Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

The New Orleans Saints have been searching for an answer at middle linebacker ever since the team released Curtis Lofton after the 2014 season.

First-round pick Stephone Anthony mixed too many mental mistakes with his highlights. Aging veteran James Laurinaitis didn't have enough left in the tank.

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The two men the Saints signed this spring both had something to prove, and if Manti Te'o and A.J. Klein can play anywhere near the level they flashed in a 13-7 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night, the Saints might finally have their answer.

With the win, New Orleans (1-1) snapped a 10-game losing streak in the preseason that dated to 2014.

Two games into the preseason, the starting unit for New Orleans has forced seven punts on seven drives and allowed just two first downs.

"It was encouraging, because it was kind of a challenge for us coming into this game," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "I thought we were opportunistic, I thought we played with injury."

First, the caveat: Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers did not play in the preseason game, allowing Klein, Te'o and the rest of the Saints defense to tee off on backup Kellen Clemens.

The flip side of the argument is that a quarterback can only do so much when the defense dominates the trenches.

Working without Drew Brees for the second straight game, the Saints' offense started fast behind a 50-yard touchdown run from Alvin Kamara, but the attack largely sputtered after that.

Klein and Te'o made sure it didn't matter. When the regular season starts, Klein and Te'o will often play together, with Te'o in the middle and Klein on the strong side, and Klein shifting into the middle in relief of Te'o in passing situations.

That tandem hit the Chargers like dynamite Sunday night.

Klein racked up five tackles, a half-sack, a quarterback hit and a tackle-for-loss while playing the first four series along with the rest of the Saints' defensive starters, and Te'o piled up eight tackles, three tackles-for-loss, a sack, a quarterback hit and a fumble recovery.

For Te'o, who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Chargers in their old home in San Diego, the game represented an opportunity to play against his old team.

"Obviously, there's a little extra meaning to the game, but I was really happy with myself and how I handled it," Te'o said. "I think a young guy would come in here anxious and trying to do too much, and I kind of let the game come to me."

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Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

Its been quite a while since we had a group of LBs that looked this good this early.

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

I know its preseason and they didn't play all their starters I would still rather see this than a 44 to 38 score. Our defense is all I'm worried about. Offense will once again be top 5

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

We will have top 5 offense and at top 10 defense.

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

I thought we'd been looking to answer at middle linebacker since before Lofton...

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

Originally I didn't even have Te'o making the team, but damn was I wrong. He looks freaking great out there.

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

I'm shocked by Te'o too. He's about to earn himself a huge offseason contract.

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

Smart and athletic. Dang fun to watch. The only thing I didn't like defensively was the 3rd and long situations when they dropped off in zone. Keep bring the pressure. Force the QB to throw it quicker and then just tackle. The safety trio of Vaccaro, Bell and Williams is VERY impressive. The whole defense has improved. Every layer.

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

Add me to the club. I've been totally impressed thus far.

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

me too

I remember saying we didn't know what we had at LB but I wasn't impressed and someone on here said we are all worried about LB so it will probably end up being a strength of the D. Sure looks like that is going to come to fruition

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

I never had much question about his tackling ability. It was more his ability to shed blocks and actually get up field, as well as being less than stellar at dropping back into coverage. Hopefully we have the depth at linebacker now that he won't be asked to cover much, but I was surprised to see him in the backfield as much as he was last night. Hadn't seen that since his college days.

It was encouraging and would be a huge boost if this kind of play holds up with him, considering he was not expected by many of us (maybe not even by the Saints) to be anything but a decent backup option. That's about all I was expecting. It'll be quite interesting to see how he follows this up.

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

And develop a heart condition, you son of B Rez

No he has been very impressive. Klein too. Haven't had someone that good since JV

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

Let's not forget about Stupar, he does seem to find a way to the ball

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

8 sacks ... I know it's pre season but 8 sacks.

Okafor on the sack of Clemmons ... boy. He arrived quickly and with bad intentions. That is how you bring it off the edge.

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

He was really looking good for the Chargers before blowing out the Achilles. I feel he just wasn't getting the respect because of the lack of success of the team as a whole. I was excited when we signed him. He has always had that high motor type of play. And he is hungry and as far as everything I have read about him he is well liked and respected by all of his teammates. It would not surprise me to see him named a defensive team captain this year as a Saint, just as he was as a Charger.

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

dude it was old school hit man, loved it!!

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

One could argue that Okafor should be credited for back to back sacks. He was there on that second one too. He at the least should have been credited with a halff on that next play.

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

They were very impressive last night. Who would ever believe that LB'er would become a strength?

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

Kind of like that injured QB we picked up from the Chargers a few years back. Lord, if he can do even half as much for the D as Brees did for the O, that will be the second dumbest move the Chargers ever made. Think about it, Brees, Sproles and hopefully Te'O. Hell with the draft, just pick up Chargers' throw-aways.

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

Manti Te'o signed? Oh well the annual IR roll of the dice. talent is not the issue but so far so good.

A.J. Klein is all I thought he would be. Smart all around player that may not make a ton of pro bowls, if any. But he can be that foundation build stone at the second level to build on.

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers
 

I wouldn't say there's any evidence that he was coming on with the Chargers before injury. I certainly don't draw my conclusions based on what his team was doing. There are a lot of good players on bad teams who get plenty of respect. He compiled a fair amount of tackles when on the field, not unlike a lot of middle linebackers in this league, but it's the difference making plays that were lacking in his game. Not getting in the backfield, not causing turnovers as he had in college, etc. He was a non factor against Alabama in the National Championship game and then went on to the combine and showed very poor all around athleticism. His lack of impact plays with San Diego seemed to fit with the reason he dropped so far in the draft, after being discussed as a possible top 5 overall pick in the middle of his final college season. It wasn't because of the "catfishing".

That's why I saw him as little more than someone to come in and spell Klein or Robertson and be a decent tackler, if nothing else. But, at least for this game, he showed a lot more explosiveness than I've seen from him since his college days.