears

Center: Jeff Faine

 

Defense

Defensive Ends: Julius Peppers, John Abraham

Defensive Tackles: Chris Hovan, Damione Lewis

Outside Linebackers: Thomas Davis, Scott Fujita

Inside Linebackers: Jon Beason, Jonathan Vilma

Cornerbacks: Ronde Barber, Chris Houston

Strong Safety: Jermaine Philips

Free Safety: Darren Sharper

 

Special Teams

Placekicker: Jason Elam

Punter: Jason Baker

Kick Returner: Clifton Smith

Punt Returner: Reggie Bush

NFL Power Rankings: Mini-Camp Edition

The tidal wave of emotions of the draft has finally receded, and now it’s mini-camp time. NFL depth charts look a little more clear than they did two weeks ago.

Who would have guessed that Michael Crabtree would fall all the way to tenth or that Darrius Heyward-Bey would go ahead of him?

Rosters won’t change very much between now and June 1. That’s when we may see a few more veterans fall victim to the salary cap. Until then, here are my NFL power rankings:

 

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

The champs are…well…the champs! The Steelers didn’t really lose much in free agency and drafted speedy wide receiver Mike Wallace (4.33 40-yard dash) to replace Nate Washington. Pittsburgh is on top of the power rankings mountain until someone knocks them off.

 

2. Philadelphia Eagles

Donovan McNabb, at 32 years of age, had one of his finest seasons. He started all 16 games and threw for nearly 4,000 yards. Now, Eagles’ management has surrounded him with more weapons. They traded for left tackle Jason Peters and drafted wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.

The loss of Brian Dawkins may be eased some by the acquisition of Sean Jones.

 

3. Carolina Panthers

Much of this lofty ranking is based on the assumption that Julius Peppers plays for Carolina. He is the unstoppable force that drives this defense.

The Panthers have the best combo of running backs with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. They combined for 30 rushing touchdowns last year.  Carolina is always a threat to score with Steve Smith.

 

4. New England Patriots

Assuming Tom Brady is back and fully recovered from his injury, the Patriots should be back on top of the AFC East. 

New England began the offseason by bringing in older veterans such as Joey Galloway, Shawn Springs, and Fred Taylor. Then, they used 12 draft picks to bring in a lot of young talent, especially on defense.

 

5. Indianapolis Colts

Another year, another first round exit for the Colts. Longtime Colts’ assistant Jim Caldwell takes over for Tony Dungy.

Whenever you have Peyton Manning, though, you always have a chance to win. The Colts won nine straight games last season after Manning was able to shake the rust off after not participating in training camp.

 

6. New York Giants

The Giants made a concerted effort in free agency to address the defense.  They acquired three or four new starters during the offseason.

New York then used the draft to find a replacement for Plaxico Burress and actually used two draft picks on wide receivers. The departure of Derrick Ward to Tampa Bay gives Ahmed Bradshaw a chance to step up and fill the role of “change-of-pace back” needed to complement Brandon Jacobs.

 

7. Minnesota Vikings

Everyone knows that the biggest need on this team is quarterback. While that should not be overlooked, this team still has Adrian Peterson and a strong defense. 

Percy Harvin is this team’s biggest x-factor. If he can have a similar impact on the Vikings as he did on the Florida Gators, this offense can really take off.

 

8. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens’ defense was weakened a bit with the loss of Bart Scott in free agency. Baltimore, though, continues to build around a strong running game.  They drafted Michael Oher and signed center Matt Birk away from the Vikings.

 

9. Arizona Cardinals

Despite appearing in the Super Bowl, I’m still not sold on the Cardinals. If they were in any other division in the NFC, they likely would have missed the playoffs altogether.

I don’t know which Cardinals team is going to show up in 2009. Are they going to be the regular season team that threw the ball 63 percent of the time in the regular season or the playoff team that had a good run/pass balance?

The Anquan Boldin saga seems overblown. He was a non-factor in two of the playoff games. Trade him already.

 

10. Tennessee Titans

Last year’s number one seed in the AFC drops to number ten for one big reason: Albert Haynesworth. He was the difference between the Titans’ line going from good to great. Teams always had to account for his presence, and now they don’t.

