DeShazier: Sean Payton seeks more physical play from Saints
September 16, 2008
Posted by John DeShazier, The Times-Picayune September 16, 2008 8:31AM
Categories: SaintsMasked by the perfume of victory in Week 1 was a pungent odor that again wafted through the Saints’ locker room in Week 2.
In case you haven’t noticed, New Orleans didn’t stop either of its first two opponents from running the ball.
The Saints drafted help (defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis). They traded for help (linebacker Jonathan Vilma). They added free agent help (defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy) last year to go along with the help that already was available.
And still, all that has been little to no help through two games.
The Saints got away with Tampa Bay running for 146 yards on 20 carries in the season opener in a 24-20 victory at the Superdome. They weren’t so fortunate on Sunday at Washington, a 29-24 loss in which the Redskins gashed New Orleans for 149 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries — 121 yards on 27 carries if a 27-yarder by receiver Santana Moss is subtracted, along with quarterback Jason Campbell’s three carries for a yard.
Because it doesn’t work that way, because it all goes on the pile, that’s two opponents who have worked over the Saints for an average of 147.5 rushing yards — and that’s abysmal.
“They’re a pretty good run team,” defensive end Will Smith said of the Redskins. “For the most part, I thought we were pretty good against the run — but like always, you’re going to have a couple of plays here and there.
“We knew we were playing against one of the best run-block teams in the league in the Redskins, and they have a terrific back in Clinton Portis (21 carries on 96 yards with two touchdowns), so we knew what they could bring to the table. We didn’t take them lightly.
“Could we have played better? Absolutely. But looking back on it, that’s not the reason we lost the game.”It was one of several. But, obviously, it’s an area the Saints hoped to not be deficient in this season — certainly, not as deficient as they’ve been so far.
Granted, the team wasn’t exactly lights out against the run last season. Opponents averaged 103 yards in 2007, a total skewed by the fact they were completing 62.4 percent of their passes for 32 touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 96.9.
But being run around and through with this kind of regularity in 2008? Even winning won’t dress up something that ugly, because a team that gives up that many yards on the ground isn’t likely to be winning often enough to cover it.
Coach Sean Payton said his team was out-muscled against Washington. Yes, it’s a humbling admission to make, but it certainly wasn’t a motivational ploy. The Redskins didn’t dominate time of possession (34:14-25:46) through finesse.
Washington pushed, and the Saints gave ground.
“I didn’t think we were the most physical team, and that concerns me some,” Payton said. “I think we can be more physical. It was really as the game wore on (that Washington’s running game became more effective) and that was disappointing.”
Now, the bad news: Denver, Sunday’s opponent, probably is better at it than Washington.
Forget the Broncos’ questionable blocking tactics, because the NFL hasn’t outlawed them. What stands out is that since Coach Mike Shanahan was hired in 1995, Denver has had a 1,000-yard rusher in 11 of 13 seasons. Only twice during that span has Denver averaged less than 4.4 yards per carry, only twice has it rushed for less than 1,900 yards (1,864 in 1999 and 1,877 in 2001) and it has gotten 1,000 from Mike Anderson, Reuben Droughns, Tatum Bell and Olandis Gary.
The Broncos are averaging 143 rushing yards and 4.9 yards per carry this season.
“We’ve done a lot to focus on the Broncos’ style of offense, because they have a unique style of offense, a unique running game,” Smith said. “We focused a lot on that this offseason, in training camp. We feel well-prepared for it.
“Obviously, we have to clean up a couple of things. We can’t have the same thing that happened last week, happen this week. We know going into this game it’s going to be a challenge more than any other week going into the game, because they have the ability, the technique that they have, they always have 1,000-yard running backs. Their running game is the key point of their offense. That’s going to be something that we need to stop in order to have a chance to be successful against them.”
If they don’t figure out something, it’s going to smell a whole lot worse before it gets better.
A day later, still a yard short for New Orleans Saints
September 16, 2008
Posted by Nakia Hogan, The Times-Picayune September 16, 2008 8:30AM
Categories: SaintsIn a perfect world, the Washington Redskins never would have had the opportunity to overcome a nine-point deficit in the final 6:40 to score a 29-24 victory over the Saints on Sunday in Landover, Md.
In a perfect world, running back Pierre Thomas would have converted a third-and-1 with 4:34 remaining, and the Saints would have run out the clock.
But on Sunday, the Saints weren’t perfect.
