Saints Sideline Blog

A “SHARPER” SECONDARY

Monday, October 5th, 2009      Email Print

DATELINE: New Orleans  October 5th, 2009 ( The J-E-T-S...Jets Jets Jets F-L-Y home with a Loss Loss Loss)
 
How old is Darren Sharper?? Old enough to have played college football with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Old enough to be 11 years old when rookie Malcolm Jenkins was born. Old enough to know at the age of 33 that "age" is merely a state of mind. Its obvious this Saints veteran isn't acting his age where in the team's first four games,Sharper leads the NFL with five interceptions. The 12 year veteran is clearly taking a big gulp out of the "fountain of youth" here in the Big Easy, where he is to the New Orleans Defense what Drew Brees is to the offense, a leader and a playmaker.
 
Its amazing when you look at Sharper's numbers this season and all the possiblities. I am not a big stats guy,but its hard to ignore the impressive statistical statements. Of his five interceptions, Sharper has accumulated 275 return yards which is one yard short of his career high and is only 83 yards shy of New Orleans native Ed Reed's NFL record of 358 return yards which he set back in his unbelievable 2004 season where he totaled nine picks. Yes Sharper is picking apart opposing offenses so far and making the most of his opportunities. His 99 yard pick six versus the Jets set a Saints record. You couple that with his 97 yard interception return versus the Eagles and he joins Deion Sanders as the only two defenders in NFL history to have a pair of pick sixes for over 95 yards. He also passed Deion on the all-time "pick six" list. In addition, 10 of his 58 career interceptions have been returned to the endzone, that's now second in NFL history to Hall of Famer Rod Woodson who has 12. Those kind of numbers make a trip to Canton look pretty good but this Saints veteran has his sights set on a trip to the Super Bowl first.
 
Sure, all the numbers are great but Sharper brings so much more to this football team. He clearly has made everyone else so much better. Malcolm Jenkins is benefiting from watching the veteran and you can see how much Roman Harper has improved by being around Sharper. Darren understands his role on this football team where he needs to make plays as well as set the tone in the locker room and with the media where he couldn't be more accessible. Sharper is a pro and a perfect fit in Gregg Williams system. His teammates respect him so much they even know they can kid with him as Harper likes to make fun of the elder statesman's age and his speed on those interception returns, something Sharper has embraced. The respect is mutual as Sharper respects Drew Brees so much, he told me after the game that the Saints quarterback is better in his prime than Brett Favre as he played with the current Viking in his prime back in their Packer days. How about that statement!
 
Its amazing when you think about the Saints season so far, not only are they undefeated but they haven't even tralled in a game this year. The team was in danger of doing just that in the second quarter against the Jets. Mark Sanchez was driving to possibly put New York up 7 to 3 but Sharper quickly gave the rookie a quick lesson. He turned a potential deficit into a 10 point New Orleans lead. That turnaround was impressive, but not as impressive as the biggest U-turn Sharper has led so far in this young season. His play and leadership have turned around what used to be one of the NFL's worst secondary's into one of its best! This secondary turnaround is a PRIMARY reason the Saints are 4-0, thanks to a veteran who is hardly playing like a senior citizen.
 
WHO DAT HITS!
 
QUARTERLY EARNINGS: OK, its early but could the Saints be in better shape after its first qtr of the season? They are 4-0 and they get the bye week. That's two weeks to prepare for the New York Giants and they get them at home. That's two weeks to get healthier and two weeks to prepare for what will be one of the most hyped up regular season games in team history.
 
4TH DOWN MINDSET: Its amazing the new mindset for the Saints, it used to be when Sean Payton would go for it on 4th and short, it would be the confidence he would have in the offense. Sure that confidence is still there but Payton says the risk is less risky now that he has so much confidence that if his team can't convert. his defense is playing so well that it won't hurt the team as much in year's past.
 
BRING ON THE BLITZ: How about the play of the Saints offensive line. Many "experts' wondered how Brees would handle the Blitz happy Jets but thanks to his protection it wasn't much of an issue. Brees not only wasn't sacked, he was barely touched. This line is strong and deep as Zach Strief was the team's third left tackle of the season and once again he filled in admirably
 
AWESOME AYODELE: Saints defensive tackle Remi Ayodele experienced a lineman's dream on Sunday. How about a loose football in the endzone which he promptly recovered for a score. It was the first time New Orleans defender did that since the 1998 season. Remi told me after the game his real dream is to throw a TD pass...stay tuned.
 
UNTIL NEXT BLOG,
Mike Nabors
CST

By: Mike Nabors

An Emmy award winning sports reporter who covers a wide variety of events for CST. Primarily, Mike serves as the network's reporter for Saints coverage.

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