Duo could be end-all for a better defense

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Saturday, September 15, 2007
John DeShazier


It all starts up front, Charles Grant will tell you.

A team that doesn't win that battle on defense probably won't win many other battles on defense. It's a ripple effect in which the defense gets shredded if the ends and tackles don't establish control.

The Saints, especially, need production from the ends, one a Pro Bowler (Will Smith) and the other (Grant) the recipient of a lucrative, long-term contract based on his statistics and projection. And seven combined tackles in the season opener against Indianapolis -- five by Grant, two for Smith -- isn't exactly what the team is . That kind of performance isn't going to cut it from two players who are among the best in the business, and might be the best bookends.

"I feel like we should have done a lot better than what we did," Grant said. "That's not us. For us to get better, we're really going to have to dominate this week, and I feel like we can go out and do that."

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, of course, will have something to say about that. The Bucs won't be accommodating Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. They certainly don't have a plan in place that allows Grant and Smith to run free and bash quarterback Jeff Garcia at will.

But the Bucs aren't the Colts, either.

Smith came within an eyelash of sacking Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning several times, which might have been the difference in the defense getting off the field or allowing a touchdown. That kind of thing happens all the time for teams that play the Colts.

Garcia, while efficient, is no Manning. Not even close.

So although he'll be a more mobile target, there's no doubt he'll be more appetizing than Manning.

"He can turn a dead play into a positive play because of his ability to run around," Smith said of Garcia. "We know we have a big challenge.

"I thought I played pretty well (against Indianapolis). There's always room for improvement. We know they're going to try to establish the run on us early. That's what we're focusing on, and getting some pressure on Garcia when we have the chance."

The season opener exhibited the necessity to do so.

The Saints' secondary, despite the free-agent signing of cornerback Jason David and the return from injury of safety Roman Harper, either was out of sync, unable to cover, or both. That kind of thing, too, happens all the time for teams that play the Colts.

But if that game in any way is a preview of things to come -- and in many ways, it wasn't much more than an extension from last season -- then Grant, Smith and the players up front will have to be a heck of a lot better than they were against the Colts in the second half.

"We've got to step our game up this week up front," Grant said. "It's going to be important for us, and I feel like we can get it done.

"The first half (against the Colts), we did what we wanted to do. We kept them where we wanted to keep them. The game was still within reach of being won. (Manning) came out the second half, and all the momentum switched. In this league, you have your ups and downs."

Legitimate contenders to the throne get up. So we'll learn a lot about the Saints' legitimacy, as far as challenging for the Colts' Super Bowl crown, Sunday.

We won't learn everything because it's just too early to say the Saints "desperately" need to win, that the season is floating away if, somehow, Tampa Bay manages to squeeze out a victory.

But it's never wise to dig too big a hole. Waiting until next week to win soon becomes waiting until next season to rebound. So the defense has to push back with a little more muscle, a lot more stamina and a lot less confusion than it did nine days ago.

It starts with the ends.

"You're always anxious to get out and prove what we can do," Smith said. "We know we're a good team, and we're confident enough to know we can come out and have success against Tampa. We know it all starts up front. We put it all on our shoulders to come out and have a good performance.

"It's always a good thing to get after the quarterback. We know they're going to try to establish the run; that's their bread and butter. Obviously we have to effect the quarterback, but I think the main thing is stopping the run."

It will go a long way toward making sure the Saints aren't running in the wrong direction.

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thanks good read