SB Nation - Kendrick Clancy

Saints Mid-Season Defensive & Special Teams Player Grades; Jabari Greer and Thomas Morstead awarded MVP

saints-nation — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:00:34 -0000

by Bill Feig - AP

Below are the Grade Point Averages of each player that's played significant time in the New Orleans Saints' defense and special teams through the first eight games of the 2009 season, ordered from highest GPA to lowest:

DEFENSE:

Jabari Greer 3.46 (8 graded games)

Roman Harper 3.25 (8 graded games)

Tracy Porter 3.25 (8 graded games)

Darren Sharper 3.21 (8 graded games)

Malcolm Jenkins 3.11 (3 graded games)

Randall Gay 3.00 (6 graded games)

Jonathan Vilma 2.96 (8 graded games)

Pierson Prioleau 2.84 (2 graded games)

Will Smith 2.79 (8 graded games)

Scott Shanle 2.79 (8 graded games)

Sedrick Ellis 2.78 (6 graded games)

Jo-Lonn Dunbar 2.78 (3 grades games)

Scott Fujita 2.75 (4 grades games)

DeMario Pressley 2.67 (1 graded game)

Marvin Mitchell 2.34 (2 graded games)

Charles Grant 2.29 (8 graded games)

Kendrick Clancy 2.17 (2 graded games)

Remi Ayodele 2.10 (6 graded games)

Bobby McCray 1.86 (7 graded games)

Troy Evans 1.67 (2 graded games)

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Thomas Morstead 3.08 (8 graded games)

Courtney Roby 2.71 (7 graded games)

John Carney 2.67 (8 graded games)

Below are the number of Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Game awards handed out in my Player Grades posts:

defense:

Darren Sharper 3

Will Smith 1

Roman Harper 1

Tracy Porter 1

Jonathan Vilma 1

Jabari Greer 1

special teams:

Thomas Morstead 2

Courtney Roby 2

Malcolm Jenkins 2

Robert Meachem 1

John Carney 1

Based on the numbers alone, I'm choosing Jabari Greer as the Mid-Season Defensive MVP. If Jahri Evans isn't a popular pick, then picking Greer over Darren Sharper should be even less of one. Keep in mind that while Sharper has had about 4 INCREDIBLE games and others that were pretty good, Greer has been steadily very good every single week. On special teams, I think Morstead getting the MVP is a no brainer. What do you think?

Poll

Who Is Your Mid-Season Defensive MVP?

Jonathan VIlma

30 votes

Will Smith

14 votes

Darren Sharper

321 votes

Jabari Greer

54 votes

Roman Harper

8 votes

427 votes | Poll has closed

New Orleans Saints' Defensive and Special Teams Player Grades vs. Falcons

saints-nation — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:00:28 -0000

More photos » by Bill Feig - AP

about 1 month ago: New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper (42) intercepts a pass in front of Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (84) in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. The Saints defeated the Falcons 35-27 to remain unbeaten. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)

Browse more photos »

Below are the grades for the defensive and special team players.

Falcons vs Saints boxscore

Falcons vs Saints recap

Will Smith: A- (2.72) He was awesome and this was arguably his best game of the season. Smith was a constant menace to the Atlanta passing game, repeatedly beating his man around the edge to apply pressure. He finished with 4 tackles, 2 sacks, a defended pass and induced a holding penalty when he was clearly headed for a sack. Honestly, I felt like holding calls could have been made against Smith at least 3 other times. The "defended pass", by the way, was originally ruled a sack and forced fumble, but reviewed and changed to an incomplete pass. He was helpful at times in run support, but that area of his game was perfectible.

Charles Grant: D+ (2.19) Forgettable performance from Grant who was invisible for the majority of the night. Several of Michael Turner's big runs came off his edge. He did a poor job rushing the passer and was largely neutralized. He finished with 3 tackles.

Bobby McCray: D+ (1.95) The only redeeming value in this performance for McCray is that he showed decent pressure on Atlanta's final 2 drives. Other than that, he recorded no tackles and had another very quiet game. Time for him to step up and make a play, already.

Anthony Hargrove: C (2.33) Hargrove was decent rushing the passer and bad against the run. He finished with 4 tackles, a sack and laid a devastating hit on Matt Ryan as he released the final pass intercepted by Sharper. The Falcons ran the ball several times right at Hargrove and his size limitation showed. He was pushed around at the point of attack and made it obvious the Saints miss Sedrick Ellis on running plays.

Remi Ayodele: D- (2.06) Ayodele had just one tackle despite playing a significant amount of time in the game. He was manhandled by the Falcons' big line, and allowed Turner to escape his grasp several times. He looked slow and confused in many different sets. By far his worse game of the season. Run defense is supposed to be his specialty, but Michael Turner was allowed to run free and hurt the Saints defense immensely. Very poor performance from Ayodele.

Kendrick Clancy: C- (2.17) Clancy showed good pressure once on a passing play, and got involved a couple of times in run support. He seemed to push the pile with average results when he was in. Overall he didn't get much action in the game. Maybe he was a little rusty, but it seems clear to me he's a better option right now than Ayodele. Just 1 tackle on the day for the backup tackle.

