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Scouting report: New Orleans Saints vs. New York Jets

By Bob Fortus, The Times-Picayune

September 29, 2009, 10:58PM

Kathy Willens, The Associated PressRookie quarterback Mark Sanchez has impressed his teammates with his toughness, and he is the first quarterback to go 3-0 in his first three games of his rookie year.

The Saints' high-powered offense will be tested this week.

Rex Ryan, who as a coordinator at Baltimore put together outstanding defenses, now has the Jets playing stoutly on defense in his first season as head coach.


New York ranks near the top of the league in almost every defensive category. Last week the Jets controlled the Titans. In the two previous weeks, they shut down New England and Houston.

Despite all the defensive success, the Jets' high-profile player is on offense. Strong-armed rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez from Southern Cal is earning teammates' respect with toughness. On a touchdown run against Tennessee, he lowered his shoulder into safety Michael Griffin at the goal line.

Though Sanchez isn't a finished product, he is the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to start a season 3-0.

For Jets fans, Brett Favre's stint in New York already is forgotten.

JETS OFFENSE

New York is tied for 20th in the league in yards per game and is tied for 12th in points. . . . The Jets are tied for 10th in rushing yards, but against the Titans, New York averaged 2.7 yards per carry. . . . Running backs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have been the primary ball carriers. Jones has rushed for 181 yards on 48 carries, and Washington has 164 yards on 41 carries. . . . Former LSU player Alan Faneca, a New Orleans native who began his pro career with the Steelers in 1998 before going to the Jets in 2008, is an eight-time Pro Bowl guard. . . . Another key lineman is left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who has started every game since he was drafted in the first round in 2006. . . . The Jets rank 25th in passing yardage. . . . Sanchez has completed 49 of 83 passes for 606 yards and four touchdowns. He has thrown two interceptions and been sacked five times. . . . He's nimble in the pocket but sometimes is careless with the ball. The Titans stripped it from him twice on sacks, recovering once. The Jets allowed three Tennessee sacks. . . . New York's leading receiver is Jerricho Cotchery, who has caught 18 passes for 285 yards and a touchdown. He caught 235 passes the past three seasons.

DEFENSE

New York's physical pressure defense has allowed 256 yards per game, third-best in the league, and ranks second in points allowed. The Jets rank sixth in passing yards allowed and ninth in rushing yards allowed. . . . Cornerbacks Lito Sheppard (quadriceps) and Donald Strickland (ankle) didn't play against Tennessee, but Ryan said he's hopeful that they'll play against the Saints. Nick Lowery replaced Sheppard, and Drew Coleman filled in for Strickland in nickel coverage. . . . Bart Scott and David Harris give New York a solid 1-2 punch at linebacker. Scott, who came over as a free agent from Baltimore, made nine tackles against Tennessee. Harris made five tackles and intercepted a pass. He also had a sack, his second this season. . . Safety Eric Smith intercepted a pass and made five tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Fumble recoveries by New York's kickoff-coverage team and punt-coverage team set up touchdowns against Tennessee. Punter Steve Weatherford, a former Saints player, ranks 29th in the league in punting average and 24th in net average, but the Jets are tied for second in the league in yardage allowed per punt return (3.8). Jim Leonard, who had a 37-yard punt return against the Titans, is averaging 15.7 yards per return this season. Washington is averaging 26.3 yards on kickoff returns. Jay Feely is 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts.

LAST TIME THEY MET Nov. 27, 2005

The Saints snapped a six-game losing streak, edging the Jets 21-19 at Giants Stadium. A 53-yard field-goal attempt by the Jets' Mike Nugent fell short with 10 seconds left. Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks completed 17 of 23 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns. His 30-yard pass to Devery Henderson with 8:32 left produced the winning points. The series between the teams is tied at 5.

WORTH REPEATING

"I just know that you've got to be multiple against this guy. If you're just going to stand there and play Cover 2 or you're going to play Cover 1 or you're going to play Cover 3 or whatever, this guy's a student of the game. He's going to pick you apart." -- Ryan in the New York Post on Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

BY THE NUMBERS

4: Times the Jets have started 3-0 (1966, 2000 and 2004 were the others).
1: Times the Jets made the playoffs (2004) after starting 3-0.
Scouting report: New Orleans Saints vs. New York Jets | New Orleans Saints Central - - NOLA.com

saintsfan1976

The last time N.O. faced Rex in '06, he pretty much shut our offense down.

We didn't score until just before halftime and were held to 7 points into the 4th quarter and held to 14 points until the last minute.

This is a huge test for both lines and this will be one nasty game.

foreverfan

Sounds like another blowout. Saints 30 Jets 10