Horn can blow right by the defense.

WR: Note to NFC South secondaries: The sixth-ranked passing attack in the NFC (219.6 ypg) is a whole lot better. Only an injured right hamstring in training camp slowed Donte' Stallworth, the first receiver taken in the draft, who ran a 4.18 40 at the Combine. Stallworth teams with Pro Bowler Joe Horn (83 catches, 1,265 receiving yards and 9 TDs), who is overjoyed to see Ricky gone because it means more balls his way, and Jerome Pathon to give the Saints the kind of speed that spreads the field. That'll make free agent TE David Sloan (7 TDs with Detroit) even more effective -- and give QB Brooks a shot at the big bucks he's seeking.

WEAK SIDE

LB: MLB Charlie Clemons (13.5 sacks, 123 tackles in 2001), has the speed to chase down QBs and RBs. Still, the Saints will miss OLB Keith Mitchell, a four-year starter and 2000 Pro Bowler who signed with Houston. Sedrick Hodge must produce in a starting role. Old hands Darrin Smith, 32, and FA signee Bryan Cox, 34, have lost a step or three. Can this group improve the 27th-ranked scoring defense? Not likely.

NFC South

1. Buccaneers

2. Saints

3. Falcons

4. Panthers

Scouting Report Index

OTHER UNITS

QB: The Saints want Aaron Brooks to keep making big plays (3,832 yards, 26 TDs in 2001) while cutting down on his big mistakes (22 INTs). If he does, Brooks is a shoo-in for Bargain of the Year. At $450,000, he's making less than backup Jake Delhomme ($563,000).

RB: Gambling that Deuce McAllister (16 carries in 2001) is a big-play back, the Saints traded Ricky Williams (1,245 yards) to Miami. Jim Haslett's betting that McAllister's superior speed and hands will open up the offense. They'd better, because Brooks had more rushing yards (358) than McAllister (91).

OL: Kyle Turley says he's the best OT in football. Now he gets to prove it. With six-time Pro Bowler Willie Roaf on the Chiefs, Turley shifts from the right side to the left. Spencer Folau and Victor Riley will platoon at RT. Who plays guard? Try LG Wally Williams and rookie RG LeCharles Bentley.

DL: The Saints were second in the league with 53 sacks in 2001. Now Joe Johnson and La'Roi Glover, All-Pros who combined for 17 sacks, are gone. That puts pressure on No.1 pick Charles Grant to produce now, and ex-Raiders DT Grady Jackson (6'2", 330) to be the main run-stuffer.

DB: Free safety Jay Bellamy (111 tackles) and SS Sammy Knight (6 INTs) cover ground and create turnovers. With Dale Carter suspended indefinitely for violating the league's drug policy, six-year veteran Fred Thomas (team-high 18 passes defensed) gets to keep his job, for now.

ST: K John Carney (18 of 18 inside the 40) and P Toby Gowin (41.8 ypp) are solid. The return game? Send it back. Michael Lewis (5'8", 165) is a former beer truck driver with shaky hands.

This article appears in the September 16 issue of ESPN The Magazine.