NFL teams must trim rosters to 75 players by Thursday, and 53 before opening day. The Saints have received help with this process from an unwelcome source, the injury bug. This is particularly unwelcome since most of the injuries have been on defense, the area where improvement is most urgently needed. Defensive captain Will Smith is lost for the season, along with several linebackers & defensive lineman.
Head coach Sean Payton is known for not dwelling on who's unavailable, and game planning with the guys he has.

Sean Payton
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"There is urgency every season. Each year is different, and certainly there are goals   and expectations. Most importantly, we don't try and put limitations on what we think we can and can't do. We don't know enough about this team yet."   -Sean Payton

One thing coach Payton and his staff do know, the offense will be explosive. Quarterback Drew Brees is the only player in NFL history to pass for 5,000 yards in a season three times.
The Saints moved quickly to compensate for the loss of smith, acquiring Parys Haralson from the 49'ers.
Shortly after returning from his suspension, coach Payton said he's approaching 2013 as if it were his first season with a new team. The last time he did that, he took a team that had gone 3-13 the previous year to the NFC Championship game.

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