New Orleans Saints 2004 schedule | 2003 results | 2003 stats More Teams 49ers Bears Bengals Bills Broncos Browns Buccaneers Cardinals Chargers Chiefs Colts Cowboys Dolphins Eagles Falcons Giants Jaguars Jets Lions Packers Panthers Patriots Raiders Rams Ravens Redskins Saints Seahawks Steelers Texans Titans Vikings

Deuce McAllister Chirs Graythen/Getty Projected starting lineup Offense No. Player Pos. 83 Donte Stallworth WR 72 Wayne Gandy LT 64 Kendyl Jacox LG 65 LeCharles Bentley C 61 Montrae Holland RG 68 Victor Riley RT 82 Boo Williams TE 87 Joe Horn WR 2 Aaron Brooks QB 26 Deuce McAllister RB 44 Mike Karney FB 3 John Carney K Defense No. Player Pos. 94 Charles Grant LE 97 Jonathan Sullivan DT 66 Brian Young DT 93 Darren Howard RE 52 Sedrick Hodge OLB 56 Orlando Ruff MLB 59 Derrick Rodgers OLB 22 Fred Thomas CB 40 Mel Mitchell SS 34 Tebucky Jones FS 21 Jason Craft CB 17 Mitch Berger P 2004 Draft Rd. Player Pos. School 1 Will Smith DE Ohio State 2 Devery Henderson WR LSU 2 Courtney Watson LB Notre Dame 5 Rodney Leslie DT UCLA 5 Mike Karney FB Arizona State 7 Colby Bockwoldt OLB BYU Outside the Huddle Quick rise It took Jim Haslett only four seasons to become the second-winningest coach in Saints history (with 34, he trails Jim Mora with 93 in 11 seasons), and Haslett did it with teams that averaged 116 penalties and 29 turnovers per season, above the league average. Deuce is wild Deuce McAllister, who led the league last season with the most runs of 20-plus yards (16), has had the second-most 100-yard games since 2002 (17), one fewer than Denver's Clinton Portis. Wide right When John Carney missed his first PAT after making 104 consecutive, a kick that would have sent the Saints and Jacksonville into overtime, it came after the miracle play of 2003 -- a 75-yard pass play that included three laterals to make it a 20–19 game. "No excuse," said Carney. "Just pushed it." Aaron and Archie With 12,464 yards passing, Aaron Brooks is in position to move ahead of Bobby Hebert (14,630 yards) in career yards for a Saints quarterback, leaving him in the No. 2 spot behind Archie Manning (21,734 yards). Lofty Goal The Saints are shooting to top last year's record season-ticket sales of 54,594, which was a stunning jump from 38,000 in 2002. 2003 Revisited The Prophecy: "The scenery is far better on the outside [defensive line], where Darren Howard ... and Charles Grant return ... " The Lie: "The Saints believe [Todd] Bouman will be an upgrade over [Jake] Delhomme as a No. 2 quarterback." --Athlon Sports Pro Football 2003

Jim Haslett was the NFL's Coach of the Year in 2000, his first season with the Saints. He now finds himself as the boss of one of just seven teams in the league that has failed to make the playoffs in the last three seasons.

Time for some major changes? Not if you're the man running the Saints.

"If it ain't broke don't fix it," best describes Haslett's feelings going into a fifth autumn, something he proved by tweaking, not overhauling, a roster that was consistent only in its inconsistency. The head coach pointed to critical injuries to his defense -- losing strong safety Mel Mitchell in the preseason, losing his best player, Darren Howard, for eight games in Week 1, losing linebackers Sedrick Hodge and Cie Grant for much of the year. "We had to keep patching here and there all season," says Haslett. It showed; the Saints finished near the bottom in rushing defense, allowing 4.7 yards per carry. "We've got a lot of young guys on both sides of the ball still learning what it takes to win. I'm convinced the talent is in place to win the division."

A tall order, it seems, for a division that produced a Super Bowl champion and runner-up the last two seasons. But Haslett points to a 1-2 punch in running back Deuce McAllister and quarterback Aaron Brooks that compares with any in the NFL.

The second-leading rusher in the NFC, McAllister is coming off a Pro Bowl season -- his 2,157 yards running and catching were the best ever by a Saint -- while Brooks posted a career-high quarterback rating of 88.8.

The Saints are Brooks' team, with backup Todd Bouman scheduled to appear only in case of dire emergency.

"We've got to be more professional across the board," says Brooks, who did not throw an interception in his last 232 attempts. "I didn't think we were professional enough, not only on Sundays, but coming to work every day. Everyone is responsible for himself."

Last season, Brooks was responsible for a league-low eight interceptions and a league-high 11 lost fumbles. The latter stat clouded what was the highest passing-efficiency rating of the quarterback's career, creating a mixed bag for someone who is still attempting to establish himself as a team leader.

