Ricky Williams needs to rehab both his image and his play for the Saints to be successful. And Jeff Blake must be reborn in New Orleans. The Saints made a lot of great moves in the offseason, adding receivers Jake Reed and Joe Horn to the offense. But season-ending injuries have already claimed two key players, tight end Cam Cleeland and cornerback Steve Israel. If they can get production out of Williams, the Saints will have a pretty decent offense. Plus, they don't have Mike Ditka holding them back.

Mueller, the former vice president of football operations in Seattle, has provided the kind of dynamic, forward-thinking leadership veteran followers of the club aren't accustomed to. He has rebuilt the roster by making more than 50 personnel moves since February, including signing quarterback Jeff Blake, defensive tackle Norman Hand and wide receiver Jake Reed. Players continued to come and go during training camp.

Haslett, the former defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh who served in the same capacity in New Orleans in 1996, has brought a businesslike attitude to the sideline. The team's veterans have faith in the coaching staff again.

But the Saints are still a work in progress. When considering his offseason efforts, Mueller said it was like working in "an expansion setting."

This is certainly a more talented team than the one that finished 3-13 in '99, but how much better is uncertain. Haslett's organization and discipline are positive steps, but the new coach's primary challenge is molding a roster full of new faces into a team.

In Haslett's favor: Only one of the Saints' first 11 opponents finished above .500 last year, and the NFC West is relatively weak beyond St. Louis. If New Orleans can steal a few victories early, it will provide a shot of confidence for the rest of the season.

The biggest problem: There is precious little depth, at every position. After already losing TE Cam Cleeland and CB Steve Israel, another major injury -- to Blake, RB Ricky Williams, or a starting offensive or defensive lineman -- will create problems the club doesn't have answers for. The line between another disappointing season and finishing as high as 8-8 is pretty thin.

Offense
Quarterbacks: Ditka downplayed the importance of having a trustworthy passer until it was too late. Mueller made finding a veteran leader the team's No. 1 priority. The Saints signed Blake to a four-year, $17 million deal on the opening day of free agency and have given the ninth-year veteran the reins to the offense. Despite being a Pro Bowl pick in '95, Blake was constantly looking over his shoulder as a Bengal and is determined to put the Cincinnati experience behind him. He has impressed the coaching staff with his leadership and quick mastery of the West Coast offense, and his strong right arm should allow the Saints to stretch the field for the first time in years. A variety of rollouts also have been implemented to take advantage of Blake's mobility, but a key will be his ability to make the touch, medium-range throws the system demands. The Saints traded for Green Bay's Aaron Brooks, and he is being groomed as the quarterback of the future. Brooks, lanky and strong-armed in the mold of a young Randall Cunningham, worked with offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy last year with the Packers.
Grade: B