New Orleans Saints’ newcomer linemen in a rush to meet new challenges
November 7, 2008
Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune November 06, 2008 10:32PM
Categories: Saints
Michael DeMocker / The Times-PicayuneSaints defensive end says it’s a shame his chance to start came with an injury to teammate Charles Grant, but he’s ready for a larger role.The Saints made it a top priority this offseason to load up on pass rushers. They targeted speed-rushing defensive end Bobby McCray on the first day of free agency, then they moved up in the first round of the draft to land disruptive defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. Turns out, those moves were even more significant than the Saints realized at the time.
McCray and Ellis might just be the two most important players on the Saints’ defense down the stretch this season, thanks to end Charles Grant’s season-ending triceps injury and end Will Smith’s possible four-game suspension.
“We lost a great soldier. (Grant) was definitely one of the team leaders, but we’ve got to be able to bounce back and keep things going and try to get a winning streak going, ” said McCray, who signed a five-year, $20 million deal with New Orleans after starting 29 games during his four seasons in Jacksonville. “Me stepping in and taking an every-down role is nothing new; I just have to step up and let them know that I can still do it.
“Unfortunately, I had to let Charles go down for me to step in and get more reps, but I feel with more reps I can make more plays . . . and I’m going to take full advantage of it.”
McCray, who has been playing about 25 to 30 snaps per game off the bench, is tied with Grant for the team lead with three sacks, and he has one forced fumble.
McCray, 6 feet 6, 260 pounds, is a tall, long and fast athlete who has created some mismatches against offensive tackles and guards, depending where he lines up. He drew two holding penalties against San Diego two weeks ago in London, one of which negated a touchdown.
He played under current Atlanta Coach Mike Smith when he was the defensive coordinator in Jacksonville, and had his best season in 2006 with 10 sacks. Last year, he struggled at times and finished with just three sacks. He was even benched for two games before finishing strong.
Though he did play more of an every-down role in Jacksonville, McCray was used primarily as a pass rusher. The Jaguars would move him around based on the way offenses lined up, making sure he wasn’t matched up against the strong side with the tight end.
But in New Orleans, McCray has been asked to play on both the strong and the weak side, and he’s been steadily improving his run defense.
“We expect him to play the run well, ” defensive line coach Ed Orgeron said. “He’s played the run well the last three weeks for us. “I think the last three games he’s shown more consistency on first, second and third downs. He’s had some tremendous rushes.”
McCray, who also has been dealing with a nagging knee injury that he suffered during a low block in Week 1 against Tampa Bay, said he “loves the challenge” of stopping the run when teams try to attack him.
“You’re not just going to be able to run the ball down my throat, ” he said. “I am a professional.”
Ellis, meanwhile, has been a bit stronger against the run than the pass so far in his young career, but he has shown some outstanding potential in both areas.
The 6-foot-1, 307-pounder has played almost every snap when healthy. He missed three games last month after he tore meniscus in his right knee, but the team didn’t let up on his workload when he came back for the San Diego game.
He wound up playing the most snaps he’s played all season.
“It felt a little sore after that, but that was expected, ” said Ellis, who hopes he can quickly get back into the rhythm he was starting to develop through his first four games. “I felt like when I went out, I was just getting into my groove and learning how this whole NFL system works as far as games, practices, off time. I was just starting to get into it, and I think that’s unfortunate that I missed those games at that time.
“But I played well in London, and all I can do right now is look forward to the rest of the games and play to my full potential.”
That potential is extremely high for Ellis, who was drafted seventh overall out of Southern California after the Saints gave up their third-round pick to move up three spots.
Ellis has one sack so far, but he has assisted in a handful of his teammates’ sacks by collapsing the pocket in the middle and forcing the quarterback outside.
“He causes a lot of disruption and makes a lot of plays, and he gets up the field, ” Smith said. “He’s an excellent pass rusher.”
Smith declined to comment on any specifics about his possible suspension, which is currently in the appeals process. He said he’s not going to worry about it for now, though, because, “It’s really out of my control. The only thing I can do is focus on football.”
Even with Grant and Smith in the lineup, the Saints’ pass rush didn’t fully live up to its potential in the first half of the season. There were some great performances — home games against Tampa Bay, San Francisco and Oakland stand out — but there was inconsistency, as well.
The Saints don’t do a whole lot of blitzing, though they do like to send linebackers and defensive backs on occasion in zone blitzes, with the defensive ends dropping back into coverage.
One way or another, the Saints will look to increase their defensive pressure in the second half, especially with so many young quarterbacks on the schedule.
The first test will come this Sunday at Atlanta, where rookie quarterback Matt Ryan has had a terrific start to his career. He has been sacked just nine times this year and shown much poise and polish. The Saints don’t want to let him get into an early groove on Sunday.
