Rating: (0 votes - average)

They’re off to their first 3-0 start since winning Super Bowl XLIV, but the New Orleans Saints are turning their attention to an issue on offense that, if left unresolved, could prevent them from fighting for a second title or might get their $100 million quarterback hurt.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees has already been sacked 10 times this year, a pace that translates to more than 53 sacks and 346 yards lost over a 16-game season.

Between 2006 — when coach Sean Payton took charge in New Orleans — and 2012, the Saints were consistently among the least-sacked teams in the NFL, surrendering a regular-season average of 21.1 sacks, or less than two a game, for 143 yards lost.

They’re headed toward giving up much more than that this year, though, after Brees was sacked twice in a 23-17 win over Atlanta (1-2), four times in a 16-14 win over Tampa Bay (0-3) and four more in Sunday’s 31-7 win over Arizona (1-2).

Center Brian de la Puente on Monday admitted that the amount of sacks on Brees so far is “unacceptable.”

“We take full responsibility for it, because we need to do a better job in giving him time,” de la Puente said. “We know when he has time, he’s very dangerous, so that’s our job to do a better part of it.”

Payton on Monday said part of the problem involves the fact that the Saints have seen more man-to-man coverage from defenses than usual, which can cause quarterbacks to hold onto the ball “a half-count longer” and may result in more sacks.

“It’s more challenging to find your interceptions on the defensive side, but it aids in getting quarterback sacks and hurries,” Payton said.

Read more: O-line issues keep pressure on Brees | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

Barry from MS

Can't compare 2009/2010 OL to this one, and it is unfair to do so. Too much change-over since then:

2009 OL Coach - A. Kromer / 2013 OL Coach Bret Ingalls
2009 LT - Bushrod / 2013 LT - C. Brown
2009 LG - Evans / 2013 LG - Evans/Lelito
2009 C - Goodwin / 2013 C - DLP
2009 RG - Nicks / 2013 RG - Grubbs
2009 RT - Stinchcomb / 2013 RT - Strief

Just gotta hope they jell before Drew gets killed that there. No Evans or a hurt Evans is completely evident. We're stuck with this group for the rest of the year.

homerj07

We have done ok with other linemen. I think it is Kromer that we miss the most. (& I have soda this many times)

ChrisXVI

Oddly enough Charles Brown and Zack Strief have been fantastic but they get no praise when everybody thought they'd be the disaster. Jahri being hurt and less effective kills us.

stickman

You got the guards mixed up. Evans is on the right. But, yes, gotta hope they jell.

QBREES9

They'll get better.

Utah_Saint

I soda the same thing.

Barry from MS

"Okay! I must have put a decimal point in the wrong place or something. S---! I always do that. I always mess up some mundane detail." ~ Michael Bolton

Rugby Saint II

de la Puenta is being less effective than he has been. The pressure is coming from all sides and it's hard to point the finger at any one player. They better get it together quickly.