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http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0308/25/s05.html

August 25, 2003
Haslett has serious concerns about DBs

The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints, with seven new starters on defense, showed little sign of jelling in the team's next to last preseason game.

New Orleans lost to San Francisco 27-12 Saturday night as the 49ers erupted for three touchdowns in the second quarter, shredding the Saints for chunks of yardage seemingly at will.

The fact that most of the damage occurred when the Saints' first-team defense was on the field was all the more troubling for Saints coach Jim Haslett and defensive coordinator Rick Venturi.

New Orleans starters saw their most extensive action of the preseason, playing for most of the first three quarters.

In Thursday's exhibition against Miami the starters are expected to see little playing time as coaches try to prevent injuries with the season looming. That means that Saturday night's game was the starters' final chance to produce before the regular-season opener against Seattle on Sept. 7.

Judging from Saturday's performance, the defense looks like it can use all the work it can get.

It didn't matter whether it was Pro Bowl starter Jeff Garcia or third-string rookie Ken Dorsey, San Francisco quarterbacks riddled the Saints. Four 49ers quarterbacks combined to complete 24 of 26 passes for 264 yards.

"We've got to get better," Haslett said. "We haven't stopped the pass in three games. We've got to get coaches and players working on it. I don't know why we're not doing it."

On the first two series, the Saints allowed 28 yards in 10 plays. On the final three series, they allowed 194 in 20 plays. The 49ers gained 7 or more yards on 12 of those 20 plays. On those final three series, Garcia and Tim Rattay completed 11 of 13 passes for 150 yards.

"We need to get more pressure than that on the quarterback and keep stopping the run," said Kenny Smith, who started in place of Darren Howard at right end. "Everybody was ready to get off the ball and anticipating what was going on and trying to make progress on rushing the quarterback."

Smith was one of the few bright spots, dominating while starting in Howard's spot at right end. Smith sacked Garcia for a 7-yard loss to kill the 49ers' second drive. Later in the half, tackles Derrick Deese and Kwame Harris were called for holding penalties while trying to block Smith.

If Smith didn't get there, though, Garcia and company had a field day.

Former Ole Miss running back Deuce McAllister was sharp in his most extended action of the preseason. He gained 76 yards on 15 carries and caught three passes for 20 yards before leaving midway through the third quarter.