Scott Shanle: D (2.81) By far Shanle's worst game of the season. He's been so solid and sound each and every week, it was a big surprise to see him struggle. He registered his very first tackle very late in the 3rd quarter, falling on top of a stumbling Tony Gonzalez downfield. He ended the game with 3 tackles. In the passing game he was stiff and missed a couple opportunities to deflect passes. He was a step slow getting to his assignments and he was pushed around in run support. He was useless against Michael Turner's runs. It seemed like anytime there was an opportunity for Shanle to make a play, a blocker would wipe him out contention. He did not absorb hits the way he usually does.

Jonathan Vilma: B- (2.91) Vilma finished with 6 tackles and was active. He was one of the few players that got involved in trying to slow down Michael Turner. That said, he over-pursued on at least three plays inside, allowing Turner to bounce out wide and gain big yardage. He was not dominant like he was at Miami, and got push around from time to time. His grade would be worse, but he came up with one of the biggest plays of the game tipping a Matt Ryan pass that went into the hands of Tracy Porter for an interception. At that point Atlanta was in scoring position down 24-28, so Vilma came up with a big play at the most crucial of times.

Marvin Mitchell: C- (2.34) Marvin made two critical mistakes early that could have landed him an F grade. First he got beat severely by Gonzalez on a passing route, falling down to allow the hall of fame to be tight end to get yardage after the catch. Later, he jumped offsides on a big 3rd and 4 to give Atlanta the automatic first down. Some of you may have noticed Payton going over to him and letting him know that was twice (showing the number two with his fingers) Mitchell had screwed up and hurt the team. After that, though, he came back to make a terrific open field tackle on a punt return, and he helped in run support. He finished with 3 tackles.

Jabari Greer: B (3.52) Greer was tough as usual. He was assigned to Roddy White all day and defended many passes. He came up with a game turning interception which he ran back 48 yards for a touchdown before halftime. He did give up a 68 yard bomb to White, though, later in the game to get the Falcons back in it. On that play it looked to me like he was pushed in the back and the coverage overall was actually pretty good, so while he got beat it wasn't egregious. Later, White almost had another touchdown which would have tied the game, but a review showed the pass hit the turf. Not only was Greer beat there, but he could've been flagged for pass interference. White had just 4 catches, but they went for 108 yards and a TD. Overall it was a tough player to guard for Greer, but Jabari handled it pretty well and made a huge play. He finished with 6 tackles.

Tracy Porter: A (3.24) Porter looked fantastic tackling and was very solid in pass defense. His crucial interception with the Falcons driving down 24-28 was one of the biggest plays of the Saints' young season. Despite his limited size he was aggressive in helping his teammates bring down both Michael Turner and Tony Gonzalez. He made no real mistakes in the game, and he finished with 6 tackles.

Randall Gay: B- (3.00) Gay had 3 tackles and had pretty good coverage on Tony Gonzalez on occasion. He helped his teammates and didn't make any major mistakes.

Roman Harper: B+ (3.19) A solid performance overall from Harper. He was in the box and he was the only one that didn't seem scared to hit Michael Turner. He was all over the field and finished with 8 tackles. His grade could've been better, but he was bullied by Tony Gonzalez on passing plays, and he over-pursued like Vilma at times allowing Turner to bounce outside. The one play that really disappointed me was when he watched Turner get stacked up by about 4 Saints players, and instead of piling on and bringing the runner down - he saw Turner break free of the pile for a big gain. He needs to stay aggressive through the whistle, but overall he had a good game and didn't make major errors against the pass like he sometimes does.

Darren Sharper: B- (3.19) Sharper had a horrendous angle on the first touchdown run by Michael Turner. As good as he can be at times, let's not fool ourselves into thinking this guy doesn't have limitations too. He's definitely lost a step from his heyday. He's still a major upgrade over past free safeties regardless. He finished with 4 tackles, a dropped interception, an interception on a desperate hail mary pass, and a blitz where he pummeled Matt Ryan and caused a big incompletion on 3rd down. Still, his tackling wasn't always great and he was bullied by Michael Turner downfield with stiff arms. All of that aside, 7 interceptions in 7 games is just RIDICULOUS.

Jo-Lonn Dunbar: B- (2.50) Dunbar was great at times, and mediocre at others. He was extremely aggressive against the run and very active. Sometimes it got him in trouble, and other times he made good plays. He finished with 4 tackles. If Fujita misses another game, I think I prefer Dunbar over Evans at linebacker. He may make some mistakes due to lack of experience, but his hustle and fierce effort is refreshing. Evans may contain better, but he just doesn't have the athleticism or skill of Dunbar.

John Carney: D+ (2.52) He made 5 extra points, though two were just inside the upright and a little close for comfort. His only real "test" was to hit a simple 37 yard kick and he let the Falcons back in the game by missing it. I wonder if Garrett Hartley may get a harder look after that miss?

Thomas Morstead: C+ (3.09) Morstead got less depth on his kickoffs than usual. Most of them fell either a yard deep or inside the 5. He punted twice with a 44.5 yard average and got good height on his punts. The coverage did an ok job of bailing him out, but it wasn't his best game.