“He looks really good, man, on film, ” said Ellis, who was drafted four spots behind Ryan. “He looks like he’s been doing it for a couple years now, but he is still a rookie. . So I think if we can get pressure on him, him being a rookie will show a little more than it has in the previous games.
New Orleans Saints tuned into election process
November 6, 2008
New Orleans Saints tuned into election process – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune November 05, 2008 10:52PM
Categories: SaintsThe presidential election was a popular topic Wednesday in the Saints’ locker room, where the reactions varied from elation to disappointment.
Obviously in a room full of millionaires, the idea of Barack Obama’s proposed tax increase for the wealthy isn’t welcomed news. Before the election, someone had even anonymously left a handout in every player’s locker comparing the candidates’ tax plans with a written warning to “be careful what you wish for.”
But several players said their passion for President-elect Obama outweighed financial concerns.
“I was thrilled. I think it’s a huge moment in our country, ” said linebacker Scott Fujita, who said he was proud that he and his wife were able to take their twin baby daughters to the polls to be a part of the moment. “I think (Obama’s message) transcends the usual BS in politics that I think has been around for too long. It was pretty powerful.”
“He changes the way my kids will now grow up and view America, view the presidency, ” said tight end Billy Miller, who said he considers himself a Republican based on moral issues, but said Obama is “what the country needs right now.
“I think he gives hope to a lot of people. I know a lot of people view Barack Obama as, ‘that’s all he’s selling.’ But hope is big. In this country right now, hope is a big deal.”
Defensive end Will Smith was wearing an Obama T-shirt after practice, so he could “mess with the guys” who were ticked off about the results, he said.
“I’m definitely a Barack Obama supporter and wish the best for him. And I think we have a bright future ahead of us as a country, ” said Smith, who said the tax issue isn’t as important to him as it is to others because he “didn’t really have anything growing up.”
“My family struggled, and family members of mine were on public service in some way, shape or form. And somebody was paying it then. So if I have to pay a couple more percentages, so be it. It’s bad enough what we pay already, but if you’ve got to pay a little more, it’s not going to hurt you.”
Some of the most vocal Obama supporters said they hope he will spend their tax dollars more wisely and efficiently, and use them to make a real difference. Tight end Mark Campbell, who didn’t reveal his political preference, also said he hopes that will be the case.
Campbell and Mark Brunell, who also didn’t state a political preference, said they are proud of the way the democratic process works in America, and they were happy to see such a heavy voter turnout.
“The beauty of our system is that you might be disappointed about who did or didn’t get elected, but we live in a great country where everybody has a voice, ” Brunell said. “I’m pretty proud to be a part of it.”
Tailback Reggie Bush, who majored in political science at Southern Cal, said he supported Obama, but he said he also liked McCain and thought the entire election process was fascinating to follow, right down to the “amazing” celebration at Chicago’s Grant Park on Tuesday night.
“Obviously, even from the beginning when Hillary Clinton was involved, this was going to be a historical and interesting race, ” Bush said. “And it’s obviously historical with Obama being the first black president. But I think it’s just the beginning. Now he’s got to prove himself. He’s got a lot of work ahead of him, a tough job ahead of him. It’s definitely not going to be easy.”
Things looking up for Atlanta Falcons
November 6, 2008
Things looking up for Atlanta Falcons – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Teddy Kider, The Times-Picayune November 05, 2008 10:48PM
Categories: Saints
Dave Martin / The Associated PressQuarterback Matt Ryan and coach Mike Smith have Atlanta enthusiastic about the second half of the season.With a new coach, quarterback and featured running back, the Atlanta Falcons have used the first half of the season to win more games than they did through all of 2007. And they have done it without a look back.
“As a staff and as a team, we’ve never spoken and I’ve never addressed the team about what happened in the past, ” Falcons Coach Mike Smith said. “Whatever happened in ’07 happened, and we started with a clean slate. And I think that’s kind of been the sense all around the building.”
Smith has filled a spot once held by Bobby Petrino, who left after the first 13 games of last season. And the big gap in Atlanta, a quarterback position once held by Michael Vick, has been filled by Matt Ryan, a 23-year-old from Boston College.
Unlike many NFL quarterbacks, Ryan was his team’s starter from the beginning of his rookie season.
“It hasn’t been an easy adjustment, ” said Ryan, the third pick in the 2008 draft. “I think that there’s certainly a lot of things that you have to learn when you come into this league, and I still have a long way to go.”
In his first game, Ryan helped the Falcons score 34 points in a win against the Detroit Lions, and he had a 137 passer rating, with nine completions on 13 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Smith speaks glowingly about Ryan and his potential, adding, “I want to caution that it’s just eight games through the season.”
In leading his team, which was 4-12 last season, to a 5-3 record, Ryan has impressed the critics. He has completed 58.6 percent of his passes for 1,661 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions, with an 85.4 passer rating.
