Bretsky
09-16-2006, 12:30 AM
Packers' Next Opponent: Much more of a prayer
Saints' spirits are resurrected under new coach Payton
Posted: Sept. 12, 2006
On the Packers
Bob McGinn
E-MAIL
Green Bay - New Orleans and Green Bay, two teams under first-year coaches looking to make amends, will meet Sunday at Lambeau Field.
The Saints, with merely 27 returnees from a 3-13 season, endured the worst defeat of their nightmarish 2005 season in Green Bay. The 52-3 shellacking last October began a six-game losing streak that led to the firing of coach Jim Haslett.
On Sunday, the Saints went to Cleveland and prevailed, 19-14, in the debut of coach Sean Payton, one of seven coaches interviewed by Packers general manager Ted Thompson before his selection of one-time Saints offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy.
"I think it's the best all-around we've played since I've been here, especially on defense," said defensive tackle Brian Young, a third-year Saint. "They tried to kill us in training camp. (We're) way better conditioned."
Drew Brees, signed to a 6-year, $60-million deal in the off-season, could be the best quarterback the Saints have had since Archie Manning.
Book on the Saints
Difference-maker: Rookie sensation Reggie Bush didn't get in the end zone on opening day. Nevertheless, he gained 141 yards in 25 touches and looked extremely dangerous doing it.
Weakest Link: The offensive line and linebackers are rife with suspect starters. The worst might be MLB Mark Simoneau, who didn't arrive until Aug. 28 via trade from Philadelphia. Former Raider Danny Clark, claimed last week on waivers, might start, cutting into Simoneau's playing time.
On the rise: Agile DE Will Smith, the 18th pick in the 2004 draft, registered 16 sacks in his first two seasons playing 61% of the snaps as a rookie and 76% in '05. This is his first year as a full-fledged starter.
The series: The 20th regular-season meeting. Packers lead, 14-5.
ANOTHER VIEW
Trading is increasing. Last year, clubs made 12 trades between Aug. 1 and Sept. 13. This year, teams have consummated 23. One of the busiest teams is New Orleans, which has made nine deals since the trading period opened in March. What's remarkable is that all nine of the Saints' trades (one was voided) involved players.
Among the seven players acquired by the Saints, four are starters (C Jeff Faine, NT Hollis Thomas, LB Mark Simoneau, LB Scott Shanle) and one's a backup (S Bryan Scott).The Saints traded five players, including T Wayne Gandy, WR Donte' Stallworth, DT Johnathan Sullivan, RB Michael Bennett and LB Courtney Watson.
New Orleans GM Mickey Loomis has a background in the salary cap and appears to rely heavily on new coach Sean Payton for football decisions.
Said defensive end Charles Grant: "We feel like nobody respects us. But we'll make somebody respect us with this hard hitting we're doing."
Added defensive end Will Smith: "This is my fourth season and I've never been in a game when we've made almost no mental errors. The quarterback (Browns' Charlie Frye) never felt comfortable. That's creating chaos, man."
Despite its 49-point setback on the same field 11 months ago, New Orleans is favored by 2 points. That's largely because the Packers followed up a 4-12 season with their first shutout defeat in 15 years.
Nevertheless, two executives in personnel for teams that have played the Saints in the last month predicted victory for Green Bay.
"At home, I pick the Packers," one scout said. "Unless the coach has already lost them or something."
Said the other personnel man: "I think when teams get their backs against the wall and everyone's saying it's absolutely doomsday, somehow these professionals kind of dig deep and say, 'We're not going to be embarrassed.'
"The Packers have to win. I think the Saints are improved. But I think the Packers certainly are good enough to win at home against the Saints."
When asked to sum up the Saints, one scout said: "The secondary is old and not very good. The two (defensive) ends are good but, inside, they're not very good. Linebackers are shaky. Offensive line is bad. The running back (Reggie Bush) is kind of an exciting little guy. That's about it."
OFFENSE
SCHEME
Like McCarthy, the 42-year-old Payton is a former coordinator and quarterbacks coach who designs his own scheme and calls the plays. Payton, who is seven weeks younger than McCarthy, has coached the West Coast offense under Jon Gruden in Philadelphia and called plays for Bill Parcells last year in Dallas. The Saints use more of a power-based ground game than the Packers but the passing attacks are similar.
