Saints Gab

Scouting Report

Kelvin Hayden is a solid CB for what the Colts do in their Cover 2 scheme. He has excellent hands to bump recievers at the line and good awareness and short range speed in zone coverage. He does struggle at times guarding the vertical route, as he does not have great speed over distance and will lose some separation in coverage. His field awareness is excellent, as he is good at reading a QB’s eyes and reacting to the ball, like the Saints’ Darren Sharper. He does not like to engage a player in the run game, but rather prefers to try to take out a runner by going at his feet, which has led to some big runs on the season when he misses. He has had an excellent post season, recording 12 tackles and one interception combined in both AFC playoff games.

Perhaps the most versatile player on the Colts defense is Melvin Bullitt, a converted CB who can play both safety positions. Bullitt has good size for a safety at 6-1 201 lbs. Bullitt is good as an over the top cover safety in the Colts Cover 2. He has good field awareness and great straight ahead speed. He struggles turning his hips to make cuts in coverage, which could help Saints recievers if they need just an extra second more to get open. For the season, Bullitt registered 77 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and no interceptions.

Antoine Bethea has to have a good game if the Colts are to win this game. This means he has to tackle well, something he has struggled with at times in his career, and wrap up defenders instead of making aggressive hits. Bethea is one of the best safeties in the league in run support and is not afraid to hit a blocker or ball carrier. The Saints will also try to throw against Bethea who at times gets lost in one on one situations with a receiver or tight end. Bethea has been able to become a more consistent player this season. This invaluable piece to the secondary once again is one of the Colts tackling leaders with 95 on the season.

Jerraud Powers, a rookie third round draft pick from Auburn, has done an excellent job replacing injured CB Marlin Jackson. He fits into the Colts Cover 2 scheme very well and has a nose for the ball. Another undersized defender at 5-9, 192 lbs., he is an underrated hitter for a guy his size. He had 66 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception in just the first 13 games of the regular season before a hamstring injury sidelined the rookie. He came back in the Divisional Round of the playoffs and had an interception before suffering a foot injury, which caused him to miss the AFC Championship game.

If Powers can not go, the Colts will turn to another undersized rookie in Jacob Lacey. Lacey, an undrafted CB from Oklahoma State, was second on the Colts with three interceptions on the season, including a touchdown return in a Week 7 win over the Rams. In the AFC Championship game, he got beat for an 80-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards before settling down the rest of the game.

The Colts have also brought in former Saints Mike McKenzie and Jason David for workouts as insurance in case Powers can not go.

The Saints love throwing different formations at teams and the Super Bowl will be no different. This secondary has to be on top of things as the Saints can do so many things in any given formation. Will this young secondary be able to digest and learn the Saints offense quickly?

The Colts play a lot of Cover 2 and expect more of the same from them. They will have to try and take away the middle of the field from Brees. The Colts have done a good job all season of not giving up the big plays, but they have on occasion. Other than the New England Patriots, the Colts have not faced a receiving corp like that of the Saints.

Former Saints OL LeCharles Bentley, a Cleveland native, sits down with Clevland.com and tells his prespective on the Saints and the love affair the city has with the team few outside the city can understand. He talks about his initial negative thoughts of being drafted by New Orleans in 2002, only to grow and appreciate both the fans and the city and offers a lesson for Browns fans.

His thought on when he first got drafted:

I had the honor of being selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 2002 NFL Draft, but when my telephone rang and former Saints coach Jim Haslett notified me I was their next selection, I was anything but honored. Considering I had just taken team visits to Miami, Dallas and San Diego, I was far from excited about being drafted by the city that was the poorest and most dangerous in America.

It didn’t take me very long to realize statistics were not the sum of what the Crescent City represented. As I grew from a bright-eyed-and-naive college athlete, the city not only grew on me but became a part of me. Growing up in Cleveland, I was fortunate enough to land in a city that mirrored much of what I understood home to be. Both cities were represented by hard-working, resourceful, prideful, compassionate and passionate individuals that above all adored their football teams.

Click here for the full article.

You knew there had to be some headlines somewhere as the long week in between the Super Bowl is finally over, and the big story seems to be the comments Gregg Williams made to a radio station about how the club wants to hit Peyton Manning.

Well, Manning and the Colts have not replied all that much to those Williams statements, but Saints coach Sean Peyton says today that the national media is making way too much of those comments.

Saints Coach Sean Payton said the national media is making too much out of the “remember me” comments defensive coordinator Gregg Williams made to a Nashville radio station about how the Saints want to hit Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. Williams, whose defense has battered Kurt Warner and Brett Favre in the playoffs, told the radio station that the Saints plan to rattle Manning by hitting him at every opportunity with the hope of knocking the league MVP out of the game. “This guy’s got a great clock in his head,” Williams told 104.5 The Zone.

“The big thing is that he throws the ball so early that we’re going to have to do a good job of finding ways to get to him, and when we do get to him we’re going to have to make sure he gets a couple ‘remember me’ shots when we get there.” Payton said the comments were no big deal. “I think both defensive lines want to get to the quarterback,” Payton said. “That starts in training camp. So yeah, I think much is made of that. Obviously we want to have a good pass rush and get pressure on the quarterback. I think that’s a great example of Super Bowl week.”

I know the NFC Championship game was last weekend and the task at hand is preparing for the Super Bowl, but a friend sent me this clip via Facebook. It’s a highlight reel of the game complete with live player audio and angles and shots only NFL Films could bring. Enjoy!

