Without saying, this is an opinion.
In watching the elite teams down the stretch and the 1st week of playoffs, what jumped at me was that each of the top teams had something in common, whether the team was primarily offense or defense oriented.
On defense, every team has at least one "Disruptor." By disruptor, I mean a player who makes game changing plays often.
In 2009, our LBs were not the best. Shanle got roasted regularly on SR. The D-line was in no way great. The DBs were pretty good. But we had a major Disruptor, Darren Sharper. We are all disappointed in his off-field behavior; but on the field, he made us a SB team. His 2009 season was insanely great. 9 Interceptions, 3 Pick-Sixes, 1 Fumble Recovery for a TD and when he blitzed on QBs, even though he didn't have any sacks, he created fear with his fierce hits.
Besides the 24 points he scored on his own (when was the last Saints defensive TD?), he gave the ball back to the offense 6 more times.
I believe this is the real key to a SB run. I think this is how SP needs his defense, one that creates turnovers and gets the ball back into Brees hands.
Of the FAs out there and the draft class, who has the potential to be a Disruptor of games- this year? I think that's who we need to go after.