Saints defense stiffens against S.F.

• By LES EAST
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Sep 29, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:45 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — San Francisco came into the Superdome on Sunday with the 11th-ranked rushing offense and the 12th-ranked passing offense in the NFL.

But the 49ers also come in with something that played into the Saints’ hands — a penchant for using five- and seven-step drops. New Orleans had no sacks against Denver a week earlier and two against Washington the week before that, as it faced a lot of three-step drops and quicker-developing pass plays.

The Saints, who had just four sacks in three games, came up with six against the 49ers’ J.T. O’Sullivan, a franchise-best in coach Sean Payton’s three seasons. They also came up with three turnovers as the Saints prevailed, 31-17.

“They’re the type of team that tries to do some damage down the field and get yardage in big chunks,” said rookie defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, who got his first NFL sack. “They run longer routes, which gives us more time to get to the passer.

“In this league you pride yourselves on winning games and making sacks and getting tackles. Saying that you are close doesn’t cut it. I think it makes a lot of people feel better that we not only got pressure on the quarterback, but we got him down on the field and recorded the sacks.”

End Charles Grant, who had two sacks, said the San Francisco offense under first-year coordinator Mike Martz reminds him of the offense Martz ran when he was head coach of the Rams.

“He’d rather his quarterback take a sack than throw an interceptions,” said Grant, who then smiled when reminded that O’Sullivan did both, tossing two interceptions.

In addition to the sacks, the Saints harassed and battered O’ Sullivan, who completed 18-of-36 for 257 yards and one touchdown.

“I thought we hit the quarterback, which was good,” coach Sean Payton said. “I think when they became a little bit one dimensional, which was really late in the third quarter and the fourth quarter, that we were able to benefit from that.”

Ellis said the 49ers started going to shorter drops and quicker routes later in the game, which didn’t work too well either.

“He had to make quicker decisions and get rid of the ball more quickly,” Ellis said, “which had a lot to do with his inconsistency.”

San Francisco led, 3-0, early in the second quarter when O’Sullivan scrambled from the pocket. End Will Smith sacked him and knocked the ball loose, and linebacker Jonathan Vilma recovered.

“We knew he was a scrambler, and he wasn’t holding on to the ball,” Smith said. (Defensive line) coach (Ed) Orgeron emphasized all week to stay after him and finishing our rushes. I saw an opportunity when he was running with the ball in his arm. I just reached for his arm and knocked the ball out.”