On Washington’s first play after it stopped Thomas for no gain and forced the Saints to punt, quarterback Jason Campbell connected with Santana Moss on a 67-yard touchdown pass for the winning points, leaving the Saints disgusted they couldn’t manage a first down in a short-yardage situation.
The Saints appeared to be doomed from the start on the third-and-1 from their 37, as quarterback Drew Brees had to signal for wide receiver Robert Meachem, who seemed to line up on the wrong side of the formation, to hurriedly switch from the right to the left.
At the snap, Redskins safety Chris Horton, a former De La Salle standout, blitzed and knifed his way past Saints left tackle Jammal Brown and grabbed Thomas, who was running to the right side, just as he was preparing to dart for the first down.
“We had a play called, but we just didn’t execute it well,” right guard Jahri Evans said. “We just didn’t execute it well, and that’s the bottom line. We got to get it done in that situation and get that key first down and keep it going.”
After converting on 20 of 26 third-and-1 opportunities last season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Saints are 1-for-2 in similar situations this season. Earlier in the fourth quarter Sunday, Brees kept on a bootleg, gaining 9 yards for a first down.
GOOD START: Saints rookie linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, in his first career start, had six tackles and broke up a pass.
The effort was even more impressive given Dunbar, who replaced injured starter Scott Fujita at strongside linebacker, had practiced mostly at weakside linebacker until the week leading up to Sunday’s game.
“I practiced (at strongside linebacker) enough, enough to be able to play well,” said Dunbar, who was promoted from the practice squad just before the season opener against Tampa Bay. “I came in after practice a couple times and met with Joe Vitt and just went over plays. Coach Vitt really prepared me to play this game.
“It was great being out there. It probably was one of the most exciting days of my life. I always dreamed about playing in the NFL. To actually be out there and making plays and running around is one of the best things to ever happen to me.”
McKenzie could help heal Saints’ defense
September 15, 2008
September 15, 2008 6:11 PM There’s a bit of good news on the injury front for the banged-up Saints’ defense.
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
Thom Loverro: Laughing off boos is easy for Campbell
September 15, 2008
The disapproval from the crowd was noticeable. Jason Campbell ‘s response to it was, too.
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
Saints offense not efficient against Washington
September 15, 2008
Saints offense not efficient against Washington – Jeff Duncan on Saints – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune September 15, 2008 6:08AM
Categories: Saints
The Associated PressSaints quarterback Drew Brees is sacked by Jason Taylor of the Redskins.LANDOVER, MD. — The tendency is to blame the defense when a team allows 455 yards and squanders a nine-point lead in the final six minutes as the Saints did Sunday.
But that’s too easy, too superficial.
The New Orleans Saints’ offense is as responsible for the 29-24 loss to the Washington Redskins as its beleaguered defense, if not more so.
For most of the game, the Saints’ offense sputtered and bumbled around FedEx Field like a broken-down Yugo. They produced more turnovers (three) than sustained drives (two) and a week after unleashing three “explosive” big plays on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers managed just one play of more than 20 yards.
If not for two big special teams plays — Troy Evans’ fumble recovery on a second-quarter punt return and Reggie Bush’s punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter — the offense would’ve produced only 10 points.
That’s not good enough, especially from a unit that’s considered one of the most diversified, talented and high-powered in the NFL.
You could almost forgive the defense for its failures. After all, the unit was missing three regulars and fielded three rookies in its starting unit.
When Aaron Glenn went down with an ankle injury in the third quarter, the Saints finished the game with three rookies and seldom-used second-year corner Usama Young on the field.
To expect this collection of newbies to hold the fort for four quarters on an afternoon where the heat index climbed to triple figures on the field was unrealistic.
No, the undermanned defense needed all the help it could get Sunday and received woefully little.
“Turnovers and rushing yardage told the tale today,” Saints Coach Sean Payton said.
Ted Jackson/The Times-PicayuneThe tandem of Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas and Deuce McAllister gained 55 yards on 19 carries.The Saints managed 55 yards rushing on 19 carries. Among Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas and Deuce McAllister, they produced just two gains of more than 5 yards.
A strong rushing attack was critical to the Saints’ chances of success. With veteran defensive starters Scott Fujita, Randall Gay and Roman Harper sidelined with injuries, the Saints’ best defense figured to be its offense. Instead, their offense was their defense’s worst enemy.
The offense sustained only two drives of merit: a seven-play, 59-yard drive for a field goal just before halftime and an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown march to open the second half.
