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New Orleans Saints' Defensive and Special Teams Player Grades @ Bucs

saints-nation — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:00:24 -0000

by Chris O'Meara - AP

Below are the grades for the defense and special teams @ Tampa Bay. Some terrific play all around.

Saints vs Buccaneers boxscore

Will Smith: B+ (2.83) Smith finished with 3 tackles and a sack. He did a reasonably good job of putting pressure on Josh Freeman, and was able to waltz in untouched for an easy sack on a missed blocking assignment. It was nice to see Smith help against the run on a number of occasions, too.

Charles Grant: C (2.37) Grant finished with just 2 tackles, and he knocked Freeman down once on a pass rush. His pass rushing was mediocre, and his run defense was mediocre... so he gets a mediocre grade to go with his mediocre GPA.

Bobby McCray: D+ (1.89) What happened to this guy? He was a very solid pass rusher last year, but his reps get lessened each week mostly due to his complete lack of production. At one point in training camp they were talking about installing packages that would include McCray blitzing from the linebacker slot. Whatever happened to that? No tackles for McCray in this game despite a decent number of snaps. He was complete neutralized on pass downs, too.

Anthony Hargrove: B- (2.44) Just one tackle for Hargrove, but he did a good job getting push on passing plays up the middle, and he recovered a CRUCIAL fumble that broke Tampa Bay's back.

Remi Ayodele: B (2.19) Ayodele plugged up the middle much better than usual and forced the Tampa backs to often bounce their runs outside, allowing the Saints' linebackers to make plays. He finished with 3 tackles and also showed more effort than what I've seen in the past. The main problem I've had with Ayodele is he has a lazy streak where he won't play to the whistle, but I didn't see that in this game.

Scott Fujita: A- (2.72) Fujita is back and playing at a high level. This was arguably his best game of the season. He was making terrific reads and had a very impressive play getting in the backfield and hitting the Bucs' runner for a loss. His tackles were sure and he showed no ill effects from the calf injury that slowed him down. His biggest play was a blitz off the backside where he sacked Freeman and knocked the ball loose, leading to Hargrove's big recovery. Nice to see Fujita making plays, he's been missed. He was a major reason the Bucs struggled to move the ball after that first drive.

Scott Shanle: C+ (2.77) Quiet day for Shanle, who really didn't do much until the second half. There were no major mistakes, but some of the bigger runs early in the game were plays going right at him where he didn't absorb the blocks very well.He was solid in coverage and ended with 2 tackles.

Jonathan Vilma: A- (3.00) Vilma was all over the field, looked fast and was steady. He finished with 6 tackles, a defended pass, a knockdown on a blitz, and an interception. When he gets a clean look at stopping a rusher he almost always makes the play. I don't think he's playing at quite the level he was a season ago, but he clearly makes everyone around him better. Nice to see him get that pick, he made a fantastic catch covering a tough customer in Kellen Winslow Jr.

Randall Gay: C (2.59) Gay was pretty solid in coverage before leaving early with a tweaked hamstring. From what I've heard it sounds unlikely he'll be back in time for the Monday Night game.

Malcolm Jenkins: A- (3.07) Jenkins made a terrific interception, the first of his career, going to the ground to come up with a low pass. He benefited from Antonio Bryant slipping, but still jumped the route well and showed terrific hands. He led the team with 7 tackles on the day and 2 defended passes. He held a very good receiver in Antonio Bryant to just 3 catches. Bryant did have a 21 yard reception against Jenkins at one point, but the coverage was picture perfect and Bryant just made a ridiculous catch on his outside shoulder - not much you can blame the rookie for there. He really stepped in and did not miss a beat.

Roman Harper: B (3.23) Harper dropped an easy interception, jumping a route well but failing to come up with the catch. If there's one thing I've learned from watching Harper all the years is the guy has the worst set of hands I've almost ever seen. He finished with just 3 tackles, but was sent blitzing a number of times. He was able to register a half sack, and he also knocked Freeman to the ground two other times.

Darren Sharper: B- (3.15) Sharper was fine. No real chances to get a pick this time. The few times he was in a good position, the ball by Freeman was so poorly thrown that Sharper had no chance. He finished with 5 tackles and was especially helpful against the run. His grade suffers because of yet another personal foul 15 yard penalty. He's had at least 4 or 5 this year. It was a blatant facemask penalty, and there really was no need for him to do that.

Jo-Lonn Dunbar: C+ (2.73) Dunbar finished with 3 tackles and played in spot duty late in the game at linebacker. He was aggressive and did ok. He over-pursued twice but with the game so far out of reach it's hard to grade him. I'll give him some love for doing a great job on special teams, though.

DeMario Pressley: B- (2.78) This guy deserves to start alongside Sedrick Ellis. There, I said it. I know there's a love affair going on with just about any avid Saints watcher and Anthony Hargrove, and the coaching staff seems enamored with Ayodele, but Pressley has been the tackle performing most consistently. I see him sometimes get pushed off the line of scrimmage, but once when that happen he bounced back up the middle and ended up making the tackle. Even when he's beat he plays to the whistle and shows terrific effort. He finished with 3 tackles and did a decent job rushing the passer.

Pierson Prioleau: B- (2.67) He finished with 3 tackles and did a fairly good job in coverage. With the Saints depleted at corner thanks to the injuries to Torrence and Gay, he stepped in and helped hold down the fort.

Usama Young: B (3.17) Young also lent a helping hand at corner with the Saints shorthanded by injury. He was pretty good, especially helping in run support. He finished with 2 tackles. His grade gets a boost, too, from 2 spectacular special teams plays. First he forced a deep punt to be fair caught inside the 20 with terrific downfield coverage, then he dove on a ball and downed it at the 1 yard line after another great punt by Morstead.

Leigh Torrence: C (2.00) Torrence was placed on IR, I'm told, and that's too bad. The guy was finally getting some playing time. Sure, he wasn't the best corner but you can't argue with the guy's toughness. He separated his shoulder and came back in the game to play and make a tackle due to the Saints' injury problems. He finished with 4 tackles and teamed up with Harper to get the other half of a sack on Freeman. He was also responsible for the touchdown pass to Michael Clayton, though, and I feel like his coverage was spotty enough that a better quarterback could have made him pay. I'm surprised as far as he was playing off receivers that Freeman didn't take advantage of the short routes in front of him.

John Carney: A- (2.77) Carney did his job, so it's hard to give him a worse grade. He hit a big 38 yard field goal to break a 7-7 tie, and at the time it was important. He also hit all 5 of his extra points, but once again got one or two barely inside the upright.

Thomas Morstead: A+ (3.03) He was booming the ball all day long. I tip my cap to you, Mr. Morstead, and I can't tell you how glad I am the Saints kept you over Glenn Pakulak. He was, in a word, fantastic. Every kickoff he booted went into the end zone, and as the game progressed they kept getting deeper and deeper (I believe his last 3 were touchbacks). Clifton Smith is known for being one of the most dangerous returners in the NFC, and Morstead completely neutralized him. He also blasted 4 punts for a 48.8 average, and pinned two inside the 20 (one of those at the 1). He only had one of his punts returned for 11 yards, so he ends up with an extremely impressive net average of a little over 46 yards. Without question his best game as a Saint.

Courtney Roby: B+ (2.93) Roby was pretty good returning kickoffs. No standout plays but he returned 2 kicks for a 25.5 average. His coverage skills, however, are what earned him his grade this time. The play that Usama Young made at the one was only thanks to a great athletic and head's up play by Roby, as he dove into the end zone and tipped the ball back into the field. For some reason the Bucs challenged that play, too, which had to be one of the dumbest challenges of all time.

My Defensive Player of the Game: Malcolm Jenkins
My Special Teams Player of the Game: Thomas Morstead

Poll

Who Was Your Defensive Player of the Game?

Malcolm Jenkins

200 votes

Scott Fujita

113 votes

Jonathan Vilma

111 votes

Chris Reis (didn't play enough to get a grade, but I'll give him props for his pick)

17 votes

441 votes | Poll has closed

New Orleans Saints' Defensive and Special Teams Player Grades @ Rams

saints-nation — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:15:20 -0000

by Jeff Roberson - AP

25 days ago: St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson (39) is stopped by New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant (94) as Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, left, looks on during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in St. Louis. The Saints won 28-23. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Below are the grades for the Saints' Defense and Special Teams @ the Rams.

Saints vs Rams boxscore

Saints vs Rams coverage

Saints vs Rams recap

Will Smith: B- (2.78) Smith registered yet another sack which also forced the ball loose, but unfortunately the Saints weren't able to recover. The Rams ended up scoring on the next play on a long pass to Avery. He's been getting better and better this season rushing the passer. Against the run he was mediocre. He finished with just 2 tackles.

Charles Grant: B+ (2.41) Grant was terrific against the run for the second straight week. He finished with 5 tackles and was present on many of the stops the defense made against the run in the second half. 2 of his tackles were plays where he beat his blocker and was able to meet Steven Jackson in the backfield for a loss. His play was aggressive and his tackles were hard to break. He even had a couple of decent pass rushes, and I felt he deserved a half sack on the sack given to Ayodele.

