Saints Gab

According to neworleanssaints.com, Coach Sean Payton has said that Jeremy Shockey will not be playing in Thursday’s game against the Tennessee Titans, but the rookie, Jimmy Graham will see some action instead.

Graham, who hasn’t played since injuring his right ankle against the Patriots on August 12th, just returned to practice this past Monday. Coach Payton said of his return to the practice field,

“His first day back was decent. He’s a little rusty and still we have to be careful to not take a setback, but it was good to have him on the field.”

The 6′6, 260-pound tight end turned a lot of heads in training camp, some even referring to him as an unpolished gem. The Saints believe that they have found a very special player in Graham. They’ve really got to appreciate his versatility amongst other things. And his ability to contribute on special teams makes him just that much more valuable.

As a brand new member of the Miami Hurricanes in 2009, he played in thirteen games, mostly as a reserve tight end. Although he finished with only seventeen receptions for 213 yards, he scored on five of those catches. He also played a stint on special teams where he recorded a solo tackle and returned three short kickoffs 30 yards. As a blocker, he was credited with 30 knockdowns.

According to league sources, the Saints have re-signed DT Kendrick Clancy to a 1-year deal. The 10-year veteran had previously played three seasons with the Saints before being placed on IR with a knee injury in 2009.

With this latest move, the Saints will now be forced to make two cuts to the roster in an effort to get down to 75 players by the August 31st deadline. Early speculations are that it could mean the departure of rookie, Al Woods and third-year veteran, DeMario Pressley, but who really knows at this point?

In all of this, you’ve got to think that there is some concern with interior run defense and rightfully so. Whatever the case may be, I think there are going to be some big surprises and some not-so-big surprises as the Saints complete their 2010 roster. We’ll just have to wait and see.

WR Marques Colston receives a 15-yd unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in preseason against Chargers

In 2009, the Saints were one of the most penalized teams in the NFL, racking up 89 penalties for a total of 787 yards in the regular season and 18 for 151 yards in the playoffs. That’s compared to their opponents’ combined total of 86 for 717 yards in the regular season and 13 for 99 yards in the playoffs. Those are certainly stats that we would all love to forget.

But it’s kind of difficult to do that after having watched the first three preseason games. While they had only 4 penalties against New England for a mere 29 yards, that number has slowly, but surely, inched up over the course of the last two games. There were 9 for 97 yards against the Texans and 11 for 90 yards against the Chargers. This is certainly cause for concern, particularly when you look at the blemish all those penalties left on their otherwise glowing season in 2009. Coach Sean Payton has been very vocal in his displeasure about the problem, saying after the Chargers game on last Friday night,

“We had 11 penalties. A couple of those, things we can certainly clean up. But there’s a lot of hidden yardage there lost in the return game.”

Now granted it’s only preseason, so these stats won’t count for much more than as a measuring stick to determine where improvements are needed. However, because that is the one area that does not need to be repeated as the defending Superbowl Champs make a run at back-to-back titles, there has to be a conscious effort on the part of the coaches and players to cut down on the number of infractions at the risk of literally throwing games away. Whether they result from a lack of discipline, miscues, or being overly aggressive, penalties are ammunition for the other team.  It’s early yet, so there is still time for the team to work on developing and implementing policies to discourage players from getting penalties, especially senseless ones.  But with the start of the regular season just a couple of weeks away, they had better get it together fast or this is going to be a very long season for a lot of people.

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.

The last time these two teams met was during October 2008 in London’s Wembley Stadium. The game had been billed (and rightfully so) as one of the most anticipated of the season with the two high-flying offenses squaring off in the International Series before a record crowd.

It would not disappoint, as the playmakers stepped up and did their thing. Drew Brees finished the game with 339 yards and 3 TDs ; Philip Rivers threw for 341 yards and 3 TDs; Ladanian Tomlinson rushed for 105 yards while Deuce McAllister and Pierre Thomas combined for 83 yards and a TD. When the smoke cleared and the clock read zero, the Saints had held on to defeat the Chargers 37-32.

The real difference in that game turned out to be the outstanding play of the Saints offensive line, which did not give up a sack, and a heads-up play on defense in which Jonathan Vilma intercepted Rivers to end an impressive drive down the field.