Courtney Roby: B (2.72) Roby didn't get many chances early because of the depth of the kickoffs by Atlanta, but I was impressed that he showed intelligence and restraint in downing each of them. It's good that he didn't force what wasn't there. When he did return kicks, he showed good burst and speed. He averaged 29.3 yards on 3 returns, and had a long of 35 yards. He gave the Saints decent field position when he could. He also had a tackle on coverage.

Defensive Player of the Game: Tracy Porter
Special Teams Player of the Game: Courtney Roby

Poll

Who Was Your Pick for Defensive Player of the Game?

Jabari Greer

110 votes

Tracy Porter

79 votes

Jonathan Vilma

31 votes

Will Smith

186 votes

406 votes | Poll has closed

Tony Gonzalez is Scary

saints-nation — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:00:20 -0000

by John Bazemore - AP

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Facing the Falcons on Monday night will present another challenge for the overwhelmingly successful story that is the New Orleans Saints defense this season. Believe it or not, though, I'm not that worried about Michael Turner, Roddy White or Matt Ryan. Why? Dolphins game aside, the Saints are actually very good against the run. Sure, Ellis being out concerns me but Kendrick Clancy isn't a slouch at stopping the run and he'll make his return to the lineup this week. I'm sure Turner will have his share of successes but I don't see him being the difference in this game.

I believe the Saints will get pressure on Ryan, either with their four man front or more likely when Gregg Williams dials up his complex blitz packages to confuse the young quarterback. The Cowboys were very successful at doing that a week ago. I believe the Greer, Porter and/or Sharper combination will cover Roddy White and limit his effectiveness. They've been so fantastic all season-long, there is no reason to believe that White will turn in anything better than an adequate performance. So that leaves Tony Gonzalez, and I'm actually not sure what the Saints have planned for him.

Falcons vs Saints coverage

The way I see it, the possible players that will draw Gonzalez as a coverage assignment depending on the down and distance are: Scott Shanle, Jonathan Vilma, Roman Harper and Randall Gay. The first three players listed will be covering Gonzalez more so than Gay. I can see Gay picking up Gonzalez on 3rd and long plays but for the most part that will be an anomoly. That matchup, by the way, is a mediocre one given Gonzalez' size and athleticism compared to Gay's size. I do like Gay's physicality for his size, his coverage skills and his speed so hopefully he can hold his own when he has to cover the big tight end. But let's look at the more frequent matchups on passing plays:

Gonzalez vs. Shanle:

Shanle has very sound technique and is very good in coverage for the most part. He's physical, strong and intelligent but he's a little stiff and his range is somewhat limited. Gonzalez runs well for his size and he's so athletic he'll beat Shanle to almost any well thrown ball. Shanle is probably most exposed on routes over the middle and routes down the field with no safety help.

Gonzalez vs. Vilma:

The part that really bothers me about this matchup is that it will take away from Vilma's effectiveness against the run. As we saw last week against the Dolphins, Miami was completely shut down in the second half thanks to Vilma's tackling and pursuit. Like Shanle, Vilma is good in coverage and has size and aggression but he's also got a little more speed and athleticism. That said, the athleticism still doesn't compare to Gonzalez and with a running back like Michael Turner, it's extremely dangerous to potentially distract your best weapon against the run by sticking him on a dangerous tight end.

Gonzalez vs. Harper:

Harper is probably the weakest pass defender of all the defensive backs on the team but he's without question the best tackler and the most physical. His awareness with the ball in the air can be poor so Gonzalez could take advantage of that having some of the best awareness of anyone in the NFL at his position. Harper, for his size, can still stay physical with Gonzalez but the Saints could be in big trouble on plays where Gonzalez makes a play on the ball and breaks Harper's tackle.

In all three scenarios the Saints are potentially exposed to getting beat, whether it's Gonzalez doing the dirty work himself or opening things up for the other playmakers on his team.

Consider the tight ends the Saints have faced so far this season:

Week 1: Casey FitzSimmons

Week 2: Brent Celek, who by the way had a monster game.

Week 3: Derek Fine

Week 4: Ben Hartsock

Week 6: Anthony Fasano

None of these guys are Tony Gonzalez caliber players and frankly none of them are even remotely close. The only tight end of this group that's of any dangerous ability in the passing game is Celek and he posted over 100 yards receiving against the Saints. You get the idea. Gonzalez is scary and he's going to be the biggest problem for the Saints come Monday night when their defense hits the field. The Saints have yet to face someone of Gonzalez' ability and there's no clear cut way they're going to stop him without leaving themselves vulnerable in other areas.

Do you think the combination of Shanle, Vilma, Harper and Gay can slow Gonzalez down at all? Give us your prediction on Tony Gonzalez' final statline for the game.

A chat with Canal Street Chronicles

Ed Valentine — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:00:55 -0000

via i.cdn.turner.com

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With our New York Giants traveling to the Big Easy to face the 4-0 New Orleans Saints (yippee, a real NFL team for a change!!) I checked in with 'Saintsational' over at Canal Street Chronicles. Here is the result of our chat.

Canal Street Chronicles: My first question has got to be about Eli. I know he say's he's fine but Plantar Fasciitis is a very painful and very lingering injury. Are you worried about it effecting his play on Sunday?

