The 2014 NFL season was the 48th season of the New Orleans Saints. This was their 39th season playing in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. They were also eighth under head coach Sean Payton. Here are some things you need to know about the 2014 Saints. This team is filled with great personalities, and their fans will be excited to see their new stadium and new coaching staff. These players are not only great at playing, but they also represent great value in the NFL.
The 2014 New Orleans Saints started off 0-2 and went on to win 8 games in a row. They also won their NFC South title for the first time since 2011. The team drafted a number of quality players, including Marshback Marshal Lattimore, offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk, safety Marcus Williams, running back Alvin Kamara, and cornerback Marcus Williams, in the first three rounds of the draft. Their defense also improved this season, allowing just 20.4 points per game. The offense continued to be excellent, too, and they sprinted past the Atlanta Falcons.
One of the biggest letdowns for the 2014 Saints was their defense. Although the team had hoped to remain in the top five, their defense failed to live up to expectations. The Saints’ defense was ranked 26th by football Outsiders, 22nd by 13.9% DVOA, and 29th by 1.1% DVOA. The Saints offense was solid but careless. The special teams were, however, just below average.
The Saints were $10 million over cap entering the 2014 season. However, the team cleared up nearly $17 million in cap space by cutting defenders. Jonathan Vilma was not signed, and Jabari Greer and Roman Harper were all cut. Smith was placed on injured reserve last season so the Saints will be without a lot of important pieces on their offensive line. There are many other things they will have to deal with this offseason.
The New Orleans Saints were a contender in Super Bowl a few months back. Despite a poor start, they were able to reach Super Bowl last year. The team has been disappointing this season. They finished with a record of 7-9 and won’t make the playoffs. Drew Brees would have been the top pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
The Saints were in desperate need of a new offensive spark after trading Darren Sproles. However, he ended up joining Malcolm Jenkins in Philadelphia. While Drew Brees had a quality supporting cast surrounding him, he needed a running back with the speed to make plays in the open field. With the addition of an electric athlete on draft day, the Saints will have a formidable pass rush. They will look to make the playoffs, but it will be a long season.
The Saints schedule looks difficult. The Saints have faced every team in the NFC North, AFC South and AFC West, but they are unlikely to face them. They will however face all teams from the NFC East or NFC West. It is possible that their schedule will be a bit unpredictable depending on which teams they play. It is important to note that the Saints will have a difficult time on the road, which is why the Saints’ schedule is so tough.