A lot has changed for both teams since then. McAllister is now retired and Tomlinson is a Jet. Many players have come and gone and I’m sure both QBs would love to have all of their playmakers healthy and ready to play. But one thing that remains the same is that this matchup is being billed as another high-scoring affair in which both offenses will be expected to post monster numbers.

In fact, some are even proclaiming (very prematurely I might add), that this game could amount to being a very early look at Superbowl XLV. I believe that once again, the Saints’ offensive line and aggressive defense are going to be the difference in this one when it’s all said and done.

Offensively, the two teams are very similar. Both QBs have an arsenal of weapons to utilize through the air and on the ground and neither are afraid to use them. And because it’s going to be the third game of the preseason, I look for many of the starters to see a bit more action than they have in the previous two. With that said, this is how I see things shaping up.

Since Rivers will be without his big target, Vincent Jackson, I look for TE Antonio Gates to get most of the throws and RB Ryan Mathews to handle most of the load on the ground with Michael Tolbert backing him up. As for the Saints, we all know about their woes as of late at the running back position. Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush are going to both see some, but limited, playing time I think.

I expect to see more of Chris Ivory as well as the debut of Ladell Betts and DeShawn Wynn as they try to fight for a spot on the roster. I also expect (and look forward) to seeing more of the development of young WR Adrian Arrington, not behind the arm of Chase Daniel this time, but Patrick Ramsey.

The key for the Saints is going to be protecting whoever is playing quarterback (most likely Ramsey). With Chargers DB Antonio Cromartie no longer with the team, their defense is just that much less effective. If the Saints QB performance is on spot, then this should be another pleaser for the sold-out home crowd.

In another shocking turn of events, the Saints have signed LB K.C. Asiodu. Asiodu, who spent most of last year with the St. Louis Rams, is obviously a more youthful replacement for just-released Troy Evans. The 6′2 242 pound linebacker became a member of the Rams last year as an undrafted free agent out of Central Oklahoma. He meandered between the team’s practice squad and the active roster, as well as playing a stint on the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad in between.

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know a whole lot about Asiodu. But what I can discern from my research is that, like Evans, he is a versatile player. Apparently, the Saints like him because he can play strong-side linebacker, but his main role will be on special teams. The complete terms of this one-year deal have not yet been disclosed.

Although he was released from the Rams because he struggled with recovery from a sports hernia, it appears that he is healthy now. Needless to say, the Saints are desperate for help on special teams coverage. Struggling horribly in that area in the first two preseason games as they did all of last year, a player who can get down the field and tackle should be a welcome addition.

It’s going to be interesting to see who gets cut next as the Saints try to get their roster down.

In a surprise move, the New Orleans Saints have released LB Troy Evans and four others in an attempt to trim down their roster. Also released were: WRs Mark Bradley and Rod Harper, CB Danny Gorrer, and G Tim Duckworth.

I am very surprised at the release of Evans above all others because of what he has meant to the team over the past couple of years. Since joining the Saints in 2007, he has not only served as a heck of a backup at strong-side linebacker, but he was also voted special teams captain for the last two years. I can only trust that the decision makers have very good reasons for cutting such a hard worker who obviously had clout in the locker room and on the field. Saints General Manager, Mickey Loomis said of him,

“Decisions like these are never easy to make. Troy Evans was an instrumental part of the Saints Superbowl XLIV in 2009 and we are truly thankful for his hard work and dedication. We know that the fans of our team will be grateful for Troy’s contributions and the way he contributed to our success both on and off the football field.”

And Sean Payton said,

“It’s always difficult when you have to make decisions such as releasing players that have contributed as much to the Saints as Troy has. Troy was our special teams captain the past two years and provided us with tremendous depth at the outside linebacker position the last three years.”

With the pressing issues on special teams, I wonder if it’s a wise move at this point in time to let go a player with Evans’ experience, abilities and versatility. Those qualities don’t come standard these days. I guess all any of us can do is trust that there is some logic behind this decision that the rest of us have yet to see.

In just three preseason games, the Saints defense will have faced off against four of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and their top-calibre targets. The efficiency exhibited by the QBs (Brees, Brady, Schaub, and Rivers) and their trusty receivers has caused major headaches for opposing secondaries who are often left scratching their heads while trying to figure out how to stop the potent passing attacks.

It’s been no easy task for the Saints defense thus far, considering they’ve been defending against the #1, #3, and #4 passing offenses from 2009 in Houston, New England, and New Orleans respectively, with #5 San Diego next in line. Certainly, they are getting some great practice facing off against some of the best in the game at this early stage. Not only do they get the chance to enhance their own play, but they also have the opportunity to gauge their level of play. If they show well against the elite offenses in the NFL, then they know they’re headed in the right direction.

Saints cornerbacks, Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter seem to be doing just that. In 2009, the duo combined to allow just one touchdown pass during the regular season! I shudder to think what kind of stats they would have posted had they remained healthy; they missed a combined 11 games due to injury. Despite the fact that the team found ways to win in their absences, it was quite obvious when the dynamic playmakers weren’t in the game. The secondary suffered greatly and looked downright lethargic at times.

As for now they’re healthy and steadily gaining the respect they deserve. Houston’s Andre Johnson said of the two last week,

“Would I say they’re underrated? Yeah, I would say that, because they don’t get the recognition they deserve. It’s great to go against those guys. If you look at their season last year, those guys played very big for them.”

I couldn’t agree more with that assessment. Both were solid all season and no one will forget Porter’s NFC Championship game and Superbowl performances. Their abilities to read and jump routes have elevated them to being arguably two of the top corners in the league, planting the seed “passers beware!” Those skills are only going to get better as they continue to grow and learn. I think Texans Coach Gary Kubiak said it best last week when he spoke on the subject,

“They’re playmakers. They do a great job on the ball, you can tell. They do a great job breaking on the ball if they’re close. You know the difference between good corners and great corners is great corners make the play on the ball, make the pick.”

Well we’ve seen Greer and Porter make the play on the ball and make picks time after time. Now they’re getting noticed. It’s going to be interesting to watch as they will no longer be considered just good corners, but recognized as great corners.

Via Twitter Sunday, Saints RB Reggie Bush said, “(I’m) about to watch Vikings and 49ers game and do a little homework for our first 2 opponents of the regular season.” That sounds like a good idea to me.

The better prepared the Saints are for the powerful running attacks of both the Vikings and the 49ers, the better off they’ll be. The speed and strength of RBs Adrian Peterson, Frank Gore, and 49er breakout rookie sensation, Anthony Dixon should be a concern for the Saints, who gave up tough-fought yards straight up the gut by Texans RB, Arian Foster this past Saturday. If they are to be successful, the Saints are going to have to come up with an answer for opposition on the ground as well as on special team coverage.

The season opener promises to be intense as the last meeting of the two teams in the NFC Championship game is still fresh and raw, particularly to the Vikings who came out on the losing end. Trash talk has already started and sour grapes are constantly being sown, or as Saints safety, Darren Sharper called it, “a little bitterness.” Even Viking’s head coach, Brad Childress chimed in on the subject, telling CBSSports.com’s senior writer, Clark Judge that the Saints “orchestrated some things that aren’t within our rules.” Vikings players have also accused the black and gold of crossing the line when it came to hits on Favre in that game. At least one has implied that had he known how badly Favre had been battered and bruised at the time, he would have tried harder to get to Brees to return the favor.

Whether it’s sour grapes or a little bitterness, the Vikings have made it clear that they have more than just revenge for the loss on their minds. I think they want blood. Hopefully, the rest of the Saints are already in sync with what Reggie Bush is doing by preparing for that game. Who comes out on top will be determined by who plays with the most passion. I only hope it’s civilized.

Another wide receiver has joined the fold in the Big Easy as NFPost.com is reporting that veteran wide receiver Mark Bradley has signed with the New Orleans Saints.

His career has seen him spend three years with the Chicago Bears; he has also spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs. Whether that translates to success with the Saints is anyone’s guess. Hopefully for him, his track record doesn’t comke to haunt him during training camp.