RECEIVERS
Payton didn't think much of WR Donte' Stallworth. Thus, he didn't consider it risky basically giving him away to the Eagles and starting rookie Marques Colston (6 feet 4½ inches, 231 pounds), a seventh-round pick from Hofstra. Colston is smart (31 on the Wonderlic intelligence test), fast enough (4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and physical. He's faster than quick and struggles escaping press coverage. The other starter, Joe Horn (6-1, 213), is 34 and fading. Elected to the Pro Bowl in 2002 and '04, Horn is coming off a bad outing against the Browns. Although Horn remains crafty and a hard runner after the catch, he has lost speed and isn't as elusive. Devery Henderson (5-11½, 200), a second-round pick in '04, does have blazing speed but lacks feel and has questionable hands. TE Ernie Conwell (6-1½, 255) is 34 and no longer can threaten the deep middle. However, he blocks and catches well. Mark Campbell (6-4½, 260), a starter in Cleveland and Buffalo, is a competent backup and played some fullback last week.
OFFENSIVE LINE
All five starters are starting at their positions for the first time in New Orleans. LT Jammal Brown (6-6, 313), the 13th pick in '05, looked a lot better at RT as a rookie. He can maul as a run-blocker from either side but up-field rushers have been giving him fits recently. RT Jon Stinchcomb (6-5, 315), a second-round pick in '03 who almost never played before '06, is an athletic technician with strength limitations. The new starters inside are LG Jamar Nesbit (6-4, 328), C Jeff Faine (6-3, 291) and rookie RG Jahri Evans (6-4½, 318). Nesbit, 29, can't handle movement and isn't regarded as a tough guy. Faine, the Browns' first-round pick in '03, has quick hands and better-than-average feet but is handicapped by short arms and lacks power. Evans, a fourth-round pick from Division II Bloomsburg (Pa.), got the job when former Eagle Jermane Mayberry (shoulder) went on injured reserve. Evans blocks better for run than pass and has more ability than Green Bay's Jason Spitz, according to one scout. He's just raw.
QUARTERBACKS
Drew Brees (6-0, 209) looks like the Saints' best QB since Archie Manning and a far more efficient player than Aaron Brooks, the starter from mid-2000 to '05. An unrestricted free agent, Brees signed a six-year, $60 million deal in March that included $20 million in bonuses. Based on his 58 starts and 84.9 passer rating in San Diego, Brees is accurate, resourceful, tough and a leader. However, Brees never had a big arm and, after having had right shoulder surgery in January for a torn labrum and rotator-cuff damage, his velocity has diminished, in the opinion of at least one scout. Backup Jamie Martin (6-2½, 205) is 34, with his sixth team and has started eight games. He's accurate and smart.
RUNNING BACKS
Bush (5-11, 203), the second pick in the draft, job-shares with Deuce McAllister (6-1, 232) and also takes regular turns as a split receiver. His ability to stop and start instantly, slip tacklers and score at any time was evident in Cleveland. Bush has top speed, competitiveness and vision. McAllister, who blew out his right knee in '05 at Lambeau Field, is a punishing, upright runner with good but no longer great speed. They're both superb receivers. FBs Mike Karney (calf) and Keith Joseph (knee) were injured Sunday and will be out indefinitely.
DEFENSE
SCHEME
Coordinator Gary Gibbs, who posted a 44-23-2 record as coach at Oklahoma from 1989-'94, coached linebackers in Dallas from 2002-'05. The Saints are a Cover 2 team much like Chicago. Gibbs plays multiple coverages, rolling his safeties and cornerbacks back and forth. He isn't a big blitzer and uses only two fronts.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The leading players on defense are LE Charles Grant (6-3, 290) and RE Will Smith (6-2½, 282). Grant, the 25th pick in '02, played hurt some of last year and was shut down by Green Bay's Mark Tauscher in a Week 5 meeting. With his speed, initial quickness and power, he can be one of the better pass-rushing ends. But he doesn't play hard all the time and is only so-so against the run. Smith is even faster and a better athlete than Grant, and in his first two seasons he gave more effort. But this is Smith's first season as a full-time player and it remains to be seen how he'll handle the attention. Rookie DE Rob Ninkovich (6-3, 252) is a natural pass rusher off the bench. At DT, the Saints are trying to get by with NT Hollis Thomas (6-0, 306) and three-technique Brian Young (6-2½, 298). Thomas, 32, started 95 games over the last decade in Philadelphia. His forte is leveraging against the run. The overachieving Young, a former Ram, never stops pursuing the passer but too often gets bounced at the point of attack.