The Titans’ attempts to address the receiver position included bringing in Nate Washington and drafting Kenny Britt. Washington was no better than Pittsburgh’s number three option, and first round picks at wide receiver rarely make impacts as rookies.

 

11. Atlanta Falcons

The question surrounding the Falcons is whether or not Matt Ryan can build upon his outstanding rookie season and avoid the sophomore slump.  Management certainly has done all they can to make sure Ryan flourishes. They added Tony Gonzales to the arsenal of Michael Turner and Roddy White.

The defense took a big hit in free agency. They lost Dominique Foxworth, Michael Boley, Keith Brooking, and Grady Jackson on a defense that needed to be improved.

 

12. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins were the first team to integrate the “wildcat” formation into the NFL. Running back Ronnie Brown was the trigger man in this formation.  Now, it appears that rookie quarterback Pat White may fulfill that role. White gives an added dimension in the wildcat because he is a threat to throw the ball as well as run.

The Dolphins addressed the secondary, their biggest defensive weakness, by drafting Vontae Davis and Sean Smith. They also signed Gibril Wilson to play in the box as a safety.

 

13. New Orleans Saints

The Saints have had an explosive offense for three years running. Now, they may have finally have a defense good enough to complement the offense.

New Orleans’ biggest offseason move was to hire Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator. They then went and brought in players such as Darren Sharper, Jabari Greer, and Malcolm Jenkins to fit into his aggressive scheme.

If the Saints’ defense can just be decent, then they can make a deep run into the playoffs.

 

14. Houston Texans

The Texans did everything they could do to address a defense that ranked near the bottom last year. They signed veterans Cato June, Shaun Cody, and Antonio Smith and then spent the majority of their draft picks focusing on defense.

Despite an 0-4 start, the Texans finished with an 8-4 record. Unless another hurricane comes through Houston, the Texans won’t have to play 15 straight games without a bye week.

 

15. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers are as talented as any team in the league but somehow couldn’t muster better than an 8-8 record last year. They are littered with pro-bowl talent all over the roster.

The good news for San Diego is that they will get Shawn Merriman back after a virtual year off.  The entire defense felt the impact of his absence. The secondary, which had 30 interceptions in 2007, had just 15 in 2008.

 

16. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo was not quiet this offseason. They added Terrell Owens to pair up alongside Lee Evans. The Bills were smart to sign Owens to just a one-year deal as his past locker room divisiveness is well-documented.

The biggest challenge for the Bills will be to avoid the second half swoon they had last year.

 

17. Chicago Bears

The Bears concluded the biggest story of the offseason by completing a trade to pick up Jay Cutler. The problem, though, is that Cutler won’t have nearly the same weapons to throw to in Chicago as he did in Denver.

Surprisingly, the Bears have a lot to fix on defense, particularly in the secondary. The NFC North is not a prolific passing division and yet Chicago still ranked 30th in the NFL in stopping the pass. Picking up Josh Bullocks is not going to solve anything.

 

18. San Francisco 49ers

Right now, the 49ers are my pick to surprise people and make the playoffs as a wild card, but they have a lot of work ahead of them. First, they must find a quarterback to run the offense which is steadily adding solid pieces.

Michael Crabtree unexpectedly fell to the 49ers and will be immediately inserted into the starting lineup. They also drafted Glen Coffee to take some of the workload off of Frank Gore.

Coach Mike Singletary is a demanding coach, but his young team should respond well to his approach.

 

19. Dallas Cowboys

Dallas’ offense was just average last season.  One reason for this was the loss of Felix Jones. Jones was the perfect complement to Marion Barber’s smashmouth style. He was averaging nine yards per carry before tearing his hamstring in week six.

The Cowboys need Tony Romo to step up in December. He is just 5-8 in 13 December starts. If he doesn’t he could cost Wade Philips his job. The Cowboys were the most talented team in the NFC to not make the playoffs last season.

 

20. New York Jets

After a year of Brett Favre, the Jets now know that their quarterback of the future is Mark Sanchez. Unfortunately, Kellen Clemens may be their quarterback of the present. I expect the Jets’ offense to take a step backwards as they adjust to their new quarterback situation.