“Matt has an outstanding work ethic, has all the attributes that you’re looking for, ” Smith said. “He’s a big, strong guy, and he’s got a sense of getting the ball out of his hands, very similar to the quarterback you have there in New Orleans.”
The beginning of Ryan’s career compares well with those of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, including the Saints’ Drew Brees.
Brees played his first full season in his second year in the league, completing 60.8 percent of his passes with the San Diego Chargers but throwing for 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions with a 76.9 passer rating.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was a starter from the beginning of his rookie year, and he completed 56.7 percent of his passes with 26 touchdowns, 28 interceptions and a 71.2 rating.
The New England Patriots’ Tom Brady had successful performances the first time he played a relatively full season in the NFL, finishing with 18 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, an 86.5 rating and a Super Bowl win. But that came in Brady’s second year in the league.
“When we watch this team, we see a team that’s really entirely different than the prior years that we’ve played them, ” Saints Coach Sean Payton said. “Collectively they’re playing with confidence. And it starts with how he’s playing, their belief in him. I think he’s accurate. I think he’s tough. And you’d have to go back a long ways to find a rookie playing as well and winning as many games as he’s been able to do in his first year.”
This season the Falcons also added running back Michael Turner, who played the past four seasons as a backup in San Diego. He has led Atlanta to the No. 1-ranked rushing attack in the league.
But the Falcons have struggled in the NFC South, where they are 0-2, losing 24-9 to both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers. But Smith remembers the loss to the Buccaneers on Sept. 14 as a defining moment for his team and Ryan.
“I had a real good feel after the Tampa game, in the second game of the season, ” Smith said. “We kind of realized, even though we played very, very poorly in the first half, I saw a team that fought back in the second half, made quite a few adjustments and got ourselves back in the game. And I think that got our team some confidence, and I think some confidence in our quarterback. He started very slowly in that game, 0-for-9 in the first half, had two interceptions. And in the second half he came out and played very efficiently.”
Now the Falcons are one game behind the division-leading Panthers and coming off a shutout win against the Oakland Raiders.
“Our start gives us some confirmation that we are doing things the right way, ” Smith said.
New Orleans Saints’ Bush targets Kansas City Chiefs game
November 6, 2008
Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune November 05, 2008 10:45PM
Categories: Saints
Michael DeMocker / The Times-PicayuneReggie Bush says he probably won’t be ready to play in time to face the Falcons this week, but does expect to be full speed for the Chiefs game in two weeks.Saints tailback Reggie Bush doesn’t expect to play Sunday at Atlanta, but he said he will “definitely” be back in time for next week’s game at Kansas City.
“That’s how good I feel right now, ” said Bush, who had surgery to repair torn meniscus in his left knee less than three weeks ago. “Definitely with another week I’ll feel 100 percent ready to go.”
Bush ran outdoors for the first time Wednesday and had previously been running in a pool. The original prognosis for his recovery was three to four weeks. He injured the knee during the Saints’ Oct. 19 loss at Carolina and had surgery the next day.
Bush has been lifting weights for about a week, and he said there has been very little swelling. But he won’t be able to fully test the knee until he gets back on the practice field at full speed, and Bush admitted that he will have to fight the urge to push himself.
“I’ll be looking for just stability, strength, if I’m able to be explosive, really, ” Bush said. “That’s what it comes down to, because my game is more explosive and fast. So if I don’t have that, then I’m not really going to be myself out there.”
Saints Coach Sean Payton said it was too early to rule Bush out for this week’s game, but he said he has only an “outside chance” of playing.
OTHER INJURIES: Center Jonathan Goodwin was the only other player to miss practice Wednesday. He, too, appears unlikely to play Sunday. He has a partially dislocated kneecap, which Payton said last week is a week-to-week issue.
It looks like veteran Matt Lehr will continue to fill in for Goodwin, and rookie Carl Nicks will remain the starting left guard. Veteran Jamar Nesbit will apparently remain a backup at both positions.
Tight end Jeremy Shockey fully participated in practice. He’s getting closer to 100 percent after suffering a setback in his recovery from sports hernia surgery during the Carolina game. Payton said the bye came at a good time for him.
Defensive tackle Hollis Thomas hasn’t been ruled out for Sunday’s game, though he has just two practices under his belt since re-signing Monday.
KICKER SWITCH: Payton said he has been happy with new kicker Garrett Hartley and new punter Glenn Pakulak since they joined the team last Wednesday. Payton explained his decision to replace previous kicker Taylor Mehlhaff after three games, saying he had been struggling throughout the week in practice and during pregame warmups, even before he missed an extra point in the second quarter.
“The extra points, we felt like we were sweating a little bit, and that’s not a good feeling, ” said Payton.
