Two-a-Days: Previewing the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2011 NFL season I am going to take a look at two teams a day. I will give you the impact players on offense and defense, a breakout player, and the biggest training camp question.

Offense

QB - Drew Brees

RB - Pierre Thomas

RB - Mark Ingram (r)

WR - Marques Colston

WR - Lance Moore

Defense

DT - Sedrick Ellis

DE  - Will Smith

MLB - Jonathan Vilma

CB - Jabari Greer

CB - Tracy Porter

Breakout: Jimmy Graham - So people think he's the next Antonio Gates, but that's just because he was more of a basketball player for Miami in college and they see the similarities. Not sure if he's Gates, but Graham has a chance to become Brees' favorite red zone target. I would not expect a lot of yards, but 7-to-10 touchdowns is more than possible. 

Biggest Training Camp Question - It's not that Reggie Bush is gone, but the Saints do not have a reliable run game. In their Super Bowl year they had a running game that teams had to account for and that's what made them so dynamic. Pierre Thomas needs to bounce back from injury or Mark Ingram has to learn the playbook quickly. 

Last year's record: 11-5

Projected finish: 10-6 (2nd in the NFC South)

Offense
QB - Tom Brady
RB - BenJarvus Green-Ellis
TE - Aaron Hernandez
WR - Chad Ochocinco (acquired in trade)
WR - Wes Welker

Defense
DT - Vince Wilfork
DT - Albert Haynesworth (acquired in trade)
MLB - Jerod Mayo
CB - Devin McCourty
S - Brandon Meriweather

Breakout: Rob Ninkovich - Ninkovich finally got regular playing time last season with the Pats and his numbers should only get better with the additions at other areas. Ninkovich is straight out of the Mike Vrabel mold where Mr. Robert Kraft and the Patriots make their money.

Biggest Training Camp Question: They've done the undefeated regular season, they've gone 14-2 only a year ago to be the forgotten team because they flamed out in the playoffs. All that matters is while Tom Brady can still chuck do the Pats have enough to add another championship. The trades for Haynesworth and Ochocinco reconfirm they are all in.

Last year's record: 14-2

Projected finish 13-3 (1st in AFC East)

** Check back tomorrow to look at the Giants and Jets