Head coach Rex Ryan brings in more credibility to a defense that ranked 29th in passing yards allowed. Maybe he can light a fire under Vernon Gholston.

 

21. Washington Redskins

This is going to be a “put up or shut up” year for Jason Campbell. He is now in his second season under Jim Zorn and complained about the Redskins shopping for Jay Cutler,  He has the weapons to be successful with Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El, Devin Thomas, and Chris Cooley at his disposal. He also has the option of handing the ball off the Clinton Portis.

Washington made a big splash defensively when they signed $100 million man Albert Haynesworth. They also drafted Brian Orakpo and are trying him at outside linebacker.

 

22. Oakland Raiders

I was surprised as anyone when the Raiders passed on Crabtree to select Darrius Heyward-Bey, but we have to give the kid a chance to prove himself.  He may fit into the Raiders’ offense nicely. I do know that JaMarcus Russell thrives on the deep ball. I’m taking the Raiders’ draft on a wait an see approach.

My biggest question about the Raiders is not whether or nor Tom Cable can be successful; it’s whether or not Al Davis will allow him to be successful. No Oakland coach has lasted longer than 32 games since Jon Gruden left in 2001.

 

23. Jacksonville Jaguars

If the Jaguars are to recapture the magic from 2007, David Garrard needs to return to his 2007 form. 

Jacksonville signed Torry Holt to give Garrard another weapon. The problem is that Holt is past his prime. He had his worst season since his rookie season in 1999.

 

24. Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers proved to be worth the wait as the Packers ranked 5th in scoring and eighth in yards. Thee biggest problem for the Packers was their defense.

Green Bay is flipping to a 3-4 defense this season. While they didn’t make much noise in free agency, they surely addressed their defensive needs immediately in the draft. They selected B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews with their two first round picks.

If the defense can step up, then the Packers can contend with Minnesota and Chicago. If not, they’re 6-10 again.

 

25. Seattle Seahawks

Jim Mora (the former Atlanta coach and not his “playoffs!” screeching father) takes over in Seattle after Mike Holmgren’s disappointing final season. Seattle finished an injury-riddled 2008 with a 4-12 mark.

If Seattle is going to return to glory, they are going to need Matt Hasselbeck.  He played ineffectively for seven games because of a back injury and was shut down for the year. He’s going to get some extra help because he’ll be throwing the ball to T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Seattle has a decent chance to make a big leap from 4-12 record to the playoffs because of their weak division.

 

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Derrick Brooks: gone. Joey Galloway: gone.  Jeff Garcia: gone. Warrick Dunn: gone. Are you sensing a theme here?

And that’s only about half of the players the Bucs got rid of. Raheem Morris has only one veteran, Ronde Barber, on which to lean as a new era begins in Tampa Bay.

 

27. Denver Broncos

Whether you like it or not, Josh McDaniels is the new sheriff in town. He shipped Jay Cutler out of town and cut nine other players.

It looks as if McDaniels will use a balanced approach to his offense, at least in the first season. With either Kyle Orton or Chris Simms at quarterback, Denver won’t be slinging the ball all around the field.

If Denver does not have a successful season, McDaniels will look stupid. If Denver makes the playoffs, he’ll look like a genius. I think the Broncos still have too many holes on defense to seriously contend for even a wild card.

 

28. Cincinnati Bengals

As much as the NFL community piles on the Bengals for their ineptitude, I think they had a really good draft for once. Andre Smith gives Carson Palmer the blindside protection that he needs. The Bengals also picked Rey Maualuga to play alongside Keith Rivers, his former USC teammate.

The problem is that the Bengals haven’t rid themselves of the me-first players that tend to destroy an NFL locker room. Until they do that, Cincinnati will continue to pile up 10-loss seasons.

 

29. Kansas City Chiefs

There is a lot of optimism in Kansas City now that Matt Cassel is the quarterback, but I’m still skeptical. In New England, he had Randy Moss, Wes Welker and a solid defense to back him up.

