Saints Sideline Blog

HALFTIME FOR THE SAINTS

Monday, August 24th, 2009      Email Print

DATELINE: Metairie,LA / August 24,2009 (Two a days are history!!)
 
In football they like to keep a clock on everything, so why not do the same for Saints Training Camp?  For all intensive purposes, its halftime for the Saints. They have wrapped up two a days along with their first two preseason games but still have two more games and two weeks left. WIth two a days out of the way, I asked several players in Houston following the Texans game if they could see "light at the end of the tunnel" and all answered with an emphatic "NO!" Sure they get to sleep in their own beds (the veterans anyway) and sure they aren't practicing twice a day but their days are still long with meetings, more meetings, a practice, which equates to a very busy Saints schedule.
 
So after a half of preseason football, what exactly have we learned about the Saints?  I think a lot but at the same time, the first few weeks Jason David looked pretty good at practice, so this month teaches you to be patient and cautiously optimistic with your thoughts. Remember the Detroit Lions went undefeated in preseason pigskin a year ago, we remember how that turned out. So allow me a mulligan on some of these thoughts, but I feel these are the best lessons learned so far.
 
 
DEFENSE IS DIFFERENT: Time will tell if the much maligned Saints offense will be better,but I promise you this:they will be different. New Defensive Coordinator Gregg WIlliams has made turnovers a priority and it seems the troops are buying in by "turning" 3 in both exhibition games so far. The word you hear the most about this unit from everybody on this team is that they have a "new swagger" which might be the first step in turning them from sinners to Saints.
 
RUNNING "NOT" ON EMPTY: The Saints Running Game hasn't seen much from Reggie Bush this preseason, but we've still seen plenty from this unit. Mike Bell gave Saints fans a reason to smile in Houston on Saturday and Pierre Thomas is bigger and more explosive than a year ago. I love this one -two punch who will push each other to get those short yardage and goal line carries this team couldn't convert a year ago. How about the reinforcements of Lynell Hamilton, Herb Donaldson and PJ Hill who have all come up big, it seems the Saints will leave some team a very talented back on the waiver wire in a few weeks.
 
SECONDARY NO LONGER SECONDARY: This unit may no longer be the punchline of the Who Dat Nation. Jabari Greer may prove to be one of the biggest offseason acquisitions in the NFL if he continues to play like he has in the preseason. Darren Sharper has really improved the safety spot and been a great leader to the likes of Roman Harper and Usama Young. Randall Gay admitted to be after Saturday's game that the competition is making everyone better.
 
DEEPEST DEPTH'S: The Saints are deep at almost every position. Jammal Brown goes out, Zach Strief is banged up, well no problem Jermon Bushrod steps in and protects Drew Brees with the Texans. Lance Moore hasn't taken a snap this preseason but look at Robert Meachem stepping up. Time will tell how deep the defensive line is with Charles Grant and Will Smith likely out for the first 4 games, will Bobby McCray and Paul Spicer be able to fill the void--that may be the key to the season.
 
KICKING CONCERNS: Its been a terrible trend the past two years. Martin Grammatica comes in and is perfect the second half of the season only to struggle the next year. Has Garrett Hartley suffered a case of deja-vu?? Sean Payton dropped the "Wally Pipp" line concerning the pickup of John Carney, we will find out.
 
ON THE "MARK": One of the bigger battles entering camp was for the backup QB job between Mark Brunell and Joey Harrington. Well, the 17 year veteran hasn't acted his age by clearly winning the first half of camp. The difference was glaring in the second half at Houston when Brunell came in to spot Harrington who left with a mild concussion and drives the second teamers down the field 99 yards for a score.
 
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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