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A Buffalo Victory Which Would Have Been Lost Last Season

David — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:30:43 +0000

Crossposted from the forum – Brian is the author.

Drew Brees was harried, harassed, and hurried.

Never allowed to discover any semblance of a rhythm, the Saints passing attack led by its previously unflappable orchestrator was more than held in check.

It was shutdown.

However, in a game in which the Saints could muster little through the air, they found their sledding on the ground. It took several quarters of attrition and fresh, eager legs from Pierre Thomas to seal the deal.

The Saints amassed over 220 yards on the ground and three scores.

Yet that hardly tells the story of this game.

No, despite the gaudy numbers the Saints offense seems to effortlessly be able to generate on the ground or in the air, this game belonged to the defense and its mastermind, Gregg Williams.

Previous weeks the Saints allowed yardage and points to inexperienced signal-callers, playing a prevent defense some fans, myself included, didn’t much care for even if we understood the cause to implement it.

Gregg Williams unleashed a taste of what New Orleans fans have craved since 2000, an attacking and aggressive defense that does not give any yard easily, and causes more mayhem than it has missteps.

New Orleans finally has a defense that can shut an opponent down in a grind-it-out game, and a running attack that can bolster its point production when the footing proves anything but solid.

Saints players slipped and fell on numerous occasions. Brees was hit early on. Long-developing pass patterns were rarely allowed to form.

The Bills came out and smacked the Saints in the mouth.

They did it up the gut.

Buffalo sought to make the Saints one-dimensional, preferring to take the ball out of their leader’s hands, and place it firmly in those of undrafted players Lynell Hamilton, Pierre Thomas, and gadget player extraordinaire Reggie Bush.

They would play the battle of field position. Limit possessions. Run the clock.

Keep the score low.

Maybe even sack the quarterback a couple of times and collect a fumble while scoring on special teams.

Should all of these things come to fruition, the Bills would have plied their gameplan exactly as they wanted. One would think that Dick Jauron had to like his odds.

Yet it was the Saints who came out the victors. Taking what the defense gave them, and gashing them for leaving five defensive backs in the ballgame. The defense found exotic ways to generate pressure, and the often termed overpaid defensive ends for New Orleans actually made their presence felt on more than one occasion for the first time all season.

In the end, the Saints had won.

What we saw today would have been blowout losses to the Ravens in ‘06, the Bears in ‘06 and ‘07, and on and on and on..

The Saints have changed their personality. They have found an identity.

That is why New Orleans sits atop the NFC South with an unblemished record.

With thirteen more to go.

Final Week Of OTAs For Saints

David — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:06:49 +0000

The Saints will have a week of organized team activities and then take a month off before starting training camp.

via Saints Beat

This is the final week of OTAs before the Saints break for a full month before training camp opens on July 30.

Saints Won’t Pursue Released Vick

David — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:27:15 +0000

I think we all knew this but still, to me at least, a relief.

via Saints Beat

When reached 30 minutes ago, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis had this to say on the topic: “We have no plans to bring Michael Vick to the Saints.”

Payton addressed the topic during the team’s recent minicamp: “I’ve read about our interest in certain players and putting in that (wildcat) system. Right now, we’ve got too many other things we’ve got to work on. I just don’t want to take away any snaps from Drew Brees.”

End of story. Let’s everyone move on. Please.

Agreed. We’ve got a good thing going.

Dan Morgan Retires (Or RE-retires)

David — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:32:08 +0000

Like we didn’t see this coming. I won’t pile on the guy but it is frustrating to have him talk about being in the best shape of his career and then we get this. Well, good luck and your health is important, so get out while you can, I suppose.

via many sources but here’s ProFootballTalk.com

New Orleans Saints linebacker Dan Morgan has decided to retire from the NFL because of recurring injuries, according to his agent.

Drew Rosenhaus, via his Twitter account, announced that Morgan is hanging up his cleats. This marks the second time that Morgan has retired.

“Dan Morgan has informed the Saints that he has decided to retire due to continued injuries,” Rosenhaus wrote. “Dan would like to thank the Saints for the chance to come back this year, but injuries would not let him continue his career.

