New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - Big challenge for Miami Dolphins: Stop New Orleans' Drew Brees

BY ARMANDO SALGUERO
ASALGUERO@MIAMIHERALD.COM
The New Orleans Saints offense impresses and depresses at the same time.

A fan of explosive offensive football? Then you're impressed.

The Saints have scored on every one of their opening drives this season.

Quarterback Drew Brees has thrown for 300 yards or more in 26 of his 53 games with the Saints, and he has a total of 101 touchdown passes in those games.

The Saints matched their season-high total of 48 points Sunday against the same New York Giants defense that entered the game rated No. 1 overall in the NFL and also No. 1 against the pass.

The Giants were giving up only 104 passing yards per game before playing New Orleans. The Saints whizzed past that stop sign in the first quarter.

The Giants had given up only 23 points combined in their previous three games. New Orleans had 34 by halftime.

Impressive.

But as one man's trash can be another's treasure, what might impress a casual football fan might sound depressing to a Dolphins fan.

The Dolphins, you see, have the unenviable task of playing the Saints on Sunday at Land Shark Stadium.

WILD RIDE AHEAD

Drew Brees, the guy who could have been Miami's quarterback in 2001 and again in 2006, is coming to town with intentions of carving up the Dolphins.

``It's going to be a challenge,'' Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell said in an understatement. ``We'll see what happens.''

You might forgive the Dolphins if they seriously wanted to avoid the wild ride that seemingly awaits them. Miami hasn't exactly shut down outstanding quarterbacks this season. Matt Ryan and Peyton Manning each threw for two touchdowns against the Dolphins.

The Miami secondary also has surrendered 11 passing plays of 25 yards or more in five games.

But, much to their credit, the men of Miami's secondary don't back down from anyone.

These guys are eager to face Brees and the New Orleans passing game.

These guys want to match up and see who is the better man.

These guys want to charge the machine gun nest fully convinced they can capture the enemy's biggest gun.

``You name one defensive back in this league that doesn't think that every week?'' cornerback Will Allen said. ``We love to play, man. All the guys back there love to play. Each and every Sunday you go out there . . . the week is the week, and you have to practice because the better practice you have, the better performance you're likely to have during the game.

``But we want to get to Sunday. We just love to play.''

The Dolphins need more consistent play from their secondary to have a chance to beat New Orleans.

Allen has had some poor games (San Diego) and some great games (Buffalo) this season. The safety tandem of Bell and Gibril Wilson has been part of the problem (Indianapolis and San Diego) and part of the solution (Atlanta and Buffalo).

But inconsistency isn't good enough against the Saints. Everyone needs to play better.

ROOKIES STEP UP

The Dolphins are getting pretty good play out of what was predicted to be the weak link in their secondary -- their rookies. Sean Smith is starting, and Vontae Davis is getting significant snaps every game.

Both players are living up to their expectations, competing, making plays, and neither has played as if a target should be hung on his jersey.

``I would say, as of right now, they're probably about where I thought they would be,'' Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. ``I expected there to be some growing pains, and some bumps, and some balls that get completed because we didn't do it exactly right, and maybe our eyes are in the backfield on a play or two, which has happened in the last couple games.

``Those kinds of things I expected to happen. So I would say that they are where I thought that they would be right now, with arrows pointing up.''

Smith, as confident a rookie as the Dolphins have had in decades, wants the arrows pointing at him.

He wants to be the center of attention. He wants the quarterback to look his way.

``You definitely love when a team is going to challenge you through the air,'' Smith said. ``It gives us a chance to make plays on the ball and show what you can do.

``I would never line up saying, `God, I hope they run the ball.' That's just something I don't do.

``I love when the ball's in the air. We're corners. We're the secondary. This is what we're here for. When the ball's in the air, it's ours for the taking.''

That might be measured best against the Saints.

Big challenge for Miami Dolphins: Stop New Orleans' Drew Brees - Inside the NFL - MiamiHerald.com