Saints Gab

This game turned out to be everything we thought it would be–two powerhouse offenses slugging it out until the finish. But it was the electric offense of the Saints that stole the show.

Mounting up over 552 yards of total offense, New Orleans picked up right where it left off, effectively mixing up passes and runs to keep the Chargers off balance. And it was Drew Brees who set the tone. Playing into the 3rd quarter, he exploited the Chargers’ defense, completing 18 of 24 passes for 240 yards and 2 TDs. His first touchdown pass was a 46-yard strike to Devery Henderson, who miraculously hauled it in off a deflection of  Antoine Cason’s helmet tying the game up at 7. But that wouldn’t be the last bomb Brees threw this evening. In the 2nd quarter, he zipped a 15-yarder in to Robert Meachem (victimizing Cason yet again) to put the Saints ahead 14-7. They never looked back.

As expected, Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas both contributed with some impressive hard runs and screens during their limited playing time. Once again, Bush exhibited both speed and toughness when he powered a backhanded flip from Brees down the field for a 38-yard gain. He had seven catches for 70 yards.  Marques Colston had four catches for 55 yards. 

But it was the performance of undrafted rookie sensation, Chris Ivory, that dazzled the 70,000+ who were in attendance. From a simple swing pass, he totally embarrassed the Chargers’ defenders as he meandered his way down the field, breaking tackles and stiff-arming to take it in for a 76-yard score. He also rushed for 45 yards in this one.

I must tell you, this kid gets more impressive by the week. Once a long-shot to make the team’s roster, it would be hard at this point not to imagine him being a Saint by the time the regular season starts on September 9th. He has played solid in all three preseason games, and from what I heard of him prior to that, he wowed coaches and spectators all during training camp. He is a tough, exciting player who has, in my opinion, set himself comfortably apart from the other running backs competing for a roster spot.

The Chargers’ offense wasn’t bad either, just a bit inconsistent. At times, they took it right to the Saints’ secondary, capitalizing on miscues that are proving to be problematic for New Orleans. Rivers and company’s opening drive was perhaps their most impressive. Utilizing a perfect balance of passes and runs, the first-team offense struck quickly when the capable quarterback led them 82 yards for the game’s first score, a tough, grinding 6-yard touchdown punch by a stream-lined Jacob Hester (who, by the way, showed a lot of athleticism on the score). In the 12-play drive, Rivers was 5 of 6 for 44 yards, while Ryan Mathews gained 32 yards on five carries, breaking one for an impressive 16-yd run. Rivers’ other touchdown pass was a 9-yard toss to Malcolm Floyd. Leaving the game in the middle of the 3rd quarter, he finished with 16 of 27 for 167 yards. Antonio Gates had 5 catches for 66 yards.

The Saints defense had a solid performance overall despite a rocky start in which it gave up a touchdown.  Jabari Greer was true to form as he darted back and forth batting down passes and disrupting plays.  Characteristic of  its new improved reputation, the unit recorded two interceptions–one by Usama Young and the other by Leigh Torrence who ran it back 87 yards for a touchdown in the waning seconds to end the game on a high note.

What I saw in terms of Saint performances was that there are still some serious issues on special teams coverage, though it was somewhat better than in the previous two games.  Dropped passes were also a problem that killed otherwise productive drives.  And there were way too many penalties.  Players are going to have to stay focused and disciplined in order to avoid flags that only hurt the team.  I don’t know about this new rule concerning having to wait until the officials get into position before the ball can be snapped either.  Judging from this game alone, it just looks like a lot of confusion to me. Neither the coaches nor the players appear to be in favor of it.  It’s going to be interesting to see how it affects teams as the regular season cranks on.

Of special note,  MLB Jonathan Vilma went down with what’s being reported as a right groin injury early in the 3rd quarter.  Although he left the field under his own power, we don’t know the severity of the injury.  Vilma had been playing extremely well, making his presence felt all over the field.   Zack Strief also had to leave the game with an injury–I’ve heard ankle and knee so I’m exactly sure which.   We can only hope and pray that their injuries are not serious so they can be back in action soon.

