Panthers training camp injuries reminder of biggest key for Saints

By all measures, the 2018 New Orleans Saints are a talented, above average team. Of course, that guarantees nothing.

The NFL is an ever-changing, static league where you can expect the unexpected annually with the notable exception of the amazingly consistent New England Patriots.

So often, we see teams go from an excellent season to a disappointing one, from a depressing one to a tremendous year. The “what have you done for me?” mentality is prevalent.

With the Saints, the play of second-year stars of a year ago will prove huge. The performance of new additions, including Kurt Coleman, Marcus Davenport, Tre’Quan Smith, Demario Davis, Patrick Robinson, Cameron Meredith, Ben Watson, Shane Vereen and others will be watched closely. Naturally, Drew Brees must remain the great player that he has been in New Orleans.

The schedule is another factor and the Saints face a very tough one this season, ranked as the second toughest in the league. Such is the case when you play a first-place schedule and you reside in a very difficult division and the tougher conference.

Perhaps the biggest factor of all is avoiding key injuries.

Last year, the Saints lost A.J. Klein and Alex Anzalone on defense and could not keep Terron Armstead healthy on offense. When Alvin Kamara left the game in Atlanta early with concussion-like symptoms, it changed the game.

Injuries are the X-factor, the one aspect of the game you simply cannot control or account for. Even teams with depth cannot replace a front-line player with one of equal or greater ability.

In the process of working players hard in training camp, Sean Payton and other NFL coaches walk the tightrope of doing everything to avoid key injuries. Naturally, most of them which occur have little or nothing to do with the coach or the approach.

In the white-hot race for the NFC South Division title, Tampa Bay will be without Jameis Winston early. Though the Buccaneers will likely be improved, the true contenders still appear to be the Saints, Atlanta and Carolina.

The Falcons added a key piece in Calvin Ridley. They were already loaded on offense and fast on defense.

The Panthers added wide receiver D.J. Moore in the first round after drafting Christian McCaffrey last year in the first round to provide Cam Newton with weapons.

While the Falcons are the pick of many to unseat the Saints in the NFC South, the Panthers figure prominently as well but the injury bug has stung Carolina in huge fashion already.

On Saturday, star right tackle Daryl Williams went down with a torn MCL and dislocated patella. On Monday, the Panthers lost cornerback Ross Cockrell indefinitely with a fractured left tibia and fibula.

Both injuries occurred in practice. No matter how hard you try, injuries cannot be totally avoided. The Panthers also drafted former Riverdale and LSU star Donte Jackson, who will now likely have to start game one of his rookie season on the other side of James Bradberry.

Avoiding injuries is crucial, pivotal in the grand scheme of achieving success in the NFL or at any level. The goal for Payton and any team is to escape training camp and the dreadful preseason unscathed or close to it, something the Panthers simply could not do.