Bobby McCray: B- (1.96) McCray showed some nice ability against the run for once, and this time he got more pressure on the quarterback. Just one tackle for McCray in the game, but I at least saw him involved, active, and always in pursuit. A promising performance given how invisible he's been.

Anthony Hargrove: C (2.42) Hargrove did finish with 4 tackles, and his pressure on Marc Bulger was good, but he's still a little light to play the run effectively. He was pushed out of the way often and mauled on several of Jackson's big runs.

Remi Ayodele: C (2.09) Ayodele got a coverage sack, and just 1 tackle. He was surprisingly pretty good rushing the passer and he pancaked Bulger on another play just as Bulger released his pass. Otherwise, he was eaten alive on running plays and did a poor job of playing at the point of attack. Sedrick Ellis needs to get back in the lineup healthy because the last three weeks watching the Saints attempt to stop the run have been painful.

Scott Fujita: C- (2.53) Fujita was feeling things out early and he seemed rusty in his first game back from a calf injury. He was juked a couple of times by Jackson and allowed him to run through weak arm tackles at other times. As the game wore on, though, he seemed to get better and better as he adjusted back to the game speed. He was in the right place for most of the game and played well in coverage. He finished with 4 tackles, and I hope he'll play more like he did in the second half for all of next week.

Scott Shanle: B (2.81) Nice to see Shanle bounce back and play a pretty solid game. Like Fujita, he was pushed around a little early and seemed to be too tentative in his reads. He did make a couple of terrific open field tackles on a very hard to bring down Steven Jackson, though, and those plays could have been massive gainers if Shanle doesn't come up with the tackle. His tackling technique is very sound, and it's nice to have a linebacker you can trust. True to form he also did a good job in coverage. He finished with 6 tackles including one for a loss.

Jonathan Vilma: B- (2.93) Mixed bag for Vilma. He did have 8 tackles and seemed to get better as the game wore on, but he also had a number of opportunities to make plays where Jackson made him look like a backup. Vilma did a good job on a blitz of hitting Bulger, and almost got a sack at one point but Bulger released the pass as he was going down. Vilma also missed a couple of assignments in the passing game, allowing Daniel Fells to make plays.

Marvin Mitchell: B- (2.45) Mitchell had 2 tackles, including one which was a vicious hit. Overall he didn't make mistakes and looked good against the run and pass in limited duty.

Tracy Porter: C (3.11) Before Porter left the game with an injury, he was having a forgettable game. Assigned for a large part of the game to cover rookie Brandon Gibson, who had no catches on the season going into this game, he was beat all too often. On the play he was injured, he was not only beat but completely blew the tackle. Porter finished with 2 tackles. The news that his injury is only a strain is huge, though. The Saints need him desperately, and the fact the he should be back in time for the stretch run and the playoffs is crucial.

Randall Gay: D- (2.67) Gay was beat on two touchdown passes to Donnie Avery and the Rams in general picked on him all day. He looked slow and despite good coverage on the second touchdown he showed terrible ball skills. Gay did finish with 4 tackles on the day. Gay in my estimation is best used in the slot as a physical corner. I know the Saints were short handed, but matching him up against a burner like Donnie Avery was a terrible matchup. I heard whispers of Jason David comparisons (ahem, Saintsational) and that is going a little too far. Just because he can't run with Donnie Avery it doesn't mean he has no clue out there. Gay will be fine, just a rough day for him lined up against a receiver that is as fast as just about anyone. Next week against Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton I think Gay will look better.

Malcolm Jenkins: C+ (2.92) He was ok, not great. He finished with 2 tackles and put nice pressure on a couple of blitzes. He did have one devastating hit on Bulger that the Rams' quarterback barely got up from. He also had a big "defended pass" late in the game, where he ran with Avery before getting hit in the back with the ball. One thing I was impressed by was a running play where it was Jackson, a blocker and Jenkins, and Jenkins did a good job of sticking his head in there and trying to take out Jackson's legs. He slowed Jackson down enough to make it an easy tackle for his teammates. Malcolm is pretty physical for a corner.

Roman Harper: B+ (3.26) Another solid game from Harper. He's becoming a pretty steady performer for the Saints, and brace yourselves because he actually looked good against the pass. He was around the box a good amount, especially in the second half, and finished with 8 tackles. He did a good job, mostly, of limiting Jackson's effectiveness at the second level. He had a key pass breakup late in the third quarter on a 3rd down in the red zone forcing a Rams' field goal, and he was involved on the hail mary attempt breakup.

DeMario Pressley: B (2.84) He was pretty good against the run. Sure he was pushed around at times and somewhat responsible for the yardage Jackson amassed, but he looked aggressive and I liked his hustle. Given the fact that Pressley is essentially a red shirt rookie that's only in his second game as a pro, he's performed admirably. He had 5 tackles including 2 for losses.

Pierson Prioleau: C+ (2.67) Prioleau gave up a couple of passes but also laid some nice hits. He finished with 3 tackles and helped the Saints out when they were so thin on the final drive in dime coverage.

Usama Young: B+ (3.33) At times Young looked like a harder hitting, faster version of Darren Sharper. He had a terrific break on the ball on his interception, and he also defended another pass showing nice anticipation. He finished with 4 tackles and had some nice hits. His grade could be better, but he took a couple of bad angles on Jackson at the second level and did a bad job of wrapping up at other times which allowed the Rams to gain more yardage.

Leigh Torrence: C (2.00) Torrence did finish with 4 tackles, and showed pretty good coverage specifically on a deep ball late in the game, but in general he played too far off his man allowing easy throws underneath. He was beat at least twice on slants. He was responsible for Gibson once Porter left with an injury and he did very little to slow him down.

John Carney B- (2.67) No field goal attempts and Carney finished 4 for 4 on extra points. I'm sure some of you are thinking: well, he did everything we asked him to do, why doesn't he get an A or an A-? Well, first off, the best I'd give him for that minimal of a contribution is MAYBE a B+, but couple that with the fact that the Saints were forced to punt once and go for it another time on 4th down because Carney's leg strength was unreliable and there you have it. As much as I like Carney and trust his accuracy, it's a bummer that we don't have an option we currently trust with the game on the line and the ball at our opponent's 35 yard line.

Thomas Morstead D+ (2.89) Morstead didn't have any touchbacks on kickoffs, but his depth was ok. His punting performance was actually pretty dismal. He averaged just 37.3 yards on 3 punts, and netted just 20.6 per punt if you count 2 touchbacks and a 10 yard punt return. On his last punt he blasted it out of the end zone, but it sounded like there was a coaching mix up and he was just following instructions.

Courtney Roby A (2.88) Roby took one to the house to open the second half and break a 14-14 tie. His speed hitting the hole on that return was impressive and no Ram ever had a chance at him. I'm happy to see Roby solidify his standing as the team's returner. I also liked that on a deep kickoff later in the game, he didn't let the big play go to his head and he downed it for a touchback. He also came close to making a nice play as a gunner on a punt that bounced inside the 5, but punt returner blew him up before he had a chance to down the ball prior to it going in the end zone. Glad he didn't get hurt on that play, it was a vicious hit and we need him.

Jo-Lonn Dunbar: B (2.83) Dunbar threw an awesome block on Roby's return, and he was credited with a tackle as a gunner. I could have SWORN I remember him making two tackles, though. None the less, he was involved downfield and had a good day on special teams, so I thought I'd give him his props.

My Defensive Player of the Game: Roman Harper
My Special Teams Player of the Game: Courtney Roby

Poll

Who Was Your Defensive Player of the Game?

Usama Young

108 votes

Jonathan Vilma

20 votes

Roman Harper

102 votes

Charles Grant

55 votes

285 votes | Poll has closed

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

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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

Saints Training Camp Update: Day Two

Saintsational — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:36:36 -0000

More photos » by Bill Haber - AP

4 months ago: New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper (42) talks with teammates during the morning practice session at the club's NFL football training camp in Metairie, La., Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

Browse more photos »

Here are all your updates so far from todays practice. Remember, this post gets continually updated on a regular basis, so keep checking back. We've also got some more AP photos. Click the picture on the right to view all of them.

Twitter

jeffduncantp 8:30 a.m. WhoDat Nation out in full force. Saints fans already lined up & lubed up (& I don't mean Coppertone) outside

MalcolmJenkins hopefully i can make this a productive day...tryna make the best of it

jeffduncantp Morning practice about done. A lot of work on running game. Mike Bell might've tweaked his groin. Gotta check.

jeffduncantp Still no official word on Bell. He practiced throughout so didn't look serious. Shockey to speak after afternoon practice.

jeffduncantp Another camp observation: Media horde has multiplied. Local media overflowing, all seats in work room taken. Visiting media out of luck.

jeffduncantp Had a great interview with new fullback Heath Evans. Great guy. Strong leader. Winner. I can see why the Saints brought him in.

jeffduncantp Saints media fashion trend 2009: Hipster hats. Lotsa reporters rocking straw fedoras w/their requisite cargo shorts. Bucket hats a close 2nd

therealJShockgetting ready for round 2 for the day.......

saints83 Man today was a hot one! I think we had about 10 guys need IVs. Well back out to the next practice, I feel like I have been here a week

jeffduncantp 3 fracases in evening practice. Reis-vs.-Strief. Torrence-vs.-Bushrod. Hargrove-vs.-entire O-line. Done for day. White Linen Night on deck!