LINEBACKERS
Two of the starters, SLB Scott Fujita (6-5½, 250) and WLB Scott Shanle (6-2, 245), started eight games apiece in '05 for Gibbs in Dallas. Also, they both entered college as walk-ons. Fujita left Dallas in March to sign a four-year, $12 million deal ($4 million signing bonus). He isn't flashy but he is smart, a fine athlete and has good straight-line speed. Shanle was acquired Aug. 23 for a seventh-round pick after the posse at weak-side blew up: Anthony Simmons failed to show up for camp, Colby Bockwoldt failed to impress and Tommy Polley suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Shanle is a run-and-hit type with minimal strength at the point. In the middle, the Saints tried Alfred Fincher and Jay Foreman before acquiring Mark Simoneau (5-11½, 245) in an Aug. 28 deal with Philadelphia. Simoneau can run but misses too many tackles and isn't big enough or athletic enough to compensate for his size.
SECONDARY
Dwight Smith was cut July 20 and Jay Bellamy was cut last week. Thus, the starters at safety are Josh Bullocks (6-0, 207) and Roman Harper (6-0, 200). Bullocks, a second-round pick in '05, has fine straight-line speed but doesn't break down well in space and isn't effective in man-to-man coverage. Harper, a second-round pick this year, isn't as physical as Bullocks but has better ball skills and probably has a brighter future. LC Mike McKenzie (6-0½, 194) is 30, coming off a poor year and struggles trying to hold up given his loss of speed. McKenzie is physical against the run and attacking receivers in front of him. With minimal catchup speed, however, he can ill afford to take even calculated gambles. RC Fred Thomas (5-9½, 184) has made just 68 starts since entering the league as Seattle's second-round pick in '96. His speed remains OK and he doesn't make mistakes, but can be overwhelmed by big receivers.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Former Packers assistant John Bonamego took a hit when Mitch Berger, who punted and kicked off, went on injured reserve with a pelvis injury. Thus, 42-year-old John Carney, whose field-goal range is limited, also has to kick off. Rookie P Steve Weatherford, a free agent from Illinois, had averages of 46.7 (gross) and 39.0 (net) in 14 exhibition punts. Bush did too much dancing returning punts in Cleveland. RB Aaron Stecker, a former Badger, should return from an ankle injury and might return kickoffs. Former Packers WR Jamal Jones did it against the Browns.
Saints' spirits are resurrected under new coach Payton
Posted: Sept. 12, 2006
On the Packers
Bob McGinn
Green Bay - New Orleans and Green Bay, two teams under first-year coaches looking to make amends, will meet Sunday at Lambeau Field.
The Saints, with merely 27 returnees from a 3-13 season, endured the worst defeat of their nightmarish 2005 season in Green Bay. The 52-3 shellacking last October began a six-game losing streak that led to the firing of coach Jim Haslett.
On Sunday, the Saints went to Cleveland and prevailed, 19-14, in the debut of coach Sean Payton, one of seven coaches interviewed by Packers general manager Ted Thompson before his selection of one-time Saints offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy.
"I think it's the best all-around we've played since I've been here, especially on defense," said defensive tackle Brian Young, a third-year Saint. "They tried to kill us in training camp. (We're) way better conditioned."
Drew Brees, signed to a 6-year, $60-million deal in the off-season, could be the best quarterback the Saints have had since Archie Manning.
Book on the Saints
Difference-maker: Rookie sensation Reggie Bush didn't get in the end zone on opening day. Nevertheless, he gained 141 yards in 25 touches and looked extremely dangerous doing it.
Weakest Link: The offensive line and linebackers are rife with suspect starters. The worst might be MLB Mark Simoneau, who didn't arrive until Aug. 28 via trade from Philadelphia. Former Raider Danny Clark, claimed last week on waivers, might start, cutting into Simoneau's playing time.
On the rise: Agile DE Will Smith, the 18th pick in the 2004 draft, registered 16 sacks in his first two seasons playing 61% of the snaps as a rookie and 76% in '05. This is his first year as a full-fledged starter.
The series: The 20th regular-season meeting. Packers lead, 14-5.
ANOTHER VIEW
Trading is increasing. Last year, clubs made 12 trades between Aug. 1 and Sept. 13. This year, teams have consummated 23. One of the busiest teams is New Orleans, which has made nine deals since the trading period opened in March. What's remarkable is that all nine of the Saints' trades (one was voided) involved players.
