saints team report
 

The return of C Jerry Fontenot bolsters the line's depth and experience. He is a strong leader and gives the coaches insurance in case LeCharles Bentley doesn't recover fully from offseason knee surgery. Fontenot is slated for a backup role, where he'll be the ideal mentor for Bentley, who is moving to center after two seasons at right guard.



FS Tebucky Jones has the range to cover and pursue sideline to sideline and has the burst to make up ground. All that athletic ability, however, does not translate into production. Because Jones played cornerback and running back early in his college career, he lacks great instincts at safety. The coaches asked him to lose 10 to 12 pounds this offseason to improve his agility. They also schooled him on tackling techniques and fundamentals.


DEFENSIVE ENDS ANALYSIS


This is the team's best defensive position. RE Darren Howard and LE Charles Grant form one of the better young duos in the league. Howard isn't dominant, but he's steady and productive. He makes plays with his instincts, vision and natural athletic ability. Grant is a good athlete with tremendous explosion, but he lacks consistency. He plays inspired one game, then disappears the next. Rookie Will Smith is a quality third option. He plays with great leverage and controls linemen with his strong hands and a physical punch. Melvin Williams showed flashes of pass-rush ability last season.



http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2389256

saints team report
 

Howard isn\'t dominant, but he\'s steady and productive


What? Seems kind of the opposite to me no? He\'s oft injured, thus up and down, but when he\'s 100% he\'s fierce. Or am I imagining things?