Out with the Old and in with the... Older
By "John Casper"

Off-Season 2161 (New Orleans) - Seven years ago, when longtime quarterback Walt Evans announced that he would be retiring at the end of the 2154 season, it was widely speculated that head coach Brandon Thomas would be retiring from the sidelines as well. With journeyman backup Lucas Aikens ekeing out a woeful 70 rating on his way to leading the team to a 5-9 record in 2155, it's a good bet the creator of the 'Tommy-Gun' offense regretted his decision to stay another year. Thomas announced his retirement less than an hour after his squad's season ended.

But 'The Gunner''s progeny would continue on. Running backs coach Rayshaun 'Big Ray' Keller emerged as the surprise selection to take up the head coaching mantle; he immediately curried fan favor by hiring Evans as his new QB coach. And the fans weren't the only ones who liked the change.

When Big Ray dismantled the offense that had been in place for two and a half decades, few league insiders felt the decision was a wise one. This time, however, the fans were right in deriding published commentary. Offensive scoring jumped nearly 100 points. The franchise ended a four-year playoff drought and took the 2156 division title. In the following season, they added another.

2158, however, saw a turn for the worse. The year began with Aikens suffering a back injury during a voluntary off-season workout; the injury would linger and Aikens was forced to retire early. While quickly acquired replacement quarterback Joe Brady fared well under Evans' tutelage, the offense often sputtered. Big Ray would miss three mid-season games with what turned out to be a heart ailment; the team lost all three contests. To make matters worse, Keller was forced to take an extended leave of absence after the team fell in the playoffs and he required hospitalization.

With continued ownership in question and fan resentment mounting in Washington, it was deemed inappropriate to replace Keller permanently; offensive coordinator Jeremy Adler was given the interim head coaching title. The popular Evans was pushed by ownership into the coordinator role. Unfortunately, Adler's gifts as a sideline manager and in-game analyst served him poorly as head coach; playcalling duties were generally left to Evans, who was admittedly unready for the responsibility. Falling back on his experiences as a downfield slinger, Evans' offense often seemed more like a modified spread than the one that had ground out a strong three-season run.

Hope for the offense flickered back to life last season, beginning with the news that the team would be relocating to New Orleans; the real flare came when Keller was able to attend pre-season camps and help the offense prepare. Having been a running back and, subsequently, a backs coach at Tulane University in New Orleans, Big Ray was already something of a local celebrity. Unfortunately, his recovery hit some minor snags and Keller was forced to spend most of a second season watching his team from home. While Evans' playcalling was much improved, and the team returned to its more successful ground attack, the offense still struggled without Keller's touch.

Slumping to a 6-7 record, the Saints would find themselves out of the playoffs with a game to go in its new home. But hope was once again rekindled when Big Ray returned for the team's final game against its sudden new rival, the 'Replacement Redskins'. While the contest was meaningless in the context of playoff relevancy, it clearly meant something to the players and fanbases involved. The 'Skins and Saints would battle to an overtime finish. Calling what would be the Saints' final possession of the game from the booth, Big Ray would direct a classic drive that ended with Brady hoisting the winning pass to fullback Dave Brochet.

With Keller back on the sidelines this year, supposedly in fine health, the overwhelming concensus is that the team will return to its position as a contender for the division title. But with the retirements of left tackle Glenn Downs and two longtime defensive backs, there are lingering doubts about whether Big Ray can pull his squad together enough to challenge Green Bay and Detroit for control of the division.

But given fan reaction to Keller's return and their unblemished admiration in the face of what was considered at best a mediocre season, it seems that hope might be all the Saints need to electrify their newly adopted city.

Time will tell if the same can be said for the performance of their offense.