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Cameron Jordan had a breakout season for a defense that broke down.

His dramatic improvement at defensive end last year was rendered meaningless as the Saints shattered the NFL record for yards allowed. After that head-shaking experience, he anticipates a much more satisfying follow-up.

“We were the worst in the league, so it doesn’t even matter how much of a bright spot I was,” he said. “That’s not something you can rest your head on easily at night. This year, I’m looking forward to having a great defense and keeping the ball rolling.”

All signs point to him holding up his end of the bargain.

Jordan’s progress has been unmistakable since the Saints took him with the 24th pick of the 2011 draft. Learning on the job as a rookie starter, the team credited him with 59 tackles, one sack and no forced fumbles.

His tackles increased to 76 in 2012, but his real improvement came in big plays. He led the Saints with eight sacks and three forced fumbles, including a huge takeaway on fourth-and-goal as New Orleans won at Tampa Bay in October.

Two weeks later, he sacked Philadelphia’s Michael Vick three times for his first multi-sack game, forcing another fumble. He stripped Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman and recovered the fumble to set up a touchdown in a 41-0 December shutout that was the defense’s lone highlight performance.

He maintained that production this preseason with seven tackles, two sacks for 18 yards and four quarterback hits.

“He’s playing at a very high level,” coach Sean Payton said. “His production a year ago was good and, for me, a year removed and watching him in this training camp, he’s been very impressive. He’s in great shape, he plays with a high motor, he’s athletic and he’s strong.”

Those are the building blocks for a potential All-Pro. Although Jordan does not have one overwhelming physical attribute, he is above average in just about every department and enhances those strengths with his work ethic and enthusiasm.

“He has superhuman energy levels,” said offensive tackle Zach Strief, who has gotten a first-hand look at Jordan’s development. “He has a motor, and it’s not just a game-day motor. It’s a practice motor and a camp motor. He’s just a guy that doesn’t seem to tire. He’s a powerful rusher that has good quickness and is strong. Instead of it being a lighter guy that has a motor out of necessity, you take a guy that has a lot of natural ability and, on top of that, he’s not going to stop and he’s going to be there in the fourth quarter. The last pass rush is going to feel like the first rush.”

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QBREES9

Looking for great thing from this young man this year.

|Mitch|

He had what 4 sacks in very limited snaps this preseason?

dizzle88

Finally a defensive draft pick that made an immediate impact, lets hope Vaccaro will follow in his level of play

TheOak

homerj07

Jordan & Vacarro together will be kick ass.

Rugby Saint II

Wait a minute..............he's a first round pick. Those guys don't do well here.