"NFL Total Access" has launched its "32 in 32" series, breaking down the biggest subplots of every NFL team as the 2013 season approaches. Around The League will follow along and offer our own take. Up next: The New Orleans Saints
- Saints coach Sean Payton opened the offseason in a private meeting with his team emphasizing the running game. With the Saints thinner at wide receiver than perhaps any point in the Payton era, look for them to lean on their interior lineman and talented three-deep running back rotation. Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Mark Ingram for once all are healthy at the same time. It could be a scary group if that lasts.
- This is the first "normal" offseason the Saints have had since 2009. One beneficiary should be tight end Jimmy Graham. He's reportedly looked fantastic in offseason work and is 100 percent healthy again. The lack of depth at wide receiver and the first full offseason for Graham with quarterback Drew Brees since his rookie year could result in a huge season.
- Victor Butler's anterior cruciate ligament surgery was a brutal blow for a team begging for pass rush help. Will Smith, Martez Wilson and Junior Galette are the team's edge rushers. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is not playing with a full deck here.
- So how is Ryan's defense going to look? In minicamps, Mike Triplett of The Times-Picayune reported that the starting defensive line was Cameron Jordan, Kenyon Coleman and Brodrick Bunkley on the defensive line.
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Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma have been the inside linebackers. Will Smith and either Wilson or Galette have been on the outside. The secondary starters should be Keenan Lewis, Jabari Greer at cornerback with Malcolm Jenkins, Kenny Vaccaro and Roman Harper at safety.
A few thoughts here: The Saints should defend the run better this year with that line. And the secondary actually looks deep with Patrick Robinson coming off the bench and three talented safeties.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