Linkage

Marques Colston returns to drills for New Orleans Saints - Times-Pic

"I'm definitely 100 percent injury-free," Colston said. "It's just a matter of now trying to manage it so I can come out of preseason feeling the same way. I'm always going to be leery of that and keep working hard."

-Marques Colston

"I'm going to do what they'll let me," Moore said. "They don't want me to have any contact for another two weeks at least, so I won't be in team drills."

-Lance Moore

New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams: All jobs are open - Times-Pic

New Orleans Saints offense will try to catch up to the defense today - Times-Pic

"You come out here everyday you're challenged to hold onto the football the right way, you're challenged to pickup blitzes and anymore this game is about applying pressure to the quarterback," Payton said. "How you get it, whether it's a four man rush or applying pressure, the ability to change his comfort level is critical in terms of forcing turnovers and bad decisions. From that aspect, he's really been good. They've done a good job defensively so far of creating pressure."

-Sean Payton

New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. isn't just a face on the sidelines - Times-Pic

"Pete handles all the quarterback meetings with (quarterbacks coach) Joe (Lombardi)," Payton said. "Pete sits in on all the installs. He's involved in the installs. He handles the staff. (Friday night) for example, practice is ending, the staff is meeting at the hotel and Pete's running the meeting. I'm not there. That happens a lot. He's done a great job."

-Sean Payton

"He came here from San Diego with a pretty diverse background and each year he's done a great job with not only working with the quarterbacks specifically, but working with the group in general," Payton said. "He's had two opportunities to leave as a coordinator and to his credit he's stayed with this system and this offense. He's a huge asset for me and he is very talented."

-Sean Payton

"His role on game day is on the sidelines he'll work hand in hand with the quarterbacks as they come off, communicate with Joe Lombardi," Payton said. "They'll go through the pictures with Drew (Brees) and the quarterbacks and really be my voice or ear in the passing game with my thoughts each series. I have a lot of trust in him. He works very hard at it, is very diligent and very thorough. He's done a great job."

-Sean Payton

New Orleans Saints work on special teams in morning training camp practice - Times-Pic

Fifth-round draft pick Thomas Morstead looked good in practice with nice hang time, distance and direction. He is battling with Glenn Pakulak, a midseason pickup in 2008.

Reggie Bush was smooth in fielding punts while local favorite Skyler Green muffed two returns and let another ball hit him.

New Orleans Saints afternoon practice is schedule for outside - Times-Pic

Training Camp, Day 2: WRs best the DBs in 7-on-7, other observations - WWLTV

Cody: Lance Moore shows his stuff - WWLTV

Porter Picking Up Right Where He Left Off - New Orleans Saints official website

"It feels great being out here practicing again," Porter said today after the team’s morning practice session. "I am pleased with how I have been able to get right back to playing before I was injured."

-Tracy Porter

"Things were going well and I was gaining confidence on a daily basis," he said. "You hear guys say that the game starts to slow down a bit for them as they become more and more familiar with all that is thrown at them and I definitely felt that way."

-Tracy Porter

"I thought it would be one of those things, that despite hurting pretty bad, would only force me to miss a week or so," Porter said. "But then they said it required surgery to repair it and that it would mean going to injured reserve, and that ends your season."

-Tracy Porter

"Right now you see all of us on defense competing really hard and trying to do what the coaching staff is asking us to do," Porter said. "It’s great working against what was the best offense in the league last year, because it is only getting us better and testing us on each play."

-Tracy Porter

"That keeps your focus all the time," Porter said. "There is no letting up. You want to be the guy making the play and creating a turnover or keeping the offense from making a play. Every play is a test and if you don’t do it right, not only are you going to hear about it from the coaches, but you risk the possibility of someone coming into your spot and getting the chance to show that they deserve to be in there."

"That’s motivation, in itself," he summarized. "I know every guy on this field wants to be out there making plays, I am no different."

-Tracy Porter

New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas on training camp at home - Times-Pic

"It's still training camp, but the fact that it's here and this is where we normally practice helps out," Thomas said. "It feels good to be home. Jackson, Miss. was good, but the guys feel more relaxed here."

-Pierre Thomas

"It's always good to get your mind off everything," he said. "When we were there we weren't getting caught up in stuff outside of football and I think we really came together as a team."

-Pierre Thomas

"Here we're not building, we've got a good group on offense and defense," Thomas said. "What we're doing now is just putting the pieces together."

-Pierre Thomas

Malcolm Jenkins still unsigned by New Orleans Saints as other first-round picks around him get signed - Times-Pic

New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper thinks highly of his backfield mate Roman Harper - Times-Pic

"I believe he has Pro Bowl potential," Sharper said. "He's doing extra drills after practice to perfect his technique."

-Darren Sharper

"That's where it starts with knocking it down," said Harper, who was ribbed constantly by teammates for his stone hands last season. "Now I've got to start catching the ball."

-Roman Harper

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton is singing different tune this year when it comes to Kenny Chesney - Times-Pic

"I told Kenny to stay away this year,'' a smiling Payton said of his longtime friend who first met in 2002. "Plus we can't hook up; he's on a West Coast tour when we're in camp.'

-Sean Payton

New Orleans Saints defensive backs still looking for first interception against Drew Brees - Times-Pic

"You know, I'm pretty sure someone might throw a ball out to a fan or something if we can get Drew," Saints safety Roman Harper said. "You know, Drew's pretty smart out that. He doesn't throw many, especially against us. He kind of knows what we're doing a lot of times, and he's such a good quarterback and he's so accurate, he doesn't throw many to us. So we're just trying to take advantage of him if he ever does hang one up to us."

-Roman Harper

"He's tough to get. He's tough to get," said Sharper, the NFL's active leader in career interceptions with 54. "He's a quarterback that's not going to throw the ball up and just give you a chance too many times by making a mistake. So the first guy that gets him, he'll definitely be able to say he has a little one-up on the rest of us guys."

-Darren Sharper

Morning practice report - Other signings may expedite Jenkins deal - NewOrleans.com

Day Two Notebook - New Orleans Saints official website

New Orleans Saints have an old roster, but they're young at receiver - Times-Pic

STC - Day 2/Practice 1 - WWL

Reggie Bush rests knee at afternoon practice - Times-Pic

Saints "Electrician" wired different than most - WWLTV

"Most people in America don’t eat goat," Charleston said, his mouth turned up in a grin and his eyes darting back and forth between the two reporters standing near him.

"But it’s actually pretty good. Down here you eat alligator and everything like that. Up in Oregon, we eat goat."

-Jeff Charleston

"I’ve always been a guy that during camp, I’m the only one running on my own and doing stuff like that," Charleston said. "I saw him and said, ‘You know what, I can be that guy who goes in and takes it a little easy and feels no pressure at the end.’ I’ve never been that guy.

"I told Charles, ‘I’m going to work with you every day. I’m going to push you a little harder. I’m going to have something for us to do.’ "

-Jeff Charleston

"He comes to me now and says what are we going to do? If he says that, he’s got the will and the want to be in the best shape. I know I’m not in the best shape right now. That’s what we’ve got camp for. I’m trying to get him in the best shape he can be in."

-Jeff Charleston

"I dreamed about games like that," Charleston said. "I always wanted to get a two-sack game in. That was the best feeling in the world. That night, nobody could say anything to me."

-Jeff Charleston

"The guys around me, I’m developing a lot better relationships," Charleston said. "Last year, I came in the fifth week. Who is this guy? Where’d he come from? I’m pretty much liked by most people I’m around, but nobody knew who I was.

"It was kind of hard coming in the fifth week. I’m the new guy. I didn’t say much and let my actions speak for me."

-Jeff Charleston

"I know what it’s like to go and work for every two weeks and get a normal pay check," Charleston said. "I know what it’s like. I don’t want to go back. Anytime I think this sucks, I think about that. I think I could be a man in the crowd wishing I was here."

-Jeff Charleston

"I’ve been to Houston. I lived in Atlanta for awhile," Charleston said. "New Orleans has its own flavor. I like it. This is my kind of people. I went on a gator tour, went out on the swamp boats.

"Our bye week is gator season. And I want to go hunting for gator.

-Jeff Charleston

The NFL Network's Steve Wyche talks about the Saints

New Orleans Saints training camp video log (Aug. 1, 2009)

Jeremy Shockey on offseason workouts

Sean Payton Q&A

From the New Orleans Saints official website after this afternoons practice.

