Payton wants more forced turnovers

• By LES EAST
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Jun 1, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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METAIRIE — New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has zeroed in on key areas in which his team needs to improve this season.

He laid them out during a team meeting before the start of this weekend’s mini-camp as New Orleans tries to improve on its 7-9 record last season.

Payton said the Saints must do a much better job of forcing turnovers, eliminating big plays on defense, scoring on plays longer than 20 yards, making field goals, and returning kickoffs and punts.

New Orleans forced just 23 turnovers last season, and only five teams forced fewer. The organization placed a heavy emphasis on upgrading its defense as its top four veteran acquisitions — linebacker Jonathan Vilma, end Bobby McCray and former LSU defensive back Randall Gay — and top three draft choices — tackle Sedrick Ellis, cornerback Tracy Porter (from Port Allen), and tackle DeMario Pressley — are all defensive players.

“Be it through free agency or the draft, there were some position needs and we fell into opportunities to hopefully address some of those needs,” Payton said. “Each offseason when you go through the process of the acquisition of players, you feel good about what you’ve done, but I think as we move forward and get into training camp and into the preseason, you get a better feel for what you have. Right now, we’re pretty much set with the numbers we’re looking at and we’re just getting these guys up to speed.”

Payton hopes to get the special teams up to speed in several areas.

“We have to get our return game going; we really haven’t been very effective in two years in that, be it kickoff return or punt return,” he said. “We finished last in the league in field goal percentage (68); that’s something that we need to address and improve on.”

The Saints hope Martin Gramatica, who was 5-for-5 after being signed to replace injured Olindo Mare last season, leading to Mare’s release, and sixth-round draft choice Taylor Mehlhaff of Wisconsin will improve the field goal accuracy.

As for returns, Payton said Reggie Bush will be involved as a punt returner, something he was limited in last year after Deuce McAllister was lost to a knee injury and Bush became a bigger part of the running game.

Former LSU player Skyler Green, signed as a free agent, is among several players getting an opportunity as a punt and kickoff returner.

“I think in order for him to make an impact or to make the club,” Payton said, “special teams are going to have to be very important. He’s going to have to be an asset in the return game. He’ll have opportunities in that aspect. We’ll see once we get going how he can help beyond being a receiver.”

Green, a third-year player who has been with Dallas and Cincinnati, said he’ll do whatever is asked of him.

“I could put my hand in the dirt and rush the punt,” he said after practice Saturday. “I can do different things, be a gunner, anything I need to play to be a part of the 53-man roster I will do.