GumboBC

The Saints first preseason game is in the books and, in my opinion, not many questions were answered!!

Most Saints' fans had ONE thing on their mind in the Saints vs. Jet preseason game. And that was DEFENSE!!

We heard all the "hype" coming from Haslett and co. And the fans. We heard things like:

1. Courtney Watson was the real deal at MLB.
2. Howard Green was looking like a player at DT.
3. John Pease was going to make a big difference on the D-line.
4. The secondary was going to be fine.
5. Continuity was going to be in place this year.
6. Sully was looking terrible and out of shape.

Well, some things happened to make most Saints fans (myself included) wonder if we are going to be any different than last year.

About the worst thing that could have happened, happened. On the very first Jet's possession, the Jet's offense drove down the field 76 yard in 10-plays and kicked a field goal.

Here's a recap of that drive:

- C.Martin left tackle to NYJ 22 for 2 yards
- C.Pennington pass to J.Carter to NYJ 34 for 12 yards
- C.Pennington pass to A.Becht to NYJ 48 for 14 yards
- C.Martin right end to NO 49 for 3 yards
- C.Martin left end to NO 34 for 15 yards
- C.Pennington pass to A.Becht pushed ob at NO 28 for 6 yards
- C.Pennington pass incomplete to C.Baker.
PENALTY on NO-A.Ambrose, Defensive Pass Interference, 20 yards, enforced at NO 28 - No Play.
- J.Reese right end pushed ob at NO 4 for 4 yards.
- C.Pennington pass incomplete to J.Carter
- C.Pennington pass incomplete to C.Baker.
- 4-4-NO4 (8:55) D.Brien 22 yard field goal is GOOD.

The Jets were pretty efficient moving the ball down the field for the most part. Pennington completed 3 passes for 32 yards and Curtis Martin rushed the ball 3 times for 20 yards.

But when Curtis Martin broke loose for 15 yards on the ONE run, fans saw visions of what happened last year. Hey, but it was only ONE run. And Curtis is certainly capable of doing that against most defenses. There's cause for concern, but nothing to get too alarmed about.

One thing that really helped the Jets keep the 1st drive going was a pass interference call on Ambrose which moved the ball down the field 20- yards for the Jets. It looked like their feet got tangled up to me. But I did only see the play one time and then the replay. I can't say for sure.

A good drive for the Jets but I don't think the Saints defense played that badly on the drive, but there is certainly room for improvement.

On the Jets second drive they moved the ball 5 yards on the first 2 plays and Darren Howard sacked the QB on 3rd down causing a fumble that was recovered by Charles Grant! Very good series for our defense!!

Here's a recap of that drive:

- J.Reese right end to NO 33 for 5 yards
- B.Bollinger pass incomplete to J.McCareins.
- B.Bollinger sacked at NO 41 for -8 yards (D.Howard). FUMBLES (D.Howard), RECOVERED by NO-Ch.Grant at NO 41. Ch.Grant to NO 41 for no gain .

On the Jets 3rd possession, the Jets rushed the ball 8- times for 42 yards averaging over 4 yards per carry. But on the Jets last set of downs of their 3rd drive the Saints only allowed 5 yards on the first two plays, placing the Jets in a 3rd and 5 situation. Bolllinger drops back to pass and is sacked by Jonathan Sullivan forcing the Jets to punt. Not a great series by the Saints, but it certainly was't bad either.

Here's a recap of that drive:

- J.Reese left guard to NYJ 34 for 3 yards
- J..Reese right tackle to NYJ 40 for 6 yards
- J.Reese right tackle to NYJ 45 for 5 yards
- J..Reese right end pushed ob at NO 50 for 5 yards (J.Craft).
- J.Reese left tackle to NO 49 for 1 yard (F.Brown).
- L.Jordan right end to NO 32 for 17 yards (M.Mitchell,
- L.Jordan right end to NO 28 for 4 yards (W.Smith)
- J.Reese left tackle to NO 27 for 1 yard (C.Bockwoldt).
- B.Bollinger sacked at NO 36 for -9 yards (J.Sullivan).
- 4-14-NO36 (11:16) T.Gowin punts 36 yards to end zone, Center-J.Dearth, Touchback

On the Jets last possession of the fist half B. Bollinger passed 6- times for 44 yards and J. Reese rushed the ball 3- times for 10 yards. On the last set of downs in the drive the Saints defense forced the Jets in a 3rd and 7 situation. Bollinger dropped back to pass and was sacked by Will Smith for a 2- yard loss, causing the Jets to settle for a field goal. Not a spectacular series by the Saints defense, but not a terrible one either.

Here's a recap of that drive:

- B.Bollinger pass to J.Cotchery to NO 48 for 12 yards
- B.Bollinger pass to J.Foschi to NO 41 for 7 yards
- J.Reese right guard to NO 36 for 5 yards
- B.Bollinger pass incomplete to J.Cotchery
- J.Reese right end to NO 34 for 2 yards
- B.Bollinger pass to L.Jordan to NO 20 for 14 yards
- B.Bollinger pass to J.Cotchery to NO 10 for 10 yards
- J.Reese right guard to NO 7 for 3 yards
- B.Bollinger pass incomplete to M.Ricks.
- B.Bollinger sacked at NO 9 for -2 yards (W.Smith).
4-9-NO9 (1:04) D.Brien 27 yard field goal is GOOD

While this wasn't the strongest showing the Saints defense could have made, particularly the rushing defense, it did have about as many bright spots as negative ones.

Things take time and it looked about like what you would expect the 1st preseason game to look like.

Next week will be the Saints 2nd preseason game and it will be a good test for the Saints defense. Brett Favre and Ahman Green are about as talented as they come and it will be yet another good test for the Saints defense.

Still a lot of questions to be answered, but fortunately there's still plenty of time for the Saints defense to improve.

[Edited on 15/8/2004 by GumboBC]