The New Orleans Saints are set to kick off their 2008 season with a home opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, the week leading up to the game has not been as smooth as head coach Sean Payton would have liked. 

In response to Hurricane Gustav, the Saints left for Indianapolis to practice for the week leading up to the game. Although there was doubt about whether or not New Orleans and the Superdome would be ready to host an opening weekend game, the city survived the storm and the Saints will returned to New Orleans on Friday.

The Saints are eager to return to their 2006 form, a season in which they reached the NFC Championship game. A disappointing 7-9 finish in 2007, highlighted by an 0-4 start, led to an overhaul of the defense.

Jonathan Vilma, 2004 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, headlines the additions to the Saints' defense. Vilma will start at middle linebacker and the Saints hope to use his rare athletic ability in blitzes. The Saints hope Vilma and team captain Scott Fujita will combine to make the linebackers one of the strongest groups in the NFC South.

Another major contribution will be expected from defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. The Saints traded up in the 2008 draft to grab the Southern Cal standout with the seventh overall pick. Ellis is expected to stop the run and give offensive lines fits with his rare combination of speed and power as he rushes the quarterback. Also, the defensive line will showcase Bobby McCray, who came over from Jacksonville via free agency. McCray will be featured as a pass rush specialist along with current defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant.

The Saints defense will also look for contributions from free agent pickup Randall Gay and Tracy Porter, a rookie from the University of Indiana. Gay and Porter add competition to a group of sub-par corners that gave up too many big plays last year. Gay is expected to start Sunday along with veteran Mike McKenzie, but Porter will appear in Nickel and Dime defensive sets.

Offensively, the Saints are poised to lead the team deep into the playoffs. Drew Brees is coming off a record breaking 2007 season in which he threw for 440 completions. There is no reason that his third year as the Saints play caller should be any different as he has access to one of the best arsenals for attack in the league.

Among those weapons, is third year receiver Marques Colston. After being selected in the seventh round by New Orleans, Colston has evolved into one of the game’s best playmakers. His height and sure hands make him Brees’ favorite target, especially in the red zone. Also, Robert Meachem, who set out last year with a leg injury, and Jeremy Shockey, who was recently traded from the New York Giants, will both be streaking downfield in pursuit of Brees’ passes.

The return of Deuce McAllister should result in the reemergence of a running game in New Orleans. After his season ending knee injury versus the Bucs last year in week two, the Saints struggled to establish a consisting running game. McAllister is the Saints all time leading rusher with 5,678 career yards. The success of his return could determine how far the Saints march this year.

No one is happier to have McAllister back on the field than fellow running back Reggie Bush. Bush is at his best when he can create mismatches in the open field or come in as a change of pace back.

Bush and McAllister complement each other as well as any duo in the league, and the Saints plan to get both of their talented backs plenty of touches throughout the year.

The key to Sunday’s match-up against the Bucs will be getting off to a quick start. A repeat of last year’s sluggish start will prove once again to be suicidal. The Saints need to establish themselves as a threat in the NFC, and there is no better way to do that than to convincingly defeat a division rival. Look for the Saints to feed off the energy of an emotional Superdome crowd as they feature a new look defense and a potent offense.