BITTER RIVALRY: Payton’s son, Connor, won a youth football league championship Tuesday night when his team beat a team that included David Patten’s son, Quintin. Afterward, Payton asked the media to help him rub it in by having them surround Patten’s locker to grill him about the loss. Patten joked that he and his coach tried to maintain peace in the stands to keep the public from seeing them at odds.
ROSTER MOVE: The Saints added rookie linebacker Ben Moffitt to their practice squad to replace Pago Togafau, who was signed by the Arizona Cardinals this week.
Scouting report: Saints (4-4) at Falcons (5-3)
November 5, 2008
Scouting report: Saints (4-4) at Falcons (5-3) – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Brian Allee-Walsh, The Times-Picayune November 04, 2008 8:02PM
Categories: Saints
Mel Evans / The Associated PressMatt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons are a surprising success at the halfway point of this season.The cross-country flight home for the Atlanta Falcons might have been more taxing than their 24-0 victory Sunday at Oakland. The Falcons dominated the Raiders from beginning to end, winning every meaningful statistical category, including yards (453-77), first downs (30-3) and time of possession (45:15-14:45).
At the halfway point of the season, the surprising Falcons (5-3) under rookie Coach Mike Smith have to be taken seriously in the competitive NFC South, where the Saints are last at 4-4. If nothing else, the Falcons should be relatively fresh for Sunday’s game at the Georgia Dome.
“I was joking with the guys walking in the locker room that I could play another game tomorrow and be rolling, ” said Falcons veteran linebacker Keith Brooking, whose defense was on the field 34 plays compared to 84 for the offense.
LAST TIME THEY MET
The Saints rode a 24-point flurry in the second and third quarters to run away from the Falcons 34-14 on Dec. 10, 2007, at the Georgia Dome. Drew Brees completed 28 of 41 passes for 328 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 116.7 passer rating. The Falcons lead the series 43-34.
FALCONS ON OFFENSE
Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner have helped make the transition beyond Michael Vick more palatable. Turner is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season, rushing for 794 yards (third in the NFL) and six touchdowns after leaving San Diego where he played behind LaDainian Tomlinson for four seasons. Turner and speedy Jerious Norwood (348 yards, two touchdowns) have combined to take pressure off Ryan, the team’s No. 1 pick from Boston College who has compiled a respectable 85.4 passer rating. Roddy White leads the receivers with 48 catches for 733 yards (fourth in the NFL) and five touchdowns. The Falcons lead the NFL in rushing, averaging 163.4 yards per game.
FALCONS ON DEFENSE
The Falcons are ranked 16th in the NFL in total defense, yielding 325.9 yards per game (120.9 vs. run, 205.0 vs. pass). Right defensive end John Abraham leads the team with 10 sacks, tying him for second in the NFL. Abraham will go against Saints left tackle Jammal Brown in a key matchup. Former Saints defensive tackle Grady Jackson (6-2, 345) and Jonathan Babineaux (20 tackles) anchor the middle. But the heart and soul of this unit lies with three active linebackers — Michael Boley (32 tackles) and Keith Brooking (42 tackles) on the outside and Curtis Lofton (team-high 47 tackles) in the middle. Safeties Erik Coleman and Lawyer Milloy spearhead the secondary.
FALCONS ON SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker Jason Elam has converted 17 of 19 field-goal attempts with a long of 50. Punter Michael Koenen is averaging 39.8 yards with 15 of 33 downed inside the 20. Harry Douglas took over the punt return duties Sunday against Oakland, replacing Adam Jennings. Norwood is a threat returning kicks, averaging 26.7 yards with a long of 85 yards.
FYI
The Saints are 4-0 against Atlanta under Coach Sean Payton, but 1-4 against Carolina and 3-2 against Tampa Bay.
BY THE NUMBERS
†: Matt Ryan will be the fourth quarterback to start against the Saints in the past five games between the teams. The others are Michael Vick (2006), Byron Leftwich (’07) and Chris Redman (’07). Current Saints quarterback Joey Harrington played for the Falcons against New Orleans in Game 1 last season.WORTH REPEATING
“We had to get back to what this team is built around, and that’s running the football.” — Falcons running back Michael Turner after running for 139 of his team’s 252 rushing yards against Oakland, his fourth 100-yard game this season.
New Orleans Saints Insider first-half review, second-half outlook
November 4, 2008
Posted by Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune November 03, 2008 7:11PM
Categories: Saints
David Grunfeld / The Times-PicayuneDevery Henderson and Drew Brees celebrate a 51-yard pass.It’s time to man up, New Orleans. Or as Deuce McAllister says, put on the big boy pads.
