New Orleans Saints cornerback Tracy Porter is the player in the red uniform (above, right). Incidentally, the wide receiver that he is trying to keep the ball away from is also a Saint, former Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Adrian Arrington.

Both players missed the bulk of the season due to injuries.

In Porter’s case, it was a wrist injury which he suffered after being named one of the starting cornerbacks by head coach Sean Payton.

Porter certainly wasn’t the second coming of Champ Bailey or Asante Samuel, but he was a solid guy that you could depend on (see highlights of Porter’s pro debut and some of his college highlights below).

The Saints want and will have to depend on Porter in the months ahead.

The only logical starting players at that position include Porter, newly signed, Jabari Greer, Jason David, Randall Gay, and possibly a Saint draftee.

It’s safe to assume, unless something bad happens, that Porter will be one of the starting cornerbacks when the Saints play the first team on their schedule.

The Saints secondary were awful last year. This year needs to be strong to stop somebody other than Adrian Peterson. That was a huge accomplishment in itself, but you can’t allow Gus Frerotte throw all over the field. He’s Gus Frerotte, for goodness sakes!

Quarterback Drew Brees said he was stunned by the rapid development he witnessed from Porter.

“The first thing I saw was his athletic ability and speed,” the veteran signal-caller said. “The transition you usually see for a rookie is usually pretty bumpy, but he was playing so well. In fact, he was probably making as seamless a transition from college to the pros as any cornerback I have ever seen.” 

But will it carry over into this year? Only time will tell.