Bleacher Report - Articles by JAMES GRAHAM

Some Good, Some Not-So-Good In Saints Pre-Season Opener

JAMES GRAHAM — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:05:36 -0400

At the end of the day, it is only the first pre-season game for the Saints.

New Orleans faced the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday night and came out with a win.

While we are still a stretch away from the regular season opener, some of the same troubles that plagued the Saints in 2008 made appearences against the Bengals.

Some reasons for optimism: Drew Brees and Jeremy Shockey appear to be in sync. The defense got two big turnovers early on and held the Bengals to only one touchdown.

Brees-to-Shockey dominated the Saints' first scoring drive with the duo accounting for 61 yards of an 80-yard drive including a big 42-yard catch and run and a 22-yard touchdown strike. Brees looked to already be in mid-season form.

If Shockey can stay healthy, he gives an explosive Saints' passing game yet another weapon for opposing defensive coordinators to deal with.

On the defensive side, New Orleans came up with three turnovers and two long returns deep into Bengals territory, although neither resulted in points. Saints Rookie Linebacker Jonathan Casillas also intercepted a Jordan Palmer pass late in the 4th quarter.

In 2008, the Saints finished 22nd in the NFL in turnover Margin with a minus four... A huge stat for a team that finished 8-8.

New defensive coordinator Greg Williams has stressed the importance of turnovers and big plays to his troops since his arrival in the off-season. On that front, so far, so good. Williams' defense kept Cincinnati off of the scoreboard until the 11 second mark of the second quarter.

And now for the less-than good:

The Saints' running game showed no indication that it would be an improvement over last season. The team total of 86 yards on 30 carries made for an unimpressive 2.8 yards per carry with a long of 9 yards.

Last season the Saints struggled in short yardage and goal line situations and no longer have Deuce McAllister to rely on. That ineffectiveness was a major factor in at least two road losses in 2008.

The Saints also came away empty on two red zone possessions. Kicker Garret Hartley went wide left on a 20-yard field goal attempt after Jonathan Vilma set them up at the Bengals six yard line with a fumble recovery and 47-yard return.

In the 4th quarter, Lynell Hamilton put damper on his somewhat impressive night by fumbling the ball away at the Cincy one yard line.

Defensively, the big play bit the Saints again as it so often did last season. Oft-maligned cornerback Jason David struggled against Chad Ochocinco and Chris Henry, giving up big gains and the Bengals' only score of the game.

But good coverage must go hand-in-hand with a consistent pass rush. The starting defensive unit rarely got close to the Carson Palmer or J.T. O'Sullivan... Not a good sign for a unit that won't have starting defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant for the first four games of the 2009 regular season.

Inconsistent running game, big play vulnerability and a suspect pass rush. A familiar batch of worries for Saints fans.

But it is just one pre-season game. Many of the schemes, both offensively and defensively, are labeled "vanilla."

The Saints will need some more effective flavors come the regular season.

Drew Brees, Chris Paul Are Big Easy Treasures

JAMES GRAHAM — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:37:55 -0400

Indeed, these are rare times to be cherished by New Orleans sports fans. Locals can count on one hand the number of athletes that have come through town that can truly be considered among the elite.

"Pistol" Pete Maravich comes to mind and perhaps Archie Manning and Rickey Jackson come close.

But right now, The Big Easy is experiencing the joy of witnessing two of the best at their respective crafts ply their trade.

Though still too early to call, Drew Brees and Chris Paul appear on track for hall-of-fame careers and New Orleans has the rare privilege of witnessing both perform right here at home.

Paul is widely regarded as the best point guard in the NBA and the World for that matter. Like Maravich, Paul routinely executes basketball wizardry that can make heads spin more than a "Hurricane" cocktail from Pat O'Briens. Unlike, Maravich, CP3 is winning games and inspires dreams of world championships in the imaginations of Hornets fans.

As for Brees, many consider him to be the best quarterback in the NFL not named Brady or Manning. A Super Bowl ring would make him their equal.

Since first donning the black and gold in 2006, he has lead the Saints to the NFC Championship game for the first and only time in franchise history and seriously threatened Dan Marino's record for single-season passing yardage.

In three short seasons, Brees may have already established himself as the best Quarterback in the Saints' humble history.

And we get to watch them both... at the same time. New Orleans has never seen such an exciting pair perform in the same era.

Largely because of these two, their respective teams are at least outside threats to win it all in the upcoming seasons.

Equally as pleasant, is the manner in which they carry themselves outside of their competitive arenas. Both have thrown themselves into the city and its recovery from the get-go.

Shortly after signing with the Saints in 2006, Brees took out an ad in the local newspaper expressing his family's eagerness to become a part of the community and its rebuilding efforts.

And he has lived up to his word with meaningful charity work through his Dream Brees Foundation.

Paul has done much the same, working with area youth and being a strong example through his hard work, generosity and class.

Who knows how long Paul and Brees will call New Orleans home. Free agency and the business side of pro sports can be a cruel thing.

But for now, New Orleans sports fans have a pair of elite performers and solid citizens to proudly call their own. Enjoy them, Big Easy. One is rare, let alone two.

Secondary Changes Primary Formula in Saints' Equation for Success

JAMES GRAHAM — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:40:14 -0400

For the past two seasons, the Saints' defensive philosophy has been a kind of read-and-react proposition. Unfortunately, read-and-react has lead to chase-and-catch-up more often than not.

While the offense has been one of the more potent in the NFL, it hasn't been strong enough to carry New Orleans to a playoff berth on its own. Since an unforgettable 2006, the Saints have been spectators of the post season in both 2007 and 2008, finishing with records of 7-9 and 8-8, despite more than 5,000 yards passing from Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees in '08.

The culprit (or scapegoat) is a Swiss cheese defense that routinely allowed opposing quarterbacks the time to make a po-boy sandwich and receivers to run free through a phantom secondary.

Enter Greg Williams, most recently the head coach of the Buffalo Bills and new Saints Defensive Coordinator. Known for his aggressive style of defensive play-calling, Williams has given many in the Who Dat Nation a renewed optimism.

The defense will look different. But, if the Saints are to be relevant in '09, the end result must also change.

The Saints' pass rush was nearly non-existent in '08. With no major changes in the defensive line or at linebacker and even thinner depth this season, Williams' play-the-run-on-the-way-to-the-pass mindset may be the only real hope for improvement in this phase of the game for New Orleans. The secondary will need to hold up in a scheme that will call for aggressive man-to-man coverage.

Magnifying that task is a schedule that includes games against Tom Brady, Donovan McNabb, Eli Manning, and two more against an emerging Matt Ryan.

Along with Williams came some new on-the-field faces, most significantly to the secondary. Former Vikings free safety Darren Sharper brings a pro-bowl resume to a team that, putting it mildly, has struggled at that position in recent years.

New Orleans also signed free agent corner back Jabari Greer, a six-year veteran who was a solid contributor to Williams' defense in Buffalo. The Saints expect the return of promising second-year corner Tracy Porter from injury, as well. Three of the four expected opening-day starters will be new faces from week one of '08. Roman Harper returns at strong safety and Randall Gay moves in at the other corner to replace an often-injured and aging Mike McKenzie.

For Williams' schemes to work, the new blood will have to equal substantial improvement. Being aggressive can make a good defense better. It can also leave a defense vulnerable to the big play.

The new faces will need to stick to receivers like Louisiana humidity, or the Saints' best defense may, once again, be a good offense.