Among the seven players acquired by the Saints, four are starters (C Jeff Faine, NT Hollis Thomas, LB Mark Simoneau, LB Scott Shanle) and one's a backup (S Bryan Scott).The Saints traded five players, including T Wayne Gandy, WR Donte' Stallworth, DT Johnathan Sullivan, RB Michael Bennett and LB Courtney Watson.
New Orleans GM Mickey Loomis has a background in the salary cap and appears to rely heavily on new coach Sean Payton for football decisions.
Said defensive end Charles Grant: "We feel like nobody respects us. But we'll make somebody respect us with this hard hitting we're doing."
Added defensive end Will Smith: "This is my fourth season and I've never been in a game when we've made almost no mental errors. The quarterback (Browns' Charlie Frye) never felt comfortable. That's creating chaos, man."
Despite its 49-point setback on the same field 11 months ago, New Orleans is favored by 2 points. That's largely because the Packers followed up a 4-12 season with their first shutout defeat in 15 years.
Nevertheless, two executives in personnel for teams that have played the Saints in the last month predicted victory for Green Bay.
"At home, I pick the Packers," one scout said. "Unless the coach has already lost them or something."
Said the other personnel man: "I think when teams get their backs against the wall and everyone's saying it's absolutely doomsday, somehow these professionals kind of dig deep and say, 'We're not going to be embarrassed.'
"The Packers have to win. I think the Saints are improved. But I think the Packers certainly are good enough to win at home against the Saints."
When asked to sum up the Saints, one scout said: "The secondary is old and not very good. The two (defensive) ends are good but, inside, they're not very good. Linebackers are shaky. Offensive line is bad. The running back (Reggie Bush) is kind of an exciting little guy. That's about it."
OFFENSE
SCHEME
Like McCarthy, the 42-year-old Payton is a former coordinator and quarterbacks coach who designs his own scheme and calls the plays. Payton, who is seven weeks younger than McCarthy, has coached the West Coast offense under Jon Gruden in Philadelphia and called plays for Bill Parcells last year in Dallas. The Saints use more of a power-based ground game than the Packers but the passing attacks are similar.
RECEIVERS
Payton didn't think much of WR Donte' Stallworth. Thus, he didn't consider it risky basically giving him away to the Eagles and starting rookie Marques Colston (6 feet 4½ inches, 231 pounds), a seventh-round pick from Hofstra. Colston is smart (31 on the Wonderlic intelligence test), fast enough (4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and physical. He's faster than quick and struggles escaping press coverage. The other starter, Joe Horn (6-1, 213), is 34 and fading. Elected to the Pro Bowl in 2002 and '04, Horn is coming off a bad outing against the Browns. Although Horn remains crafty and a hard runner after the catch, he has lost speed and isn't as elusive. Devery Henderson (5-11½, 200), a second-round pick in '04, does have blazing speed but lacks feel and has questionable hands. TE Ernie Conwell (6-1½, 255) is 34 and no longer can threaten the deep middle. However, he blocks and catches well. Mark Campbell (6-4½, 260), a starter in Cleveland and Buffalo, is a competent backup and played some fullback last week.
OFFENSIVE LINE
All five starters are starting at their positions for the first time in New Orleans. LT Jammal Brown (6-6, 313), the 13th pick in '05, looked a lot better at RT as a rookie. He can maul as a run-blocker from either side but up-field rushers have been giving him fits recently. RT Jon Stinchcomb (6-5, 315), a second-round pick in '03 who almost never played before '06, is an athletic technician with strength limitations. The new starters inside are LG Jamar Nesbit (6-4, 328), C Jeff Faine (6-3, 291) and rookie RG Jahri Evans (6-4½, 318). Nesbit, 29, can't handle movement and isn't regarded as a tough guy. Faine, the Browns' first-round pick in '03, has quick hands and better-than-average feet but is handicapped by short arms and lacks power. Evans, a fourth-round pick from Division II Bloomsburg (Pa.), got the job when former Eagle Jermane Mayberry (shoulder) went on injured reserve. Evans blocks better for run than pass and has more ability than Green Bay's Jason Spitz, according to one scout. He's just raw.
QUARTERBACKS
Drew Brees (6-0, 209) looks like the Saints' best QB since Archie Manning and a far more efficient player than Aaron Brooks, the starter from mid-2000 to '05. An unrestricted free agent, Brees signed a six-year, $60 million deal in March that included $20 million in bonuses. Based on his 58 starts and 84.9 passer rating in San Diego, Brees is accurate, resourceful, tough and a leader. However, Brees never had a big arm and, after having had right shoulder surgery in January for a torn labrum and rotator-cuff damage, his velocity has diminished, in the opinion of at least one scout. Backup Jamie Martin (6-2½, 205) is 34, with his sixth team and has started eight games. He's accurate and smart.