They gained one or zero first downs on their final four drives after the opening series of the second half.
That left the defense on the field way too much. Mercilessly outfitted in black jerseys and down to just 20 healthy bodies, the defense eventually wore down in the fourth quarter. The Redskins gained 186 yards, seven first downs and held the ball for 9:15 of the final 15 minutes.
Asked to explain the most disappointing part of the come-from-ahead loss, tight end Jeremy Shockey didn’t hesitate: “Just how we put our defense in the situations that we did. They played a great game and worked hard. We didn’t keep them off the field.”
In all, the Saints’ defense was on the field for 15 more plays and 8 1/2 more minutes than their Redskins counterparts. No wonder the Washington defenders had enough energy to jump and dance at the line of scrimmage and energize the crowd on the Saints’ final offensive possession.
“It’s disappointing,” quarterback Drew Brees said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do offensively.”
Afterward, Bush said the Saints might have been guilty of being too conservative down the stretch, but it wasn’t the play-calling or the scheme that did them in. It was the execution.
Nowhere were the failures more acute than in the fourth quarter, when the Saints’ gained 44 yards on 12 plays over three series. Those drives ended like this: punt, punt, interception.
The final play in each drive was a killer.
An incomplete pass to David Patten on third-and-5.
A no gain on third-and-1.
And an interception on a tip.
As Payton wisely pointed out, those failed conversions cost the Saints potentially six minutes in time of possession, enough, maybe, to re-energize the defense for a big stop down the stretch.
“That’s important, especially on a hot day like today,” Brees said. “Guys were cramping up, and without a lot of depth (on defense), we didn’t sustain drives and play that complementary game that we talk about.”
And after a couple of questions about play-calling options and personnel groupings on that critical third-and-1, Payton cut to the chase: “If we can’t line up and get third-and-1, then we’re going to struggle this year.”
And they’re unquestionably going to struggle if they make as many turnovers as they did Sunday.
The Saints are 1-8 under Payton when they commit three or more turnovers, as they did against Washington’s aggressive defense.
This team, with its injury-riddled, youth-laden defense, simply can’t afford for the offense to make those kinds of mistakes and expect to survive.
Until Tracy Porter and Sedrick Ellis mature and Fujita, Gay, Harper and Mike McKenzie return to full health, the Saints must rely on their offense to lead the way.
They’re going to have to outscore teams to win, starting with the Broncos next Sunday.
There’s simply no other option.
Joe Johnson, La’Roi Glover and Sam Mills and Rickey Jackson aren’t walking through that door any time soon.
New Orleans Saints fall to Washington
September 15, 2008
New Orleans Saints fall to Washington – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by The Times-Picayune September 14, 2008 2:55PM
Categories: Saints
The Associated PressWashington quarterback Jason Campbell threw for 321 yards against the Saints on Sunday.It was a New Orleans native who finished the Saints at FedEx Field on Sunday.
Chris Horton, a rookie from De La Salle High who went to college at UCLA, intercepted a Drew Brees pass at the 48-yard line, to end a Saints drive and help preserve the Washington Redskins 29-24 win.
The Redskins trailed by nine points with less than 10 minutes to play in the game, when quarterback Jason Campbell began to look solid in the pocket.
Campbell engineered a drive that ended with a Clinton Portis 8-yard touchdown run with 6:05 left.
After holding the Saints to a three-and-out, Campbell struck quickly, hitting Santana Moss for a 67-yard touchdown pass as Moss beat Tracy Porter down the right side.
The Saints got the ball back, but Horton’s interception ended their hopes of making a comeback.
The Saints defense was out on the field most of the game as Washington controlled the clock and probably should have led early in the game. But Shaun Suisham missed two field goals in the first half.
The Redskins defense held the Saints in check in the first half, but New Orleans still led 10-9 at halftime.
Related Saints content: Saints news » Saints photos » Saints forum » Saints stats » Fan photos » NFL news »Brees was 22-of-33 for 216 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions for the Saints. Reggie Bush, who did return a punt for a touchdown, was held in check running the ball. He had 28 yards on 10 carries. As a receiver, Bush had seven catches for 63 yards.
Campbell had arguably his best day as a pro, going 24-of-36 for 321 yards and a touchdown. He looked more confident as the game went on and the Saints defense wore down.
Portis had a big game, running for 96 yards and two touchdowns.
Jonathan Vilma led the Saints defense, which missed having Scott Fujita and Mark Simoneau who were out with injuries, with 10 total tackles.
