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New Orleans Saints tackle Charles Brown comprehends he's been fighting for the starting left tackle spot since April 15, when the Saints' offseason program officially opened. Now that he's the unquestioned starter, Brown can now focus on Falcons pass rushers Osi Umenyiora and Kroy Biermann heading into Sunday's season opener at home.

Brown dubbed the Week 1 matchup against Atlanta as his first "legitimate" start in the NFL.

"I mean this is a dream, a lifelong dream," Brown said. "I'm just happy to be here. I'm trying not to get too amped too early. I just want to save it for the game."

Brown has started eight games for the Saints the past two seasons as a fill-in right tackle for injured Zach Strief. The team's 2010 second-round pick out of USC finally feels like he's earned a starting job, and it's one of the most important roles on the team -- protecting Drew Brees' blind side.

Brees has expressed confidence in Brown's abilities on numerous occasions this offseason. And Brown's play has justified Brees' confidence. Strief also said he has full confidence that Brown is ready to assume the starting left tackle job.

"This offseason has not been short," Strief said. "It's not something he's won in a day. He wasn't recently named the starter. And to be honest, Charles has been preparing for that for several years. The culture here is that you're constantly and always pushing the guy in front of you.

"At the end of the day, there is something to be said about the improvement and being comfortable enough that allows those guys (team management) to allow a guy like Jermon (Bushrod) to go on (to Chicago). Charles has had a good camp and preseason. I think he's confident, and more than anything, I'm excited to see him settle into this role as the season progresses."

Strief added that Brown, who's been susceptible to injures for most of his career, now takes better care of his body.

"Some guys don't deal with the issues for whatever reason that is," Strief said. "You look like at a guy like Jahri (Evans), he's like built of steel. He doesn't get hurt. And yet you know some of us, myself included, there's things that you have to do to prepare yourself for the grind of a season or for the grind of camp.

"He's a guy 30 minutes before we're starting practice, he's already in the weight room. He's stretching. He has his routine, his warmup. That's new for him. I've never seen him do it. That's something that he actively goes out and said, 'Here's my problem areas. I'm going to work on them every day before practice so they don't catch up to me.' That's growth. That's maturing as a player and as a professional."

New Orleans Saints left tackle Charles Brown ready for first 'legitimate' NFL start: notebook | NOLA.com

QBREES9

Congrats to Charles. Good luck and keep Drew safe.

"I mean this is a dream, a lifelong dream," Brown said. "I'm just happy to be here. I'm trying not to get too amped too early. I just want to save it for the game."

I'm just happy to be here. You can't, just be HAPPY to be here.

Rugby Saint II

Keep Drew clean.

saintfan

He better be more than just "happy to be here."

I'll be "happy" for him.

He needs to get it done or there will be trouble.

homerj07

Great luck to him. It will mean great luck to us.

QBREES9

He played well.