Paladin
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
- Posts
- 2,584
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 36
- Age
- 56
- Location
- Anderson, SC
- Website
- www.upstatehomeless.com
On a side note, Haslett closed camp to the media today as they began preparing for the 9/11 Panthers game, and is catching some heat for doing so.
http://www.nola.com/sportsflash/saints/index.ssf?/base/sports-7/112473207797180.xml&storylist=saints
Suspect run defense being tested for Saints
8/22/2005, 1:38 p.m. CT
The Associated Press
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — The New Orleans Saints' suspect run defense is getting severely tested during the preseason.
The Saints have made improving their run defense a high priority after finishing 30th in the NFL against the run last season, giving up an average of 140.8 yards per game. So far in the preseason they have played Seattle, the eighth-best rushing offense last season, and New England, the seventh-best.
Next up on Friday is Baltimore and the ninth-best rushing offense.
After two games the Saints are allowing the most rushing yards in the NFL, 177 per game.
"That is something I'm concerned with, and we're going to stress it and keep trying to work on it and do whatever we have to do to fix it," coach Jim Haslett said. "I think if we can stop the run, we have enough guys who can rush the passer and guys on the back end who can make plays."
The news wasn't all bad in the 37-27 victory over the Patriots last week. New Orleans allowed just 37 yards rushing, on 10 carries, in the first half, though the Patriots didn't play Corey Dillon, who was third in the NFL with 1,635 rushing yards last season. Their backups yielded 101 yards on 12 carries in the second half.
"I was encouraged in the first half, but they didn't have Corey Dillon, and he's a great running back," Haslett said. "But they had their starting line in there, so I thought we did a nice job with that. But the bottom line is we gave up too many yards rushing. Our second group has to do a good job too because some of those guys are going to play also."
___
Defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, a No. 1 draft choice in 2003 who has been very disappointing in two seasons, is being given a chance to help shore up the run defense. He has moved up from the third team to share first-team snaps with Willie Whitehead and Howard Green.
Those three are rotating on the first team while starter Brian Young recovers from a sprained knee suffered against the Patriots. Young is expected to miss the rest of the preseason, but be ready for the season opener Sept. 11 at Carolina.
Sullivan had 15 plays and four tackles against New England.
"Johnathan has played well in both games," Haslett said. "He had 15 plays and he had four tackles (against New England). "He'll get a lot more playing time this week, so I think these next couple weeks will be big for him."
___
Haslett said No. 1 draft choice Jammal Brown, the starting right offensive tackle, is expected back Tuesday after missing two days of practice because of a sore left shoulder. ... Wide receiver Devery Henderson, a No. 2 draft choice who was inactive for all but two games as a rookie last season, is taking advantage of injuries to Az-Zahir Hakim (hamstring) and Talman Gardner (ankle) in the battle for the third receiver spot. ... Monday was the Saints' last two-practice day. New Orleans had eight two-a-days during training camp, which officially ends Wednesday.
http://www.nola.com/sportsflash/saints/index.ssf?/base/sports-7/112473207797180.xml&storylist=saints
Suspect run defense being tested for Saints
8/22/2005, 1:38 p.m. CT
The Associated Press
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — The New Orleans Saints' suspect run defense is getting severely tested during the preseason.
The Saints have made improving their run defense a high priority after finishing 30th in the NFL against the run last season, giving up an average of 140.8 yards per game. So far in the preseason they have played Seattle, the eighth-best rushing offense last season, and New England, the seventh-best.
Next up on Friday is Baltimore and the ninth-best rushing offense.
After two games the Saints are allowing the most rushing yards in the NFL, 177 per game.
"That is something I'm concerned with, and we're going to stress it and keep trying to work on it and do whatever we have to do to fix it," coach Jim Haslett said. "I think if we can stop the run, we have enough guys who can rush the passer and guys on the back end who can make plays."
The news wasn't all bad in the 37-27 victory over the Patriots last week. New Orleans allowed just 37 yards rushing, on 10 carries, in the first half, though the Patriots didn't play Corey Dillon, who was third in the NFL with 1,635 rushing yards last season. Their backups yielded 101 yards on 12 carries in the second half.
"I was encouraged in the first half, but they didn't have Corey Dillon, and he's a great running back," Haslett said. "But they had their starting line in there, so I thought we did a nice job with that. But the bottom line is we gave up too many yards rushing. Our second group has to do a good job too because some of those guys are going to play also."
___
Defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, a No. 1 draft choice in 2003 who has been very disappointing in two seasons, is being given a chance to help shore up the run defense. He has moved up from the third team to share first-team snaps with Willie Whitehead and Howard Green.
Those three are rotating on the first team while starter Brian Young recovers from a sprained knee suffered against the Patriots. Young is expected to miss the rest of the preseason, but be ready for the season opener Sept. 11 at Carolina.
Sullivan had 15 plays and four tackles against New England.
"Johnathan has played well in both games," Haslett said. "He had 15 plays and he had four tackles (against New England). "He'll get a lot more playing time this week, so I think these next couple weeks will be big for him."
___
Haslett said No. 1 draft choice Jammal Brown, the starting right offensive tackle, is expected back Tuesday after missing two days of practice because of a sore left shoulder. ... Wide receiver Devery Henderson, a No. 2 draft choice who was inactive for all but two games as a rookie last season, is taking advantage of injuries to Az-Zahir Hakim (hamstring) and Talman Gardner (ankle) in the battle for the third receiver spot. ... Monday was the Saints' last two-practice day. New Orleans had eight two-a-days during training camp, which officially ends Wednesday.