Other Notes:  Patrick Ramsey was 10 of 18 for 191 yards and 1 TD–impressive!  Adrian Arrington also continued to shine by pulling down rather difficult catches, although I don’t get him back there returning kicks.  Courtney Roby and Montez Billings both showed moments of brilliance.  Garret Hartley was reliable once again, nailing FGs of 27 , 35 and 40 yards.

KFFL.com, a premiere fantasy site, says that Saints WR Marques Colston should catch about 8 to 10 TD’s in 2010, but due to the teams weapons, you won’t see a huge explosion like you may if he was elsewhere:

Pros: In three of his four pro seasons, the former seventh-round pick has gone over the 1,000-yard mark. Colston is the top target in the Drew Brees-led Saints’ passing game. He is under contract through the 2011 season but is looking for that big payday. In eight games in ‘09, Colston hauled in at least five receptions. Seven of his nine touchdowns came in separate games. The possession receiver rebounded nicely from microfracture knee surgery in the 2009 offseason.

Cons: Since New Orleans has so many capable weapons, Colston isn’t likely to see an explosion in numbers. He was targeted only 108 times a year ago. Colston battled injury in 2008, costing him five games. He caught no more than four passes in eight games (one was Week 17, in fairness).

Fantasy tip: Colston is an unexciting pick. His value increases in point-per-reception leagues, but he’s still just one of many capable targets for Brees in a crowded passing game. He doesn’t have a lot of upside, but he’s pretty safe. Colston is the 11th receiver being drafted, on average, in the middle of the third round.

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We continue to highlight a few things the Saints said in Tuesday’s Media Day in preparation for Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Garrett Hartley

On his feelings before kicking the game-winning field goal against the Vikings:

“Just was telling myself, you know, I guess subtle things. I missed a kick versus Tampa, which I kind of rushed myself on. I didn’t get to follow through and so I was just going to kind of relax a little bit more and really just make sure I’m getting through the ball and things work out. John Carney has been such a tremendous attribute to me learning. I’m 23, I know I’m young. I have a lot of learning and maturing to do and he’s definitely helped me with that on an astronomical level. Just coming out there, just telling myself to come through the ball, slowing down my approach. Whenever it came off my foot, there was no question in my mind that that ball was going exactly where I wanted it to go.”

On his feelings about being in the Super Bowl:

“It’s just an amazing feeling to be out here, knowing that we’re competing for a chance to be world champions. Honestly, I’ve never experienced anything like it.”

Saints Owner Rita Benson-Leblanc

On being a female executive in the NFL:

“There are many women that orchestrate a lot of things behind the scenes and through ownership or support. I’m very proud of the other women that I’ve seen come before me and are young now. At the Super Bowl, I always get to speak to some of the other female relatives and some of the other owners and really encourage them to get involved, even if it’s just a short internship to get them familiar with the family business. I think that’s very strong in the NFL, as we encourage families to work. You see coaches and players and corporate executives come and go, but unless you really have that oral history and sense of family tradition, those are the values that you really need to stay strong. Then, you balance that with the other pieces. But I think that’s really, really important to the NFL. There’s always a long-term thought process and responsibility to our community and our country, but also to grow fans internationally.”

Jabari Greer

On facing the Colts offense:

“It’s a good offense. They have been able to be successful up to this point. They are one of the best offenses in the NFL. Fortunately we go up against a good offense every day in practice. We understand that in every game there is an opportunity to make a play. In these types of games, it amplifies. You have to step up and make a play. This is a good offense; a good quarterback, a good receiving core, a good offensive line. We realize it’s going to be a challenge.”