BigBlueView: No, not really ... he was absolutely fine on Sunday, and threw the ball beautifully. Of course, he barely played into the second quarter as it was already 28-0, so maybe that wasn't a good test. I am curious to see what happens if he has to move around some or gets popped a couple of times, but I'm not worried about his ability to make the throws.

Canal Street Chronicles: Today on Big Blue View you mentioned Brandon Jacobs' inability to break out in 2009. What should Saints fans expect from the Giants running game?

BigBlueView: A heavy dose of it, I think. The Giants can score (they are 2nd in the league in points), but my guess is they want to avoid a shootout if they can. So, they will try to run the ball. Jacobs is healthy, I just think that when he is in the game teams have been crowding the line of scrimmage more giving him fewer places to run. When he hesitates at the line or has to change direction before he's into the secondary he isn't as effective. Ahmad Bradshaw has been tremendous. He's a big-time playmaker and a breakaway threat every time he touches the ball.

Canal Street Chronicles: "What do you think the Giants defense needs to do to stop the Saints offense?

BigBlueView Is the Saints offense stoppable? Seriously, it's all about the pressure. Can the Giants vaunted defensive line get to Drew Brees, or will they have to bring extra people. The Giants are eaily No. 1 in the league in pass defense at 104.8 yards per game, but in some respects that is just as much about the caliber of teams they have played as it is anything else. I am very curious to see how Terrell Thomas at corner, and C.C. Brown and Aaron Rouse (replacing the injured Kenny Phillips) hold up at safety against this passing attack.

BigBlueView: Let me turn this around on you a bit. How well do you think the Saints defense matches up with the Giants offense? And what worries you more, Eli Manning or the Giants running game?

Canal Street Chronicles: I have a lot of confidence in the Saints defense now and nothing would surprise me anymore. They have proven they are good enough to win games for the Saints when the offense can't get it done. They have been pretty good at shutting down the run but the threat of a two-back attack worries me a bit. That could play a factor as the game wears on. But I'm a bit suspicious of Eli's injury and if the Giants success depends on him, I'm confident the Saints can bring some pressure and take advantage.

BigBlueView: Tell me a little more about that unit, since I'm really not as familiar with the personnel as I should be.

Canal Street Chronicles: After a couple of disappointing seasons, veterans Charles Grant and Will Smith have finally been earning their exorbitant paychecks. Grant leads the team with 4.0 sacks. On the inside is Sedrick Ellis, last years first round draft pick, and Remi Ayodele has been filling in for the injured Kendrick Clancy. Also in the mix is Anthony Hargrove who plays both DE and DT. He has a big motor and has been a pleasant surprise for fans this year.

Canal Street Chronicles: I'm assuming you have no regrets about the Shockey trade? Are you worried he might be out for blood this weekend?

BigBlueView: Oh, he will be fired up. We know that. Shockey was a great player for the Giants for a long time, though not as great and not as important as he thought he was. That was always the crux of it. He wanted the offense to be about him, and under Tom Coughlin the offense will never be about the tight end. No regrets because the Giants are doing just fine, thank you.

BigBlueView: I have to turn that around and ask you your impressions of Shockey. I know he had a rough first year. He leads the team in receptions this year, I believe. How well is he playing, and behaving?

Canal Street Chronicles: He's behaving fine. None of that baby stuff. The Saints have a great locker room with only quality players. As far as on the football field, he's a go-to guy. Brees trusts him and knows he can make those tough catches. Shockey caught two touchdowns in week one against the Giants but has been more quiet lately. In my opinion, he still needs to do a bit more to prove this trade was worth the draft picks the Saints gave up.

Canal Street Chronicles: Any memories of Sean Payton as offensive coordinator on the Giants and having playcalling duties taken away from him?

BigBlueView: Oh, sure. I have to admit I NEVER thought Payton would be a quality NFL head coach. He was pretty much a flop in New York in getting along with Jim Fassel, and I don't think he did that great of a job in Dallas with Bill Parcells, either. I had no clue what the Saints were thinking when they hired the guy. But, that's why I do this and people who run football teams run football teams. Except for Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerrato, that is.

Canal Street Chronicles: What does it feel like, as a fan, to have your team win the Superbowl? Saints fans don't know the feeling and this year is as good as any to finally get that chance.

BigBlueView: Well, all I can say it is a feeling you want to experience again and again. Super Bowl 42 was the greatest Giants game I have ever seen, and I will always remember it. A fan should always, once in their lifetime, get to experience winning the big prize. Shoot, Red Sox fans have gotten to do it.

BigBlueView: Last question from me. Are you looking at this game as a sort of 'measuring stick' for the Saints? I know for the Giants this is without question the best team they have played, and the first 'real' game they have played in a month.

Canal Street Chronicles: Yes. Very much so. This game won't neccessarily determine the outcome of the season but it will give us a chance to see how good the Saints really are. Even if they lose, the way in which they lose will be telling. But a victory could give the team lots of confidence to take into the middle of the season.

Canal Street Chronicles: Prediction?

BigBlueView: Oh .... that is soooo tough. I have to keep the faith, so I will say Giants, 31-30. I will say this, though, a loss here won't surprise -- or devastate me -- provided that the Giants show they are a top-flight team. Which I think they will.

BigBlueView: Prediction from you?

