Unlike the Jaguars, the New Orleans Saints are one of the most well-balanced teams in the NFL — a shock, given how much New Orleans relied on quarterback Drew Brees and the passing game for so many years.
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That proved to be different last year. Running backs Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara broke out, establishing the Saints’ rushing attack as a legitimate force. And while Ingram will be suspended the first four games of 2018 for violating the league’s policy on PEDs, NFL ranks know Kamara is the real threat this season.
If that was it, the Saints would still be good. But it gets better.
Aside from the 49ers, no other team saw more rookie snaps in 2017 than New Orleans, per Pro Football Focus. Many of those snaps came on the defensive side of the ball too, which helped the Saints boast the league’s fourth best scoring defense last season.
And if you subscribe to the idea players make their biggest leap, developmentally, between years one and two, New Orleans’ defense should reach a whole new level in 2018.
This will likely propel them to the NFC South crown this season.