Sheldon Mickles for July 16

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 16, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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If you’re tired of the dog days of summer (who isn’t?) and in need of a little pick-me-up, help is on the way: NFL training camps are just around the corner.

One week from today, the New Orleans Saints report to Jackson, Miss., to resume their quest for an elusive first Super Bowl appearance — an epic drought that now spans 41 seasons.

After a close call in 2006, when they reached the NFC Championship Game for the first time, followed by a huge disappointment in 2007, the Saints will get back to work.

But they won’t be starting from scratch. Beginning in mid-March, the Saints put 2‰ months of work into their offseason program to set the stage for their third training camp under Sean Payton.

So hitting the ground running and taking a step forward — instead of a giant step back — will be the goal when 80 players take the field the next morning.

Here are five areas the Saints must improve in (it’s no coincidence that the top three are on defense) to return to the playoffs and be a legitimate player in the Super Bowl sweepstakes:

1. Do a better job against the pass.

Was there any doubt this would top the list? The Saints ranked 30th in the NFL while allowing 245.3 yards a game last season, one in which they gave up a whopping 54 passes of 20 yards or longer.

They also surrendered 32 TD passes, tying them with the Detroit Lions for most in the league, which led to a re-tooling of the secondary.

2. Generate a better pass rush.

After getting just 21 sacks from their defensive line, the Saints addressed the deficiency by signing end Bobby McCray and taking tackle Sedrick Ellis in the first round.

McCray gives the Saints a better option in the rotation with Will Smith, who had a team-high seven sacks, and Charles Grant, who looks to bounce back from injury.

Ellis should provide a better rush up the middle although he was drafted to help stop the run.