It starts and ends with McAllister, a unique talent coming off his second consecutive Pro Bowl year. "He's been our most consistent weapon," says Haslett. "Give him an inch of daylight, and he's trouble -- running the ball or catching it."

McAllister illustrated his double-threat with 237 total yards against the Falcons and 232 against the Eagles, the top two totals in Saints history. "If Deuce takes care of his body and stays healthy," says Haslett, "people will be talking about him and Walter Payton in the same breath. He's that good."

The Saints will have a new face behind McAllister, free agent signee Aaron Stecker from Tampa Bay, who'll be doubling as a return man. And they'll have another one at fullback -- free agent pick-up Sam Gash or rookie Mike Karney.

When Joe Horn wasn't making a $30,000 cell phone call in the Superdome, he was playing through an assortment of injuries, running his mouth and hauling in 78 passes, including a club-record 10 for touchdowns. What the Saints need is help for Horn on the outside, which has yet to come from either Jerome Pathon or Donte Stallworth. A former first-round draft pick with game-breaking speed, Stallworth has spent more time on the sidelines battling hamstring pulls than catching footballs. Haslett is anxious to learn if immediate help will come from second-round pick Devery Henderson of LSU. He also has breakaway speed.

Boo Williams did his best to produce at tight end, catching 29 passes (four for touchdowns) during the last six games after Ernie Conwell was lost to an injury in November. Williams and Conwell will figure prominently in a two tight-end setup.

The only significant change will have third-year man LeCharles Bentley taking over for Jerry Fontenot at center. Wayne Gandy and Victor Riley will return at tackles, Kendyl Jacox and Montrae Holland at the guards. Bentley, a second-round pick, was voted to the Pro Bowl in his second season. Holland, the Saints' fourth-round pick in 2003, stepped in for the final two games when Bentley was injured. Gandy, who has started 152 games in his 10-year career, credits coming to grips with the mental part of the game for his health and longevity.

On paper, it looks imposing: Two No. 1 picks on the left side, Charles Grant and Jonathan Sullivan, and Darren Howard, a No. 2, at right end. It's a trio that will be joined by free agent Brian Young and rookie Will Smith, a first-round pick with 4.7 speed and glittering pass-rush credentials. "It all starts up front," says Haslett. "If everyone stays healthy, we're going to get the push we need where it counts."

Howard came back strong following a dislocated wrist. If Smith blossoms immediately, Howard may be moved inside in some situations. Grant followed an impressive rookie season with a team-high 10 sacks. Willie Whitehead stepped in for Howard and played consistently until he suffered a knee injury late in the season. The key to this group is Sullivan, whom the Saints traded up for last year to grab with the sixth overall selection.

At the outside spots, Sedrick Hodge and Derrick Rodgers look safe. Not so for Orlando Ruff in the middle. The coaches keep waiting for Cie Grant, a third-rounder last year, to stay healthy and live up to his reputation for possessing sideline-to-sideline speed. Rogers finished second on the team with 107 tackles. Hodge was off to a fast start and, despite a knee injury, finished with a career-high 88 tackles. James Allen, a third-rounder in 2002, lends some depth to the outside along with being a heavy contributor on special teams. Darrin Smith, who has started 139 games in his 11-year NFL career, has established himself as a valuable inside backup and team leader.

It's possible last year's cast could be the opening game starters -- Fred Thomas and Ashley Ambrose at the corners, Jay Bellamy at strong safety, Tebucky Jones at free safety. The 34-year-old Ambrose will be challenged by free agent Jason Craft, who is six years younger, quicker and faster. And Bellamy, who has started every game over the last five seasons, will have to fight off Mitchell, who was the starter until he sustained a season-ending injury in the preseason.

Thomas led the team with four picks and 21 passes defensed. Jones was a major disappointment, missing tackles and assignments after arriving as a celebrated acquisition from the Patriots.

Veteran punter Mitch Berger had one of the finest years of his career, punting for a 44.3 average and a net of 38.2, best in the NFL. Veteran kicker John Carney supplied winning kicks in consecutive games (against the Bucs and Falcons). Meanwhile, the production of return man Michael Lewis declined after a Pro Bowl year in 2002, but he still averaged 23.7 yards on kickoff returns and 9.2 on punt returns. To prevent teams from kicking away from Lewis, Haslett brought in Stecker as a twin threat on special teams.

Brooks must shed his roller-coaster ways and become the more consistent triggerman he was when he took the Saints to the playoffs four years ago. A healthy McAllister has been a major plus, moreso than the erratic receiving corps.

Defensively, the Saints have helped themselves up front, but they failed to significantly address their problems at linebacker in the draft, hoping second-rounder Courtney Watson might answer some questions in a troubled area.

If the Saints don't lead the league again in lost fumbles (they had 20), a 9–7 finish would not be a surprise.

• Click here for a complete list of 2004 Team Previews from Athlon

To Purchase the 2004 NFL Preview from Athlon Sports, click here.