In KC, he’s got Dwayne Bowe, and that’s it. Tony Gonzales is gone and Larry Johnson is approaching the dreaded 30 year old mark. Johnson has combined for 1,433 yards over the past two seasons after accumulating consecutive 1,700-yard seasons in 2005 and 2006.

Pairing Tyson Jackson with his college teammate Glen Dorsey seems like a good move, but it will be a year or so before the young defense rounds into form.

 

30. Cleveland Browns

Cleveland was quietly active in free agency. They signed Eric Barton, Corey Ivy, and “Pork Chop” Womack among others.

They addressed many of their offensive needs in the draft. The Browns are building a formidable line with Joe Thomas and now Alex Mack. Of course, the biggest story in Cleveland this summer will be about Brady Quinn. He is the favorite to win the job over Derek Anderson.

The problem for Cleveland’s offense is that they are relying on Jamal Lewis to carry the rushing load once again. He had 1,000 yards last season but only averaged 3.6 yards per carry. There aren’t a whole lot more miles on those legs.

 

31. St. Louis Rams

The Rams were the worst team in the worst division. They were 31st in scoring offense and defense. The defense has infused some young talent over the past few seasons and now has Steve Spagluolo to guide them.

The offense does not have a proven wide receiver to Bulger can throw. Steven Jackson’s violent running style has caused him to miss significant time in each of the past two seasons.

 

32. Detroit Lions

I don’t care what kind of changes you made during the offseason. You went 0-16 last year. You must win a game to move off this spot. Enough said.

Fleur-De-Lis Fever | The Saints Five Most Vital Players Not Named Brees

The Saints have done a wonderful job acquiring new talent to bolster the offense, defense, and special teams.  General manager Mickey Loomis has been forced to be creative with limited cap space. 

The Saints have an explosive offense that features Marques Colston, Reggie Bush, and Jeremy Shockey among others.  The defense has new pieces on all three levels.  After two years of getting torched repeatedly for long gains, the secondary may now be a position of strength for the Black and Gold.

There is a lot of optimism among the fleur-de-lis faithful, and for good reason: New Orleans may actually have a good defense to complement one of the league’s best offenses.

Obviously, all of this optimism goes out the window if Drew Brees misses significant time.  He is far and away the most important player on the roster.  If he goes down, no one is expecting Joey Harrington to turn into Matt Cassel.

The Saints are going to need more than just Drew Brees, however, to make a serious run at a division title and the Super Bowl.

Here are five players who I think are the most vital to success for the Saints:

 

5) Will Smith and Charles Grant

Okay, so I cheated on the first one and put two players.  Smith and Grant are first-round talents who have not produced first round numbers lately.  Despite the lack of production, they are the most talented defensive ends on the roster. 

While the secondary has gotten their fair share the blame for the Saints’ defensive short comings, New Orleans has produced very little pass rush the pass two seasons.  The Saints were 12th in the league in sacks in 2006 but fell to the bottom half of the league in both 2007 and 2008.

If Smith and Grant can both put consistent pressure on the quarterback, then the defense can be a force with which to be reckoned.

4) Marques Colston

On a team littered with offensive weapons, Colston is the team’s only true No. 1 receiver.  He is Brees’ favorite receiver on third downs because of his size, route running, and dependable hands. 

The Saints went 2-3 in the games that he missed last season as the rest of the receiving corps got acclimated to their new roles.  Colston didn’t truly get back into the swing of things until Week 10 at Atlanta. 

He was sorely missed against Minnesota on Monday Night Football.  In that game, the Saints receivers let down Brees with key drops and incorrect routes.  Robert Meachem dropped a key third-down pass in the red zone that would have normally been thrown to Colston. 

Instead of a possible touchdown drive, the Saints settled for a field goal attempt which was blocked and returned for six points.

 

3) Darren Sharper

The 13-year veteran brings a lot to the table for Gregg Williams’ defense.  He gives the Saints a safety who knows how to play the ball in the air and rarely allows himself to get beat deep in coverage.

Sharper is also a borderline Hall-of-Famer.  He has 54 career interceptions and eight touchdowns. The only thing left for Sharper to do is win a Super Bowl ring.

As a free safety, he will be in position to see the entire offense and defense.  It is always helpful to have a smart veteran in place to reposition inexperienced defenders if they line up incorrectly.