New Orleans Saints extend Payton’s contract
September 15, 2008
New Orleans Saints extend Payton’s contract – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune September 14, 2008 11:37AM
Categories: Saints
Chris Granger/The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has gotten a contract extension.LANDOVER, MD – The Saints have agreed to a five-year contract extension with Coach Sean Payton, which runs through the 2012 season. The amount of the conract was not disclosed.
“We’re excited to have it done,” said General Manager Mickey Loomis, who plans to speak more at halftime of today’s game against the Washington Redskins, which is about to kick off here in Landover, Md.
Payton was just beginning the third year of his original four-year deal, which was believed to be worth $8 million, but Saints Owner Tom Benson has clearly seen enough from him to make a long-term commitment.
This is almost certainly the richest deal ever given to a Saints head coach. Jim Haslett signed a five-year, $15 million in 2002. His extension also came after his first two years on the job, but his original contract was just a three-year deal.
Saints extend coach Sean Payton through 2012
September 14, 2008
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton shakes hands with running back Reggie Bush after his touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Superdome in New Orleans on …
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
New Orleans Saints defense laying it on the line
September 14, 2008
Posted by Teddy Kider, The Times-Picayune September 14, 2008 7:30AM
Categories: Saints
Ted Jackson/The Times-PicayuneCharles Grant sacks Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia in the New Orleans Saints opener last week.One game into the regular season, Saints defensive end Charles Grant interrupted a question about his preseason expectations to blurt out his new prediction for the team’s defensive line.
“No. 1,” he said without hesitation. “No 1.”
After just one test, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Grant’s prediction and expectation for his unit’s production morphed from the top three in the NFL to the absolute best in the league.
Everyone involved with the line admits that there is ample room to improve, but after shutting down the Buccaneers just enough to get a 24-20 win, the Saints’ defensive line has a confidence that continues to grow. Saints coach Sean Payton called the line’s performance “noticeably different.”
“This is my first year here, so I really can’t speak on the questions that were in the past,” rookie defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis said. “But I can speak toward the future, and it looks like this defensive line has a very positive future. I think we did a great job of getting after the quarterback and playing the run. So I think if we can just continue and build off the foundation that we started last week, I think we’ll be great.”
The line will face another test today at 12 p.m. at FedEx Field, when the Washington Redskins bring out an offensive line that had the Saints talking all week about its athleticism and physicality.
Behind that line, there is Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell, a 26-year-old starter who is trying to learn a new offense under first-year head coach Jim Zorn. And setting up with Campbell will be running back Clinton Portis, a five-time 1,000-yard rusher.
Campbell finished last week’s season-opening 16-7 loss to the New York Giants with 133 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-27 throwing. The way the Redskins’ offense struggled in Week 1, he could be the right early target for a Saints line that loves the words “pass rushing.”
“I think Jason does a pretty good job of trying to concentrate through some of the difficult times,” Zorn said. “Even last week, I was on him about a couple of things early. And he does not shy away. He just keeps competing. So that was pretty impressive. We haven’t had him play a whole game with pressure all game long yet, so I don’t how he’s going to really respond. He’s played a little bit with some of the pressure, but I’ve taken him out. So we’ll have to see.”
Although the Redskins converted only 3-of-13 third downs and managed just 209 total yards, their offensive line gave up just one sack against the Giants – a statistic that earned Washington’s offensive line respect in the eyes of the Saints.
New Orleans finished its game against the Buccaneers with two sacks, one from Grant and one from defensive end Bobby McCray.
Last week was the first full look at the Saints’ new rotation at defensive end, where Grant and Will Smith play the bulk of the minutes and McCray comes in for special situations and to give his teammates a breather. Grant and Smith were both aggressive early against Tampa Bay, and McCray seemed to finish the job late.
“Bobby gives us a lot of speed on the edge,” defensive line coach Ed Orgeron said. “So it’s like throwing a different pitch. He throws a different pitch than those other guys.”
Ellis provides the surge inside, next to another starter at defensive tackle, Kendrick Clancy. Behind them, though, the interior rotation gets thin. Antwan Lake went down with a groin problem and is likely out for at least a couple of weeks, and Brian Young has been working through injuries since the preseason started.
“Hopefully Brian Young gets a little healthier,” Orgeron said. “You find another way to do another thing with a defensive end, maybe move him to defensive tackle. You’ve just got to be ready for that stuff. That’s just the way it is.”
