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Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

Gregg Williams hasn't informed a free agent decision for New Orleans yet, hasn't hand-picked the inevitable defensive playmaker the Saints choose with their 14th-overall selection this year, hasn't installed a single scheme in a minicamp. Yet Williams' reputation has preceded him to the Crescent City, and his hiring as defensive coordinator is already considered one of the most important moves in team history.

After almost two decades of guaranteed defensive putridity, the last three of which have revolved around Gary Gibbs' lack of talent identification and bland scheming, the idea of Williams and his history of intelligent, hard-working, active, complex defenses coming to the Superdome is music to the ears. It also might finally push the Saints over the top.

Mike McKenzie, the Saints' best corner and the best player on their defense last year, was inactive today. That's not good. Jason David donned pads but as far as I could tell didn't step foot on the field. That was good. The result -- new corners Randall Gay (brought in through free agency) and Tracy Porter (a second-round draft choice) got the start and provided the Saints with something they haven't had in years -- competent corner play on both sides.

But they weren't the only new Saints to make an impact. Jonathan Vilma, the team's leading tackler, and Sedrick Ellis, a beast who constantly penetrated double teams, were just as advertised, and Jeremy Shockey took a while to get going but made some clutch catches for 54 yards. These players were the difference in the Saints' win.

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is right around the corner, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: Drew Brees is, to me, the third best quarterback in the league. And that's not just because I have a giant man-crush on him. Say what you will about your Tony Romos and Carson Palmers, but I'd take Brees over those two, especially as he appears to be in the prime of his career. All he's done since arriving in New Orleans is put up gaudy numbers through the air, but he plays a heady game based on quick (and good) decisions. He's also a good guy off the field and the unquestioned leader of the team. Mark Brunell was brought in as Brees' backup while project Tyler Palko continues to develop, and while you don't want to see the old lefty play at all, his arm looks good enough in camp to sustain for a couple of weeks if need be. Anything more than that, though, and the Saints are in trouble. Heat Index: 9

Running Back: Running back committees are a bitch for fantasy owners, but none have encountered a mess like this, where four backs are going to get a fair share of touches. Exactly how the carries shake out depends on Deuce McAllister's health; ditto for the productivity of the group. All four backs -- McAllister, Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, and Aaron Stecker -- are talented, but Deuce is the only pounder that can keep the running game glued together. If he's in the lineup, expect Bush to flourish, with Thomas making a solid impact as well. If he's not, Thomas takes on a larger role and, though he rolled up Chicago for over 200 yards from scrimmage in Week 17 last year, it remains to be seen whether he can be a full-time NFL back. Luckily, Deuce has looked healthy so far. Heat Index: 7

Astute Saints fans weren't counting on Dan Morgan to start at weakside linebacker, or even be on the opening day roster. And now that we know his five-plus concussions haven't inhibited him from making the smart choice about retirement, those of us are vindicated. It's also clear to everyone now that the Saints haven't upgraded that spot in the front seven at all, and that's the fault of a flawed Saints philosophy.

The team hasn't had a good set of linebackers since the early '90s. The best linebacker they've had since, Jonathan Vilma, hasn't even gone through a day of training camp. In the past, bad linebacking could be attributed to bad drafting, but Sean Payton has gone in the opposite direction.

In over two years since Payton has taken over, he's preferred veteran, unspectacular linebackers at the expense sometimes of age, health, and ability. Vilma and, arguably, Scott Fujita are exceptions. But aside from those two, we've seen Scott Shanle, Mark Simoneau, Brian Simmons, Anthony Simmons, Dhani Jones, and now Morgan brought in with decidedly average results, if any at all -- Jones didn't last a preseason, and Anthony Simmons retired in the offseason just as Morgan has. Even Vilma, with his knee, is a gamble.

Which means you'll see Shanle and Simoneau fight for the weakside job, with maybe another listless vet thrown in for "competition." But for once at this position the Saints should target upside -- perhaps a deal with Dallas for Bobby Carpenter, the former first-rounder who seems lost outside of his native 4-3. The team has gambled on plenty of linebackers lately, this is just a different sort of gamble.

With each pick of the FanHouse mock draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know who he'll pick and why.



The Saints are in a tough spot at this point. They covet Glenn Dorsey and Sedrick Ellis most of all, but both are gone. Weakside linebacker Keith Rivers would be the final piece in a suddenly very good group of linebackers, but he's gone as well. The only other place where need and value come close at this spot is cornerback, and the Saints have their pick of all.

Though this is an odd draft in which four or so corners are considered the best of the bunch depending on who you ask, most believe it's either Leodis McKelvin or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. In fact, both are similar players. Both are big and fast (although Rodgers-Cromartie is slightly bigger and faster). Both are excellent athletes, very solid natural man corners, and playmakers. Both are also great return men and neither had to really play top competition in college.

Former Carolina Panther Dan Morgan will stay in the division and join the New Orleans Saints:

When reached last week, Morgan said he'd been working out in Phoenix rehabbing an Achilles tendon injury and that he wanted to make sure he was completely healthy before signing with another team. But sensing an opportunity to start, Morgan apparently felt it was the right time to sign.

"I'm feeling pretty good and I'm getting better with each day," Morgan said last week. "I definitely want to play again and I hope I get that chance."

Morgan ... who was a middle linebacker for the Panthers ... will play the weakside LB spot for the Saints. Newly acquired Jonathan Vilma will man the middle while Scott Fujita will play the strong side.

The question is Morgan's health. He has played in just four games over the past two seasons and has never played a full NFL slate. He's also had quite a few concussions and he's rehabbing the Achilles injury which led to his release last month.