Canal Street Chronicles: I think it's going to be a great game and very close. Giants are a talented team but the Saints are at home and the Dome will be loud. Saints 27-24.

Sean Payton Press Conference Transcript: 9.21.09

Saintsational — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:20:06 -0000

From WWL.

Opening Statement:

"With the injuries from yesterday, I mentioned Lance Moore's hamstring. The good news today is that it doesn't seem real significant at all. We'll see where he's at on Wednesday. Mike Bell has a sprained MCL. Again, the news on his knee was positive. I don't want to put a time frame on it. I really won't know it until Wednesday, but it's a lot less severe than maybe we anticipated. I don't know what that does for his status this week. It's only Monday right now. The doctors seem to feel pretty good about the nature of that injury. Those are the two players we talked about after the game. Kendrick Clancy we ended up putting Remi (Ayodele) up on the active list in place of Kendrick because he was healthier. Kendrick was still fighting through the injury from the week before."

Is this one of the most complete games your team has put together here during your tenure?

"We've played some good games in the past. When you win on the road against a team like Philadelphia, you have to do some things. You have to do certain things. It happened last night when you watched the Giants and Cowboys. You watch one team turn the ball over and one team protect the ball. Ultimately, the team that protected the ball better won the game. In our case, the same thing. We felt like that was necessary on the road to have a chance to win that game, that we needed to win that battle and in our case we did with four turnovers to one, finishing plus three. There's a lot we still have to improve on. By no means was it the perfect game. There are a lot of things watching the tape that really concern you and I think our players will see it today. We're still looking to get better in a lot of areas. We gave up a big play on defense. We talked about that being something we couldn't do against this team. We gave up a big return on our coverage units and that was disappointing. Offensively, we had a couple of protection issues and certainly the one turnover. There are a lot of things we have to work on. The good news is that we have a week to do it in preparation for another good team.

Can you talk about the positives of being 2-0 while keeping in mind the things that need to improve?

"We've played two games and there's a ton of football left. Our focus has definitely has to be on improving and correcting the mistakes and the things we have to do to become a better team. When the players get back on Wednesday, certainly everything shifts to Buffalo and again, another team that we're not as familiar with given that we're in the AFC, but we're going to have to be and again, another tough place to play on the road.

Are there always things to improve on?

"There are always things. There are a lot of things that aren't good right now that we have to work on. That's what we're pointing out, that's why we're meeting today and that's why we're going through the tape. Those things in big games can really derail you and keep you from going where you want to go and whether they appear on offense, the kicking game or defense, those are the things we have to pay close attention to. The idea that you just won and everything's all rosy is really not true. There are a lot of things that it's important coming off that game to make the corrections. We did a lot of things well. I mentioned the turnovers. That was important. I thought we came up with a big play in the kickoff coverage unit at the start of the second half. That led to a touchdown, gave us a plus 11 swing and gave us some momentum there. I thought that was very, very important. I thought we handled Trent Cole well, the defensive end who's a real good football player, same way defensively, I thought we got in check with some of the oddball looks we were getting and we hit and affected their quarterback enough. But it's the other things we've talked about and a number of things that we need to continue to work on."

Were you kind of pleasantly surprised to see how much the defensive mindset seems to have changed in creating turnovers?

"I think we saw that begin to develop in the preseason. It's what wins in our league and even Malcolm Jenkins came up with a big play on the special teams kickoff coverage and you look at the interceptions, those things give you another possession, give you an extra time with the ball and take away one with the defense. It's hard to win games when you're not winning that battle in an area that we have certainly paid attention to and we have to."

Besides what we have seen of Darren Sharper, what do you think of him so far?

"He's smart. He's a player that understands the scheme. I thought he got his weight down this offseason and came in in good shape. There are a number of things that a player like Darren brings to the team in regards to his experience and it's a different defense for him, so there's a learning curve he worked through in the spring. He's done a good job. He has three turnovers in two games and is playing with a lot of confidence. There are a number of things he has to continue to work on though and within the framework of what we're doing defensively that can maybe eliminate some things in the future, some big plays in the future. He's doing well.

Sharper says that what he sees on film study has really helped him in the games in terms of visualizing some tendencies. Is that something you agree with?

"I think that the ally to good defense is always formation play recognition. We try offensively to combat that and change looks, but defensively you try to get a read on what you see formationally. That's a plus when you're a defensive player and you have an idea of what's coming based on your experience in that game or on film study.

Is the yardage allowed one of the things that need to be cleaned up?

"The total yards aren't as concerning as the big plays. In other words, a lot of those yards come in different situations. What's most important is your scoring defense, your scoring offense, how you're taking care of the football and are you minimizing the big plays and offensively getting them. That's just one aspect; there are a number of things that I think we can do better. But we'll meet on it today and go back to work Wednesday - that's the plan."

If Mike Bell's injury keeps him out, is Pierre Thomas ready to handle a full workload?

"We'll see. We'll see Wednesday where (Bell) is at and kind of gauge where Pierre is at as well."

From a coach's perspective, what's working on offense right now?

"We've had a little bit of balance. In both games, we've been able to have some balance running the ball and throwing the football. I think we're doing a good job of handling some different looks defensively in regards to protections. Drew has been pretty sharp when you look at his decision-making. Those are some of the things that after two weeks, you'd say have looked pretty good. I'm pleased with the balance that we have gotten in both games and by and large we're taking care of the football, although we've stilled turned it over and that's something that we need to get better at."

