The last time the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers met on Lambeau Field, as you might remember, the 42-34 score did not go the way of the Saints, and with the current losing streak New Orleans has been struggling with, the Packers are confident. To be honest, they have a right to be.

The Packers have a 7-15 record going up against the Saints, not to mention a defense that is in the top three in the NFL. Also, and possibly most importantly, the Green Bay defense ranks first against the pass, which is not looking good for the Saints as quarterback Drew Brees looks to tie the NFL record for most consecutive games with a touchdown pass in this, his 47^th straight game. In order to have a chance at the record, Brees is going to have to be fast with his release against the top pass rushers and then trust his receiving corps against the secondary. Doing so will give the Saints the chance to put up big numbers in this matchup seeing as how Brees already has seven touchdown passes to his name in just three games so far this season. Remain hopeful that Brees can also trust his offensive line this game, because while they have not been as stalwart against the pass-rush so far this season, we are going to need to see a lot more from them going up against Packers linebacker Clay Matthews.

The bigger issues in the past few games for the Saints, however, have not necessarily been at offense. Yes, Brees has given up five interceptions already when last year he only gave up a total of 14, but he also puts up big numbers to redeem himself.  Should the defense step up and give more resistance to opposing offenses, the scoreboard will favor the Saints. To do this against quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the Green Bay offense, New Orleans needs to pressure the run and cover deep. Again, cover deep. Rodgers has a strong arm and has already passed for a total of 745 yards this season, which falls to Brees’ 904 yards, but Rodgers’ stats come with a 67.8% completion rate, so giving him an open look is a dangerous gamble for the Saints.

All in all, this game needs to be a turning point for the New Orleans Saints. Brees needs to get his groove back and resume his role as one of the best quarterbacks in the league and the defense needs to step up and stop backing down.  If the team of seasons past does not begin to shine through the lackluster shell of the 2012 season’s team to-date then the forecast will continue to be a cloudy one for the Saints. Here’s hoping the weather at Lambeau Field does not act as a predictor.

They need a win. Bad. They both do, but one team will walk away with it and the other will walk off the field with a 0-3 record. Having lost a total of just three games all of the 2011 season, and not starting a season 0-2 since 2007, the New Orleans Saints look to end their losing streak this week. “I would have never expected to be 0-2,” Saints interim head coach Aaron Kromer said. “We are not used to being 0-and-anything. This is a winning organization. It has been a winning organization, and we are going to take it back to that.”

Back in Dome territory, Brees and the Saints are looking to gain back their confidence at home and plan on doing so by putting up strong numbers against a lackluster defense that has lost each game so far this season by at least 16 points. Compare those numbers to the Saints, who have ended games just 8 points under against both opponents so far this season, and the battle of defenses appears to go to the Saints. With the defensive showing of both the Saints and the Chiefs, however, being the best of the two will only take you but so far in the league this season. As in the matchups for these teams so far this season, this game will look to have a highly offensive tempo, particularly as Brees looks to redeem himself and reputation with the accuracy of his passing game, something the Chiefs have little reputation against. Although, having seen how the Chiefs responded to the running game of the Buffalo Bills last week, the Saints look to have a strong offensive advantage no matter how they plan on moving the ball.  New Orleans looks to take charge of the game early – take the lead and keep it – rather than struggling from behind as they have so far in the 2012 season, and if this is done successfully then the come-from-behind mentality, and the losing streak, will end.

A lot, a lot, rests on today. Last season teams knew walking into the Superdome that they were in Saints country… and out of their league.  The first game played there this season let the intimidation factor slip, but look for the Saints to reinstate their dominance at home against the Saints. As Kromer noted earlier, the Saints are “a winning organization” and they are about to remind all of us why.

Not the start the Saints were looking for. What had been touted to be a relatively easy win against a rookie QB, even with a transitioning defense and absent head coach, turned out to be too much for New Orleans to handle in the end. Of course, given that Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III lived up to the hype the Redskins had built around him, even a Saints team firing on all cylinders would not have had the easy W they were looking forward to.  As it were, the team couldn’t get the W at all.

The 40-32 losing score to the Redskins at home doesn’t even do justice to the letdown felt across New Orleans after Sunday’s match. You don’t just waltz into the Superdome and push the Saints around like that, but apparently no one told that to Griffin III.  Admittedly, Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his Saints may not have given RGIII enough respect going into Week 1, but the Saints are not a team to take such an upset lightly and will have a response fully prepared by Week 2… does not bode well for the Carolina Panthers. However, as regretful as it is, here is a recap of the highlights/lowlights of the Saints’ recent clash with the Redskins.

The gritty recap

Brees and his Saints had a hard time connecting from the start, electing to receive at kickoff but then handing the ball over to the Redskins just 30 seconds later without a single completion. The Skins used the opportunity to push themselves down the field within range of a 37 yard field goal, taking the shot and putting up the first points of the game. Beginning to more closely resemble the team from seasons past, NOLA got their feet under them for a quick three minute drive for a deep middle touchdown to tight end Jimmy Graham, plus the extra point.  The Saints’ quick response to Washington’s field goal put them 7-3 over the Redskins for the only lead they would hold all game, and a lead they had for a mere 21 seconds. Griffin III threw an 88 yard touchdown pass just seconds after taking the field, closing out the first quarter 10-7 in favor of the away team.