Scouting Report

Philip Wheeler, a second year weak side linebacker, brings good speed and size (6-2, 240 lbs) to the Colts. He is excellent at getting good depth on his drops when the Colts go to a Cover 2 scheme, which is often. Despite excellent speed, he has some trouble identifying routes in coverage and closing to the ball, something he has improved on this season. He has 61 tackles on the season, including 1 sack and 1 forced fumble.

Gary Brackett is very athletic and instinctive and puts those attributes to good use. He has great body control and quickness in small areas. Brackett is excellent at locating the ball and playing the proper angel to get to the ball. The undersized linebacker ( 5-11, 235 lbs.) struggles disengaging from blocks from more athletic lineman. Brackett had the second most tackles on the team with 99 in the regular season, along with one interception.

Perhaps the most underrated player on the Colts defense is Clint Sessions. The team leader in tackles with 103 in the regular season, Sessions uses his excellent speed, acceleration and vision to make plays. He is quick to the ball and perhaps the hardest hitter on the team.

This is perhaps the best linebacking corp the Saints have faced all season. Drew Brees has to be aware of Sessions and Wheeler on pass plays, as they like to go out in coverage in Indy’s Cover 2 scheme. The Saints like working the middle of the field and finding seams in zone coverages, so knowing where these two linebackers are at all times is critical.

The Saints feel they can run up the middle of the Colts line. Getting an athletic G like Jahri Evans on Brackett would neutralize the LB on running plays. The key for the Saints line in the running game is being able to put bodies on these Colts LBs to allow Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell lanes to run in.

Fan favorite Deuce McAlister dropped by ESPN Radio’s “Mike and Mike” and discussed several Super Bowl topics, including the Saints attitude going into the big game. He says the Saints are not just happy to be there and are hungry and focused on winning. McAlister also shares his thoughts on what the Saints winning the NFC has meant to him.

McAlister served as an honorary team captain for the Saints two home playoff wins. His veteran presence in and out of the locker room has been a source of joy for both the team and fans alike

Deuce McAlister speaks on ESPN Radio

Scouting Report

Defensive Ends

The strength of the Colts Defensive Line is the pass rushing ends.

Robert Mathis is an undersized end, but has great skills and a high motor and plays with great hustle and desire. He is a situational pass rusher who sacked opposing quarterbacks 9.5 times during the regular season. Mathis, however, is vulnerable against the run, as opposing blockers have been able hold him up at the point of attack due to his lack of size.

Dwight Freeney comes into the game nursing a knee injury he suffered in the AFC Championship game. Freeney leads the Colts with 13.5 sacks on the season, but none in the post season. He has quick acceleration at the snap, but not great speed. He likes to counter to this inside towards the quarterback after the initial burst and has a great arsenal of moves. He likes causing trouble when allowed to shoot gaps. His one area of weakness is his size. Like Mathis, he has trouble shedding blocks at the point of attack.

Defensive Tackles

Antonio Johnson lines up next to Robert Mathis on the left side of the Colts defensive front. Johnson is a good sized tackle at 6-4 310 lbs who has great body control and agility for a man his size. He is a bit raw fundamentally and often relies on his physical skills to make plays. for the season, Johnson was in on 34 tackles and one sack.

Lining up next to Johnson is DT Daniel Muir, a veteran who has finally found a home on the Colts roster. For the season, Muir recorded 52 tackles and 0.5 sacks. His size and above average quickness serve him well. He does struggle at times, however, recognizing schemes and using his size and leverage to fight through blocks.

The Saints will try to establish the run early and often to set up play action and the pass. The Saints have the advantage in the middle of the Colts defensive front and they will attack it. Most teams think this is where they can get a lot of yards, but be weary of the Colts CBs, who excel at defending the run.

The Saints are more concerned with stopping Freeney than Mathis. Pro Bowl RT Jonathan Stinchcomb has the assignment of blocking Freeney.
On the other end, LT Jermon Bushrod is coming off one of the best games of his career, holding Vikings DE Jared Allen to just 2 tackles for the game. Expect Bushrod to get help from G Carl Nicks and TE David Thomas to help neutralize Mathis.

The Saints began practice this Thursday in preparation for the Super Bowl. Several players did not participate or practice. But don’t look too much into it..As Coach Payton has done all season, he is monitoring his injured players and giving them time to rest and heal a little longer before a game. They should all be active and well for next Sunday’s showdown against the Colts

Did Not Practice

CB Randall Gay (foot)
RB Lynell Hamilton (ankle)
S Roman Harper (shoulder)
CB Malcolm Jenkins (hamstring)
DE Bobby McCray (back)
WR Courtney Roby (knee)
S Darren Sharper (knee)
TE Jeremy Shockey (knee)
DE Will Smith (groin)
T Zach Strief (shoulder)
RB Pierre Thomas (ribs)
LB Jonathan Vilma (knee)

LIMITED

T Jermon Bushrod (thumb)
LB Jonathan Casillas (ankle)
TE Darnell Dinkins (foot)
DT Sedrick Ellis (knee)
G Jahri Evans (toe)
LB Scott Fujita (knee)C Jonathan Goodwin (knee)
CB Jabari Greer (hip, groin)
WR Robert Meachem (ankle)
WR Lance Moore (ankle)
S Pierson Prioleau (quadriceps)
S Usama Young (hip).

In related news, Jeremy Shockey saw noted sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews bout his knee injury. Payton came away pleased, saying Shockey is “making progress.”

We’ve uncoverd raw, unedited footage of the Saints locker room victory celebration. It is hard to see sometimes, but you can see that it was a sight to behold if you are a Saints fan.