It's hard to argue with this sentiment. Until it's proven on the field with success there remains justifiable reasons for caution.
The Saints interviewed several candidates for the position without offering anyone else the job. They waited on the coach they wound up getting. By all accounts he comes here with a high level of experience and football knowledge and is a stickler for attention to detail and discipline. Simply cutting down on penalties would be an improvement if nothing else. The offensive scheme is not as complicated and by design utilizes the athleticism of the lineman. A commitment to the ground game while using a heavy dose of play action should open the offense up as well as bring more consistency along with sustained drives. Play calling........
Peat was never our best lineman. He was a long time tenured player who was often injured and frequently thought of as the weakest link. He had a good year in 2023. The Saints said they made an effort to resign him but at the figure he signed for in Vegas it appears the Saints didn't try to hard. Maybe his age was a reason. Maybe he didn't fit into the new scheme and lacked the athletic ability that will be required. Him leaving isn't a death nail. More like it hurt the depth at OL.
Chase Young coming in on a prove it year with big dollar motivation and the return of Payton Turner injury free for the first time in his career and him also needing to prove something both could paint a different picture. Any contribution by 2nd year player Foskey or undrafted free agent rookie Trajan Jeffcoat would be an improvement. Cam Jordan played hurt most of last season. He may not be the force he once was but I'm expecting him to have a better year this year than last.
Olave is a clutch as they come. He gets open upon will. You don't have to be a contested catch receiver to be a possession or a go to receiver.
Juwan Johnson was hurt a good part of last year. Foster Moreau entered the season having just escaped a possible deadly condition. Both will enter 2024 healthy. There's reason to be optimistic with the rookie Dallin Holker and there's been glowing reports on the improvement by Michael Jacobson. Taysom Hill is not a traditional true TE, however, he has proved to be adequate in the passing game. This may be a group by committee without a top of the league TE but they are a better group than what the Saints have fielded in recent years past with Trautman as the number 1 and JJ transitioning from WR while learning the postition.
Kamara had a down year with a 3.9 yards per carry average. Most check down passes to him were late and left him with no space to run. 2024 will be different for AK41. For one, he won't be suspended for the first 3 games and returning from an embarrassing and shameful period in his life. Kendra Miller will enter 2024 healthy. He was coming off of a major knee injury entering 2023 as a rookie and wasn't healthy most of the year. Game 17 was a sign of things to come. Jamaal Williams will have to improve over his 2.9 yards per carry average or he won't be here. Simple as that. TH7 will be a more focal point in the running game. He will still see snaps in the power QB run game but will also get the ball in other ways. He's never averaged less than 5.0 yards per carry in his career. That won't change.
The offensive line was indeed anemic last year and there could be as many as 3 new starters in the lineup in 2024. It won't be the same group as last year. Unproven as of now. Unknown what the results will be. Although we can't expect the new lineup to be all world, we shouldn't expect them to be terrible just because they have yet to prove themselves one way or the other.
The secondary is a strength on the team. It got better by adding Kool-Aid to the group. Adding Willie Gay to the LB room brings depth, speed, and athleticism.
Carr, Olave, and Shaheed will be in their 2nd year together and now have experience playing with each other. They should only get better together in 2024.
Our kicker was a rookie last year and was much better than most give him credit for. He set or tied a bookoo number of Saints rookie kicker records and set a few team records as well. That can't be taken lightly. He was one of 5 kickers in the league who didn't miss a single extra point. The Saints called upon him to attempt a high number of 50 yard plus FGs where he faired pretty good. The missed 46 yarder in GB with the game on the line soured a lot of Saints fans on the rookie. You have to make those game winning kicks. With a year under his belt, he returns knowing he belongs. Overall accuracy will be the focus in 2024 for Grupe. The Saints also have Smyth on the team, and he will have a roster exemption, being part of the International Player Pathway Program. The Saints effectively will be able to keep both Grupe and Smyth on the roster in 2024. With the new kickoff rules its possible that the Saints will have both Grupe and Smyth active on gamedays where Smyth could be used as a kickoff specialist. Smyth at 6'4", 210 pounds and a former Gaelic Football player, is accustomed to playing rough. Smyth only started kicking a football a few months ago. So far, he has shown to have a strong leg capable of making FGs from 65 yards out. The Saints signed Smyth to a 3 year deal.
The Saints kicking game is far from terrible and may prove to be one of the teams strengths in 2024.
This statement is true. The Saints defense was top 10 last year and there's no reason to think they will regress. There have been some pieces added.
Until the offense shows it can come together and play winning football there's reason to be skeptical. On the other hand, there's plenty reason to be optimistic.