The Saints made it to 4-4 on the strength of the NFL’s most explosive passing attack. They’ll need to muster some semblance of rushing attack and defense in the second half, to avoid missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
The Saints might play in SEC country, their coach might be an Illinois native and Bill Parcells protege, but they clearly play with a West Coast state of mind. They’d rather run around you or by you than through you.
In that respect, Sean Payton’s Saints more closely resemble Don Coryell’s Chargers than Jim Mora’s Dome Patrol.
And not surprisingly, they are more comfortable against the NFL’s West Coast weaklings than its Midwest maulers and Southern bullies.
Since taking over in 2006, Payton is 7-2 against AFC West and NFC West division teams, including a glittering 3-1 mark this season.
Against everybody else, the Payton’s boys are a ho-hum 14-17.
Unfortunately, the Saints can’t petition for a return to the friendly confines of the NFC West, which might be the worst division in football.
And unfortunately, their buffet of West Coast creampuffs ended in Wembley. The only one left on the schedule is a Nov. 16 date against Kansas City (Only in NFL geography is Kansas considered West.)
No, the Saints will face a steady diet of NFC South and NFC North opponents in the second half of their season and their track record against those types is hardly awe inspiring.
At 4-4, the Saints aren’t out of the playoff race yet but they’ve left themselves with little margin for error.
The good news is the Saints trail NFC South leader Carolina by only two games. The bad news is they are tied for the fifth worst record in the suddenly formidable NFC. That’s a lot of teams to leapfrog for a playoff berth, should they fail to win the division.
The schedule really doesn’t get any easier in the second half.
The combined record of the Saints’ first eight opponents was 33-32. The second-half foes are 32-33. But that’s misleading when you consider the Lions and Chiefs are a combined 1-15.
The rest of the schedule is meat.
The question remains: Are the Saints hungry enough to clean the plate?
Until that question is answered, a look at one man’s awards from the first half of the season:
MVP: Drew Brees. On pace to break Dan Marino’s single season passing record, Brees is the main reason the Saints remain a playoff threat. His non-paralleled work ethic and leadership set the tone for the team in the locker room and on the practice field. He’s made the most difficult position to play in sports look misleadingly easy. If the record were better, he’d be a leading candidate for league MVP honors, heretofore uncharted territory for Saints players.
Best offensive player: Other than Brees, Reggie Bush was enjoying a strong third season before suffering a left knee injury. Despite missing 1 ½ games, he still leads the team in rushing yards (294), receptions (42) and touchdowns (8). That said, he also leads the team in fumbles and unofficially negative plays, so there’s room for improvement.
Best defensive player: Jon Vilma leads the team in tackles and made arguably the biggest play of the season when he grabbed Scott Shanle’s deflection for a game-saving interception against San Diego. The former New York Jet has been exactly the kind of reliable leader the defense has lacked in recent years.
Best rookie: Cornerback Tracy Porter was playing at an extremely high level before he suffered a season-ending wrist injury against Minnesota. He could be the best cornerback the Saints have signed since Dave Waymer in 1980.
Worst rookie: Kicker Taylor Mehlhaff was cut twice in a two-month span. The Saints undoubtedly would like to have back the sixth-round pick they invested on him.
Best veteran acquisition: Best veteran acquisition: Vilma quickly established himself as the defensive captain and team leader. He’s exactly what the Saints thought they were getting when they traded for him last spring.
Worst veteran acquisition: Diametrically opposite of Vilma, Jeremy Shockey has not had the impact the Saints expected when they made the risky deal to acquire him before training camp. Granted, he’s admirably played through injury and been a vocal leader on the sidelines during games but the Saints didn’t trade two draft picks for a cheerleader. Whether or not he was damaged goods upon arrival is unknown but his track record was well documented when the Saints made the deal. The Saints need Shockey to produce down the stretch.
Best surprise: It’s not a shocker to teammates or those that have covered the team the past few years, but Lance Moore emerged as a front-line receiver. With Marques Colston and David Patten sidelined with injuries, Moore filled the void — and the stat sheet. He’s become a reliable go-to guy for Brees.
Best play call: On first-and-10 midway through the third quarter at Denver, the Saints deployed a three-tight end offensive package with just one receiver on the field – seldom-used Robert Meachem. The personnel package clearly had the Broncos expecting a running play. Instead, Drew Brees faked a handoff to the running back and hit Meachem, who easily beat safety Marquand Manuel in single coverage, for a 74-yard pass. One play later, Brees hit Reggie Bush for a 6-yard touchdown pass.
Worst play call: With the Vikings trailing 27-20 and facing a third-and-16 at the Saints 33 late in fourth quarter, defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs called an aggressive safety blitz, sending free safety Josh Bullocks as well as linebackers Shanle and Vilma after quarterback Gus Frerotte. That left his cornerbacks in single coverage deep and Bernard Berrian beat it for a momentum-changing 33-yard touchdown reception. Why not play it safe, force a field goal and keep the lead? That four-point swing ultimately cost the Saints in a demoralizing 30-27 loss.
