blacksaint

By SHELDON MICKLES
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Oct 25, 2007 - Page: 1C

METAIRIE — In the New Orleans Saints locker room, free safety Josh Bullocks is as quiet as they come.

While many of his teammates in the secondary are joking and laughing in their corner of the expansive locker room after practice, Bullocks sits and merely watches and listens — even as the volume increases.

But you would never know it on the field, especially in the last two games. Bullocks, a second-round draft pick in 2005, has made enough noise to earn game balls on special teams in a victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 14 and on defense in Sunday’s 22-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

In addition to the game balls, Bullocks earned some praise from coach Sean Payton —especially after Sunday’s contest.

“I thought he played one of his best games since we’ve been here last weekend,” Payton said Wednesday. “His anticipation, his key and diagnose, I thought he ran well and tackled well the other day. That was encouraging.”

Against the Seahawks, Bullocks shot through to block a 44-yard field goal attempt by Josh Brown in the second quarter. Then, as the Seahawks tried to mount a comeback in the final period, Bullocks intercepted Matt Hasselbeck to help secure the Saints first win of the season.

Last week, Bullocks was even more active. He had four tackles, but was credited with two quarterback hurries while blitzing. They came on back-to-back plays after the Falcons recovered an onside kick in the second quarter following a field goal.

“I’m just getting more comfortable with the defense,” said Bullocks, who was heralded for his speed and big-play skills when the Saints took him with the 40th overall pick in 2005. “We started blitzing a lot more, bringing a lot of safety pressure. We needed to get more rushers after the quarterback.”

In Seattle, defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs called on strong safety Roman Harper to blitz Hasselbeck and Harper wound up with two sacks. It was Bullocks’ turn against the Falcons.

His presence was certainly felt when the Falcons cut the Saints lead to 7-6. They recovered the onside kick and got a quick first down. But on second-and-8 at the Saints 45, Bullocks blasted Leftwich just as he threw a screen pass to running back Jerious Norwood.

The ball wobbled through the air before Norwood saved an interception by making a great catch for a 1-yard loss. On the next play, Bullocks whacked Leftwich again and forced the ball to flutter to the ground —far short of his intended target. The Falcons then punted.

“Bullocks gave us some good snaps of pressure yesterday,” Payton said during his weekly news conference Monday. “He rushed the passer well when we asked him to blitz. We got a lot of hits on the quarterback, and it’s tough to play that position when you’re getting hit.”

It helps that Bullocks is settling in with the new defense Gibbs installed last season after being hired by Payton. While he started the final 13 games of his rookie season after veteran Jay Bellamy was injured, Bullocks had to learn a whole new scheme last year.

“This is my second year with this defense,” said Bullocks, who’ll start his 36th straight game on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. “So I’m more comfortable with all the calls and adjustments, and as a result, I’m more comfortable on the field with my teammates.”

He certainly likes it when Gibbs dials up more pressure like the last two weeks although Payton has warned the Saints have to maintain the proper balance between blitzing and playing their normal coverages.

If you blitz too much, opponents are going to get wise and find a way to make you pay. But for now, the Saints, who had just one sack in the first four games, are pleased with the results after recording eight the last two weeks.

“We didn’t press the quarterback a lot in the beginning of the year, so we knew that we had to get after Hasselbeck,” Bullocks said. “It worked well for us, so we’re going to do what the coaches call. When they call your number, you have to respond.”

2theadvocate.com | Saints | Bullocks lets play do talking — Baton Rouge, LA

saint4life
(504)

TheDeuce

Can we please keep with the blitzes? Pressure = good

FatiusJeebs

Agreed. A rattled QB is a defense's best friend.

JOESAM2002

Can I have an AMEN? So much better with the blitzing. It seems that it even frees up our DE's for better rushing. Hell, the whole defense looks better, even against the run. I'm damned proud of the way the guys are playing right now. I hope there's no let down.

WillMacKenzie

Hate to rain on everyone's parade, but there you have it - straight from the horse's mouth - the blitzing will not continue. Despite the wonderful results.

Donuts32

I dont know why we dont blitz enough. During the Seattle game I couldnt believe that was the Saints defense. They were pressuring Hassleback all night. Just like The Deuce said pressure=good.

QBREES9

You get an AMEN !!! over here. Mr Bullocks keep it UP !!!!!

WillMacKenzie

I agree Donuts...this is where Payton is dropping the ball. If you want to cause more turnovers, you've got to gamble. You can't always play it "safe". Even though "safe" is more dangerous when you give an NFL quarterback too much time to throw he'll eat you alive.

Payton needs to decide right now, do I want more turnovers? Am I willing to gamble some and do what it takes to get those turnovers?

MatthewT

I will tell you guys this; Bullocks and Harper are both starting to get very good at what they do. This could be a duo that leads the Saints secondary for several years. They could be both on the brink of greatness if they keep up their progress. They are both about ready to hit their prime years. There is a very good chance that in another couple years they may be considered one of the best safety duos in the NFL.

LongTimeFan

Amen Joe..
I hope to see Smith sacked 4 times which is possible if Gore is a No Go.
Seems that the Saints defense has been pressuring the QB's the last two games and a lot of it, I see them continue to do so.