Opening Statement:

"Just a couple of practice notes: Kendrick Clancy we held out this afternoon with some back spasms and I held Reggie Bush out just to keep his knee from getting aggravated; he's doing fine. With tomorrow's ‘B' schedule, which is really one practice in the afternoon, we expect everyone to be full go except for Adrian Arrington."

Did Bush's knee have some swelling or anything?

"No, it's really one of the things that we wanted to do with the two-a-day schedule with him, just to keep that from coming up."

Any news on the Malcolm Jenkins negotiations?

"Nothing that I'm aware of."

Do you think that the fact that #13 and #15 have signed will expedite the process?

"Hopefully. That's what you look for, the clump around them. But certainly nothing new that I'm aware of."

Gregg Williams said yesterday that the culture that you've established here was part of what brought him here and that you come from coaching background that places importance on that. Does that come from Bill Parcells?

"There have been a number of people that I've been fortunate enough to work for that helped mold what I would eventually become as a head coach and certainly Bill would be one of those figures. That was one thing that he stressed - the importance of having the right locker room and having the right mentality in the locker room. That's something that we pay close attention to. It's something that's not easy and it's something that you have to continue to work on or it can go the other way quickly. Collectively as a staff, as an organization, we take that into account very seriously in the selection of players or the signing of players as to how they're going to fit in this team. I think that is important to winning football."

So you think that really makes a difference?

"No question. I've said before and credit to New England, if you just pay attention to who's winning, typically those teams have very good cultures; the ones that are winning on a consistent basis."

Heath Evans said that he saw it as much when they lost as when they won. Is that the case?

"No question. It's easy when you win. It's the culture when you hit the bumpy roads that come with the 16-game regular season."

Anthony Hargrove said that the team is kind of like a "big brother" to him. When you have a culture like that, can afford to take a chance on a player like Hargrove?

"I think you can. Once it's established, I think you can. But it has to be the right player because we've seen cases where maybe there has been a team with a real good culture and yet the individual wasn't able to fit in. When that happens, then there's probably not a lot of places that individual is going to fit in. I think you can."

Have you seen such feistiness before in the second day of practice as you did today?

"The only concern that I have is that we have to be able to learn to practice without the full pads on. I don't want to lose a player. That hurts us to start the season. But I think they've been competitive; I think they're practicing hard and I think their intent is good. Those are some of the things that you want to see."

What does it say about a guy like Jeff Charleston that he's willing to stay after practice to work and run with Charles Grant?

"Every once in a while you come across a player that finds a way to catch your attention, and he's one of those guys. He's one of those throwback players that knows that his effort and his intensity and all those intangibles have to be at a high level for him to have a chance and he understands that. He's a player that knows who he is, and that's a good thing in our league."

What are your views when dust-ups like those happen?

"It's a little bit more challenging when two of them break out at the same time. But there's that five to ten-second period where hopefully then it's controlled by the team and I think even in that case today, you saw ultimately the team take care of it."

Do you like to see a good scrap like that?

"Like I said, I like the competitive nature of the way we're practicing. We just want them to be careful and not do something stupid."

What kind of things do you expect from Pierre Thomas this season?

"He's knows the offense very well. We expect him to be a big contributor as a running back for us - it's that simple. We expect him to be a guy to get a lot of carries. The key is staying healthy for him, but he runs with good pad level. He's a guy that doesn't take a lot of minus-yardage plays, which is a big plus for him and he's very reliable in protection."

So he needs to take another step forward since he's in year three now?

"The key for him is just the consistency in regards to his injuries, just being able to stay healthy and stay on the field."

Do you like his weight to be where it is right now?

"Yes. I think he's at a good spot right now. When you look at him, I think he's carrying it well. I'm always mindful or cautious of guys that play skill positions that put on weight. I think you have to be careful there, but I think he's playing at a comfortable weight right now."

What have you seen from Tracy Porter so far in these first few days?

"It is early, but he's a guy that is smart. He has real good ball skills and he's taking reps at punt returner as well and he can run well. He's right there in the mix. He did some good things a year ago."

When you look at receivers and cornerbacks, what is it about their feet that is important?

"So much of the game is start-and-stop. If your ability to start and then stop and then start again is better than your opponent's, then it gives you an edge. Conversely, if you struggle in transition - if when you stop it takes you a while to get back started again, then it becomes a challenge for you and you're behind a little bit. That quickness and agility is a key component to this game because there's so much of it that takes place on every play."

Pierre Thomas said that he'd like to recreate something like what Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister had in 2006. What are your thoughts on that?

"I think he's anxious and I think he is certainly ready to take on that role. Now we go through the process of preparing him for that. I said earlier that in the group as a whole, there are some interesting players that we have to do a good job of evaluating. When you talk about the Mike Bell, Lynell Hamilton, the P.J. Hills and Herb Donaldson, I'm anxious to see all of those guys. It's hard to get them all work. You'll see in practice that we'll start clumping two or three of them in a nine-on-seven and not try to give each one of them two reps but try to give one of them a little bit more work. That gives us a better chance to look at those players."

Sean Payton Q&A

From the New Orleans Saints official website after this mornings practice.

Opening Statement:

"I don't know that there were any injuries to report. There were a couple of upset stomachs;Jammal Brown had a little bug and that was about the extent of it. This afternoon we'll go outside again, which is a little bit contrary to the normal schedule, but we'll be out here again in the afternoon battling through it."

Does Jammal have a flu bug?

"I don't know if was that or a little bit of the heat, but he should be fine."

Would you say that Lance Moore and Adrian Arrington are both limited still?

"Lance I would say got a little more work in one-on-ones and seven-on-seven. Adrian, with the hamstring, it's really us monitoring it every day. With Lance, his lower body is fine and he's doing real well. With Adrian we just have to get his hamstring right before he gets back out."

Anything to report on the Malcolm Jenkins contract front?

"No, nothing new."

You've always had an elder statesman type in your receiving corps since you've been here. This year they're a younger bunch but still experienced. Did you not need the older presence this year?

"We're pretty comfortable with the group that we have. We're spending time evaluating some of the younger guys, but I think the reps that Marques (Colston) has had, Devery (Henderson), and even Lance Moore and Robert Meachem for that matter - those guys have had a lot of work. A couple of the other free agents that we signed have been around for a while like - Paris Warren - but we'll see. Those guys have had a lot of reps. I don't know that purposely it worked out that way or if it was just a matter of where we were with the roster."

Did you feel like you needed to have that older guy those first couple of years?

"I don't know that specifically. We had veteran experience with a guy like Joe (Horn) our first year and Terrance Copper had some experience, but he wasn't that old. It really comes down to production. It's a group that works pretty hard and it's not a high maintenance group like it can be sometimes."

How has Marques looked to you?

"Pretty good. This is his first full work. All of these guys are carrying their pads for a second day now, so really it's a process that takes place to get used to that. So far he's doing well."

We've seen Jonathan Casillas watching with the ones the last few days. Is he someone that could make an impact?

"He's one of the young guys that is clearly going to be evaluated both in the kicking game and at linebacker. We felt like there were some things in the spring that he was able to pick up on. He started a little late because of his injury, but he has some promise so we'll see."

Is that similar to what you've done with Marvin Mitchell?

"A little bit."

How do you feel about your backup quarterback situation?

"I feel good about it. We have experience there obviously with Mark Brunell. Joey Harringtoncame off of what we thought was a pretty good year in Atlanta the year we acquired him. Our job is to make sure that both of those players are mentally and physically ready to go in at any time and I think they understand that. That's the nature of the position; that's the challenge of the position sometimes. That being said, it can't slow down progress. We're still coaching those guys and not taking anything for granted. They have to be ready."

Would you say that the #2 quarterback job is open?

"We talked about it in the spring that those guys are competing for that. More than just that spot, there are a number of jobs that are open. We'll have plenty of time in the preseason to evaluate these guys in the games."

Is that a coach's nightmare, to lose a guy at such a key position?

"It's certainly one of the things that you're always guarded against and you're hopeful that it doesn't happen. But I think that also is a little bit of the reality of the game that we play. You don't know what position it will come at - these suspensions for instance on two guys right off the bat if they hold up. The key is preparing the whole roster and not just the front line guys."

What kind of offseason has it been for Pierre Thomas?

"Pretty good. He has been healthy; he has his wrist back; his hand is feeling pretty good. I think his weight is at the right spot and that he's in real good shape."

Last year he had 160 offensive touches and 12 touchdowns. Do you see his touches going way up this year?

"We'll see. He's certainly one of the guys that will be in the mix for runs and plays other than that. He's a guy that's consistent. There's something to be said for knowing exactly what you're going to get from a player and that's one of his assets."

Does the fact that you didn't bring another veteran running back in say something about the confidence you have in Pierre Thomas, Lynell Hamilton and Mike Bell?

