Here is a statement that might shock you: I’d grade the Saints preseason with an “A.”

Rogelio V. Solis / Associated Press

Drew Brees will get better. Mike McKenzie on the other hand...uh, not so much.

Why? They haven’t had any major injuries, Deuce has looked better than expected and they don’t have any problems…besides the ones already expected.

Yes, the defense is a train wreck from front to back and the linebacker they just traded for looked like the best one on the team. The offensive line is a work in progress, but seems to be coming together, and Drew Brees is having trouble working out the kinks from shoulder surgery.

If you didn’t expect to see these things coming, then you haven’t been paying attention.

The Saints defense was so bad the Colts should be concerned they could only rush for 60 yards against it. An honest look at the defense would reveal that Will Smith was the only guy consistently making plays.

The rotten fruits of the 2003 draft are starting to show. You remember when the Saints used the extra picks from the Ricky Williams trade to get Johnathan Sullivan, Cie Grant and Jon Stinchcomb? If not for Montrae Holland, that draft would be an F-. When you blow an entire draft it starts to really show about three years later. Check please, table one; thanks a bunch.

This defense has been comically bad since 2002 and needs a lot more than a trade with the Chargers for Donnie Edwards to fix it (but Lord knows that would be a start.)

Put it this way: the Saints defense shouldn’t be watched by those under 18 because of the amount of carnage on the screen.

If I were still in college, I’d devise a drinking game whenever the Saints defense is on the field. Every time the Saints miss a tackle, take a sip (of cola, people!); every time a running back gains five or more yards, you drink; and every time Mike McKenzie gets flagged for pass interference, do a shot.

Of course, if you played this game you’d wind up spending the second half stuck in the bathroom. McKenzie alone could destroy the bladders of thousands of Saints fans.

While the defense seems that it will be a problem all year long, the offense will likely be in good shape by mid-season.

Drew Brees won’t be throwing red zone interceptions all year long and this offense has too many weapons available to not score. And remember people, it’s not like they lost 41-0; which the Redskins did Saturday night.

How bad was Washington? They didn’t get inside the New England 20 yard line until the final minute of the game. And some people honestly believe the Redskins are a Super Bowl contender.

What’s the moral of all this, folks? To quote Freddy Mercury, “nothing really matters…anyone can see,” particularly in preseason. No matter how bad it looks.

Ralph Malbrough is a Saints fan living in California in part because of Hurricane Katrina. He can be reached at ralphmalbrough@hotmail.com.