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New Orleans – Three Performances of Note

Jordan Fits the Bill

As we wrote in the Three to Focus On post for this game, New Orleans was going to need to generate pressure from the outside to rattle Ryan. With less than a full stable of outside linebackers on hand to contribute, Junior Galette got good work in (a sack and four hurries) and Parys Haralson contributed after a short week of practice (a sack and a hurry), but defensive end Cameron Jordan (+5.2) wound up providing enough punch for all.

Jordan’s eight QB pressures (two hits and six hurries) on 43 pass rushes came primarily at the hands of the aforementioned Lamar Holmes. Jordan, the now-3-4 DE previously known for his run defense, proved too fast to the outside and too strong on bull rushes for Holmes to handle – a slippery inside-out move at 5:04 of the third quarter combined elements and left Homes chasing as Jordan took Ryan to the turf.

Frustrating Start

Jahri Evans has had better games. In fact, he’s never had a game graded to this depth (-4.0) in the years we’ve been around and this one was held down entirely by his run blocking – an aspect of his game (see 2008-2009) that was once on a league-best level. One rough outing does not a season make, of course, but coming off a season in which his run blocking was a middling asset, a showing like this is reason for further inspection. There were times in this game where Evans simply whiffed (Q4 7:18) and others where he was out hustled and caught scrambling to keep up (see the play vs. Babineaux mentioned earlier).

As long as Drew Brees and the passing game weapons are in New Orleans, pass blocking will be of first importance, but flat performances like this can doom hopes of a pass-game-enhancing ground game.

Key Targets Making Good

Drew Brees has made a living by working to his seam and dump-off guys — namely Marques Colston (+1.0 receiving), Jimmy Graham (+1.5), and Darren Sproles (+2.6) – and that continued as expected to open 2013. Targeting the three a total of 19 times, they connected on 15 and marched with nine first downs and a pair of touchdowns.

The trio worked a variety of routes and each got the chance to show off with dramatic efforts: Colston on his diving second-quarter touchdown, Graham on his twisting reach for the pylon that got him home, and Sproles twice getting loose up the sideline.

With a defense showing signs of life and offensive weapons in addition to these, Saints fans have to be feeling good about their hopes in this recovery season.

Profootball Focus

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