"There is a group behind Reggie (Bush) and Pierre that is going to be really interesting to evaluate. Mike Bell, Lynell Hamilton and then P.J. Hill and Herb Donaldson - there's a group of guys that we have to get a handle on in the next four weeks as to where we think they fit and they'll get a lot of work. Not just in practice, they'll get a lot of work in the preseason."

When Casillas wasn't drafted and you guys were looking at bringing in free agents, what was it about him that caught your eye?

"He had a draftable grade. What typically happens when you finish the seven rounds is that there are a few magnets that stand out above the others because of the grade that you had on them and you start there. There were two concerns with him - one being the injury problem and not being able to work out at his pro day and that left a lot of people skittish and then there were a few incidents on campus there that also did that. That being said, when you saw him play there were some things that excited you so we were excited to sign him as a free agent."

Are you still as excited after having him in here?

"Yes, definitely."

Do you get encouraged when you see the guys that were drafted around Jenkins get signed?

"Yes. When you start seeing the guys in front and behind, then you're hopeful that the process speeds up. What you don't want to see is two or three days turn into a week or a week-and-a-half. Now you wait and you hope that we can get this thing resolved quicker than later."

After three practices, can you give out a grade on which unit - offense or defense - has gotten the better of the other so far?

"I don't think we talk about that. We're able to see the tape and what's important is to evaluate each segment in its separate phase. First off, you have three different groups that are going against each other, but I think as you watch practice - and there's an ebb and flow to practice - typically my experience with camp is that the key is the consistency aspect of it all. A lot of times you'll see one better in one session and then the next group play better in the other session, but it's still early. The competition aspect of it is healthy and it's good."

Gregg Williams said that the defense won both practices yesterday.

"Is that right?"

How is Usama Young making the transition from cornerback to safety?

"He's doing well. He had a good offseason we felt. He was one of the pleasant surprises. When you make a move from corner to safety like that there is a lot that's involved in it. He has picked things up pretty quickly and we're excited about where we're at."

Is it too early to say that there's a renewed sense of urgency with this defense?

"I think we're seeing a lot of things that are positive, and yet we have a long ways to go both offensively and defensively. I don't really buy into picking up where you left off, for instance, as it pertains to the offense. We have a lot of work to do. In 2006 we had a pretty good year offensively and then in '07 we really struggled in the first four weeks of the season. You have to start right from the beginning with the fundamentals, whether it's your veteran players or your young players. You can't take anything for granted. We have to be able to as a team play a complementary game and hopefully we're able to do that."

Have you noticed a different culture around the secondary this year?

"From a personnel standpoint it's different. There are a lot of new faces in the secondary and they're adjusting to the new scheme well. I see guys that are in position and I think we also have better depth than we have in years past so you're seeing some pretty good competition. You can take the cornerback position for instance. As you try to put all those hats in order, there's a lot of work to be done yet for evaluation of those players. That has all been encouraging."

You had talked about a list of needs and wants going into the offseason. Was improving the secondary high on that list?

"It was one of them. The cornerback group was one of them and I think we have to have better play than we did a year ago."

Have you noticed different safety play from Roman Harper with Gregg Williams here?

"He's had one of his better offseasons, if not his best offseason. We're anxious to see his progress. He's a guy that we think can be an impact safety for us and we have a lot of time to get a peek at him."

Is it maturity or the influence of Gregg's defense?

"It's probably a combination of a number of things. He was in position last year a number of times to make some plays and hopefully he is able to do that this year."

Is Adrian Arrington's recovery on schedule with you guys?

"It has probably lingered a little longer than we expected. With the hamstring we would have hoped he would have been ready to start camp, but those are kind of tricky. The worst thing we could do is hurry him back and have a setback. The best thing is to get him healthy and get him out there, but he's probably a little bit behind schedule."

Are you reducing reps at this camp because it is more of a veteran team?

"I think to some extent. I also think that the amount of work we have gotten in the offseason has allowed us to do that. We have a lot of players back know our system now. It's still training camp, so I still believe in the two-a-day routine. I still believe in the grind."

Is it less of a grind this year?

"We're just trying to keep them a little fresher. The roster limit has changed the last two or three years so we have to be flexible with that."

Has the culture of this team changed since you first brought them up in Millsaps?

"I think to some degree they know what to expect. I think that there's still a formula that never changes. I go back to the offseason, the reps and work we had, allows us for instance to be 20 minutes shorter on our p.m. practice yesterday."

Would you have not done that in Jackson?

"Probably not in that first year."

Any noticeable progression in Sedrick Ellis going into year two?

"He's doing well. He's in shape."

Sean Payton Q&A

From NewOrleans.com after yesterday afternoons practice.

Opening Statement: This P.M. practice is scheduled a little bit different than it has been. We're not on the field quite as long for a couple of reasons. I thought the first day went pretty well. The guys were moving around. I think you could see the work in the offseason right now. I think they're in pretty good shape, having the opportunity to come in here; we made that decision this afternoon with some of the rain. Our plan tomorrow is to be outside twice and we'll go from there.

Q: If Jo-Lonn Dunbar plays well enough do you look at him as a potential starter?

A: I think all these guys are competing for playing time. He's a young player that we like. We think he's going to make a big impact for us on special teams and for snaps. He's a guy that's pretty smart and has a pretty good grasp of what we're doing. For him in this second year, how many snaps he can get, not only in the kicking game, but does he figure in on defense? We're looking at all these young guys right now and trying to get them work and the preseason will be important.

Q: Can you discuss how much comfort level you have with Pete Carmichael Jr. as your offensive coordinator?

A: A lot. Pete handles all the quarterback meetings with Joe (Lombardi). Pete sits in on all the installs. He's involved in the installs. He handles the staff. Today for example, practice is ending, the staff is meeting at the hotel and Pete's running the meeting. I'm not there. That happens a lot. He's done a great job. He came here from San Diego with a pretty diverse background and each year he's done a great job with not only working with the quarterbacks specifically, but working with the group in general. He's had two opportunities to leave as a coordinator and to his credit he's stayed with this system and this offense. He's a huge asset for me and he is very talented.

Q: What is his role on game day?

A: His role on game day is on the sidelines he'll work hand in hand with the quarterbacks as they come off, communicate with Joe Lombardi. They'll go through the pictures with Drew (Brees) and the quarterbacks and really be my voice or ear in the passing game with my thoughts each series. I have a lot of trust in him. He works very hard at it, is very diligent and very thorough. He's done a great job.

Q: When you made a change in offensive coordinator what convinced you Gregg Williams was the guy?

A: You first look at the body of work that's important. He had a track record that was coincidental and for a number of years I had experience in going against him. Then in the interview process, you saw his passion for what we were wanting to do. I think the combination of what he wants to implement, his past success, his ability to come in and play a key role from a leadership standpoint and get those guys up to speed, all of them factored in.

Q: What did he do in that interview that convinced you to hire him?

A: It was a full day of meetings. It's hard to point to one thing, but it's easy to point to a lot of things, which I did. But, I think when he left we felt comfortable that if we were able to secure him...He had a number of teams interested...If we were able to get him on board and the search was going to stop there and fortunately it did.

Q: How long did you have to wait to be able to hire him?

A: It was probably six days after the interview, maybe a little less than a week. He went up to Green Bay, came back and then we spent some time on the phone and got it done.

Q: Even if you didn't work with him personally, did you talk to people who worked with him?

A: I talked to a number of guy, various coaches, and various players. Mark Brunell was with him in Washington. The linebacker that I had in Dallas that is now in Miami at Washington. I talked to assistant coaches. I talked to other coaches that had been with him and much like you would if you were signing a player you do homework. All those things factored in.

Q: Did the game against Washington in 2006 and their defense's performance against your offense make an impression?

A: That was just part of it. That was one game. There have been a number of games that made an impression over a period of time.

Q: How do you think your offense has responded to the increased intensity?

A: Good, we get challenged. It's helpful for us. You come out here everyday you're challenged to hold onto the football the right way, you're challenged to pickup blitzes and anymore this game is about applying pressure to the quarterback. How you get it, whether it's a four man rush or applying pressure, the ability to change his comfort level is critical in terms of forcing turnovers and bad decisions. From that aspect, he's really been good. They've done a good job defensively so far of creating pressure.

Q: Are there any individuals that have impressed you today?

A: Mike Bell did a good job and made some good runs. I thought defensively there were a number of players that got their hands on balls. I think a lot easier after two, three four days, after a week, where you start to see guys make repeat performances. Overall, knock on wood, we were healthy today, guys seem to be flying around. The offseason work from a football standpoint or the football x's and o's helps us he a lot in the first day or two because we give them a lot and their ready to pick it up in the first day or two. We have a long way to go. Fortunately we have time on our side to evaluate and make proper decisions.

Q: How much did Jonathan Vilma work?

A: Pretty much the same, about two thirds of what (Scott) Fujita and (Scott) Shanle or one of those first line guys would do, not just quite as much, but similar to this morning.

Q: Is Jeremy Shockey healthy?

A: He's in good shape. He's injury free, he's moving around well. It's good to see him running the way he's running.

