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Saints: Next level

Brees is confident Saints can match up with Colts

By LARRY HOLDER
lholder@sunherald.com

METAIRIE, La. --

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees said his team's offense feels "much more comfortable" than it did one year ago.

Which should be a good thing, because the Saints are opening the season on Thursday night against the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts.
"As a unit, I feel like their chemistry is at an all-time high," Brees said. "We're at a point where we can take things to the next level."
The rest of the NFL better be on high alert if Brees' assessment turns out correct, starting with the Colts, whose defense hasn't been mistaken for the Steel Curtain or even the Dome Patrol. Brees guided the Saints' offense to the top of the league in overall offense and passing offense.
Peyton Manning probably isn't accustomed to being the second-best quarterback in the league, much less guiding the second-best offense on the field in a particular game. The Saints may trump Manning in both categories.
"Certainly you see them play on television," Manning said. "Coach Dungy points it out very clearly that this is an excellent offense and when you're playing an excellent offense and you're an offensive player, you need to do your job well and help take some pressure off of our defense by trying to execute and hopefully score some points."
Taking a peek at last year's passing statistics, the Colts quarterback played second fiddle to Brees.
Brees threw for more yards (4,418) than Manning (4,397) and unseated Manning when Brees was named to the NFL All-Pro team as the league's top quarterback.
The stat sheet may be similar and both teams have outstanding quarterbacks. Saints center Jeff Faine said each offense is unique, though.
"They do it in a totally different way, but I think we're as capable of putting up the numbers as they can," Faine said. "(The Saints) did it last year and I don't see it any different this year."
Deuce McAllister and Joseph Addai led the Saints and Colts in rushing yards for their teams. Reggie Bush may be the league's biggest 'X' factor.
The multi-dimensional back can do it all. Dungy compared Bush to Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders, but he said Bush is more dynamic than Sanders. Then Dungy said Bush mirrored former Colts running back Marshall Faulk because of Bush's versatility.
Bush said he's been an admirer of the Colts' explosive offense long before receiving a bathtub filled with chili in his hotel room, thanks to Manning in an NBC commercial promoting Thursday night's game. Bush got the last laugh in the promo when he sent a cow to Manning's room. He also looks to walk out of the RCA Dome with a smile and a victory.
METAIRIE, La. --

"Watching Indianapolis for the last couple of years, they have that mentality (that the offense can't be stopped)," Bush said. "That's something we've got to carry over too."

The Saints receivers don't hold near the name recognition of Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. But Marques Colston and Devery Henderson made themselves known last year in the Saints' dynamic attack. Colston emerged from a nearly discarded seventh-round pick to the team's top receiving option, while Henderson led the league in yards per catch to become the deep threat.
Brees hasn't been shy about including Terrance Copper, David Patten, Lance Moore and Eric Johnson in the passing game during the preseason either.
Jammal Brown joined Brees on the All-Pro team, which coined Brown the league's most outstanding left tackle. It's another major difference between the two offenses. Veteran left tackle Tarik Glenn surprisingly retired days before camp. Rookie Tony Ugoh will start.
The defensive-minded Dungy has had a whole offseason to ponder how to slow down the Saints offense with the likes of starters Jason David, Nick Harper, Cato June and Booger McFarland no longer in the lineup.
"We had some guys in the wings that we thought were ready to go," Dungy said. "We drafted some guys that we really believed were going to help us. Some other guys that were here are really improving. We like where we are. We are obviously going to be tested by the Saints offense on Thursday."
They will lead
The Saints have voted quarterback Drew Brees, above, center Jeff Faine, linebacker Scott Fujita, defensive end Will Smith and running back Aaron Stecker as team captains.

Injury report
Tight end Mark Campbell (back) is the only player on the Saints injury list and will miss the game.
Defensive tackle Brian Young (foot) and defensive end Rob Ninkovich (knee) will be available.

SunHerald.com : Saints: Next level

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins