Article on Saints' defense

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/sports/football/nfl/new_orleans_saints/15636020.htm

Saints are cruisin' in Sack City
Stopping the run was the first step
By LARRY HOLDER
[email protected]

METAIRIE, La. - Whether it was the most mobile quarterback in the NFL or one of the league's more stationary gunslingers, it hasn't mattered. The New Orleans Saints pass rush has been relentless.

Michael Vick hit the Louisiana Superdome turf five times in the Saints' emotional victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night.

Future Hall of Famer and Kiln native Brett Favre fell to the Lambeau Field grass twice and was pressured into throwing an ill-advised interception in the end zone as the Saints knocked off the Green Bay Packers.

The Saints have recorded 12 sacks in only three games thus far in 2006. This coming from a defense that corralled the quarterback only 25 times in all of 2005.

Much of the defense received a face-lift during the offseason and in training camp. Yet most of the damage has come from defenders who played on the forgettable '05 defense.

Former first-round pick Will Smith continues his maturation into a solid defensive end as he's tallied a sack in each of the first three wins.

Defensive tackle Brian Young barely touched the quarterback last season, much less rack up a sack. Through three games, he has 3½ sacks.

Smith said the difference this season has mostly to do with halting the other guys in the backfield.

"I guess when you stop the run, it gives you a lot of opportunities to put yourself in better pass-rushing situations," Smith said.

The Saints have vastly improved in slowing the run as they rank 12th in the NFL in rushing yards per game. They also rank fifth in the league in overall yards per game, and second only to the Chicago Bears in the NFC.

"Our tackles (Young and Hollis Thomas) are playing great and they are getting a lot of penetration," Smith said. "Me and Charles (Grant) are getting a lot of pressure on the outside. We've just got to keep it going against Carolina's offensive line."

Game planning for Vick, Favre and the Cleveland Browns' Charlie Frye was undoubtedly different.

All three philosophies showed little, if any, flaws in the team's 3-0 start. This week's plan against former Saints quarterback Jake Delhomme will have its own variations on the first three weeks.

"Last week, a lot of it was containment and preventing the big plays, which resulted in being able to keep Vick from getting to the outside or splitting the crease," coach Sean Payton said. "He still had some big runs. Maybe in Week 1 with Charlie, we had more of the pressure on the edges and trying to push the pocket some.

"There's been good effort to the ball. Sometimes it's come through pressure and sometimes it's come through a four-man rush. Each week, it's been a little different."

Consistent pressure by the front four and an improved linebacking corps has allowed the secondary to virtually shut down the passing game.

The Saints sit ninth in the NFL in net passing yards, which is a category where opponents torched the Saints a season ago.

Veteran cornerback Fred Thomas said the success of every defensive unit all ties together.

"We know when those guys put pressure on the quarterback, we have a chance to make some interceptions," Thomas said. "When we cover well, they have a chance to get the sack. We work hand and hand together. Those guys are working their butts off."

Payton, Henderson mum about injury - Wide receiver Devery Henderson is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Carolina with a shoulder injury, but the Saints tried to avoid the issue after Thursday's practice.

Payton didn't discuss Henderson's ailment when asked by reporters. Henderson said only that it was a shoulder injury and left the locker room when reporters approached.

Safety Bryan Scott (thigh) and defensive end Rob Ninkovich (knee) will not play Sunday, while Thomas (hip), Henderson (shoulder) and linebacker Danny Clark (hip) are listed as questionable.

 

Vick takes a fair amount of sacks, so it's not that his elusiveness means he'd never take the sack. He's often just caught looking or holding the ball, as if he's forcing himself to stay in the pocket.
Also, they have Fujita coming off the edge, which is a successful way to beat Vick - blitz a guy who can accelerate quickly, into a shallow spot 4 yards deep or so, where he's still in Vick's face as opposed to coming around which flushes him.

NO has always had a fair set of DL, though, and two decent enough corners.
I'm guessing they're just being set up for better situations (both in calls and in yard/distance situations). They're a little better at LB, too, with Fujita and Simoneau, though Simoneau's not as much as they need and I assume they had an injury situation if they're starting Shanle again. Fujita was a guy I was rooting to get after WW; his workout warrior numbers at combine not withstanding (something like 6'5, 250, running a 4.40 with a 42" vertical), he was a good 'backer in college and rangy, but they're in need of another good LB either in the middle or on the other side to really root the run out.

 

Why can't any of the NC papers write a homer-type article like this for us?

 

Because the Saints are 3-0 and we have a losing record.

 

I thought Hollis Thomas was over the hill, but he must be doing okay. I hope they keep him on the shelf this week. They've had some suprisingly good play out of their linebackers, too, particularly in Fujita.

 

becuase they aren't playing well enough to deserver it

 

I'm suprised that the Saints beat guys would remember how to write a positive pieece