Saints 2009 Position Battles: Linebacker

Saintsational — Thu, 07 May 2009 11:00:18 -0000

Continuing on with our roster breakdown position by position we now come to the linebacking corp. This position has had one heck of a makeover this off-season. With so many more talented players battling it out this year, the Saints are sure to see improvement from the middle of their defense. Let's take a look at who they've got.

Here's a quick glance at all of linebackers currently on the Saints roster:

Player	Height	Weight	Age	Experience
Jonathan Vilma	6'1"	230	27	6
Scott Fujita	6'5"	250	30	8
Mark Simoneau	6'0"	245	32	10
Scott Shanle	6'2"	245	29	7
Dan Morgan	6'2"	245	30	8
Stanley Arnoux	6'0"	232	22	R
Jo-Lonn Dunbar	6'0"	226	24	2
Troy Evans	6'3"	238	31	8
Marvin Mitchell	6'3"	249	24	3
Anthony Waters	6'3"	238	24	3
Jonathan Casillas	6'2"	226	21	R

There is quite a crowd ready to fight it out for a final roster spot this year. The Saints will start off with eleven possibly candidates and will probably need to cut it down to about six, possibly seven.

Vilma and Fujita are probably the only two players on the list that are a lock to make the team. Both are undeniable leaders of this position group both on the field and in the locker room. Moving on to the other returning players we come across Scott Shanle and Mark Simoneau. Simoneau missed all of last year and as the oldest player at the position, I think he's reached the end of the road with the Saints. Payton has been trying for years to get rid of Shanle but the little bugger just won't go away. With all of the talent added to the roster this off-season, I think Payton has finally improved the weak side. I hope Shanle is gone but we've been wrong about this before.

Dan Morgan is an enigma whose play just can't be predicted. If he remains healthy he could be one of the biggest improvements to this entire defense. He's that good. But he also hasn't played in a year and he may trip over a few cobwebs. Morgan says he's in the best shape of his life so all we can do is believe him. He definitely makes the team if he doesn't die during training camp.

I think Troy Evans had better shine on special teams. That's been his specialty (pun sort of intended) and it might be his meal ticket this year.

Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Marvin Mitchell are the young returnees. Both show a lot of upside, particularly Dunbar, but competition hasn't been this tough in recent years. These guys are big contributors on special teams so they're always a consideration. Either of these guys could surprise coaches with a bit of hard work. Dunbar seems to be a favorite of fans and coaches.

Your guess is as good as mine regarding what kind of production to expect from Anthony Waters. He certainly won't start but he'll be battling with Marvin Mitchell for a spot as Vilma's backup. Because of Mitchell's special team contributions, I don't see Waters beating him out.

Then there are the new guys: Stanley Arnoux and Jonathan Casillas. Arnoux comes in as a fourth round pick so expectations are only moderate. Working his way into a starting spot will be a bit of a long shot but the hope is that he will become a quality player with a little coaching and time. I think the Saints keep him around as a backup on the outside. Casillas, though probably the most highly touted rookie free agent, still has his work cut out for him in training camp. If he lives up to the hype then the Saints got away with robbery. Helping out on special teams will definitely give him the best chance at cracking the roster.

To be sure, this is going to be one of the most intriguing position competitions during training camp this year. What do you think is going to happen? Who are you most intrigued by? Will there be any surprises?

Poll

Which linebacker will be the biggest surprise?

Stanley Arnoux

100 votes

Jonathan Casillas

148 votes

Dan Morgan

370 votes

Anthony Waters

23 votes

Jo-Lonn Dunbar

103 votes

Marvin Mitchell

14 votes

758 votes | Poll has closed

Most Memorable Moments of the 2008 Saints Season

Saintsational — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:00:08 -0000

It's time to take a look back at some of the better moments of the 2008 Saints season. While you may think there aren't many to choose from...you're right. But I scrounged through all the old posts and manged to put together a nice little list. This post is meant to spark memores and conversation while we reminisce about the season that was...or was not. Remember that these are my favorites, so feel free to share your own personal highlights of 2008.

Deuce breaks the record

This season has brought fans the sad realization that the best of Deuce McAllister is behind him. Whether or not he wears the black and gold next season remains to be seen but he will never be forgotten by Saints faithful, especially since he became the Saints touchdown leader on November 24th against the Green Bay Packers. Deuce ran only five times for a sad total of 5 yards that night but the most important stat of the evening was the one in the touchdown column. Following a (miraculous?) Jason David interception and return to the Green Bay 3-yard line, Deuce finished up the job two plays later with his longest run of the night. 7:37 remained in the third quarter. The run wasn't memorable at all but it's outcome will never be forgotten. Thanks Deuce.

Beating the crap out of Green Bay

FINAL - 11.24.2008	1	2	3	4	TOTAL
Green Bay Packers	7	14	0	8	29
New Orleans Saints	14	10	21	6	51

COMPLETE COVERAGE >

The same game that brought us Deuce's historical run also gives us our second memorable moment. The only thing better than tying a franchise record for points scored in a game and beating up the Packers is doing it all on national television. Some other memorable game facts include:

Four touchdowns and a near perfect quarterback rating for Drew Brees.
Two - count 'em - two Jason David interceptions.
A 70-yard strike to Colston down the sideline.
Lance Moore grabbing two touchdowns and proving he can run after the catch.
Sedrick Ellis' Pee-Wee Herman dance.

And we can't forget the aforementioned touchdown by Deuce McAllister. On a personal note, this was also the game I brought Adam to and fulfilled my half of our bargain, making it even more memorable.

London Calling

This one is definitely a more personal memorable moment. I feel very proud to be among the lucky few Saints fans able to make the trip across the pond just to watch our favorite bunch of idiots play a football game. How many people can say they've been to a Saints game at Wembley Stadium? Fortunately the Saints won but I can honestly say I still would have enjoyed my quick little adventure if they hadn't. Still...good thing they won. But it wasn't just about football. Even though I had never met Adam before and I don't know when I'll see him next, I definitely consider him a friend and thanks to this blog, Adam's warm generosity and a little luck I have a memory I will never forget.

Dance, Dance Revolution!

We all know the Saints defense this season was disappointing and the on-field product left much to be desired but take comfort in knowing that our team can really get down when it's time to party. Whether it's Jason David doing his best Carlton impression after a pick or Sedrick Ellis, post-sack, imitating Pee-Wee Herman dancing to "Tequila!", these guys are creative. Now if we could only get that talent and creativity to translate into the football game...

Reggie's returns and the block heard 'round the world

Though Reggie racked up 93 yards running and passing on the night, it was his two punt return touchdowns that had everyone in the Superdome freaking out during the Saints week five matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. The first came with 1:46 remaining in the third quarter when Reggie ran Chris Kluwe's punt back 71 yards for the score and brought the Saints to within three. Big punt returns are usually the result of big blocks and that was definitely the case with this one as Jo-Lonn Dunbar completely creamed Erin Henderson while Aaron Stecker similtaneously nailed his man. Possibly the best play of the year. Following a game-tying Gramatica field goal (It's true!), Reggie wasn't finished as he took another punt back 64 yards for a second touchdown while putting the Saints up by seven. The Saints came out on the losing end of this one but it all combined to create arguably the most dramatic and exciting game of the 2008 season.

Bobby McCray's bloody sack

How could anyone forget that infamous picture of Carson Palmer walking off the field with a face full of blood? The mess that was Palmers face came courtesy of Bobby McCray with less than a minute remaining in the first half of the Saints pre-season game against the Bengals on August 23rd. The sack was technically split by McCray and Kaesviharn on the official stat sheet but we know McCray was responsible for the dirty work. Even more exciting was the feeling of euphoria as we fantasized and hypothesized about the dominating pass rush we expected the Saints would have in 2008. We were wrong.

Goodbye Gary. Hello Gregg.

After the torment of a second season with his insufferable defense, Gary Gibbs was finally let go this month. Highly coveted Gregg Williams was very recently hired in his place. Technically we don't really know if this move will yield positive results thus making it memorable but considering the way we feel about it at this very moment, this was the change of the century and a much needed breath of fresh air. I also considered putting the hiring of Gibbs by Tampa bay on this list as well but there is always the chance that it could actually come back to bite us in the butt so I will exercise caution.

Poll

What was your favorite moment of the 2008 Saints season?

International Series game

3 votes

Gary Gibbs getting fired

18 votes

The dancing

1 votes

Carson Palmer's bloody nose

0 votes

Deuce breaking the record

18 votes

The Green Bay whooping

29 votes

Reggie Bush's two punt returns

17 votes

Dunbars huge block

6 votes

92 votes | Poll has closed

Raiders @ Saints: Preview

Saintsational — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:00:05 -0000

Key Matchups

Saints Defense vs. Raiders Running Backs

The bad news is that the Raiders have three good running backs in Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. The good news is that Fargas and McFadden are both coming back from injuries and the Saints defense is coming off of a spectacular performance against much feared Adrian Peterson. We know this unit is up to the challenge and can be succesful. The performance of Jonathan Vilma and our defensive tackles will play a crucial role in stopping the run. Forcing JaMarcus Russell to go to the air a lot and win the game with his arm will increase the Saints chances of walking away with a victory.