Saints place Charles Grant on Injured Reserve
November 4, 2008
Saints place Charles Grant on Injured Reserve – David Gladow – New Orleans Sports
Posted by David Gladow, NOLA.com November 03, 2008 1:35PM
Categories: NFL, News, SaintsThe New Orleans Saints today announced that defensive end Charles Grant has been placed on the reserve/injured list due to a triceps injury.
More details from the official press release after the jump.
Courtesy: Dave Lawrence
New Orleans Saints CommunicationsNew Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced Monday that the team has placed defensive end Charles Grant on the reserve/injured list due to a triceps injury, ending the season for the seven-year veteran. In a related transaction the Saints have re-signed veteran defensive tackle Hollis Thomas.
Grant was drafted by the club in the first round in 2002 and has anchored the left side of the defensive line since taking over as the starting left defensive end in 2003. In 102 career regular season games, the 6-3, 285-pound lineman has started 90 contests and recorded 41½ sacks, 452 tackles, 13 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and an interception.
“Charles has played a key role for our team since we drafted him six years ago,” Loomis said. “This is obviously a loss for our defense, but injuries are a part of our league and it presents an opportunity for other players to step up and answer the call.”
The 30-year-old defender had played in all but two career games since coming into the league, having been sidelined for two weeks in 2007 with an ankle sprain. Grant ranks 10th in club history in sacks and the former University of Georgia standout is tied for the team-lead through the first half of the 2008 season with three quarterback takedowns among his 41 tackles.
Thomas is a 13-year NFL veteran who first came to the Saints via trade with the Philadelphia Eagles prior to the 2006 season. In two seasons in New Orleans, Thomas has started 26 of the 28 games he has played in and recorded 107 tackles with 6½ sacks and a fumble recovery. The six-foot, 335-pound defensive tackle suffered a torn right triceps muscle during a training camp practice.
New Orleans Saints re-sign Hollis Thomas
November 4, 2008
New Orleans Saints re-sign Hollis Thomas – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune November 03, 2008 10:41AM
Categories: Saints
Michael DeMocker/The Times-PicayuneThe Saints have re-signed Hollis Thomas.Defensive tackle Hollis Thomas re-signed with the Saints on Monday after recovering from the torn triceps injury that sidelined him during the preseason.
His agent, Michael Bauer, confirmed the move. The Saints have not annouced who has been released to make room for him.
Thomas, who agreed to an injury settlement with the Saints when he was released in September, had to wait until this week before he was allowed to re-sign with New Orleans. Other teams expressed interest, according to Bauer, but Thomas “wanted to go back where he was comfortable.”
Bauer said the timing was perfect because Thomas just got back to full strength in his recovery from the triceps injury. The Saints are practicing today, but they closed off access to the media, so we might not hear from Thomas until Wednesday.
New Orleans Saints’ midseason report card
November 4, 2008
New Orleans Saints’ midseason report card – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune November 02, 2008 10:07PM
Categories: Saints
Danny Bourque / The Times-PicayuneQuarterback Drew Brees is on pace to break the NFL record for passing yardage in a season, but he’s more interested in seeing the Saints put together a string of victories. Said Brees: ‘This is the time of year where I think the good teams separate themselves from the rest of the pack.’Quarterback Drew Brees has been terrific through the first half of the season, but if the Saints (4-4) want to reach the playoffs they’ll need to get better in other areas
When the 2008 schedule was first released, Saints quarterback Drew Brees said the idea of a Week 9 bye seemed perfect.
It would give the team a chance to recharge for the second half of the season and recuperate from the first half — not to mention shake off the jet lag from a trans-Atlantic journey to London.
“But now that we’re coming off that win, you just want to keep going,” Brees said of a 37-32 victory over the San Diego Chargers at Wembley Stadium that essentially saved the Saints’ season. “Plus, you just feel weird when you’re not playing. I can’t sit around. I feel lazy.”
You can’t blame Brees for wanting to make the feeling last. Momentum has proven to be the most elusive concept for a Saints team that has a disappointing 4-4 record in the first half of this season.
Although they have looked outstanding at times, especially on offense, they’ve yet to win two games in a row. That needs to change for them to have any hope of making a playoff run over these next two months.
“This is the time of year where I think the good teams separate themselves from the rest of the pack,” Brees said. “I think if you look at the NFL right now, everybody is kind of right in the middle. Obviously, you’ve got the Titans (and the Giants) up there, but everyone else is kind of right in the middle, and you’re waiting to see who’s going to separate from the pack. I think we can be one of those teams.
“And we still have a lot of divisional games left. We’ve only played two. There’s still so much football left to be played. The story is not even close to being written yet on the 2008 Saints.”