Even if Sharper does not emerge as a full-time starter, his experience will prove to be invaluable as he mentors the Saints’ young secondary.

 

2) Jonathan Vilma

If the offseason was any indicator, the Saints feel that Vilma is the most important piece to their defense.  Vilma lasted only a few hours on the free agent market before the Saints re-signed him to a long term deal.

Vilma is the leader of the defense.  He relays all the team’s defensive plays that are called from the sidelines to the rest of the team and barks out any necessary audibles. 

He was far and away the team’s leader in tackles, and literally never took a play off.  Vilma will see himself back in the Pro Bowl if he can duplicate last year’s performance.

 

1) Jammal Brown

Brown is a two-time Pro-bowler and plays the most important position on the offensive line.  Brown is given the task of protecting Brees’ blind side.

Despite the accolades, I think Brown is better suited as a right tackle.  He struggled mightily against John Abraham and Julius Peppers, and generally does not handle speed rushers very well. 

In the Saints’ Week 10 lost to Atlanta, Abraham got a sack, a tipped pass, and numerous hurries on Brees.

Peppers produced two sacks and two tipped passes in two games against the Saints. 

As much as the Saints pass, it is imperative that Brown keeps Brees’ jersey clean and his limbs intact.

I believe that if Brown did a better job in pass protection last year, the Saints would have two more games and make the playoffs as a wild card.

The NFC South’s schedule is tough this year, so every game is crucial, especially those within the division.  A 4-2 division record instead of a 2-4 mark could be the difference between a division title and not making the playoffs.

Fleur-De-Lis-Fever | New Orleans Saints Offseason Recap

A quick review of last season would reveal the obvious: the Saints’ defensive depth chart lacked quality, versatile players. 

Yes, New Orleans was hit with a lot of injuries in 2008, especially on the defensive side, but great teams have the depth combat injuries. The defense, which was not very good to begin with, suffers even more when the starters come out.

Jonathan Vilma played every down for the Saints last season. Yes, Vilma is a great player and earned all of that playing time, but he probably could have been better utilized had the Saints’ coaching staff felt comfortable enough to substitute for him for a series or two per game. 

Middle linebacker is a very demanding position, and he would have been a fresher player in the final minutes of games had he been able to get rest.

Great teams, like the New England Patriots, have many versatile players. Bill Belichick places special emphasis on acquiring players who can play multiple positions and in multiple situations.

The Saints have very few versatile players. Offensively, Reggie Bush can be used as a receiver, runner, and returner. Pierre Thomas is valuable in both the passing and running game, and also has a couple of good kick returns.

Defensively, Vilma is the only linebacker who is good versus the run and the pass.

The Saints seem to be following the Patriots model this offseason. They have signed and drafted a lot of quality depth along the defensive line and in the secondary, as well as in the offensive backfield.

The Saints had very little quality depth at defensive end last season, outside of Bobby McCray, and no defensive tackle played in more than 14 games. 

Goodbye, injury-riddled tackles Brian Young and Hollis Thomas. Hello, Paul Spicer, who has appeared in at least 15 games in each of the past four seasons, and pro-bowler Rod Coleman.

The Saints cut ties with fan favorites Deuce McAllister and Mike Karney. McAllister was cut for injury concerns, and Karney was replaced by Heath Evans for versatility reasons. 

Evans should fit better into the offense than Karney, who is a good run blocker but doesn’t have much use carrying or receiving the ball. Evans can block as well as catch the ball out the backfield and pick up tough yardage between the tackles.

The Saints signed undrafted rookie Herb Donaldson out of Western Illinois. Donaldson will have an opportunity to earn a roster spot if he can prove to be consistent in picking up tough yardage.

New Orleans made their most drastic changes in the secondary. In just over a month, they have cut ties with safeties Josh Bullocks and Kevin Kaesviharn, and acquired Darren Sharper, Pierson Prioleau, Chip Vaughn, and Malcolm Jenkins. 

Sharper and Proileau are savvy vets and draft picks Vaughn and Jenkins appear to have the ability to play multiple positions.