To get you ready for week 5, FanHouse is previewing all this week's games. Here is the New Orleans Saints - Carolina Panthers preview.

2007 Records:
New Orleans Saints: 0-3 (4th, NFC South)
Carolina Panthers: 2-2 (2nd, NFC South)

Last Game:
Titans 31 - Saints 14
Bucs 20 - Panthers 7

When the Saints have the ball:
Expect a new look. Reggie Bush is going to get more carries, and the Aaron Stecker/Pierre Thomas backup duo will see increased gametime as well. Bush's increased role in the run game means less touches as a receiver and returner, but I think the move could turn out great for him. With two weeks to think about how awful this offense has been, maybe the maladies on the offensive line have been fixed. Or maybe not. Jammal Brown needs to play like a Pro Bowl tackle again for the offense to get back on track; luckily the Panthers defensive line has struggled to get pressure so far this year, and the Saints have always been surprisingly adept at nullifying Julius Peppers.

When the Panthers have the ball:
On the other hand, the Saints have never been able to stop DeShaun Foster or Steve Smith. There's lots of frustration in Carolina right now, and Smith was bubbling last week as David Carr inepted the Panthers towards a loss. But the Saints defense is bad enough that this could be wonderful therapy for the Panthers. If they can't stop Foster (especially with Saints linebacker Scott Fujita questionable), it doesn't matter who's playing quarterback -- it could be the first domino in a high-scoring Panthers day.

In about the same amount of time it took the Saints bandwagon to empty, their hospital ward is filling up.

You know about how Deuce McAllister tore his ACL on Monday night, and you know how emo the whole thing made me (that wound up being a long night of Dashboard Confessional singalongs and posting depressing missives on my MySpace page). But there's worse news.

Jason David will miss four-to-six weeks with a broken forearm, David Patten (strained calf) and Scott Fujita (sore ankle) are both expected to miss one-to-two weeks, and Jammal Brown has a dislocated finger. Thankfully for a large number of reasons, the Saints have an early bye this week. That should allow Patten, Fujita, and Brown to recover on time for the Week 5 game against Carolina.

As for David, despite the reputation garnered from the season opener in Indianapolis, the injury is a pretty big loss. David has been responsible for a large number of the big plays surrendered this season, but he's also been responsible for the only two big plays the Saints have made on defense, as well.

Stepping into his spot will be Usama Young, the third-rounder from Kent State (Neil Young would be so proud). Young has been the only rookie to get any playing time this season, and played well in increased action Sunday. While Young is green, he's incredibly athletic, and I'm intrigued to see what he can offer. Plus, you know, it's not like things could get much worse in New Orleans right now. Might as well throw the youngsters in and see how they fare.

That's the question a lot of pundits are asking today in trying to figure out how the Saints, preseason NFC favorites, are 0-2. But the magic they're referring to is that annoying, mythical "Katrina magic" that people invented last year. That's not what I'm referring to. Last year was based on a lot of really good personnel decisions, good coaching, and inspired play. We know that good coaching and inspired play have so far been nowhere to be found. But what of the personnel decisions?

Last year, the Saints had a magic touch shaping their roster. They got four starters in the draft (Roman Harper, Jahri Evans, Marques Colston, and Reggie Bush), six if you include draft-day trades for Jeff Faine and Hollis Thomas. They also made smart moves in free agency; besides Drew Brees, the team also got outsized contributions from Scott Shanle, Terrance Copper, and Scott Fujita. Almost every move they made turned to gold.

This year? Meh. Only four picks (Usama Young, Jermon Bushrod, Andy Alleman, and Robert Meachem) have made the team, all but Young have been deactivated for both games, and he only plays sparingly. Their dabble in free agency has been worse. Eric Johnson has been average at tight end, but at least he's doing something; it goes downhill from there. Kendrick Clancy won a starting job at defensive tackle but has been blah. Jason David's exploits are well documented. Kevin Kaesviharn has looked lost at nickel safety. And linebacker Brian Simmons can't beat out Mark Simoneau, who couldn't shed a block by Holly Mangold.

There's a lot of problems that need to be fixed with this team, and it's unfair to attack the new guys when so many of the holdovers have been so, so awful. Still, the Saints added a lot of players in the offseason, and counted on those players to improve the team. They haven't.

I decided to go back and watch last night's game again, because I hate myself, and I decided that starting tonight I'm going to go on a bender with lots of booze and perhaps a narcotic or four and hopefully, by the time Monday rolls around, I'll have no memory of the debacle that was Saints v. Colts. (Note: The FanHouse doesn't condone this type of destructive behavior, though it seems like the right thing to do at the moment).

Before I voyage off into an uncertain future, though, I took notes. By notes, I mean I drew lots of frownie faces. Because if you were to take notes of this game from the perspective of a Saints fan, it would be giant effing frownie face.

Anyway, here's what I noticed, without trying to mention Jason David too much because, Christ, that guy must have had a terrible day:

• The Saints stuck with the Colts in the first half, primarily because they used the Colts' very own Cover 2 defense. This gave Joseph Addai plenty of room to run, sure, but it also kept Peyton Manning virtually ineffective (save Marvin Harrison's touchdown catch). In the second half, they switched to their standard man coverage to neutralize Addai, moving Roman Harper into the box, which allowed the Colts receivers to get behind the Saints secondary. Game over. The Colts were going to pick up yards and points no matter what, I just don't know why they chose to put the ball in Manning's hands instead of the more managable Addai's.