As we approach the close of week 14 there is has been one common theme every week... a Saints Win! Whether you jumped on the bandwagon as wins accumulated or you prophetically picked the Saints before the season has started, few could have ever predicted the success that has come with the 2009-10 season. Not only are the Saints winning but was has been most impressive is the variety in there paths to victory. One week it may be the almost inhuman offense that we have all grown to expect out of third year Coach Sean Payton's genius. Another week we see something that Saints fans have not known for years, wins earned by all-pro performances out of the defense. Yet another week we saw struggles on both sides of the ball where poise and perseverance would lead the Saints to yet another win. Regardless of how they did it, even if sometimes by just pure luck, the 2009 Saints are reaching territories previously unheard of by Saints teams of years past.
Coming into the 2009 season, many knew one thing was certain about the Saints, they are going to move the ball and score a lot of points. The Drew Brees led offense certainly has not let fell short of any of those expectations. Brees has led the NFL this season with the most yards per attempt (9.02), the most touchdowns (29) and the highest QB rating (111.3). This season 10 different receivers have been on the other end of those 29 touchdowns. Of these receivers, number 1 receiver Marques Colston has seen great success with his two biggest games coming in arguably the two biggest games of the season (8 receptions, 166 yards, and 1 touchdown vs the Giants and 4 receptions, 121 yards, and a touchdown vs the Patriots). With an ankle and hamstring keeping the Saints leading receiver Lance Moore sidelined for most of the 2009 season, the opportunity to fill his shoes was presented for someone to step up. That someone has been 6-year veteran Devery Henderson as he is having a career season and has seemingly corrected his major flaw of dropping catches that plagued him for years coming out of LSU. Add in contributions by Robert Meachem and Jeremy Shockey and a plethora of many more. It would seem that with an passing offense like this how could this team ever lose.
The difference in 2009 and previous years has been the major adjustments, both on and off the field. The first change came on the offensive side of the ball. What plagued the Saints offense the most in 2008 was it's imbalance in play-calling and lack of a solid run game. Looking to fix this, Coach Payton decided to dedicate the 2009 to balancing out the offense. Answering this call, Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell have solidified the Saints rushing game with career seasons to make it the fifth best rushing attack of all the NFL. Another black-eye on the Saints reputation of years past was the defense, or rather the lack there of! Simple enough, Coach Payton and GM Mickey Loomis brought in defensive mastermind Greg Williams known for his great defenses. Add in first round pick Malcolm Jenkins, coverage specialist Jabari Greer, and future hall of famer Darren Sharper and the results have been a markedly improved defense. These improvements have rounded the 2009 Saints from a one dimensional juggernaut into an well-balanced, undefeated TEAM!The accomplishments the 2009 Saints have accumulated thus far are not done yet. Having secured a first round bye and a divisional title the only thing the Saints are playing for at this point is pride. Many are asking if Coach Payton will go for an undefeated season a feat that has only been accomplished by 4 teams in 90 years of NFL history. The simple answer is YES! Anyone who has any knowledge of Coach Sean Payton knows that he is a modern-day cowboy and lives for the thrill of the moment. As the weeks pass and the wins pile up, the Saints are continuing to march on towards the magic season... and undefeated season and maybe even a NFL Championship.
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