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Saints dodge one storm, prepare for Buccaneers

Sep 7, 2008 - 12:52 PM Tampa Bay at New Orleans, 1:00 pm, EDT

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- The New Orleans Saints and their fans got a needed boost by avoiding a repeat of three years ago.

With the city having escaped the wrath of Hurricane Gustav, the Saints will open the season at home Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Saints flew to Indianapolis last weekend as Gustav bore down on New Orleans, providing a grim reminder of 2005, when Hurricane Katrina devastated the city and forced the team out of the ravaged Louisiana Superdome for the entire season.

Fortunately, Gustav's damage was minimal and the team can return to its normal routine as it attempts to erase the memory of last season's 7-9 record against NFC South rival Tampa Bay, the defending division champion.

The Saints' hopes rest on quarterback Drew Brees and a high-powered offense featuring Pro Bowl wide receiver Marques Colston, running back Reggie Bush and tight end Jeremy Shockey, a four-time Pro Bowler who was acquired from the New York Giants.

Brees threw for 4,423 yards and 28 touchdowns but the Saints were unable to overcome a miserable 0-4 start.

Shockey provides another target for Brees while Colston, a seventh-round pick in 2006, has 168 receptions and 19 scoring passes in his first two seasons.

Bush, on the other hand, has failed to live up to the lofty expectations of being the No. 2 overall pick in 2006. His main contributions have been as a receiver out of the backfield, but the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner has scored just 14 touchdowns in two seasons.

New Orleans' biggest problems have come on defense, particularly in the secondary. The Saints allowed a league-high 32 touchdowns passes last season.

They shored up the defense in the offseason by drafting defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis at No. 7, trading for linebacker Jonathan Vilma and signed cornerbacks Aaron Glenn and Randall Gay.

Tampa Bay dethroned the Saints last season in the NFC South behind the conference's stingiest defense and the leadership of veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia.

The Bucs return nearly the entire defense, which will be bolstered by rookie cornerback Aqib Talib, their first-round selection.

Running back Earnest Graham was a revelation last season, stepping in for an injured Carnell "Cadillac" Williams and rushing for nearly 900 yards and 10 touchdowns in 10 starts.

Both teams will be looking to snap one streak. Since the NFC South's inception in 2002, each division winner has finished in last place the previous season.