Saints Special Teams vs. Raiders Special Teams

To punt or not to punt. The Raiders actually do a good job on special teams coverage and exhibited that skill against Devin Hester last year. Chances are they aren't as afraid of Reggie as other teams might be. Look for them to punt to Reggie. If they do, Bush will have very little room to work with. Some big blocks like the ones he got from Stecker and Dunbar will be necessary.

Saints Secondary vs. Raiders Passing Game

If the defense can actually force the Raiders to rely on the pass then it will be incumbent on the secondary to do their job in the backfield. Obviously some pressure from the line will help immensely but the corners cannot allow Russell to beat them deep with that cannon arm of his.

What The Saints Need To Do

Establish the Run

The Raiders do not have the same great run stuffing defense that the Vikings do so there is no reason why the Saints shouldn't at least attempt to pound the ball up the middle with D. Mac. Making the Raiders respect the run game will open everything up for the rest of the offense.

Stop Turning it Over

The Saints have now gone 22 straight games with at least one turnover. Ridiculous. That must come to an end. Turnovers are the easiest way to lose a game.

No Penalties

I hate having to even mention this. The Saints have given up 225 yards in penalties the last two games. That's more than the Lions can gain in one game! This is a mental and discipline issue. Clean it up!

60 Minutes of Football

The Saints have had trouble closing games. Whether it's missing field goals, coming up short on third down or giving up big passing plays late in the game, the Saints need to play a complete game for the entire length of the game. If this game is closer than we all hope in the fourth quarter, the ability to finish will be important.

Players to Watch

Taylor Mehlhaff

The kids first real game. He's gonna be nervous as hell so let's all pray that he doesn't get put into a must make situation. Weatherford has been taking the kickoffs as of late so look for Mehlhaff to take over duties there as well.

Jeremy Shockey/Marques Colston

Will they be back? It's questionable.

Deuce McAllister

Don't let him leave your sights.

Saints @ Redskins: Breaking it Down - Second Quarter

Saintsational — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:00:05 -0000

Cooley dragged half our team. (Reuters Pictures)

Saints Defense First Drive (4 plays, 8 yards, 2:07, Field Goal)

This might have been the best drive of the game for the Saints defense. They make two nice run stops and on the second down play, Tracy Porter makes a nice quick hit on Chris Cooley for a gain of only 6 yards. Campbell had all day to make the pass. The unit is able to get off the field quickly.

Saints Offense First Drive (3 plays, 4 yards, 2:05, Punt)

This drive was just pure crap. Bush has no where to run. Stinchcomb gets beat and allows Jason Taylor to sack Brees.

It's funny because whenever I re-watch some of Reggie's runs I find myself noticing this: When he attempts a run between the tackles, it often appears that he has opportunities to quickly bounce it outside and find a lot of open space but doesn't ever notice and runs right into the pile. Similarly, the situations when he is contained and has nowhere to go are when he tries to dance and change direction. Reggie is an amazing athlete with the ability to do anything as a running back but it seems when his mind is made up that he is going to run between the tackles, he shuts down the creative aspect of his talent. Reggie needs to do a better job as a decision maker and should get a little more loose and improvisational with his inside runs. This offensive line is not going to do him any favors, so he is going to have to make something happen. A good running back would do that.

Saints Offense Second Drive (6 plays, 26 yards, 2:45, Touchdown)

After a fumble on the punt return by Randle El, the Saints take over on Washington's 27.

Brees and Patten have a miscomunnication issue as the Saints try and go for the touchdown right off the bat. It looked like the same play they connected on for the touchdown last week. Brees does connect with Shockey over the middle for a first down.

On a 1st and 10 play the handoff is to Reggie for a run up the middle. Kedric Golston gets through the offensive line untouched and is standing there just waiting for Reggie to make his move. It's ridiculous. Poor Reggie. Pierre Thomas takes over from here and makes a nice catch and dive for a first down. Thomas later takes it into the endzone after two goal line attempts.

Saints Defense Second Drive (8 plays, 33 yards, 3:17, Missed FG)

More of what we saw earlier from this defense. Bending and giving up some decent plays including a completion in quadruple (I am only slightly exaggerating) coverage to Santana Moss for 14 yards and a Clinton Portis run up the middle for 11 yards but then tightening up deep in their zone.

Sedrick Ellis takes a roughing the passer penalty for 10 yards.

After fumbling the punt on the last possession and missing two field goals, the Redskins are just begging us to run away with this game. Of course we don't. It is this fact alone that makes me wary of future opponents. Good teams will not give you those opportunities.

Saints Offense Third Drive (3 plays, 8 yards, 1:59, Punt)

On first down Reggie runs between the tackles with Mike Karney in front of him. He strictly follows Karney which gets Bush into trouble as the hole closes up in front of him. Again, it looks like there is an opportunity for him to bounce it right and into space but he just plows forward. I wouldn't expect any average NFL back to see these opportunities and make those cuts and decisions but this is Reggie Bush we are talking about. It seems that if any player could do it, Reggie would be the man. This is the same player who, on the very next play, hurdles over Shawn Springs. Regardless, this offensive line could be creating much better opportunities for Bush to succeed. Additionally, I have to ask again why not run this play with Pierre?

This drive is just plain ugly. Saints punt.

Saints Defense Third Drive (8 plays, 50 yards, 2:14, Field Goal)

I'm gonna start this whole thing by admitting that I just don't get this defense. I don't. Someone please explain it to me. No comprende. They look awful the first five or six plays but finally get their act together to force yet another Redskins field goal attempt. I am laughing right now but it is that kind of laughing where you're actually angry and a little confused. So angry and a little confused that its actually funny and you just can't help but laugh at how angry and confused you are. You know what I am talking about? Allow me to explain why I am laughing like this.

After giving up a six yard run and two eight yard passes over the middle all in a row, Campbell completes a pass to Chris Cooley over the middle in between the coverage. It gets even better with, are you sitting down, four missed tackles! Including Vilma! Cooley gets an extra eight yards after the catch. This play makes me want to bang my head against a cement wall repeatedly. Then all of a sudden they tighten up. Dunbar makes a nice pass break up, they do a great job of containing Portis on an outside run and the secondary's coverage forces Campbell to throw one away.

Saints Offense Fourth Drive (7 plays, 59 yards, 1:04, Field Goal)

This was a great drive that allowed the Saints to grab the lead before the half. 59 yards in a little over a minute is exactly what we should expect from this team's offense.

Reggie had two nice runs up the middle, both for nine yards. Nice blocking created some holes. Amazing how that works. A 22 yard completion to trusty old David Patten and a short pass over the middle to Reggie who gets out of bounds puts Gramatica in position to make the field goal. Ummm...where was that all half?

End of the Half: Saints 10 - Redskins 9

It's amazing that the Saints are actually in the lead at this point in the game. The good news is that they haven't really played well and they are still winning the game. All they will need to do in the second half is play the better brand of football they know they can play and this game will be over.

Saints @ Redskins: Recap

Saintsational — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:00:06 -0000

Up until the middle of the fourth quarter I thought I would be writing a very upbeat, optimistic recap of this game today. Instead I am angry and crushed. Mostly angry. It's not time to start panicking just yet but this loss certainly wasn't pretty. We've got lots to talk about, a lot of bad, so let's get into this, bulleted style. I haven't had a chance to watch the game for a second time yet, so these are my intitial thoughts.

Apparently it was incredibly hot during the game and the Saints had to wear black. Don't know how much of a factor the weather was.
Payton decided to defer the opening kickoff which is fairly out of the ordinary for him. It was a good one from Gramatica that went for a touchback. Who needs Mehlhaff? The first quarter was some pretty awful football offensively. The Reskins defense came out aggressive and greatly outplayed the Saints offense. You can't start a game much worse than this.

1st Quarter	Saints	Redskins
First Downs	1	7
Third Down %	0%	60%
Rushing Yards	0	54
Passing Yards	20	59
Time of Possession	3:48	11:12
Turnovers	1	0

Those are just offensive numbers. The defense actually looked pretty decent in the first half bending but never breaking, and because of that the Saints actually held the Redskins to only 3 field goals and a missed one as well. If the Saints were playing another team, they could have easily gotten themselve in a huge hole very early.