RUNNING BACKS
Bush (5-11, 203), the second pick in the draft, job-shares with Deuce McAllister (6-1, 232) and also takes regular turns as a split receiver. His ability to stop and start instantly, slip tacklers and score at any time was evident in Cleveland. Bush has top speed, competitiveness and vision. McAllister, who blew out his right knee in '05 at Lambeau Field, is a punishing, upright runner with good but no longer great speed. They're both superb receivers. FBs Mike Karney (calf) and Keith Joseph (knee) were injured Sunday and will be out indefinitely.
DEFENSE
SCHEME
Coordinator Gary Gibbs, who posted a 44-23-2 record as coach at Oklahoma from 1989-'94, coached linebackers in Dallas from 2002-'05. The Saints are a Cover 2 team much like Chicago. Gibbs plays multiple coverages, rolling his safeties and cornerbacks back and forth. He isn't a big blitzer and uses only two fronts.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The leading players on defense are LE Charles Grant (6-3, 290) and RE Will Smith (6-2½, 282). Grant, the 25th pick in '02, played hurt some of last year and was shut down by Green Bay's Mark Tauscher in a Week 5 meeting. With his speed, initial quickness and power, he can be one of the better pass-rushing ends. But he doesn't play hard all the time and is only so-so against the run. Smith is even faster and a better athlete than Grant, and in his first two seasons he gave more effort. But this is Smith's first season as a full-time player and it remains to be seen how he'll handle the attention. Rookie DE Rob Ninkovich (6-3, 252) is a natural pass rusher off the bench. At DT, the Saints are trying to get by with NT Hollis Thomas (6-0, 306) and three-technique Brian Young (6-2½, 298). Thomas, 32, started 95 games over the last decade in Philadelphia. His forte is leveraging against the run. The overachieving Young, a former Ram, never stops pursuing the passer but too often gets bounced at the point of attack.
LINEBACKERS
Two of the starters, SLB Scott Fujita (6-5½, 250) and WLB Scott Shanle (6-2, 245), started eight games apiece in '05 for Gibbs in Dallas. Also, they both entered college as walk-ons. Fujita left Dallas in March to sign a four-year, $12 million deal ($4 million signing bonus). He isn't flashy but he is smart, a fine athlete and has good straight-line speed. Shanle was acquired Aug. 23 for a seventh-round pick after the posse at weak-side blew up: Anthony Simmons failed to show up for camp, Colby Bockwoldt failed to impress and Tommy Polley suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Shanle is a run-and-hit type with minimal strength at the point. In the middle, the Saints tried Alfred Fincher and Jay Foreman before acquiring Mark Simoneau (5-11½, 245) in an Aug. 28 deal with Philadelphia. Simoneau can run but misses too many tackles and isn't big enough or athletic enough to compensate for his size.
SECONDARY
Dwight Smith was cut July 20 and Jay Bellamy was cut last week. Thus, the starters at safety are Josh Bullocks (6-0, 207) and Roman Harper (6-0, 200). Bullocks, a second-round pick in '05, has fine straight-line speed but doesn't break down well in space and isn't effective in man-to-man coverage. Harper, a second-round pick this year, isn't as physical as Bullocks but has better ball skills and probably has a brighter future. LC Mike McKenzie (6-0½, 194) is 30, coming off a poor year and struggles trying to hold up given his loss of speed. McKenzie is physical against the run and attacking receivers in front of him. With minimal catchup speed, however, he can ill afford to take even calculated gambles. RC Fred Thomas (5-9½, 184) has made just 68 starts since entering the league as Seattle's second-round pick in '96. His speed remains OK and he doesn't make mistakes, but can be overwhelmed by big receivers.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Former Packers assistant John Bonamego took a hit when Mitch Berger, who punted and kicked off, went on injured reserve with a pelvis injury. Thus, 42-year-old John Carney, whose field-goal range is limited, also has to kick off. Rookie P Steve Weatherford, a free agent from Illinois, had averages of 46.7 (gross) and 39.0 (net) in 14 exhibition punts. Bush did too much dancing returning punts in Cleveland. RB Aaron Stecker, a former Badger, should return from an ankle injury and might return kickoffs. Former Packers WR Jamal Jones did it against the Browns.