The plots, subplots and footnotes are significant for the New Orleans Saints as they enter training camp in Irvine, Calif. And even then, the assignment won't be complete when the team returns to New Orleans; it will remain a work in progress as New Orleans seeks to mold itself into the team that won four consecutive NFC South Division titles from 2017-2020.
But the next phase of the quest takes place in camp, and here are some storylines to monitor:
1. Rightfully, there's an air of excitement surrounding the Saints' offense. A new system, helmed by offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, has provided buzz and a shot of adrenaline to players who saw the offense be ultra productive in San Francisco, where Kubiak was passing game coordinator last season, and for other teams. The institution of more motion, more movement by the quarterbacks and formations that deceptively look the same on the snap, leads players to believe they can be more productive and the offense can be more explosive. But it's a process and while Kubiak and the offensive staff have been lauded for their teaching ability, this is the time for players to sharpen and take a little more ownership of the installation.
2. Of course, a big piece of the offensive puzzle is quarterback Derek Carr. Carr said he has admired this offense from afar, and now he's smack in the middle of it. The Saints need him to pick up where he left off last season, when he threw for 1,117 yards and 14 touchdowns, with two interceptions, over the last five games while completing 74 percent of his passes. New Orleans won four of those five games, and Carr said he found a groove as the offense employed more motion. This offense will not lack motion.
3. The Saints forced the fourth-most turnovers (29), tied for the third-most interceptions (18) and tied for the third-best turnover ratio (plus-11) in the NFL last season. The goal is duplicating or bettering those marks, but that can be a herculean ask. Where the team unequivocally can improve is sacks (35) and pressures. Do that, and the defense will get off the field on third down, force a fair number of turnovers and return to being a force. Can All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis and safety Tyrann Mathieu – 35 and 32 years old, respectively – continue to beat back Father Time and provide another productive season along with their leadership? The Saints will need them to do just that.
4. There will be a spirited battle for who lines up next to Davis at linebacker. Pete Werner has been a full-time starter the last two seasons and, at times, has shown star flashes. But New Orleans signed two-time Super Bowl champion Willie Gay to compete with Werner, and Gay adds a dimension – speed in tracking down mobile quarterbacks – that was a glaring absence last season for the Saints. If the competition brings out the best in each, all the better for the defense because the more productive assets, the better. But this will be a competition to watch.
5. No unit will earn a more attentive eye than the offensive line, which likely will include three new starters. First-round pick Taliese Fuaga is at left tackle after playing his college snaps at right tackle, second-year player Nick Salvideri appears poised to have the first crack at left guard, and Trevor Penning will flip from left tackle to right tackle in an effort to get the 2021 first-round pick on track. That's a ton of newness, and whomever lands in those positions quickly needs to gel with center Erik McCoy and right guard Cesar Ruiz. Anyone who gave a definitive summation after OTAs and minicamp wasn't being honest; it's impossible to tell what the group could or couldn't do based on shadow boxing. The first day in full pads at training camp might not be the ultimate indicator, but it'll certainly provide a little more substance in terms of who can get the job done. The joint practices against the 49ers will reveal even more. It won't be about brute force all the time, it'll be about athleticism and reaching landmarks to provide creases in the defense. The real gelling process begins when they put on the pads.