What kind of contributions have you gotten from your draft picks? Do you expect Malcolm Jenkins to play more?

"He's playing a lot of snaps now and depending on personnel groupings on defense each week, you'll see different sets with him rotating in. He's had two big impact plays two weeks in a row; last week he chased down a kick return and made a tackle inside the 10-yard line and we ended up holding that series to a field goal so that's a four-point play and then yesterday the caused fumble that results in a touchdown is a seven-point play, so there's 11 points that you'd look at specifically and say he has accounted for in two games, and that's pretty significant. Thomas Morstead has done a great job in the first two games. There are still some things that he's working on from a consistency standpoint, the kickoff locations. But he has a strong leg and obviously he helps with the swing in field position."

Do you expect teams to try and blitz more with the success that Drew Brees is having?

"We got pressure yesterday, and I think with any quarterback that is playing well you end up seeing teams not give you a single dose of one thing but to try to change it up. That has usually been a formula that a lot of teams have had but it varies based on the team we're playing. It just depends on what their philosophy is, but yesterday Philadelphia gave us a handful of pressures. (Brees) gets rid of it quickly. The key for us is having a good week of practice and understanding the defense that we're playing."

When you spread people out, is it more difficult for them to be able to put pressure on?

"I think a lot of it is that a lot of times when you're spread out, it's easier to recognize what you're going to get. And yet you can take a game like yesterday when the Jets and Patriots played and regardless of whether they were spread out or in tight, you saw a lot of pressures that were effective. The key is really to work that whole week and make sure that you have a good plan. Quarterback play starts with protection and making sure the line is on the same page and the running backs are on the same page. All those things come from having the right plan, not only in your base but in your nickel because everyone is pressuring the three-receiver sets now. You just have to understand how they're pressuring. It's not a question of if you're going to get pressured anymore, it's how they're going to overload you and having the right plan."

Is Heath Evans opening up the offense even more?

"Heath has had a couple of good plays for us and I said this in the offseason when we acquired Heath, the first goal was to improve our run blocking at the point of attack. I read a number of stories where it was because of his versatility where really we felt like we were getting a better blocker, number one. Number two, he is versatile and has come up with some big plays. The screen play was big a week ago and then yesterday on the naked bootleg. More importantly as we grade out the tape right now, he's fitting well in the running game and that is helping our run game a lot which is something that's reason one why he's here."

How did Scott Shanle play yesterday?

"He had a big game. The turnover that he had was significant. He was very productive. He's a good football player and it's good to see him really start off well. He did a good job yesterday."

Have you had the conversation with your team already that they've only won two games and there's a long way to go or do you even need to have that conversation with a veteran group?

"I think they're smart enough to understand how long the season is and really we just talked about getting the corrections made today. Let's make sure we get the corrections - and we put a couple of examples of plays up there that can't happen, and they were plays in yesterday's game. They were examples of what we're coaching and what we're looking for. We went through the numbers, we talk about the team awards and then we move on to the special teams and then offensive and defensive part of it. By day's end, you put closure on the game and that's really where we're at. The focus Wednesday shifts real quickly to Buffalo and for a lot of these guys it will be Tuesday when they come in to watch early tape. I think they're sharp enough to figure it out."

Canal Street Chronicles: Fleur-di-Links 8.4.09

Saintsational — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:00:28 -0000

Twitter

CPT23 Great day at the office. Very productive - both sides of the ball. Time to rest. See ya'll in the a.m.

saints83 Good day the run game looks real good, Reggie and @CPT23 along with some young RBs are doing a great job hitting the hole. Time to sleep!

drewbrees Two good practices today. Defense got the best of us this time around. Young running backs look impressive. A lot of work left to be done

Linkage

Saints DTs aim to stop run, help pass defense - The Advocate

"In this league, you have to earn the right to rush the passer," said Johnson, a highly-respected line coach for the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos the last eight years.

"To do that, it’s important to be able to stop the run. "When we got here, we talked to the tackles and the ends about stopping the run," he added. "But it’s not just the big guys in the middle. You need the coordination and the scheme of the defense working together to stop the run."

-Bill Johnson

"Going into a new season, you always look at the things you didn’t do well the year before and thing about the things you need to do to get better," Clancy said. "Basically, you do what it takes to get better."

-Kendrick Clancy

"To play any kind of pass defense, you have to be good against the run," said Ellis. "That’s a staple of football, period. If you allow them to run the ball, they have no need to pass. So you have to establish yourself against the run on first and second downs, and then rush the passer."

-Sedrick Ellis

"In order to get the privilege to rush the passer, you have to stop the run," said Clancy, reciting the mantra of NFL defensive line coaches. "If the whole group plays together, we’ll have a chance to be good."

-Kendrick Clancy

"It’s definitely more mental," he said. "In the NFL, every team has the talent. It’s really a matter of will, and you have to exert your will over the other team. That’s the basis of football … that’s what football is about.

"You can always get better at anything you do with hard work, so I think we’ll be just fine. We’re going to play good against the run and be better against the pass. But that’s just my expectations, we’ll see."

