CINCINNATI -- Here are five observations on the New Orleans Saints, based on Saturday night's preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals:

	The Saints are counting on production from Stallworth.

1. The Saints had a terrific draft bounty but, even with a pair of first-round choices in wide receiver Donté Stallworth and defensive end Charles Grant, by far the most impressive of the group is LeCharles Bentley. A second-rounder who has won the starting job at right guard, the former Ohio State star isn't just the best rookie blocker we've seen in camp and preseason, but is actually one of the best rookies at any position. Primarily a center for the Buckeyes, he has fit very comfortably into the spot once occupied by Chris Naeole, who departed in free agency. Head coach Jim Haslett has told folks he feels Bentley will be one of the best players on the team by the end of the season, perhaps one of the best in the league by 2003, and if Saturday was any indication he might be right. On the Saints' first play from scrimmage, he absolutely spun Cincinnati defensive tackle Oliver Gibson around as tailback Deuce McAllister cut behind him for a 13-yard gain. On the second play, he collapsed Gibson inside, and McAllister went for 25 yards. What was even more impressive was how Bentley blocked at the second level, getting out on linebackers, even after he had carried out his assignment at the line of scrimmage. Bentley isn't particularly big (6-feet-2, 299 pounds), but he is very strong, and he's got a noticeable mean streak. "Very strong hands," said Bengals defensive tackle Tony Williams. "If he gets on you, he'll turn you." Bentley doesn't appear all that explosive coming off the ball, but he gets into a defender's body deceptively fast, and sustains his blocks. Stallworth has been battling a hamstring injury but looked quick on the inside cuts. Grant had a cheap-shot penalty for roughing the quarterback, but the Saints love his toughness and the fact he can play the left or right side, and pencil him in for 7-8 sacks as a rookie. Linebacker James Allen (No. 3) appears very active and will likely be a starter in 2003. Cornerback Keyou Craver (No. 4) doesn't run as well as you'd like but, at some point this year, we're betting he supplants Ken Irvin as the "nickel" guy. Craver had a nifty interception in the first quarter, lulling Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna into throwing the ball, then coming nicely under Cincinnati wideout Ron Dugans to make the theft. Bottom line: The Saints lost some great players, but new general manager Mickey Loomis and personnel director Rick Mueller did a great job replenishing the talent base with young prospects.

2. There is little doubt that second-year tailback McAllister, the successor to Ricky Williams, has become the centerpiece of the New Orleans offense in his first season as the starter. Because of his quickness, and receiving skills, Saints coordinator Mike McCarthy can spread the field more. That creates not only superior matchups for the wide receivers, but also more creases for McAllister, who touched the ball on eight of the Saints' first 10 plays against the Bengals. But the Saints had better light a few hundred novena candles that McAllister, a sprain personified during his college career and a guy who logged just 16 rushes as a rookie in 2001, doesn't get hurt. The venerable Terry Allen is the top backup. Uh, a nice career, but one would figure there had to be somebody out there better than the 34-year-old Allen. The rest of the depth chart includes special teams ace Fred McAfee, who hasn't had 50 carries in a season since 1993 and has rushed just three times in the last three years, and a bunch of free agent types. Notable is that one of the free agents is, drum roll, Ricky Williams. The one who played for Texas Tech, was once highly regarded early in his college career, but who didn't even get drafted in the 2002 lottery.

3. Bentley is just one reason why the New Orleans offensive line is deeper -- and, yeah, better -- than a year ago. The starting unit that lined up Saturday was minus three regulars from 2001. Naeole left for Jacksonville as a free agent. Sore-kneed Willie Roaf, the left tackle, was traded to Kansas City. Left guard Wally Williams was out with an injury. But it didn't matter as the line blocked superbly for the run and the pass. New Orleans signed four veteran free agents -- center-guard Kendyl Jacox, center Bubba Miller and tackles Victor Riley and Spencer Folau -- and invested just about $4 million in signing bonuses and 2002 salaries for the group. That's less than the club would have been forced to pay Roaf to keep him around. There is flexibility here that very few teams possess and only one or two teams at most can rival the New Orleans depth. After four years at right tackle, Kyle Turley moved to the left side, where he replaces Roaf. The Saints' wild man looked fairly comfortable on Saturday, looked like he had a couple brain spasms, but will get better with more snaps. Riley figures to be the right tackle, but he will miss the season opener because of a league-mandated suspension, so Folau will get the start. The journeyman tackle, who can also play some guard, is a nice insurance policy to have around. Just a guess but, if Williams comes back soon, the Saints are going to have to find a place for Jacox. A former starter at center for San Diego, he could push snapper Jerry Fontenot for playing time. The guy is too good and too athletic to keep on the bench.

4. Losing cornerback Dale Carter to a league suspension, possibly for the entire season but likely for something less than that, was a huge blow to what already was a shaky New Orleans secondary. Not only is Carter gone for now, but the Saints also are without Kevin Mathis, a 2001 starter New Orleans was forced to release because of a serious neck injury. That leaves the starters as undersized Fred Thomas and relatively untested third-year veteran Michael Hawthorne. In two previous seasons, Hawthorne started only three games. He has nice size (6-feet-3, 200 pounds), runs adequately, but isn't very strong. The rookie Craver, who had one passed defensed in addition to his Saturday interceptions, has better instincts but doesn't run well enough to be a starter. Nor does veteran Ken Irvin, who showed poor break on a Gus Frerotte pass that hung in the air forever in the second quarter. So unless Carter returns, assuming he does, the Saints probably will have to go with this suspect bunch of cover guys. The good news is that the Saints still have strong safety Sammy Knight, one of the most opportunistic defenders in the league, manning the middle of the field. Knight is, quite simply, a ball magnet. If there is a tipped pass, or a fumble, he is seemingly always in the area. Knight is a resourceful guy who rarely gets the credit he deserves, but he is easily the top player in the New Orleans secondary.

5. Does anyone besides us think Charlie Clemons is a pretty good middle linebacker? Not great, mind you, but pretty good. After all, the guy notched 13½ sacks last season, after having just five in his previous four years. The former CFL standout, who came back to the United States to play on special teams for the St. Louis Rams in 1997, has made himself a big contributor. Clemons is active, pursues the ball well, times his blitzes nicely. So why doesn't Saints management sign Clemons, who is in the final year of his contract, to an extension? Doubtless the front office feels like most NFL personnel people do, that unless your name is Ray Lewis or maybe Brian Urlacher, you're just interchangeable at middle linebacker. But someone needs to step up and keep the guy around. New Orleans has one new starter this season in second-year pro Sedrick Hodge, who replaced the deposed Keith Mitchell. In 2003, bet the house, James Allen, a third-round choice this year, will supplant Darrin Smith. Ever heard of needing a little bit of continuity? Clemons would provide some.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.