New Saints... Who Dat??

By Donovan Simmons | @RZDSimmons | September 22, 2021 09:01pm

For all 32 teams that comprise the RedZone League, this is the most exciting time of the year. Players and coaches are full of anticipation. Fan bases full of hope. And yours truly is embarking on a new journey as the Saints Beat Writer for RZ Sports. As the team broke training camp and headed back to their team facility on Airline Dr in Metairie, a number of questions are yet to be answered by this new coaching staff led by Head Coach Pasqualie Treadwell.

Treadwell comes to the Saints after spending the last 7 years as the head coach of Baldwin Wallace University, a small Division III school in northeast Ohio. But don’t let the D-III tag fool you. Treadwell amassed 156 wins, a .741 win percentage, 10 conference titles and 5 D-III playoff appearances. He guided the Yellow Jackets to the title game twice in those 5 trips, only to come up short to D-III powerhouse Mount Union. But will Coach P have the same success with the Saints here in the RedZone? Only time will tell.

Let’s move on to the three biggest storylines coming out of camp. It’s time for 3 Questions

1) Can Kamara and Michael Thomas carry the load for the offense?

“1! 2! Win! For you!... 3! 4! Win! Some more!!...” These words and this chant echoed throughout the Mercedes Benz Superdome for 15 years from legendary and hall of fame worthy names. Those faces have since moved on. The main offensive production will fall on the shoulders of Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas. But who will be the third option? While there seems to be plenty of depth at WR with the likes of Tre’Quan Smith, Deonte Harris and Marquez Callaway, the same can’t be said just yet for the backfield. Will it be the second year man Tony Jones or a veteran like Dwayne Washington or recent waiver acquisition D’Onta Foreman?

2) Winston, Taysom or Door Number 3?

With that legendary name not under center anymore, who will be the signal caller for 2021 and beyond? The in-house options are clear and Coach P has been very direct when asked at post practice pressers. 7 year vet Jameis Winston will have every opportunity to keep this job past this season. But you would have to think “The Human Swiss Army Knife” Taysom Hill will find his way on the field. Whether at QB or otherwise. Now if door #3 is the future… where Winston continues to be a roller coaster or Taysom’s below average passing skills need to be relied on for 17 games, then you’d have to imagine that the front office would address that need in the offseason. Both Winston and Hill are on 1 year deals, so this will for sure be a put up or ship out year for the both of them.

3) Defensive Rebuild?

While on paper there seems to be fewer questions in regards to the defense, Coach P and the front office will have to figure out who and what best fits this organization. With Cam Jordan on the D-Line and Demario Davis calling the shots from 7 yards off the ball, you’d have to acknowledge that both are in the 4th quarter of their respective careers. But with a core of young talent beside them, they look to stable this ship. The likes of Marcus Davenport and David Onyemata up front. A trio of CBs, Marshon Lattimore, Bradley Roby and rookie Paulson Adebo. And the tandem of Marcus Williams and CJ Gardner-Johnson on the back end. This defense may be ready for prime time in the NFC South.

Follow me @RZDSimmons on Twitter all season long for Saints coverage.

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