Today I’m going to go over some bold predictions I have for the Saints for the 2014 season. These are in no particular order. That being said, let’s get to it.
1. Khiry Robinson will emerge as the #1 back:
Nobody doubts this dude’s talent or will to work hard. We all saw it at the tail end of last season and into the playoffs; he is a workhorse. He carries the ball with authority, he’s not afraid to run between the tackles, and he’s underrated. I think he will become the #1 back out of the top three and it will end up leaving Pierre Thomas without a roster spot come 2015.
2. Mark Ingram will approach a 1000-yard season:
Keeping with the theme of running backs, the biggest storyline (in my opinion) is Mark Ingram. Drafted 28th overall, he HAS to step up this year. We saw flashes of what we as fans thought he would be coming out of college at the end of last year, especially against Seattle. I think he and Khiry will have great seasons, and they will be the 1-2 punch down in the Bayou.
3. At the end of the 2014 season, New Orleans defense will be ranked #1:
There is an abundance of talent on this roster. Last year, the Saints had the 6th ranked defense in the league and that was without guys like Victor Butler and Patrick Robinson. This time around, those guys will be healthy (knock on wood), and they will be able to bolster the defense with added guys like Jarius Byrd and Champ Bailey through free agency and Stanley Jean-Baptiste through the draft. Minus a colossal meltdown or a cataclysmic injury to one of the main contributors, this defense should be ranked top 3. I’m predicting #1.
4. Brandin Cooks will be the Rookie of the Year:
Who is in a better situation out of everyone who was drafted than Cooks? I don’t know that anyone is. Brandin Cooks was drafted as Darren Sproles left. Sure, he’s a receiver, but he will most definitely fill the role that the Saints had for Sproles and then some. Being a receiver, the Saints will be able to utilize him in more pass plays than a Sproles (naturally) which will then open up the run game even more with Ingram, Khiry, and PT being natural runners as opposed to Sproles.
5. The Saints will win their second Lombardi Trophy:
Cam Jordan has come out and said that his goal is the Lombardi trophy. I can’t see why the Saints wouldn’t get it. It will definitely be an uphill battle with Seattle, San Fran, and Green Bay all most assuredly making the playoffs this year, but the Saints have the talent and the coaching to get it. With a high-octane offense and an up-and-coming defense that’s only getting younger, there is no reason why the Saints cannot make a serious run in the playoffs next year.
I’d like to know your opinions on my predictions and if anyone has anymore predictions I didn’t cover, share them!
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