Revamped Saints defense to be challenged

• By LES EAST
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Oct 17, 2009

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METAIRIE — The Saints’ primary focus during the offseason was turning their defense into a championship-caliber unit.

New Orleans coach Sean Payton reached into his pocket to lure Gregg Williams away from other suitors and become defensive coordinator.

New Orleans signed safety Darren Sharper and cornerback Jabari Greer as free agents to bolster the secondary, then used its No. 1 draft choice on cornerback Malcolm Jenkins to do some more bolstering.

After a 4-0 start, it’s safe to say the project is a success — No. 7 in the NFL in run defense, No. 11 in pass defense, No. 6 in total defense and tied for second in turnover margin (plus-7) — but it’s not an unqualified success.

In those four games the Saints have faced teams that have a combined record of 8-11, three of the quarterbacks had never started an NFL game before this season (two being rookies) and the quarterbacks are the 15th-, 26th-, 27th-, and 31st-ranked passers in the NFL.

All of that changes Sunday in the Superdome when New Orleans faces the 5-0 New York Giants and Eli Manning. The Giants rank fourth in rushing offense, ninth in passing offense and second in total offense. Manning is the second-ranked passer in his family and the NFL.

“Of all the guys we played, he’s the most experienced,” Saints defensive end Will Smith said of Manning. “He’s won a Super Bowl and has been in a lot of big games.”

Williams coaches an aggressive style, utilizes a variety of packages and disguises blitzes well enough to confuse unsophisticated quarterbacks. But Manning is a six-year veteran who two seasons ago earned Most Valuable Player honors in the Super Bowl after defeating a New England team coached by an elite defensive mind (Bill Belichick).

“He’s going to be expecting everything we’re going to shoot at him,” Smith said. “We just have to get (to him) fast enough.”

Sharper, who has five interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, has had success against Manning. Sharper played 2 1/2 games against Manning while Sharper was with the Vikings, and he has four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. But those plays came in 2005 and 2007.

“He came into the league after me, so I’ve seen him mature and become a leader for that team,” Sharper said of Manning. “He’s definitely a guy I’ve seen get better, because he’s gotten more comfortable in the system he’s been in for a while, and with the weapons that he has he makes big plays.”

New York has the sixth- and ninth-leading rushers in the NFL in Ahmad Bradshaw (58 carries, 375 yards, 6.5 average per carry, and two touchdowns) and Assumption High’s Brandon Jacobs (100-335-3.6-1), respectively.

“They’re both physical runners,” Williams said. “They’re both good on yards after contact. We pride ourselves on being a good tackling team on yards after contact, so that’s going to be a good head-to-head battle this week to see where we measure up.”