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New Orleans Saints defensive end Cam Jordan maintained his jovial demeanor all of last season despite a big zero showing up next to his name and in the statistical category of sacks week by week. He had to joke about it without going insane.




Saints second-yeard defensive end Cameron Jordan will be asked to be an every-down player this season.
After penalties wiped away potential sacks at least twice during the 2011 season, Jordan finally corralled his first career sack against elusive Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in Week 17. It was Jordan's only sack of his rookie season.

Several of Jordan's teammates talked this week about how Jordan always played well against the run. Jordan understood, but didn't relish how his reputation by the end of last season developed into being a one-dimensional player. The Saints will need Jordan to display his first-round pick pedigree as an every-down player beginning Sunday against the Washington Redskins, and especially with defensive end Will Smith already beginning his four-game suspension.

Jordan hopes he displayed an example of his improved pass-rushing skills during the Saints' fourth preseason game against the Houston Texans, when he received the most significant playing time of the exhibition season.

Jordan abused Texans right tackle Derek Newton, who will be the Week 1 starter for Houston, throughout the first half against the run. Jordan also blew by Newton off the edge in the second quarter to sack Texans quarterback Matt Schaub for a 7-yard loss -- despite drawing a holding call. On the next play rookie cornerback Corey White stripped Texans rookie wideout Keyshawn Martin, allowing defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis to pounce on the ball.

Safety Malcolm Jenkins said those types of plays are the difference with Jordan from last year to the start of this season.

"Last year, he played really well against the run," Jenkins said. "This year, he's added a pass rush to his game. He's becoming well rounded, and I think he's going to play a huge role in what we do defensively. ... (Jordan's improvement) will free us up on the back end to get some pressure with the front four."

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has little plans of taking the 6-foot-4, 287-pound lineman out of Cal-Berkeley off the field. Jordan has lined up at defensive end on first- and second-down situations and often will be moved to tackle on passing scenarios on third down.

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CharityMike

I'm rooting for ya homie!!

|Mitch|

With Spags running the show, I didn't expect anything less... Steve will make them all play to their potential!

Luda34

I hope he gets over 10 sacks this season

Utah_Saint

I hope you're right. Three first round picks on that line. They could be pretty good.

QBREES9

Thats why you get paid the big money !

homerj07

Screw your 10 - I raise you 5 - over 15 sacks!!

hagan714

i will say it again, he was on a leash last year because of the system. i am expecting a solid year of not playing containment role on the defense.

Utah_Saint

I agree. I believe Williams system just used the d-line as block eaters to open up space for the blitzers most of the time.

hagan714

then after the blitzers whiffed it was up to them to minimize the damage, i watched jordan pull time and time again after beating his block.