Saints Gab

Let’s face it, 2007 was a fluke. The Saints were one win away from playing in their first Super Bowl ever in 2006. They were preseason favorites to take it all the way in 2007.

Then came the 0-4 start, and losing their prized running back Deuce McAllister did not help either. Then came the four-game winning streak, and everyone thought they were back from the dead. From that point on it was hit and miss. Missing the playoffs, and ending the season 7-9.

What happened?

First, it was the inconsistent play from Reggie Bush. Bush just could not give the Saints the edge in the running game, and Coach Payton was forced to go to the air.

Then you had the Saints defense not even showing up for games. You cannot expect to win football games by giving up (14) 20-plus-yard rushes and (54) 20-plus-yard completions.

This was clearly due to a defensive player being out of place, or just having the completely wrong defense called. I myself thought the defensive play calling was extremely bad last year.

As bad as the defense played last year, the Saints still had a chance to win. Drew Brees and the Saints offense still put up great numbers, Marques Colston had a pro bowl year, and had Bush not been hurt, the Saints may have made it to the playoffs. The season is over though, and the what if’s are said and done.

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Charles Grant, who normally lines up as a defensive end, lined up as a defensive tackle in Saints practice yesterday. A formation with Bobby McCray taking his spot at defensive end, rookie first round pick Sedrick Ellis lined up next to Grant at defensive tackle and Will Smith lined up as the other defensive end is the expected line up. The McCray, Grant, Ellis, Smith line up on the d-line would probably be used as a high impact speed rush on passing downs for the Saints.

Grant moving to tackle has been discussed in the media since McCray was acquired, but dance around up until now by the Saints coaching staff. Normally a defensive end weighs around 260 or 270 lbs, but Grant is a rare d-end that can rush the to the quarterback from the edge even at that heavier weight. Grant is one of the heavier ends in the league, weighing closer to 300 lbs.

The Saints and their first round draft pick, defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, have come to terms on a five-year deal that reports say will include $19.5 million guaranteed.  Ellis will be in camp Wednesday and will right away go to work for a Saints team that moved up in the draft to get him.

Out of USC, Ellis is expected to be a force on the Siants D-line.  Last season in 13 games he had 58 tackles, 12.5 tackles for losses and 8.5 sacks.  He even broke up seven passes.  He missed the first 12 training camp practices, and even coach Sean Payton was getting upset with the #1 pick on Monday when he spoke about him after pracitce.

“He’s missing opportunities to get better, and that can affect his play,” Payton said. “If you just look at the history of guys who have held out for longer than a period of four or five days, it hasn’t been real good.”  The Saints are hoping that Ellis will buck that trend, and come in and be a trend setter on the defensive line and make plays that can put the Saints back at the top of the NFC South.

If you have been watching the New Orleans Saints for awhile, you’ve gotten used to disappointment: twenty years before the first winning season, five playoff games before the first victory, only needing to win one more game out of the last four to get into the playoffs. Their history is full of times where they got the special guy (be it coach or player) who was going to make the difference. “This time, I know we’re gonna make it!”

The team is better now, maybe the best they’ve ever had. Drew Brees has shown that he is an exceptional quarterback. Marques Colston has come from nowhere to put up two solid seasons. Some of you may think that Reggie Bush is over-hyped but I say that the challenge is figuring out the best way to use his talents. Deuce McAlister (may his knees still work once he has left us) has better stats than any of our running backs ever. The defense is a little different, but has shown promise and the talent has improved.

Last year, the conventional wisdom was that the Saints would make it to the Super Bowl. Everyone knew that Chicago would not be as lucky to get in again with Rex Grossman at the helm and the NFC had few other contenders. As you know, the Saints didn’t even make it to the playoffs. The team that surprised everyone in 2006 surprised everyone again in 2007.

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Another raw update from camp afternoon practice:

Before anyone else gets out there, Buck Ortega was out tossing the ball around with the coaches.

Blythe was out early, but not in pads again (concussion), but we heard that he should be allowed to practice tomorrow if everything continues as it is now.

Porter was out early in shorts as well with Devery as well.

Bullocks and Stecker were the first players out that were in pads.

*Team walked through kickoff return blocking and coverage first. No actual play, just starting the play with KR running forward and blocking practiced with coverage moving in.

While this was going on, Colston and Shockey were warming up on the bikes.

Also while this was going on Coach O could be heard yelling at the D-line in the distance (back corner by goal post). The stereotype is true. ?

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Some would say that the 2008 season for the New Orleans Saints depends on the health of or more specifically, the return of health for key players. Unfortunately, health has been an issue on both offense and defense. Depending on what happens in the next 6 weeks, could be make or break for New Orleans.