Marques Colston

On Brees’ confident in Colston since Day One:

“I felt exactly the opposite. I felt terrible coming out of minicamp. To be honest, I really didn’t think that I was going to be on the roster too much longer. I got into training camp and was able to do some good things. I’m sitting here now.”

On the turning point of the season:

“It might have to be right here in this stadium. We were down 24-3 to the Dolphins. Just to see the look of everyone’s eyes and the sideline and to really know what we had on the sideline. No one was wavering in their confidence that we were going to win that game.”

Sunday’s game between the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins was a game of two halves. The first half was one that the Saints would have just soon forgot existed as first downs seemed as elusive as a desert mirage; as a result, New Orleans found themselves down by 21 early in the second half. Then they woke up. They would score 36 second half points as they rallied to defeat the pesky Dolphins 46-34 at Land Shark Stadium.

Things were bumpy initially for New Orleans as by their fifth offensive play, they had committed three penalties. Miami would capitalize as running back Williams scored twice in the opening period from 4 and 68 yards – sandwiching a 46-yard field goal by Saints kicker John Carney – giving the Dolphins a 10-7 lead going into the second quarter.

The scoring for Miami would continue as a 32-yard FG by kicker Dan Carpenter followed by an 8-yard TD run by Ronnie Brown would pad their lead to 24-3; Saints quarterback Drew Brees would punch it in from a yard out, narrowing their deficit to 24-10 with 2 ticks left in the first half.

The third quarter found both teams exchanging scores as New Orleans safety Darren Sharper grabbed a Chad Henne interception and scored from 42 yards, narrowing Miami’s lead to 24-17; Carpenter would kick a 33-yard FG 8 minutes later, giving the Dolphins a 27-17 edge. Brees would connect with wide receiver Marques Colston on a 10-yard scoring pass, reducing their deficit to 3 with 1:09 left in the period. But Williams would score another rushing TD from 4 yards out, extending Miami’s lead to 34-24 going into the fourth quarter. That’s when the Saints would explode.

They would score 22 unanswered points in the final period as RB Reggie Bush dashed into the end zone from 10 yards out (very acrobatic, I might add); Brees would run in for a score at the 8:35 mark of the game, giving New Orleans their first lead of the game. Carney would boot a 20-yard chip shot then defense would get involved as cornerback Tracy Porter took a Henne intereception 54 yards for a score, sealing the win for the Saints.

Brees, despite the win, had his worst game of the season, going 22-of-38 for 298 with a passing TD but 3 INTs but also rushing for 2 scores; Henne didn’t do any better as he went 18-of-36 for 211 yards and a pair of INTs. Mike Bell led all Saints rushers with 80 yards on just 12 carries while Williams led the Dolphins’ rushing attack with 80 yards and 3 TDs; Ronnie Brown added 48 yards and a score.

Tight end Jeremy Shockey led all Saints receivers with 4 receptions for 105 yards while Colston caught 5 passes for 72 yards and a score; Devery Henderson caught 4 passes for 71 yards. Brian Hartline led the Miami receiving corps with 3 receptions for 94 yards while Greg Camarillo added 55 yards on 5 receptions. The Saints won the game with a price as defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis was forced to leave the game in the second quarter with a sprained right knee. New Orleans (6-0) looks to remain undefeated as they return home to host division rival Atlanta next Monday night while Miami (2-4) goes to New York next Sunday to face the Jets.

Saints WR Marques Colston finally is feeling 100 percent for the Saints, and today’s Times-Picayune reports that the WR is set to have a big season for the team and QB Drew Brees:

Marques Colston figures he’s as healthy right now as he’s ever been at this time of year since joining the Saints. “I feel great,” he said. “It’s probably the first offseason that I’ve gone away (from organized team activities) feeling 100 percent.” Probably, he’s right, even though that includes offseason knee surgery this year.

Although the New Orleans Saints got their first road win against a struggling Kansas City Chiefs team, the team faces a long road ahead if they want to make a run for the playoffs. This was a game that the Saints were expected to win and they did not disappoint.