The first drive of the second quarter pushed the Redskins further ahead to 17-7 and the Saints were unsuccessful in their following possession, giving up a punt by the fourth down. Washington chose to capitalize on its momentum the very next chance they got, successfully nailing a 41 yard field goal before giving the Saints another shot to fight back. The Saints were still out of sync, however, and made it almost to the Washington 20 before a turnover in the form of a fumble cut their drive short.  Forcing the Skins to resort to a punt on the next possession played out in favor of the Saints as the punt was not only blocked, not only recovered, but run a mere 4 yards for a Saints touchdown. Ending the half with a 20-14 score in favor of the Skins, the home team was still in the game.

Unhappy with their last couple of plays in the first half, the Redskins returned to the field hungry for more points, which they put up on the board in their first drive, following just minutes later with field goal after yet another unsuccessful possession by the Saints. The Redskins defense were not making passes easy for Brees, making his first six attempts of the half fruitless. Not to be held down for long, Brees and his team persevered, earning themselves a touchdown late in the third quarter, the last points of the quarter, totaling 30-17.  Griffin III led his team into field goal range yet again to start off the last quarter, but the Saints fought back hard for a touchdown pass completion to wide receiver Lance Moore a couple of possessions later, following up with a successful two point conversion complements of running back Darren Sproles. The defense stepped up its game against the Saints, forcing a quick turnaround the very next possession, but what followed was one of the heartbreakers of the game, if not the heartbreaker. With the score standing at 33-25, the game was still well within the Saints’ reach until Brees’ next throw resulted in an interception that ran the ball all the way back to the Saints 3 yard line.  The very next play gave the Redskins a 40-25 lead. Never quitters, the Saints came back for another touchdown, but it was too little too late, leaving the Saints with a disappointing 40-32 loss.

Brees’ version of a bad day… not so bad

Brees had a disappointing showing on Sunday – there is no doubt – but perhaps he has spoiled Saints fans, when you look at the fact that his statistics on Sunday still match or surpass that of many other teams’ quarterbacks.  While his completion percentage for the game was a shocking 42.6, marking his worst percentage since 2006, Brees still managed to complete a solid 24 passes.  That’s more passes than all but two other quarterbacks managed in Week 1.  Finishing the match with 339 passing yards, Brees was only surpassed in yardage by the quarterbacks noted before: Matthew Stafford (Detroit) and Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay). Those yards also happened to include three touchdown passes, a statistic matched only by quarterback Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) on Sunday. Pretty impressive for one of Drew Brees’ “off” days.

Optimistic statistics

There are several notable statistics that do not belong in this category… namely the 3 turnovers, 18% 3^rd down conversion, 2 interceptions and 12 penalties; however, there is a bigger picture in play. After this first game of the regular season the Saints have a 0-1 record. Why state the obvious? Because so many times we forget it’s the exact same record of half the teams in the entire NFL.  Starting the regular season with a loss has also proven to be the very motivation needed to carry the last three Super Bowl champions through to the very end, including last season’s champions, the New York Giants, who opened their 2011 season with a 28-14 to who else but the Washington Redskins. Everyone prefers to start with a bang, but if not, let’s just be sure we end with one!

Looking forward

As stated in this week’s preview, the Saints don’t make excuses for their performance. In a press conference following the game, Drew Brees echoed this sentiment when questioned if the off-field distractions had significant effects on the on-field results: “Not at all. It’s the NFL. You better bring it every week,” Brees said. “We knew the type of team they were. We knew the type of defense they were. They just came in and played better than we did, made fewer mistakes than we did, made more plays than we did.” He continued, “We lost the first game of year last year and finished 13-3, so there’s no doubt that we can do it and we have the mentality and the guys to do it.”

While the Saints lost their footing some in their opener for the regular season, they will use this week to regroup, refocus and reevaluate in preparation for their next match-up. The statistics were not always in favor of the Saints this week, but one still rings true… The Saints don’t need to win the first game of the season played in the Superdome to win the last. We march on!

Their stats from last season remain impressive, the record-breaking offense returning intact.  Controversy surrounding Bountygate still thick in the air, the sidelines scramble to fill significant losses.  Looking back at everything leading up to this Sunday’s regular season opener, it’s enough to make any team fold under the pressure of continuing its 2011 momentum, or to give enough excuses as to why they can’t succeed under the circumstances… but not this team, not the New Orleans Saints.