OFFENSE

There are several players on this side of the ball that need to be at, or close to 100% for the Saints to be running full speed. Probably the most important person of this group is Deuce McAllister. Noticeably the biggest difference from 2006 to 2007 was the running game (or lack there of). Most believe that without the threat of an inside run game, the Saints became one dimensional. With all the pressure on Drew Brees and the passing game, the offense was not able to sustain drives which put more pressure on an already porous defense. If Deuce can come back healthy from his ACL tear as he did in 2006, the offense will be much better off than they were last year.

McAllister is not the only key player coming back from a set back last year. Both Reggie Bush and newly acquired Jeremy Shockey are getting ready for a better year in 08. Reggie, having to deal with more carries due to the loss of McAllister, eventually went down himself with 4 games left to play. With several competent backs, Payton should have the opportunity to split time between them to keep legs fresh. Shockey has also been working slowly to get back to form after a broken leg late last year. Jeremy has been told to take it slow for precautionary measures but should be ready to go by the start of the season, and hopefully back to Pro Bowl form as well.

DEFENSE

In my opinion, the defense has less room for error but has a few players hoping to be injury free as well this year. Mike McKenzie was one bright spot for the defense last year with two interceptions returned for touchdowns as well as 52 tackles. These numbers could be even better if he had not gone down with an injury himself in week 16 vs. the Eagles. Luckily for us Saints fans, he has been out on the practice field and is expected to start week 1 vs. Tampa Bay.

Jonathan Vilma may be just as big a piece to the puzzle as McKenzie, relative to his play making ability and leadership. Vilma was brought in via a 4th round pick and conditional pick in 2009, but the Saints believe he is worth much more. Those who have watched practices this training camp have been praising him for his play even during “7 on 7” drills. Vilma claims to not be quite at 100% but is very close, and has been moving around well. He should be a very important part of the defenses success this year.

Now, I know I missed a few players and a few minor injuries, but I pointed out the ones that I felt were most important and have the most impact on the team’s success. Overall, all of these players have been doing well in camp and are on pace to play by game 1 in the Superdome. The 2008 season has the potential to be magical, but may be largely dependant on the health of these key contributors. The offense is just as potent as ever and the defense is much improved. But unless the two come together, it could be a long season. In my opinion, the Saints may just make it longer for anyone in their way.

These notes were taken by James Blake and Jean-Paul Bergeaux while personally attending the Saints Training Camp practices. They are raw scribbles and are not meant to be grammatically correct. They may not be perfectly correct and sometimes may not even make sense to the “casual Saints fan”. With that disclaimer, here we go!
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Some notes as the practice started. Henderson, McKenzie, Porter, Bullocks and Blythe were all in shorts on the sidelines as the players warmed up. Deuce did what I think is his normal trainer stretching on the sidelines to warm up.

*First drill was punt returns with Coach O working the DL on one side and OL and QBs doing snap practice on the other end. Brees was practicing with Goodwin, Brunell with Lehr and Palko with Rob Hunt.

Punt returners were Moore, Green, and Bush with Devery hanging out with them but not dressed, so just listening.

As the players were jogging around, you could hear a coach yelling “Come on David Roach! You ready to be a gunner today?!?!”

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The Saints got bad news on the injury front today, as the team placed DT DeMario Pressley, their fifth-round draft pick, on IR with a right foot fracture.  The injury to Pressley is actually an old injury, and coach Sean Payton said that the foot was becoming more and more of an issue.  “We tried to manage it a little bit and it was still becoming problematic,” Payton said. “We think the injury is something that can heal with the proper procedure. We just chose to have it done right now rather than wait and try to treat it. It’s just gotten progressively worse. … It became apparent it was going to stay aggravated if he stayed on it.”  Pressley will have surgery to repair the foot.  The team signed DE Maquies Gunn, who has been with the Giants and Bucs practice squads, to take Pressley’s place on the roster.

Word is the Saints and first-round draft pick Sedrick Ellis may be on the verge of getting a deal done.  The Biloxi Sun Herald reported today that a deal could be struck within the next few days. “I think it’s getting closer,” coach Sean Payton said Saturday at camp.  One holdup could be the number 8 pick, Derrick Harvey, and what the Jags end up giving him.  At the 7 spot, Ellis does not want to undervalue what he is worth.  Eugene Parker is Ellis’ agent, and he may look to get the rookie locked up now that he had another big client – Bears KR Devin Hester, signed on Sunday with the Bears with a fresh four-year deal.  Right now Ellis is the highest draft pick unsigned.

Good news for the Saints, as running back Deuce McAllister, who missed the morning practice with a swollen knee, was back on the practice field Saturday afternoon.  The back did wear a brace on knee, which he also had an MRI on.  He took handoffs as well as caught a screen in the PM session.  The team will continue to be very careful with McAllister, who is coming back after tearing his ACL during a September loss to the Titans last season.  The MRI he had on the left knee Saturday was negative, another piece of good news.