However, the Saints still could not get a 100-yard rusher against the worst rushing defense in the league and the defense showed that their lack of a pass rush has been because the secondary doesn’t cover man-to-man very well. Rather than being something to crow about, this game showed that the season isn’t yet over. The real tests still lie ahead.

Saints QB Drew Brees threw for 266 yards, completing 25 of 36 attempts, making one touchdown and one interception. He now has 3,251 yards this season and, with a 325.1 yards per game average, is predicted to throw for 5,201 yards. He was helped by good field position most of the game thanks to a solid special teams effort. Chiefs QB Tyler Thigpen threw for 235 yards, completing 19 of 38, with two touchdowns and one interception.

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Saints wide receiver Marques Colston has a torn ligament in his left thumb and may miss as much as six weeks. His thumb was injured when a helmet hit his hands while he was attempting a catch. Colston had surgery on Tuesday to reattach the ligament.

Colston has been the number one receiver for the Saints over the last two years. The team has an additional five wide receivers on their roster and will have to rely on veterans David Patten and Devery Henderson. The Saints also have last year’s first round draft pick, Robert Meachem, who will be start as a backup Sunday.

Colston had three catches for 26 yards in last Sunday’s victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last season, Colston had 98 catches for 1,202 yards.

Over his two-year career, Colston has 168 catches for 2,240 yards and 19 touchdowns. No other NFL receiver has had as many catches over two seasons. He is followed by Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald with 161 catches.

Coach Payton is expected to make a public statement about the injury today at 1:30 p.m. central time.

The New Orleans Saints enter Sundays game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers not knowing if their defense has improved from their dismal performance in 2007, but it will take only 60 minutes to tell Coach Payton, the NFL, and Saints Fans every were the answer.

On paper the Saints have improved in every area but one, the secondary. No one has stepped up and taken CB2 starting position. Mike McKenzie returning from a season ending knee injury in 2007, quietly showed he is ready this preseason, and let every defensive coordinator know not to throw his way!

The other corner back job is still up for grabs, and a regular season audition will continue to take place. Randall Gay, the Saints free agent pick up from the Patriots this off season looks to have the first audition on Sunday. He has shown the same flaws that Jason David has by allowing long completions in all of his preseason appearances, but has the most experience with talent at this point. Rookie Tracy Porter has been good, but still has a lot of learning to do.

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After last week’s poor performance by the Saints’ defense, the team gave its fans reason to hope by holding the Bengals to only 165 yards, 0 touchdowns, 4 sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble. The tradeoff for the team may be the injuries suffered by two major parts of the offense: Marques Colston who was injured in the first half with bruised ribs and Reggie Bush who left with a bruised thigh.

Perhaps the most symbolic of the defense’s efforts was the bloodied nose of Cincinnati’s QB Carson Palmer at the end of the second quarter when he was sacked by safety Kevin Kaesviharn. The Bengals offensive line gave up only 17 sacks last year but the Saints were able to get three in the first half alone.

The starting defense created pressure that made it difficult for Cincinnati to get anything going. The Bengals were only able to get 94 yards in the first half, four first downs, and crossed into Saint’s territory once. CBs Mike McKenzie and Tracy Porter were effective, limiting Carson Palmer’s options. McKenzie, who had just come back from a torn ACL, almost intercepted a pass on the Bengal’s first drive but the ball touched the ground. Porter forced a fumble on the Bengals’ first possession that was recovered by Cincinnati but set the tone for the rest of the night. Newly-acquired DE Bobby McCray and Kaesviharn each had 1.5 sacks.

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After sitting out of Friday afternoon practices, officially because some sort of knee issue, Marques Colston is having an MRI tonight at MBMC (Mississippi Baptist Medical Center).  It is unconfirmed what the nature of the MRI is, as the Saints organization has not announced it to the public yet.