re: Saints open with a win total of 8.5

Here is my take.. and I project 10 wins right now, so in no way am I a pessimist.

Saints have helped themselves this off-season even if they tripped over their own feet to do it (Mahomes at 11 and Foster at 32).

I don't really buy in to Okafor/Kikaha tandem for what I think are right reasons: Okafor has 5.5 sacks last 2 seasons combined and Kikaha has 3 ACls to 4 career sacks. (and to guy that said he didn't have 3 ACLs, it's semantics.. he's had 3 separations and 3 surgeries.

Now, when I look at the sum of the parts on defense, I'm intrigued. Cam is elite, even with 7.5 sacks last season. He's an 8-12 sack guy waiting to happen. I don't get the ST hate on Rankins, he missed half last season and still pulled in 4 sacks. Fairley I'm meh on, only because last season's 6.5 sacks was career high and he's known to underachieve. There is a reason dude had been on 3 teams in 6 years and now just hit a payday.

But... with Lattimore hoping to lock down one CB spot and Williams hoping to really centerfield, moving Bell and Vaccaro down to better position spots is a 100% yes.

If Saints can get 3 healthy, serviceable LBs in base, and really just 2 in nickel, the defense can take leaps forward.

Ram solidifies the OL, which should be Top 3-5 for a couple of years. Kamara is a luxury piece because we still need to maintain the offensive prowess. Can;t expect the defense to go from historically bad to best in league.

As for the rest of the division, I already stated the truth. Underestimating your opponents is a mistake. The last 2 NFC Super Bowl LOSERS were from our division.