-Sedrick Ellis

"Getting a guy like Rod does a lot for a team," Clancy said of Coleman, who is also strong against the run. "He was probably the best defensive tackle in the league for a while, and we’re going to learn a lot from him. I watched a lot of film on him early in my career and I know he’s a real good player."

-Kendrick Clancy

"It doesn’t matter what team you’re playing, you have to emphasize the run defense and make them pass the ball," he said. "That’s our ultimate goal. If you’re a great pass rusher, you want to get them in passing situations. "This league is about stopping the run. And somebody has to do the dirty work."

-Rod Coleman

"Hey, you have to be strong up the middle and strong up front to stop the run," he said. "You have to have those anchor points in the middle. You just have to find ways to make the other guys not run the ball.

"You need to do whatever it takes. If you can use seven (defenders) to stop the run, you use seven. Or eight. You just keep adding more until you’ve got enough to get it done."

-Bill Johnson

With a handful of acquisitions and a new approach, the Saints' secondary has the makings of a strength rather than a liability - Times-Pic

"I was open-minded and tried it, and when I heard that other players had tried it and used it, I knew it at least wasn't going to hurt me, "

-Darren Sharper

"Anything I could do to help myself out and have some longevity, I was going to do it, "

-Darren Sharper

"It's creating havoc, and that's actually pretty fun, " said Prioleau, who has played under Williams with four different teams in his 11-year career. But he said this is the deepest group he has been around, "as far as experience, athleticism and just guys that can play."

-Pierson Prioleau

"He's in the books as being able to make plays on the ball, and that's why he's here -- to help us make plays on the ball, " Williams said. "I have to help keep him fresh, but the instincts and the ability to make plays on the ball -- that's Darren Sharper. That's not us, that's not me."

-Gregg Williams

"I like that Coach Williams tells guys to attack, attack the run, attack the pass and force the offense to have to react to us, " Sharper said. "A lot of defenses try to react to the offense. We have the philosophy that we're going to make the offense react to what we're doing, and I love playing with that aggressive style."

-Darren Sharper

News and notes from Monday's Saints practice - Times-Pic

PLAY OF THE DAY

Thomas had the most impressive run to date at camp when he broke free for a 65-yard touchdown Monday morning. The line created a nice hole for him up the middle, and he made a nifty cut to get past safety Darren Sharper and had just enough gas to get to the front corner of the end zone before safety Roman Harper and Porter caught up to him.

Kristian: STC Day 4 – Practice 2 - WWL

Bush, Clancy hurting as Arrington returns - New Orleans Pro Football

Saints march on without first-round pick Jenkins - WWL

"We've got three guys (with the first team) that have started in the NFL and played well when they've been in there," Saints secondary coach Dennis Allen said. "There's some guys behind them who continue to get better day in and day out. We've got a pretty good group of guys to work with."

-Dennis Allen

"I'm still protecting it with the wrist brace," Porter said. "Other than that, I'm going out there like I had never had the injury. If you let the injury linger in your mind and you try to protect it, it's possible you could injure something else."

-Tracy Porter

"(Greer) plays the game like a professional," Allen said. "He studies the game. He understands splits and route combinations on top of the fact that he's got excellent speed and excellent quickness."

-Dennis Allen

"The best thing we've got going on right now in the back end is competition, and that's going to make us all better,"

-Dennis Allen

"When I first started, you had two three-day minicamps so if a guy wasn't there, you really couldn't do a lot of installation back in the old days," Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. "Now, you have a lot of (organized team activities) and (Jenkins) was able to make a healthy number of the OTAs. He has a good, firm grasp of what we're doing.

"Obviously I want him here as soon as he can but that's just a part of this business. I really don't worry about that. I worry about the guys that are here getting coached. Once he gets here, he's going to have to compete and interview just like them and get ready to go."

-Gregg Williams

Saints encouraged by Reggie Bush's health, strong start in training camp - Times-Pic

New Orleans Saints receiver Robert Meachem has been off to impressive start in Year 3 - Times-Pic

Audio

From WWL's Sports Talk. They are recorded live from training camp. The first features Warren Moon and the third includes Randall Gay.

Video

Lots of Pictures from OTA's!

Saintsational — Sat, 23 May 2009 17:22:50 -0000

Make the jump for a ridiculous amount of awesome photos. All of these pictures come courtesy of Newscom.

Saints 2009 Position Battles: Defensive Tackle

Saintsational — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:00:18 -0000

We're getting closer to the end of our early look at the Saints' 2009 roster as we discuss the teams defensive tackle candidates today. The depth here is a little thinner this year following the loss of both Brian Young, Hollis Thomas and Antwan Lake. The good news is that it's significantly younger as well. Deciding who will make the team, however, isn't too difficult barring an unexpected surprise.

Current defensive tackles on the Saints roster:

Player	Height	Weight	Age	Experience
Sedrick Ellis	6'1"	307	23	2
DeMario Pressley	6'3"	301	23	2
Kendrick Clancy	6'1"	305	30	10
Rod Coleman	6'2"	285	32	10
Remi Ayodele	6'2"	318	26	3
Earl Heyman	6'1"	289	21	R

Sedrick Ellis is the only player on this list that I would consider a sure thing. He worked his way into a starting role last season and no one on the team appears to be able to unseat him. Ed Orgeron is long gone and his contributions to the Saints organization were minimal to say the least but he was key in acquiring Sedrick Ellis so for that, we must thank him.

