Saints Offense By Position

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 20, 2008 - UPDATED: 10:20 a.m.

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UFA — unrestricted free agent    FA — free agent

QUARTERBACKS

RETURNEES: Drew Brees, Tyler Palko.

TOP NEWCOMERS:: Mark Brunell (UFA, Washington), Travis Lulay (FA).

PROJECTED STARTER: Brees.

OUTLOOK:: Brees continues to be everything Sean Payton could hope for in a field general. After two monster seasons, they’re expecting more of the same from the eight-year veteran. Last season, Brees set club records for passing yards (4,423), TDs (28), pass attempts (652), completions (440) and completion percentage (67.5). His 440 completions also set an NFL record. Brunell has replaced Jamie Martin as the backup, giving the Saints a better option if Brees were to go down. Palko will be the third quarterback unless Payton keeps just two as he did for stretches last season.

RUNNING BACKS

RETURNEES: RB Reggie Bush, RB Deuce McAllister, RB Aaron Stecker, RB Pierre Thomas, RB Chris Barclay, FB Mike Karney, FB Kevin Dudley (practice squad).

TOP NEWCOMER: None.

PROJECTED STARTERS:: Bush (RB), Karney (FB).

OUTLOOK:: Bush may line up as the starter for the first training camp practice Thursday because McAllister will likely be limited after having double-knee surgery last September. But make no mistake about it, the Saints need McAllister to improve their running game, which averaged just 91.6 yards a game last year. He also makes Bush, whom defenses loaded up to stop after McAllister was lost in Week 3, a more effective back. Special teams standouts Stecker and Thomas will vie for playing time in the backfield as well, with Karney once again serving as the lead blocker.

WIDE RECEIVERS

RETURNEES: Marques Colston, David Patten, Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson, Terrance Copper, Lance Moore.