hagan714

You can count Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme among the people who have been impressed by the New Orleans Saints and their fast 3-0 start to this season.
......
“They are a different football team on film,� Delhomme said during a conference call with Louisiana reporters. “Up front, I always thought they were extremely good — and that hasn’t changed. (Ends) Charles Grant and Will Smith are really getting after it, but (tackles) Brian Young and Hollis Thomas, they’re doing a great job.�

While linebackers Scott Fujita, Mark Simoneau and Scott Shanle haven’t played a lot together, Delhomme was nonetheless impressed with how they’ve performed in three games.

“They haven’t played a whole lot of football together, but they’re sound,� he said. “They know where they need to be. They’re in the right place. They do the right thing.�

The Saints rank fifth in the NFL in total defense, allowing 266.7 yards a game going into Sunday’s game against the 1-2 Panthers. They also are 12th against the run (88.3 yards a game) and ninth against the pass (178.3 yards a game). They have 12 sacks already after collecting only 25 a year ago.

Delhomme said cornerbacks Fred Thomas and Mike McKenzie are also playing well, as are two youngsters at safety — rookie Roman Harper and second-year player Josh Bullocks.

“No. 41 (Harper) doesn’t really play like a rookie, he does a real good job and he’s really physical,� Delhomme said. “The same thing with No. 29 (Bullocks). They’re playing with an edge and they’re playing well.�

Delhomme said he’s watched how Payton has gone about turning the Saints around, but never thought the team lacked talent — even during last year’s 3-13 season when they played all their games away from home because of Hurricane Katrina.

“They never lacked talent,� he said. “You’d ask anyone in our division and people from other teams have said it. Talent was not what they lacked. The Saints always had some talent and now coach Payton, I kind of know him a little bit, he’s kind of a no-nonsense guy.

“He came in and he set a certain precedent. They still got a lot of those winners that are there. They added a bunch of new guys and they’re doing it the right way. Anytime you start 3-0, you’re doing something right. They’re playing well.�

While he praised the Saints for what they’ve done on the field, Delhomme couldn’t help but notice what their fans have done as well —buying more than 68,000 season tickets, ensuring a sold-out Superdome for the entire season —and embracing their team more than ever.

“That was great. I think it shows one thing: in the state of Louisiana, football’s king,� Delhomme said. “Starting on Fridays and going through Saturday’s college games and into Sunday.
........
http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/4...?showAll=y&c=y

I think he summed it up well. The rest of the read is good also. this is just the guts of the story

LongTimeFan

I think our D will really go after Jake today causing him to throw a couple of picks, I think we sack him quite a few times (5-6 times today)

LongTimeFan

Was i wrong about this one..
Ouch!!!!

gandhi1007

Well.....the few times we got to him, he tried to throw us some picks. Unfortunately our corners didn't come up with the ball. Kudos to that "back-up" Carolina line. They held their own.

Touchdown

I always pull for Jake on a personal level. Just not his team.

D24pick

Agreed with Ghandi, we had chances to win