Defense finding itself

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Oct 13, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:53 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — Thanks to a New Orleans Saints defense that’s playing with more and more confidence, the homecoming of former LSU star quarterback JaMarcus Russell didn’t go so well Sunday.

Playing in Louisiana for the first time since he was named MVP of the 2007 Sugar Bowl for his stellar play in a 41-14 thrashing of Notre Dame, Russell threw an interception, lost a fumble and was sacked twice in a 34-3 loss to the Saints before about 40 family members and friends in the Superdome.

Russell, the top pick of the 2007 draft, completed 13 of 35 pass attempts for 159 yards and had a passer rating of 40.1. In addition to an interception by cornerback Jason David, which led to a touchdown and 24-3 third-quarter lead, Saints defensive backs dropped three other potential interceptions.

“It was fun to come back here, but that’s in the past,” said Russell, a Mobile, Ala., native who threw for 332 yards and two TDs and ran for another in his last visit to the Superdome. “It’s disappointing whether your family is there or not. A loss like that is still a loss. (The Saints defenders) get paid to do what they do, I just have to make plays and move the ball.”

It might have been a little better had the Raiders gotten their running game going. They ranked third in the NFL with 155.0 rushing yards a game, but managed just 85 yards and a 3.9 average on 22 attempts against the suddenly stout Saints.

The Saints, who held Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson to 32 yards on 21 carries Monday, limited Justin Fargas to 35 yards on 10 attempts and two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden to 30 yards on eight carries.

“We’ve taken pride in wanting to stop the run and wanting to be a good defense,” said Saints middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who recorded a team-high 11 tackles Sunday. “I think that we’re paying more attention to detail. We’re picking up our assignments.

“It’s really been a collective effort against the run. All 11 guys are taking notice and paying attention in getting the job done.”

Strongside linebacker Scott Fujita credited the front four with helping stop Peterson, as well as Fargas and McFadden.

“It’s the front four, it’s the way they’re playing that’s carrying us right now,” Fujita said. “They’re making it a lot easier on the linebackers. It’s extremely difficult to block us and Jonathan especially has a lot of free lanes to run through.”

Defensive end Bobby McCray also helped with the pass rush on Russell, picking up both sacks against the second-year pro. The Saints also pressured Russell on several other occasions, forcing him to throw early — especially on the interception by David in the pivotal third quarter.

“I’m not sure if the quarterback saw me, or if he tried to throw it a little outside of me,” said David. “But I just pretty much put my hands out there and caught the ball. The defensive line did a great job getting pressure for me because he looked like he tried to hurry his throw — and I caught it.

“The D-line is doing an excellent job of pass rushing and stuffing the run. They did a great job against McFadden, and that’s a testament to how we’re practicing and game-planning each week.”