True enough. In fact, we should probably just give the Saints an “incomplete” across the board on our midseason report card. Every position group has earned its share of high and low marks throughout the first eight games.
But we broke them down anyway, recapping some of those highs and lows, with an eye toward what it will take to separate from the pack.
Quarterback: A
If Brees doesn’t deserve an A, then nobody does in the NFL.
He is almost the universal choice for league MVP honors among national writers and analysts, and he is on pace to break Dan Marino’s 24-year-old record for most yards in a season (5,084).
Most impressive is the way he’s thrived with so many of his top targets on the shelf with injuries. He’s completed passes to 15 receivers, and he’s thrown touchdown passes to seven — not including Marques Colston or Jeremy Shockey.
The only thing that keeps him from earning an A-plus is the fact that the offense has struggled to put games away in the final minutes. In each of their first three losses (at Washington, at Denver and vs. Minnesota), as well as New Orleans’ 37-32 win against San Diego on Oct. 26, the Saints were forced to punt the ball away or attempt long field goals instead of moving the chains in their “four-minute offense.”
Yes, it’s nit-picking, but it’s one of the most glaring reasons why the Saints aren’t 6-2 or 7-1.
“The first thing I think of (when I reflect on the first half) is, ‘Gosh, why aren’t we 6-2?’¤” Brees said. “In a lot of ways, we’ve done some things this year that we haven’t done before. We’re playing at a level that’s really high offensively. .¤.¤. But you’ve got to learn how to win.
“We lost three games by a total of 10 points Whatever you want to say, make those field goals, get a first down here or there offensively, I’m sure the defense can say there’s a few things they regret. That’s what the winning teams do, that’s what the championship teams do.”
Running backs: C-plus
This group deserves even more blame (along with the offensive line) for some of those failed third- and fourth-down conversions in close games.
And they’re averaging 3.4 yards per carry, which ranks among the lowest averages in the league. But Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister have been excellent at times.
Bush still isn’t much of a between-the-tackles runner, but he is a potent weapon in the passing game and when the Saints run him around the edges. It really started to look like they were on the verge of recapturing some of that 2006 magic as a one-two punch before Bush went down with a knee injury.
With Bush expected to be out for at least one or two more games, and McAllister facing a possible four-game suspension, it’s possible that they won’t be operating together at full speed much the rest of the season.
Receivers: B-plus
If not for Brees, receiver Lance Moore would be the Saints’ first-half MVP.
With Colston and David Patten hurt, Moore has emerged as a go-to guy. Over the past six games, he has 35 receptions for 407 yards and three touchdowns. Although he’s tiny by NFL standards at 5 feet 9, 190 pounds, he consistently makes tough catches in traffic and occasionally slips behind the defense for long touchdowns.
Devery Henderson also has stepped up, giving the most consistent performance of his five-year career. And second-year pro Robert Meachem has made some big plays, though he’s still going through a few growing pains.
Colston needs to shake off the rust that has been holding him back since he returned from a thumb injury two weeks ago. Heading into this season, I ranked him as the second-best player on the Saints’ roster. If he can return to form in the second half, this offense will be even more dangerous.
Tight ends: B-minus
We still don’t have a feel for what Shockey might be able to bring to this offense, because he has been plagued by a sports hernia since the second week of training camp.
But he should be able to contribute more in the second half, which will be yet another bonus.
Meanwhile, his backups have been terrific. Like Moore, veteran Billy Miller has emerged as a weapon in the passing game, catching 23 passes for 323 yards over the past six games. He has five catches of 20-plus yards.
Fellow veteran Mark Campbell also has chipped in with two touchdowns — his first two scores since he signed with the Saints in 2006.
Offensive line: C-plus
This is a tough group to evaluate.
It has been good in pass protection, though Brees deserves a lot of the credit for knowing how to avoid sacks and anticipate pressure. And they’ve done a poor job of run blocking, though Coach Sean Payton deserves some of the blame for making that a low priority in his offense.
There’s no real glaring weakness, and the depth has been impressive with rookie guard Carl Nicks and veteran center Matt Lehr filling in nicely. Left tackle Jammal Brown has the ability to be one of the best in the NFL, but he probably has been the most inconsistent of the bunch.
Consistency is the key going forward for this entire group, especially with some tough late-season games against physical teams such as Chicago and Carolina — and several possible playoff opponents.
Defensive line: C-plus
The run defense has been stingy, with some huge performances by veterans Kendrick Clancy and Brian Young, among others.
But the pass-rushing has been inconsistent, which is extremely frustrating considering the talent that has been assembled.
All four of the team’s pass-rush specialists (rookie tackle Sedrick Ellis and ends Will Smith, Charles Grant and Bobby McCray) have provided some big moments, but they’ve also seemed to disappear for long stretches.
