The Williams' shuffle

Saints march into camp with newfound enthusiasm

Williams will give a lift to the Saints' rushing, which ranked 30th in the league last season. AP

The New Orleans Saints, who finished third in the NFC West last season, opened their 1999 training camp July 28 at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. Here are a few questions from Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z, followed by CNNSI.com's perspective on some of the issues facing the Saints this season. SI's season preview will be posted Aug. 24.

Dr. Z wants to know:

1) What record did the Saints set last year? Guaranteed, this will give you an automatic score in a Saints trivia contest. Are you ready? Here it comes: Most quarterbacks on the roster named Billy Joe -- two. Tolliver and Hobert. The old record was one.

2) And now you want to know if this twosome, combined with Danny Wuerffel, provides enough firepower to win? See, you had to go and spoil it.

3) Has Mike Ditka been tipped off to the fact that ever since Benny Friedman set the league on fire, you've got to be able to throw the ball to win?

4) Has there ever been a more successful snow job than the idea of Ditka turning things around by dint of personality? And how do you feel when you read that last year's second straight 6-10 was a masterful achievement, given the obstacles everyone had to overcome? Yeah, I have to laugh, too.

5) And before he snapped on a helmet or drew a paycheck, Ricky Williams was predicting not only playoffs, but "deep in the playoffs," based on his talent. Final question: Do these people really know what they're doing?

The Saints could make the playoffs if: Coach Mike Ditka was 30 years younger and could suit up. But he can't. Even the addition of Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams is unlikely to get the Saints into the playoffs, but if he performs solidly and if receiver Eddie Kennison, an addition from the Rams, gives New Orleans a deep threat, then the Saints might wind up with a winning record. One of the Billy Joes -- Hobert and Tolliver -- needs to step up at quarterback.

Pivotal games: Sept. 19 at San Francisco. Dec. 5 at Atlanta. The early-season game with the 49ers will let the Saints know where they stand. If they are still in the NFC West title hunt come December, then the matchup with the Falcons could separate the pretenders from the contenders.

On the hot seat: Ricky Williams and Mike Ditka. Da coach mortgaged da future to get Williams, who may well contend for the rushing title. If he doesn't pan out, Ditka won't be welcome on Bourbon Street much longer. The other Williams, Wally,(a left offensive guard, which is why you've never heard of him) obtained as a free agent from the Ravens, needs to step up to solidify an already strong line and pave the way for Ricky.

Up-and-comers: Tight end Cam Cleeland, defensive end Joe Johnson. Cleeland performed well as a rookie last season, leading the team with 54 receptions. If he can learn to block as well, a Pro Bowl season could be in the making. Johnson, a first-round draft pick in 1994, came into his own last season, making the Pro Bowl. He could well do it again.

Player Movement Unrestricted Free Agents Restricted Free Agents Players Lost Ashley Ambrose, CB, from Cin. Wally Williams, G, from Bal. Aaron Craver, RB, re-signed Jerry Fontenot, C, re-signed Vinson Smith, LB, re-signed Tom Ackerman, G, re-signed John Farquhar, TE, re-signed Keno Hills, T, re-signed Tony Johnson, TE, re-signed Scott Slutzker, TE, re-signed Brady Smith, DE, re-signed Troy Wilson, DE, re-signed Clarence Jones, T, Car. Chad Cota, S, Ind. Kerry Collins, QB, NYG Andy McCollum, C, Stl. Sean Dawkins, WR, Sea.

1999 Draft Picks Round Overall Pick Player Pos School 1 5 Ricky Williams RB Texas

 

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