The Saints also replaced Mike McKenzie with Jabari Greer to complete the defensive makeover. 

Roman Harper, who was the best safety last season, is going to have to fight just to be the second or third best safety this season. Suddenly, it seems that the secondary may have quickly become a strength for the Saints. 

Keep your fingers crossed, Who Dats. The New Orleans Saints just may finally have enough quality depth to make a serious playoff and Super Bowl run.

Fleur-De-Lis Fever | The Saints All-Time Best Draft Picks: Offense

While the New Orleans Saints have had more than their share of bad draft picks over the years, they have also netted some fantastic players. The Saints have drafted numerous all-pro selections and a couple of potential hall-of-famers.

Broken down by position, here are the Saints’ best offensive draft picks:

 

Quarterback: Archie Manning

While Archie is now known more for being the father of two Super Bowl MVPs, he had a decent career for himself.

Manning was named to the Pro Bowl in 1978 and 1979 and was NFC Offensive Player of the Year in 1978.  He passed for nearly 24,000 yards in his career despite playing behind terrible offensive lines. 

Despite the team’s lack of the success with Archie at quarterback, he is still held in high regard by many New Orleanians.

 

Running Back: Deuce McAllister

Another former Ole Miss Rebel makes the cut as one of the Saints all-time best draft picks.  Despite having top-five talent, concerns about injuries allowed McAllister to fall in the Saints’ lap at No. 23.

Deuce was a fan favorite in New Orleans throughout his eight seasons in the NFL.  In addition to recording nearly 8,000 yards from scrimmage and scoring 54 total touchdowns, fans always appreciated the way he carried himself on and off the field.

During his rookie season, Deuce had nearly $5,000 stolen from him by teammate Albert Connell but he never made a noise about it publicly. 

Deuce carried himself just as well on the field.  He was a hard-nosed runner who often required multiple defenders to take him down. 

Even though George Rogers had similar career numbers, I chose McAllister over Rogers because McAllister had a bigger impact on the Saints than did Rogers.  Half of Rogers’ career was played for the Redskins.

 

Wide Receiver: Danny Abramowicz

Abramowicz was selected in the 17th round of the Saints’ inaugural draft.  From 1968 until 1972, he was consistently in the top 10 in the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.

Abramowicz was named all-pro in 1969.  During his career he caught a pass in a then NFL record 105 consecutive games. 

He held all of the Saints’ major receiving records for nearly 25 years, until Eric Martin broke many of them in the late 80s and early 90s.

 

Tight End: Hoby Brenner

Hoby Brenner played all 13 of his NFL seasons in a black and gold uniform.  He is the only tight end drafted by the Saints who is also in the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.

Brenner was a good blocker as well as a solid receiving option for Saints’ quarterbacks.  During his career, Brenner had 267 receptions, nearly 4,000 yards, and 21 touchdowns.  He averaged 14.4 yards per catch.

Hoby Brenner was named to the Pro Bowl in 1987, the same season the Saints earned their first playoff berth.

 

Fullback: Lorenzo Neal

Throughout his 16-year career, Lorenzo Neal has been a blocking force in the NFL.  Unfortunately for the Saints, he’s done most of his damage for other franchises. 

Neal was a member of the Saints from 1993-1996.  In 1997, he signed with the New York Jets.  Since his departure from the Cresent City, he has gone on to block for a 1,000 yard rusher in 11 straight seasons.

He has blocked for LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Murrell, Corey Dillon, Eddie George, and Warrick Dunn among others.

He is a four-time pro-bowler and three-time all-pro. 

 

Offensive Lineman: Willie Roaf

Willie Roaf is one of the most highly decorated offensive linemen in NFL history.  He was an 11-time pro-bowler, nine-time all-pro selection, and is a member of the 1990s All-Decade Team. 

Roaf was a starter for the Saints’ first playoff victory in the 2000 season against the St. Louis Rams.

No one in New Orleans Saints history was a more consistently great player than Willie Roaf.  Roaf will likely become the first player to be elected to the hall of fame who played the majority of his career for the Saints, when he is eligible after the 2010 season.

 

Can recently drafted players like Reggie Bush and Marques Colston make this list?  Only time will tell.

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