Rookies starting to make noise for the New Orleans Saints: Film study | NOLA.com
Rookies starting to make noise for the New Orleans Saints:

Film study
Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune

Don't look now, but the New Orleans Saints' rookie class is starting to make noise.

In the Saints' 34-19 win against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, running back Chris Ivory and tight end Jimmy Graham showed why Saints fans should be excited about the future of their high-powered offense.

Graham, meanwhile, amassed season-highs in catches (five) and yards (72) while playing in place of injured starter Jeremy Shockey.

Their performances bolstered a unit that compiled season-highs in total yards (494) and passing yards (382) despite playing without Shockey or injured running backs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas.

"We are on the cusp," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said afterward. "We had some weapons last year, but I think we have some guys emerging now that we really have a lot of places that we can spread this ball around."

"Today we played at times as well as we've played all season. That gets you excited because you feel like, man, we're knocking at the door. Just imagine if we can continue to kind of get all the weapons back."

Ivory earned every one of his 99 yards against the Seahawks. By my count, 68 of his yards came after initial contact. It's why Seahawks coach Pete Carroll afterward gushed, "I thought Chris Ivory was a freaking beast out there."

Ivory now leads all rookie rushers with 481 yards, ahead of more-heralded first-round picks C.J. Spiller, Ryan Mathews and Jahvid Best. Moreover, his 4.8-yards-per-carry average is tied for sixth among the league's leaders.

The potential for the Saints offense is scary. When and if Bush, Thomas and Shockey return, the Saints are going to be ridiculously deep with skill-position talent.

It's a nice problem to have if you're Sean Payton.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Brees was as sharp as he has been all season. He was 2009 sharp. After the opening three-and-out, he guided the Saints to touchdowns on five consecutive drives and it would have been six if not for a "what the heck?!" interception in the red zone on the seventh series. His 382 yards were a season-high. They also marked the 34th 300-yard game in his five seasons with the Saints, the highest total for any NFL player over any five-season slice of NFL history.

PRESSURE REPORT: Gregg Williams mixed in his usual array of pressure packages but was not as aggressive or exotic as usual. Seattle did an excellent job of protecting Hasselbeck and kept him "clean" for the most part. They used a lot of backs and tight ends in protection to prevent Hasselbeck from taking too many hits on his injured left wrist. The wily Hasselbeck also got rid of the ball quickly the few times the Saints did bring the heat. The result was a very quiet day for the Saints defense. They finished with no sacks and only one quarterback hit.

...

SCOUTING REPORT: Not many folks know this but Matt Hasselbeck was the quarterback the Saints wanted back when they tried to swing a trade with the Packers back in 2000. Green Bay wouldn't part with Hasselbeck and offered the club's third-string quarterback, Aaron Brooks, instead. The rest is history. I always wonder what might have been for the Saints and Jim Haslett if they could've swing that deal. Hasselbeck is one of the most underappreciated quarterbacks in the NFL. He's led Seattle to a Super Bowl and continues to play at a high level at age 35. He singlehandedly kept the Seahawks in the game on Sunday, despite playing with a brace on his injured left wrist. His 366 passing yards were the most against the Saints since Washington's Jason Campbell passed for 367 yards in Week 13 last season.

DIDYA NOTICE?: Drew Brees is notoriously secretive about his pregame breakdown chants but interloping FOX cameras caught his message to the team about an hour before kickoff. This season's incarnation of the chant begins with Brees yelling "Who Dat?!" and the players responding with "We Dat!" He then says repeatedly, "What do we do?!" and the players answer, "Win!"

NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS:

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Rookies starting to make noise for the New Orleans Saints: Film study | NOLA.com

alright Danno, point taken. ha!

I still think the glass is half full.

Not bad at all...Ivory could get a 1000 yards at this pace...wouldnt that be a trip?

Not bad at all...Ivory could get a 1000 yards at this pace...wouldnt that be a trip?

Drew Brees is notoriously secretive about his pregame breakdown chants but interloping FOX cameras caught his message to the team about an hour before kickoff. This season's incarnation of the chant begins with Brees yelling "Who Dat?!" and the players responding with "We Dat!" He then says repeatedly, "What do we do?!" and the players answer, "Win!"