That inside push from Ellis, Clancy and whoever else is healthy enough to play should be important against Portis, who had 84 yards against the Giants and 1,262 yards in 2007.
Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia had one yard rushing against the Saints, but Tampa Bay’s running backs put together 145 yards on the ground on 19 carries.
“The running game is also a focus, I think especially in this conference, where running games are counted on so much,” Ellis said. “I think that’s the first thing you want to address, is the running game. If you do blow up the running game, then you force them into pass situations, which makes it easier to pass rush. And I think if you do that, that’s half the battle.”
The Saints’ defense has maintained from the beginning of training camp that its success begins up front – a cliche, yes, and one that comes from a team with worrisome injuries at linebacker and hopes of playing this season with a much improved secondary.
But the offseason acquisitions of McCray and Ellis support that statement, and the half-dozen or so key players on the line truly believe it.
Grant’s attempt to become No. 1 resumes today, with an eye on Campbell.
“If he’s not comfortable with that offense, that means he’s going to be holding the ball,” Smith said. “They kind of are starting to have a West Coast-style offense, get the ball out very fast and stuff like that, but they still build around the run. So we feel if we can stop the ball and get a lead offensively, stop the run early, force him to make a lot of passes that he typically doesn’t do, put him in situations coming back from behind, we feel pretty comfortable and confident that we’ll have success.”
The Times-Picayune’s NFL picks
September 14, 2008
The Times-Picayune’s NFL picks – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Brian Allee-Walsh, The Times-Picayune September 14, 2008 7:54AM
Categories: NFLBrian Allee-Walsh goes around the NFL with our picks this week, leading off with the Saints:
SAINTS 23, REDSKINS 17: This is one of those games that falls in the “Must Win” category if the Black & Gold are to be taken seriously. New Orleans is clearly the better team.
CHIEFS 13, RAIDERS 12: Oh, for the good, old days when these once-proud franchises actually were worth watching and the outcome had a bearing on the AFC West standings.
BENGALS 24, TITANS 20: RINNNNG! RINNNNG! “Yo! This is Vince Young, injured quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. I can’t find my cell phone right now. But leave a message and my momma will get back to you when she’s through worrying about me.”
COLTS 27, VIKINGS 17: At the end of the game, one team will be 0-2 and my hunch is it won’t be Indianapolis now that Manning and company have already tasted defeat at the hands of one NFC North foe (Chicago).
PACKERS 24, LIONS 13: If Aaron Rodgers continues to manage the game like he did against Minnesota in Week 1, there may be reason to celebrate life after Brett Favre in Green Bay after all.
PANTHERS 23, BEARS 19: Carolina and Jake Delhomme showed they can beat a good team on the road without suspended WR Steve Smith. Can they do it again at home?
GIANTS 25, RAMS 17: Seems like a lot of points to give up at home but if any team is capable of yielding big numbers it’s the defenseless Lambs, who looked baaaaaad in 35-point loss to Philadelphia.
JAGUARS 26, BILLS 20: Jack Del Rio is not a happy camper after team’s lackluster effort in Music City. Buffalo hopes to build on season-opening rout of Seattle. Mucho big game for both teams!
BUCCANEERS 21, FALCONS 20: Backup Brian Griese gets the nod for Tampa Bay while injured starter Jeff Garcia ponders his fate under quarterback guru/coach Jon Gruden.
SEAHAWKS 24, 49ERS 19: Neither team distinguished itself in Week 1. I’ll take the lesser of two evils, in this case the Sea-bags at home where they typically rise to the occasion.
CARDINALS 20, DOLPHINS 16: Early part of the schedule favors the desert Birds who should climb to 2-0 with a win over the Bill-Fish.
PATRIOTS 24, JETS 17: Call me frugal but I might just pay to see this daytime soap opera. Spygate, Belichick sans Brady vs. Man-genius, Cassel, Favre and the Pats’ 20-game regular-season winning streak. The storylines are endless.
CHARGERS 27, BRONCOS 23: The pressure is squarely on the San Diego Chickens, who spit the bit in last-second home loss to Carolina. Jay Cutler looked all-world against Oakland.
STEELERS 27, BROWNS 20: Cleveland has never beaten Pittsburgh under Romeo Crennel. That futility streak remains intact in primetime. Question is will Steelers cover the spread?
MONDAY NIGHT
COWBOYS 24, EAGLES 23: Here’s hoping that Donovan McNabb shuts Terrell Owens’ yap if only for a night. But look for Big D to get last word in key early season NFC East game.
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