Jo-Lonn Dunbar got the start. He looked pretty good out there on a few plays, particularly in passing situations like the pass breakup before the half. At other times he still looked like a rookie. There is a lot of promise in Dunbar though and I think Saints fans should be optimistic with regards to his development.
On the first drive the Saints defense looked eerily like last years defense. It wasn't pretty. They missed two chances to get off the field on third down.
Shockey got involved a little earlier in the game this week. Unfortunately, he got a little too involved as he fumbled the ball on his first catch of the game. There were no Saints even remotely in the area to jump on the ball. Shockey appeared to be being held down. We didn't see much of Shockey after that.
Deuce made his regular season debut in the second half of the game. He looked pretty good and ran the ball twice for five yards each. This may be the slow phasing in of Deuce into the lineup or it may just be an appeasal to Deuce and to fans.
Also making his career debut was Robert Meachem with only one catch. Of course it was a 19-yard touchdown catch. Not sure what we can all make from this. It certainly bodes well but I don't think we can start ringing in the Meachem era just yet.
Turnovers were very important in this game and the Saints lost this battle with three to the Redskins one.
The run game is non-existent and needs to have a serious look taken at it. This is another area where the Saints continue to experience the same problems as last year. Not sure what the solution is. It also depends on what plans the team has for Deuce. Personally, I would love to see the Saints consistently give Pierre Thomas the ball with Karney as the lead blocker for one game. Just try it for one game, please. I am also starting to wish the Saints had drafted Matt Forte. He had another good game for Chicago yesterday. That kid is good.
Reggie's play was bittersweet. He may have only had 28 yards on the ground and 63 yards in the air but he also had the touchdown punt return. The return game was the area Reggie vowed to make a difference. So far so good. This was one of the bright spots of the game I felt. Reggie continues to be a threat everywhere on the field and in any type of situation. That is a great player to have. The running game is lacking though and he is still reverting to his old dancing ways every so often. He just needs to realize when its a good time to bounce around and when he needs to put his head down and turn it upfield. We he makes the right decision it is beautiful.
Another positive note was the Saints drive to end the first half. That was a smart, well put together drive that let them go into the locker room with the lead.
The Redskins Chris Horton had an awesome game. Two interceptions and a fumble recovery. He will haunt my nightmares all week.
Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham looked pretty solid on kickoffs. Not so much on field goals.
The Saints offensive line could have done a better job protecting Brees who was taken down twice.
Mike McKenzie did not play so the Saints seemed to go with a rotation of Aaron Glenn, Jason Craft and Tracy Porter. Usama Young saw some time as well and looked pretty solid. Tracy Porter got picked on a lot late in the game. The Redskins smelled weakness and exploited it. He was the culprit on the long Moss touchdown. To be fair, there was absolutely no help over the top from safeties and he was left on an island all alone out there. Needless to say, the play of the secondary looked much like last year. Porter and Glenn both got banged up during the game, continuing the theme for our much beleagured secondary. I hope these guys heal up fast because I hate seeing Jason Craft out there.
The run defense is pittiful. Right now the Saints defense is ranked second to last in the league for rush yards per play behind only Detroit. This is a serious problem that needs to be fixed quickly.
Speaking of serious problems that need to be fixed quickly...how about tackling! It is getting painful to even watch. Shanle and Bullocks come to mind first. The Saints defensemen are flailing and flopping all over the field out there. Time to get back to the basics.
Jonathan Vilma had a solid game. He was all over the field as usual and led the defense in tackles.
Brian Billick is my new favorite football announcer. I think he has a lot of smart things to say and I like the way he says it.

Here is what the division is looking like now. We are in the basement and it doesn't feel very good.

NFC South Standings

	W	L	PF	PA
Carolina	2	0	46	41
Atlanta	1	1	43	45
Tampa Bay	1	1	44	33
New Orleans	1	1	48	49

(updated 9.14.2008 at 10:17 PM CDT)

I will look for the silver lining on this cloud and end this all on a positive note. It's still early and by getting that first win last week, we are already ahead of last season's performance. Our team is missing some key players, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. The team didn't play well yesterday and through all of that we still had a chance to win. That should say a lot. Besides, by losing a game early it eliminates all that undefeated talk in the media when we go on a tear starting next week against the Broncos.

Looking forward to hearing what you guys have to say. How are you feeling on this miserable Monday morning?

Bucs @ Saints: The View from Section 108

Saintsational — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:11:08 -0000

I have to admit, I wasn't completely excited about this afternoon's game last night. My store still didn't have power and I was uncertain whether I would even be able to open it on Monday. On top of that, Hurricane Ike had New Orleans right in the middle of its five day cone. Things were still looking somewhat grim, at least for me, and it was ruining was should have been a feel good time. Fortunately, when I woke up this morning and turned on the Weather Channel, Ike's projected path has shifted further westward. Around that time Erin called me and told me we now had power at the store. Things were starting to look a little better. With some weight lifted off my shoulders just in time for the season's kick off, I was again ready to get my head into football. Saints football.

This one was close. A little closer than I wanted it to be. Than it should have been. Fortunately, and I am so happy to say this, the defense stepped it up and won this game. They came through when we needed them. It was our offense that struggled most. If we can fix some of our mistakes and get both units working at the same time than this figures to be the season we are all expecting.

Below are my initial thoughts and observations from the game.

While walking to the stadium, we were behind a guy wearing a Vilma Jets jersey. He got heckled a group of drunk guys saying, "You're at the wrong game! I think you got off at the wrong exit!"
They announced the defense at the beginning of the game. I thought that was cool. Shows how proud we are of this defense. Randall Gay and Tracy Porter got the start. So did Kendrick Clancy.
The Imagination Movers sang the National Anthem. For those of you who might not know them, you can catch up here.
Saints receive the ball first. Deuce is out so Pierre gets the call for the start. I am very happy. The Saints put together a very good first drive, ending with a beautiful pass that is perfectly placed into David Patten's hands and just over the fingertips of a leaping defender. Sweetness. Unfortunately, that would be it for a while.
On the defense also looked great on their first drive. Charles Grant gets great pressure and in Garcia's face. He would later get a sack. Grant played a great game and its good to know all that money is not wasted. Will Smith still has a bit to prove. McCray also notched a sack for himself late in the game.
Drew throws an interception after releasing the ball as he's being hit. Buchanon picks it off and runs it back for six points. The pass blocking didn't look as sharp as it normally does. The run blocking, however, seemed quite improved.
The first quarter was marred with penalties by the Saints on the offensive side of the ball. They were just drive killers. The offense never got anything going the rest of the first half. The penalties definitely need to be cleaned up. It was a very sloppy day.
The offense on the whole looked a little rusty. I won't even go into that botched snap that went off before Brees was ready. There appeared to be some communication issues with everyone. That should fix itself over time. Hopefully.
We all got our first glimpse of Shockey and the news is good. It took a while for them to go to him, but when the time came, he delivered. The crowd cheered extra hard after a Shockey reception. On his long catch of the day, the crowd got incredibly loud and Shock-ey, Shock-ey, Shock-ey chants started.
Tracy Porter had a great game. I am really starting to like this kid. He made a big pass breakup in the end zone on third down (that probably should have been intercepted) and also had a nice pass breakup later in the game on a long pass attempt. He might be the answer we need.
Randall Gay looked pretty decent in the backfield also. He made a nice pass breakup on a deep try by the Bucs. He left the game early and was replaced by Aaron Glenn.
Holy crap Devery caught the ball!! And what a catch! The Saints caught the Bucs offsides and got a free play. No communication issues on this one as Devery BURNS his guy and Drew lobs it right into him. Oh man it was a thing of beauty.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I really think this is Reggie's year. He still doesn't look perfect and still did some dancing but he's getting there. He's just so dangerous in open space and the Saints put him in some great situations. Did you see the juke on the touchdown run. They replayed it a few times on the big screen and the crowd was ooh-ing and ahh-ing. The whole run after the catch was looked a lot like USC Reggie. I am excited!
Guess who else looked pretty good out there. PT Bruiser. With the absence of Deuce, Pierre got to see some time. He averaged a nice 5.2 yards per carry. Unfortunately, he left the game early due to injury. No word on that yet.
Another thing the team needs to clean up quickly is its weak tackling. They looked very sloppy out there as the Bucs were able to get a lot of extra yardage they shouldn't have. You have got to make tackles.
No Meachem today. Is he ever going to play in an actual game? Geez.
Colston was a non-factor today.
Jo-Lonn Dunbar had a perfectly timed hit on a Tampa punt returner.
Antwan Lake was down for a while with what looked like it might be a serious injury. We are getting really beat up at the DT position.
During a TV timeout they were showing people in the crowd dancing. The camera turned on two attractive young girls who then kissed eachother. This was NOT the kiss cam. The crowd loved it.
Bob Breck and the weather team did their usual weather update during the game. Upon mentioning of Hurrican Ike, boo's rained down.

That's it from me for now. Plenty more to get into this week. I am interested in hearing what you guys have to say about it. This is it guys. We are 1-0. How good does it feel? Also, the falcons got a big win today. Are we going to have another worst to first year in the division? Feel free to continue the discussion below. Sorry no pictures. I have some but have no way of getting them onto my computer. Hopefully soon.

Poll

Who was your player of the game?

Reggie Bush

55 votes

Pierre Thomas

9 votes

Charles Grant

13 votes

Scott Fujita

10 votes

Tracy Porter

41 votes

Devery Henderson

3 votes

131 votes | Poll has closed