Today we take a look at the New Orleans Saints.

LAST SEASON: Coming off of a 3-13 season and filled with low expectations, the Saints shocked everyone, finishing with a 10-6 record, and getting to the NFC Championship game to be beaten by Chicago.

Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers

QB's: Drew Brees, Jamie Martin, Jason Fife

WR's: Robert Meachem, Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, David Patten, Terrance Copper, Jamal Jones, Lance Moore, Dante Ridgeway

Brees is a great QB, and they certainly are set there.  The receivers are a bit more of a question.  Colston was great last year, but you wonder if that was a fluke, and if he's ready to be the #1 guy.  Meachem will likely be a starter, as they used a 1st rounder on him.  The speedy Henderson will likely see the slot, and Copper will probably get some balls as well.  Then again, just about the same group last year had great success passing, but the questions limit them to an 8.

QB/WR Score: 8/10

Running Backs/Tight Ends

HB's: Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister, Aaron Stecker, Antonio Pittman, Jamaal Branch, Kevin Dudley

FB's: Mike Karney

TE's: Eric Johnson, Mark Campbell, Billy Miller, John Owens

The most valuable thing about Bush is the fact he's a tremendous receiver out of the backfield.  Still not quite there as a back, but still a great chance of pace along with Deuce.  Deuce is a great power back to have.  Karney is a very good blocking fullback as well.  Johnson was  a solid pickup, as if he can stay healthy, he's a good receiver.  Campbell is a good blocker and Miller is a decent receiver.  They are pretty good here.

RB/TE Score: 9/10

Offensive Line

T's: Jammal Brown, Jon Stinchcomb, Rob Petitti, Ben Archibald, Zach Strief, Jermon Bushrod

G's: Jahri Evans, Jamar Nesbit, Jonathan Goodwin, Wes Sims, Andy Alleman
C's: Jeff Faine, Kevin Houser

Brown is emerging as a great tackle in the NFL.  Stinchcomb was good last year in his first year as a starter.  Evans looked good in his rookie year at guard, he should improve.  Nesbit is pretty good, and Faine is a solid center.  This young unit played very well last year, and with the exact same group returning, they should be even better. 

OL Score: 9/10

Defensive Line

DT's: Hollis Thomas, Brian Young, Antwan Lake, Kendrick Clancy, Brandon Villarreal, Rodney Leslie

DE's: Will Smith, Charles Grant, Josh Cooper, Rob Ninkovich

Thomas and Young are good but not great defensive tackles in the middle of that line.  Clancy is a good pickup as well, he'll rotate in effectively.  Grant and Smith are both very good defensive ends, although they don't have a whole lot of depth behind them.   Overall, a solid group.

DL Score: 8/10

Linebackers

LB's: Scott Fujita, Mark Simoneau, Brian Simmons, Scott Shanle, Tommy Polley, Alfred Fincher, Trev Faulk, Troy Evans

Fujita did a fairly good job at LB last year.  Shanle had a breakout year last year, going from no one to solid..  Simoneau and Simmons are both solid veterans who can put up good production.  They would hope to get Polley, who missed all of last year to improve the group.  No one really that special, but decent guys all around.  I'm not sure I can give them an 8 however.

LB Score: 7/10

Defensive Backs

CB's: Mike McKenzie, Fred Thomas, Jason Craft, Jason David, Usama Young, Anwar Phillips, David Jones
S's: Kevin Kaesviharn, Roman Harper, Josh Bullocks, Jay Bellamy, Steve Gleason

McKenzie and Thomas are both good, but neither is young.  Craft is decent, but also aging.  David is young, but has his inconsistencies, and who knows about the rookie Young.  Bellamy has fallen off, although I like the pickup of Kaesviharn.  Bullocks is young, and should continue to get better.  Overall, a solid group.

DB Score: 8/10

Special Teams

K: Olindo Mare
P: Chris Hanson, Steve Weatherford

KR: Reggie Bush, Aaron Stecker

Mare isn't exactly the most accurate kicker.  Maybe being in a dome will help him, but he's risky.  Weatherford last year was solid as a rookie, and I personally think he'll beat out the veteran Hanson, who's had power issues.  Bush is solid on punts, but he didn't return kicks last year, and Stecker is a bit iffy.  Overall, a decent special team unit.

ST Score: 7/10

Coaches

Head Coach: Sean Payton

O. Coordinator: Doug Marrone

D. Coordinator: Gary Gibbs

Payton did a great job with this team, especially with a lot of question marks.  Marrone helped turn that no name offensive line into one of the leagues' best.  The defense has gotten better with Gibbs as well.  Overall, one of the best coaching staffs in the NFL.

Coach score: 5/5

Recap

QB/WR- 8/10

RB/TE- 9/10

OL- 9/10
DL- 8/10

LB- 7/10

DB- 8/10

ST- 7/10

C- 5/5

Make sure and leave your rankings for the Saints.

Up next, we start the NFC East and look at Washington.