The only other defensive tackle who is practically a lock, though not a sure thing, is veteran Kendrick Clancy. With Young and Thomas now gone, Clancy's stock just shot up along with his name on the depth chart. Not only will he make the team this year, he should be starting unless someone else can knock him off.

Saints fans should be excited about finally getting to see 2008 draft pick DeMario Pressley in action this year. The defensive tackle was placed on IR during training camp last year only after creating a buzz about his talent. If Pressley is as impressive as all the talk suggests than he might be the one to oust Clancy from his starting spot. It would also greatly reduce the Saints lack of depth at DT.

What we can expect from Rod Coleman is anybody's guess. Coleman comes into training camp after taking the 2008 season off but was quite talented in his prime. Noted for his pass rushing ability more so than his run stuffing [Edited by Saintsational, 05/13/09 11:26 AM CDT ], Roderick could turn out to be a smart pick up. Like Pressley, if Coleman exceeds expectations than the Saints will have solved their defensive tackle depth issues.

Rounding out the list are Remi Ayodele and Earl Heyman, two players who face the toughest odds in training camp. Ayodele was brought in last year but only notched a total of three tackles in six games. Heyman was brought in last week and has yet to play a down in the NFL. Assuming the Saints are only keeping four DT's, both will need near miracles (read: injuries) to make the team this summer.

Now it's your turn to weigh in. Is this position really that easy to predict or will there be a surprise or two during training camp this year?

Poll

Will Ellis, Clancy, Pressley and Coleman all make the team this year?

Yes

475 votes

No

65 votes

540 votes | Poll has closed

Week 16 Injury Report

Sean Yuille — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:32:54 -0000

DETROIT LIONS
Pos.	Player	Injury	Status
QB	Daunte Culpepper	Right Shoulder	Doubtful
RB	Kevin Smith	Ankle	Questionable
TE	Casey FitzSimmons	Illness	Probable
OG	Edwin Mulitalo	Ankle	Questionable
DE	Dewayne White	Calf	Questionable
DT	Chuck Darby	Calf	Probable
CB	Leigh Bodden	Groin	Questionable

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Pos.	Player	Injury	Status
RB	Deuce McAllister	Knee	Probable
OT	Jammal Brown	Ankle	Probable
DT	Kendrick Clancy	Hamstring	Out

NFL INJURY REPORT GUIDE
Status	Definition
Probable	75% chance that the player will play in the game
Questionable	50% chance that the player will play in the game
Doubtful	25% chance that the player will play in the game
Out	0% chance that the player will play in the game

Chargers @ Saints: Breaking It Down - First Quarter

Saintsational — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:00:05 -0000

Saints Offense First Drive (14 plays, 69 yards, 8:26, Field Goal)

Deuce gets a nice run up the left side. Billy Miller and Lance Moore do a good job sealing up that left side.
Brees did a good job of moving around in the pocket and avoiding a sack more than once.
Deuce looked real solid on this drive. 4 runs for 24 yards and 2 catches for 20 yards. This is exactly the way I like to see the Saints start the game.
Devery makes a heads up play rolling for the first down after a pass just shy of the line.
A holding penalty by Matt Lehr pushes them 10 yards back and just kills the drive.
Drew tries to thread the needle with a pass to Colston in the endzone. No dice.
Saints have to settle for a field goal.
Take away the holding penalty and this drive probably ends in a touchdown. It's also a darn good example of how well this offense can play, particularly when they decide to use Deuce effectively. It also ate a lot of clock.

Saints Defense First Drive (7 plays, 51 yards, 3:04, Fieldgoal)

Chargers start off with a bang on a 26 yard run by LT. Kendrick Clancy almost had him by the ankles but no luck. Kaesviharn also misses a diving attempt. Their offensive line gets good penetration and the left side is wide open.
Antonio Gates is just too much man for Roman Harper. He makes a nice catch on a jump ball that Harper appears to have timed incorrectly.
The run defense starts off looking very weak. They tighten up a bit at the end. It will be a long day if they continue playing like that.
Aaron Glenn stays with Malcolm Floyd as he goes all the way across the middle. Nice work there. The pass is a little off but had he caught it, Glenn would have been there to make the quick tackle before the first down marker. Chargers settle for field goal.

Saints Offense Second Drive(3 plays, 7 yards, 1:36, Punt)

Saints go three and out. Obviously this drive sucks.
Brees throws incomplete to Lance Moore on first down. Looks like a comeback route that is timed wrong or a miscommunication on the route. Or it might have been an inability of Lance to cut back quick enough on the soggy field. Not sure.

Saints Defense Second Drive (3 plays, 9 yards, 1:46, Punt)

The Saints defense answers with a three and out of their own.
LT breaks off two runs for 9 yards.
On third down Sedrick Ellis gets through the middle and is able to make the tackle behind the line of scrimmage. Nice play. It looks like RG Mike Goff appears to almost slip and fall down.

Fairly uneventful first quarter. The teams would switch to longer spikes on their shoes and the scoring would then commence.