Saints

1/25/10 New Orleans, LA - The Saints have got the 15th pick in the draft thanks to an 8 team expansion this season. So far the franchise has gotten off to a shaky start with many ups and downs during their first year in the NML.

Of the few highlights for the Saints this season was the performance of their offensive line, 5 of which were on the ballot for the All-Star Bowl. Also, even though he isn't headed to Honlulu, the play of running back Matt Forte proved why he was the number one pick for the team. He was week two's player of the week.

The Saints special teams were the best in the UFC this season with return man Leon Washington and punter Matt Turk both on the All-Star Bowl roster.

And perhaps the biggest accomplishment for this young team was beating the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, a team that went back-to-back regular seasons without a loss.

These highlights, however, are overshadowed by

the events that plagued this team. First year owner Taylor Smith decided to put the team up for sale shortly after the draft last April. With no clear direction from the main offices, rookie coach Chuck Cecil pretty much had to run the organization on his own.

The other big problem that the Saints have is their lack of a signal caller. JaMarcus Russell was taken in the expansion draft from the Chargers to become the team's franchise quarterback, at which he failed miserably. He threw only 9 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. About half way through the year Cecil had seen enough and replaced Russell with Josh Johnson who did better, but still not what the team needs as a quarterback. So what can we expect from the Saints in 2010?

First the team has been bought by new owner Matt Bedient who is sure to make many day-to-day improvements for the franchise. It remains to be seen how he will do with the draft, something Taylor Smith actually excelled at. One thing is certain, a quarterback is the most likely choice for the 15th pick. The top quarterback in this year's draft appears to be Oklahoma's Sam Bradford who most likely won't be around come the 15th pick. This isn't the worst news as he's coming off multiple shoulder injuries and questions remain as to his durability.

The next two QB's in the mix are Texas' Colt McCoy and Florida's Tim Tebow. Tim Tebow seems to be the obvious choice. He fits into this team's run first, pass second philosophy. He's basically everuthing they wanted in JaMarcus Russell only

smarter and a much greater work ethic.

Only time will tell where this team heads, but one thing is certain, the future is brighter than it might seem. Keep the faith Saints fans.

New Orleans Saints 2010 opponents:
Home: Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa Bay,St. Louis, Seattle, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Minnesota
Away: Atlanta,Carolina, Tampa Bay, Arizona, San Francisco, Baltimore, Cincinnati,Dallas