The Saints are counting on these guys to provide consistent pressure so they don’t have to do a lot of blitzing. And they have a ton of young quarterbacks on the schedule in the second half (Atlanta’s Matt Ryan twice, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, Chicago’s Kyle Orton, whoever is behind center for Kansas City and Detroit).
With all due respect to linebacker Jonathan Vilma, Ellis could wind up as this team’s defensive MVP. When he’s been healthy, he’s on the field for just about every snap, making an impact against the run and the pass. He and McCray could become the most important players on this team if Smith and Grant wind up serving four-game suspensions.
Linebackers: B
Vilma has been a perfect fit in New Orleans, but that should come as no surprise.
He is exactly the kind of active, athletic playmaker they’ve been missing in the middle of their defense since Sam Mills roamed the field. This version of No.¤51 was leading the NFL in tackles heading into Sunday’s games, both because of his speed, his instincts and what teammate Scott Fujita described as a surprising amount of power when he hits.
Fujita has been his usual, reliable self on the strong side, helping to make the Saints effective against the run. And weakside starter Scott Shanle, who seems to get the least respect of any Saints veteran among the fan base, has stepped up with the two biggest defensive plays of the year so far.
Shanle tipped a pass that was intercepted by Vilma last week to help seal the victory over the Chargers. And he forced a fumble in the red zone late in the Week 3 game at Denver that gave the Saints a chance to win with a field goal .¤.¤. though we all know how that turned out.
The Saints’ linebackers have been guilty of giving up too many yards after the catch against shifty receivers such as Steve Smith and Santana Moss and powerful guys like tight end Chris Cooley, among others. But it’s hard to complain about the overall performance.
Secondary: D
This group, you can feel free to complain about.
The Saints have done a better job of keeping the ball in front of them. But a few real costly deep touchdown passes stand out (Moss’ 67-yard catch in the loss at Washington, Bernard Berrian’s 33-yard catch in the loss to Minnesota, Smith’s 39-yarder at Carolina).
The loss of rookie cornerback Tracy Porter really hurt. He wasn’t perfect, but he was emerging as a fast athlete with a good combination of instincts and confidence. And the depth is shaky behind the Saints’ two veteran starters, Mike McKenzie and Randall Gay, both of whom are more solid than spectacular. Gay has been a helpful addition, when he’s healthy. He’s probably the best tackler in the secondary.
Tackling is a huge problem for this group, especially at safety where Kevin Kaesviharn and Josh Bullocks have struggled. One of them needs to emerge as a consistent center fielder or the Saints will continue to give up too many big plays.
Strong safety Roman Harper is more of a hard hitter than a sure tackler, but he’s got the best potential in this group.
Special teams: D-plus
They get a passing grade only because of Bush’s three punt returns for touchdowns, and Pierre Thomas’ solid work as a kickoff returner. Everything else has been a disaster.
The Saints are heading into Week 9 with their third kicker and third punter of the season. They placed veteran kicker Martin Gramatica on injured reserve after he missed two potential game-winners against Denver and Minnesota. They then cut rookie kicker Taylor Mehlhaff after he missed an extra-point attempt against the Chargers.
They also dropped punters Steve Weatherford and Ben Graham.
Good luck to new rookie kicker Garrett Hartley and new punter Glenn Pakulak, but here’s some advice: Rent, don’t buy.
Come to think of it, maybe Brees shouldn’t be the NFL’s first-half MVP. Maybe it should be former Saints kicker John Carney, who has drilled 18 of 19 field-goal attempts for the New York Giants (7-1).
Coaching: C
I’m probably in the minority here, but I don’t blame Payton for his unbalanced offense.
Sure, a power running game would be nice, but so would a dominating pass rush and a pair of shut-down cornerbacks. In today’s NFL, you can’t have it all.
What the Saints do have is the best quarterback in the league, who is capable of scoring in one quick burst or by coolly moving the chains with dinks and dunks. Yeah, the third-and-1 failures bother me, too, but I think that will balance itself out going forward.
That being said, I’m not going to let the coaching staff off the hook. That stuff Brees was saying about learning how to win games falls on the coaches, too. Issues like the stalled fourth-quarter drives, the sloppy turnovers and the inability to create turnovers have crept up far too many times over the past two years.
And I have a hard time believing there’s not a better way to use the personnel on defense. They don’t create enough pressure or turnovers, and they leave their weaknesses in the secondary exposed too often.
The good thing is that Payton recognizes those shortcomings and doesn’t make excuses.
“I think the worst thing we can do is bury our heads in the sand and say that everything’s going to be all right in the second half of the season,” Payton said. “I think we need to work on improving in a lot of little areas and think about how we can best do that as coaches.”
We’ll find out what this team is made of over the next eight games. If the Saints can’t break out of this .500 rut, then the middle of the pack is right where they belong.
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