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In every season of the Sean Payton Era, the New Orleans Saints have had one of the top statistical offenses in the NFL.
The rich just may have gotten richer this year.
That’s because New Orleans figures to have a slew of new and refined weapons that just may make them the most dominant offensive force in the NFL this year.
With the No. 20 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Saints selected receiver Brandin Cooks – a flashy playmaker that has wowed the opposition throughout his early days as a professional.
His ascent, combined with the work of contract-hungry halfback Mark Ingram have many believing that this New Orleans offense could be pretty tough to stop in the upcoming season.
“I think we have a lot of weapons,” Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. “I think that we have a collection of guys that can really make a difference and can make plays for us. I think when you see a guy like Brandin and how hard he is working, it motivates you and everyone else. I think that when you’re surrounded by guys who are working hard and doing the right things, it inspires all of the guys in the locker room and makes everybody just a little bit better.”
By all accounts so far, Cooks is a stud – a player that likely should have gone higher than No. 20 in this past spring’s draft.
A 5-foot, 10-inch, 189-pound speedy pass catcher out of Oregon State, Cooks lit up the Pac-12 as a junior in 2013, catching 128 passes for 1,730 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Cooks also was a breakout player as a sophomore, hauling in 67 balls for 1,151 yards.
Scouts claim that he slipped to the bottom-half of the first round because of his lack of size. But New Orleans thought enough of him to trade up in the first round to select him.
After catching a touchdown in his opening preseason game and having what many describe as an unbelievable training camp, it appears that the preliminary results show that the trade could be well worth it.
“It really felt great,” Cooks said of his preseason score – a 25-yard snag from quarterback Ryan Griffin. “It’s one of those things you continue to do what you’ve been doing your whole life. You just go out there and play. You know, be calm and go out there and have fun. That’s what it’s all about tonight – just do my job and help our team win.”
When Cooks mentioned “doing my job,” he was talking about a wide range of goals, because New Orleans will be relying heavily upon the rookie to carry a lot of hats in 2014-15.
In addition to being a slot receiver, Cooks could possibly see a handful of carries in the running game on zone plays or end-around looks – anything that allows him to get the football in space.
In the preseason and throughout training camp, Cooks has also spent time as New Orleans’ No. 1 punt returner, a role that became open when the team traded halfback Darren Sproles to the Philadelphia Eagles this past offseason.
In virtually every practice session, New Orleans beat writers wow at Cooks’ elusiveness and juking ability through various social media outlets, something that he sort of shrugs off when asked about.
“It’s one of those things you just don’t think about,” Cooks said of his ability to make defenders miss. “I guess you can say stopping on a dime. I don’t want to say it’s hard – it’s just a technique or more a sense of where the defenders are coming from. I just so happened to be blessed with that ability.”
While Cooks looks to make his mark through his finesse and speed, Ingram looks to physically run through opponents in the name of the Almighty Dollar.
After several-straight underwhelming seasons to start his NFL career, the Saints sent a clear message to Ingram this offseason when they declined the option on his contract for the 2015-16 season – the final year of his deal.
Ingram was a player New Orleans expected big things out of when they traded up to get him in the 2011 NFL Draft. But the former Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama hasn’t ever been able to find his bearings in the NFL and has just 1,462 yards and 11 touchdowns in his four-year career.
Instead of pouting over his contract situation, Ingram has responded with a bang.
The bruising halfback reported to camp in the best shape of his career and seems to be in a position to have the best season of his still-young career.
In the first preseason game of the season, he bruised the Rams, rushing for 83 yards on just eight carries.
His emergence could give the Saints that much-needed balance that they seek on the offensive side of the football – something they will need to stave off the Seahawks and 49ers in the brutally competitive NFC.
“Every year is a big year, and of course, it’s a contract year,” Ingram said. “Any person that plays football knows it’s important (to perform) on a contract year. … It’s not more important, but just put more emphasis on it just because it’s a contract year and I am playing for a new contract. The main thing is me just being focused and trying to be the best player I can be to help us win.”
Whether 2014 is Ingram’s final year in the Big Easy, it remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure – if he plays in the regular season the way that he has in camp, New Orleans could be scary good in the new year.
The rich got richer this offseason in New Orleans.
Time will tell regarding just how explosive and dynamic this offense might be.
By all accounts, something delicious is “cooking” in New Orleans. Pun intended.