Saints Will Practice With Texans During Training Camp

David — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:12:32 +0000

Looks like the Saints will be having one or more practices against the Texans during training camp. Might be a good test for the secondary having to deal with Andre Johnson. We’ll see.

via Saints Beat

The Saints are planning to take some of their training camp practices on location to Houston this summer leading up to their Aug. 22 preseason game against the Texans.

This will be the third year in a row the Saints have joined up with another team for a change of pace in training camp. Last year the Texans came to Metairie for three days before a preseason game in the Superdome, and two years ago the Saints practiced against the Bengals in Cincinnati.

Saints Sign WR Rod Harper

David — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:01:58 +0000

via OurSportsCentral

North Little Rock, AR: Rod Harper, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound Murray State alum, has signed an NFL contract to play for the New Orleans Saints. Harper is now following former Arkansas Twister great Reggie Swinton as the second Twister to go from AF2 to the NFL. Harper’s 275 yards receiving and seven receiving TDs both set team single-game records this past week against Corpus Christi. His receiving yard total also tied the third highest single-game effort in league history. Harper currently leads the af2 in a number of categories, including scoring (228 points), total touchdowns (38) and receiving touchdowns (38). He is also tied for the league lead in receptions (107) and ranks second in receiving yards (1,375).

Saints Sell Out Season Tickets Fourth Year Running

David — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:03:08 +0000

via CBS

The New Orleans Saints have sold out the 70,000-seat Louisiana Superdome on a season-ticket basis for a fourth straight year.

Saints vice president of ticket and suite sales Mike Stanfield says team officials weren’t sure what to expect because of the national recession, but found no lack of demand. Stanfield says the waiting list for Saints season tickets continues to grow and is now more than 50,000.

TP Position Review: Returners

David — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:49:46 +0000

Ah, now here is one of my favorite parts of the game. I have a habit of coming out of my seat on returns, but only if the returner can make it past that first wave with the promise of getting more. I love the return game. This where you have the true kamikazes that lay it all out to make a play. It is such a small fraction of the actual game, but it can have a tremendous impact if you break a couple for a score.

via Saints Beat

CURRENT DEPTH CHART:
Player – Age – Height – Weight
Courtney Roby, 26, 6-0, 189
Skyler Green, 24, 5-9, 190
Reggie Bush, 24, 6-0, 203
Lance Moore, 25, 5-9, 190

Roby came out of nowhere to really bust some good returns open, and I think he holds the advantage over Green, who was great at LSU, but has had a hard time catching on in the NFL so far with stints in Cincinnati and Dallas. I think Roby wins the kick returning job, and I think he could win at the punt return position too, solely because I think Bush and Moore are too valuable to put back on a regular basis to field punts. I do think you will see Bush return a punt a game maybe, but I think the Saints are best served letting Roby settle in to the punt returner role with Bush having the rare cameo when the Saints really need a spark.

NFLPA Files Appeal In StarCaps Case

David — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:41:37 +0000

via Saints Beat

The NFL Players Association plans to appeal a judge’s ruling in the case of five players facing suspensions over positive drug tests.

Michael DeMocker/The Times-PicayuneThe NFLPA is appealing the ruling against Deuce McAllister, Will Smith and Charles Grant.

The union filed its notice of appeal Wednesday with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The players association wants the appeals court to reconsider a judge’s dismissal last week of a lawsuit filed by the union on behalf of Vikings star defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, and New Orleans Saints’ Charles Grant and Will Smith, and Deuce McAllister, the Saints’ career rushing leader, who was released by New Orleans after last season but hopes to find another team for the upcoming season.

Saints Minicamps Open To Public

David — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:39:30 +0000

Fans take note: no taking of video will be allowed.

via Saints Beat

Two upcoming Saints minicamp practices will be open to the public at the team’s training facility in Metairie _ 3 p.m. on June 5 and 10:15 a.m. on June 6.

The minicamp will consist of five practices and run June 5 through 7. Three workouts will be closed to the public _ the mornings of June 5 and June 7 and the afternoon of June 6.