With Restocked Secondary, Saints can Take Aggressive Stance

Vinnie Iyer - SportingNews.com

It wasn't hard to find what "The Big Easy" was for the Saints last season. With quarterback Drew Brees throwing to a talented and deep group of receivers, New Orleans zoomed to the top of the NFL charts in passing, scoring and total offense.

Then you look the team's final record, 8-8, and its last-place standing in the ultra competitive NFC South. Considering the Saints' level of skill players, many peccadilloes contributed to an inconsistent '08.

Although they had several highlight reels of big plays, most from Brees' arm or Reggie Bush's legs on punt returns. The highlights certainly didn't come from the defense. The Saints were one of four NFL teams that didn't score a defensive touchdown.

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Brees made sure they didn't give the ball away much in the passing game. Taking it away, however, has been a consistent concern for the Saints' secondary. New Orleans has averaged only 13 interceptions the past three years.

So it makes sense as part of their offseason overhaul, the Saints signed former Vikings and Packers safety Darren Sharper, the NFL's active career leader in interceptions. Sharper came to New Orleans because the coaches promise to be more aggressive under new coordinator Gregg Williams.

"I like how his defenses attack, and it was the perfect situation for me," Sharper said.

A combination of Williams' attacking 3-4 — focused on relentlessly going after the quarterback with a variety of blitz packages — and a rebuilt secondary, with newcomers and others returning from injuries, should bring much needed big plays.

There is good reason for Sharper to like Williams' system and to be comfortable in it quickly — a versatile safety has been integral in Williams' most successful units.

"(Sharper) obviously has a lot of experience, and he's been here throughout the whole offseason as we've added and really installed the new defense," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "He's been able to handle it from the beginning."

Other New Orleans defensive backs who must make an impact:

CB Jabari Greer. He is expected to replace Jason David at right corner. He started his career in Buffalo a year after Williams left but fits the style. "Not only is he a good cover corner," Sharper said, "he is also tough in making plays on the ball."

CB Tracy Porter. The second-year player might not start early in the season — he played only five games as a rookie before sustaining a season-ending wrist injury. He made an impression last year with a sack and an interception in his fourth NFL game. "We feel like he has a good skill set and understands the defense," Payton said. "He has good cover skills and range, and it's a big plus."

SS Roman Harper. It should be easy to remember the Saints' safeties this year as Sharper and Harper. Harper struggled in '08, trying to compensate for a depleted secondary. He did make a splash as a playmaker in '07 (four sacks, three interceptions). "He has all the talent to be a Pro Bowl safety," Sharper said.

CB Malcolm Jenkins. The coaches will find a way to get their first-round draft pick on the field in nickel and dime packages. He is polished enough to be an immediate contributor. The '09 Saints have quite a bit of depth, too. Randall Gay should start at corner until Porter or Jenkins is ready, and third-year man Usama Young is setting in nicely as the No. 3 safety. To help ease the transition, the Saints brought in another safety, Pierson Prioleau, who has played for Williams in Buffalo, Washington and Jacksonville.

The Saints' high-flying offense still will get most of the attention this season, but to return to the playoffs the defensive backs must make more impact plays.

Vinnie Iyer is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at viyer@sportingnews.com.

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