Using the preseason exhibitions to get loose and settle into adjustments on the sidelines with the coaching staff, the Saints are now laser focused on the regular season.  That focus finds its strength from the unity of the team, stemming from its offensive leader and quarterback, Drew Brees.  Brees remains a cornerstone on which the offense and franchise can still lean upon even in the heavily felt absence of Head Coach Sean Payton.  His leadership is not all he brought back to the team, as he comes strong and healthy off a season in which he set the single season completion percentage record at 71.2% and racked up nearly 5500 passing yards.  There are several key skill players who were integral in those statistics as well and guess what… they’re back, too.

With a strong supporting cast including tight end Jimmy Graham, running back Darren Sproles, and wide receiver Marques Colston, among others, Brees has several familiar targets to keep the Saints offense a formidable force for the opposing Washington Redskins defense on Sunday. The Redskins command an explosive defense that knows how to rush the passer and put significant pressure on the pocket, so a key focus for the Saints and their offensive line is to protect their quarterback, their leader.  To that purpose the linemen might just not be enough, so look to see more help coming from the running backs, such as Mark Ingram, in the form of blocks and screens.   If the Saints are able to effectively protect Brees in the pocket, his receiving corps will likely be easily maneuverable against the Skins’ lackluster secondary to rack up the points.

Much like Brees, the Redskins’ new quarterback’s first instinct is going to the pass, but the Saints are looking to have a strong secondary, including two deep safeties in most cases, and that’s not just in comparison to that of their Week 1 opponents. Bottom line: long passes are not going to be readily available to the rookie QB looking downfield.  The goal is to force Robert Griffin III, to rely on the run, and to lead his zone offense right into the waiting tackles of the Saints’ defense.  Backing off just a touch from the blitzes of previous seasons will open up the defenders to offer more coverage on Griffin’s possible targets, again forcing the young quarterback outside of his comfort zone: the pocket.  While this is very much a transitional period for the New Orleans defense, adjusting to this season’s system under new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, as said before: this will not be used as an excuse by any player.  It’s not an excuse, it’s fuel for the fire… The Saints defense has a lot to prove and what better place or time to prove themselves than at their home opener against the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner?

One positive perspective on the coming match up (for the Saints, at least) can be summed up simply in a comparison of quarterbacks: Brees, a seasoned veteran confident at home with his tried and true squad against spotty coverage, versus Griffin, a rookie scrambling to gain control of a field of newer faces floating in a sea of Saints. Add in a defense with a vendetta and a solid special teams, and Saints fans should eagerly look to Sunday’s match as an exhibition of their team’s strength and conviction even through adversity – remaining always true to the character of the city that loves them.  Even without such bias, the outlook looks good for the New Orleans Saints to start off their campaign for the Super Bowl with a commanding win at home.   It’s show time!

With a few days to let the dust settle, here’s the run-down on the 2012 Saints draft picks:

The New Orleans Saints have had a lot on their plate lately and so having a lackluster 2012 NFL Draft would not have been a surprise to many. Even though the Saints were unable to get on the board until the 3rd round due to a combination of last season’s trade-up to draft RB Mark Ingram and the Bountygate penalty recently conferred upon the team, the coaching staff remains confident there is more to their draft picks than the ratings so far would imply. That support came straight from the top when interim head coach Joe Vitt stepped up to support the decisions made: “We would like to say that Sean [Payton] would have been so proud about how our scouts worked this weekend… There was a really great consensus on the players that we took. They fit into the mode we want – their character, integrity, passion for the game and work habits.”

These aforementioned character traits are all rather important at this point for the Saints as the team still awaits further Bountygate penalties in the form of player suspensions coming against those players lacking in some of those areas. General manager Mickey Loomis said that the team’s draft choices were not affected by those impending suspensions, since no one knows yet exactly who the suspensions will affect or how.  While perhaps some more consideration along those lines should have happened given the current situation, the team is still holding strong that the choices they made will stand the test of time. Rather than see the 2012 NFL Draft as yet another blow to the Saints in a seemingly unending stream of hits, take a closer look at the picks below and try to think like Loomis for the moment to see the draft in a better light.

Akiem Hicks (DL, Regina)

Jumping into the action in the third round, the Saints used their #89 pick to choose Akiem Hicks, a 6’5”, 318 lb. 22 year old, who played the last two seasons at Regina College in Canada. Many draft pick ratings show that Hicks’ value is not as clear cut as most teams might be aiming for but Vitt stood behind their pick when he said on behalf of the team, “We know he’s raw. He has to be coached, but that’s the fun part. He fits the character of our football team. We love his tenacity. We love his resiliency. He has good work habits.” Need more evidence than his character? There is that, too. LSU saw talent they were looking for when they recruited the highly ranked junior college prospect from Sacramento City College in 2009, but lost out on their find because of recruiting NCAA violations, which kept Hicks from his hopes of Division I ball.  Not to give up on a dream, however, Hicks went on to be recruited in Canada, choosing to play for Regina College where not only did he play at conference all-stat caliber both seasons, he made the first team CIS All-Canadian this past season as well as being nominated for the award of CSI’s top lineman.

With the last Canadian university player drafted to the Chargers in 2009, Hicks got a lucky break to be seen by NFL scouts when he was invited to the East-West Shrine, which is the only all-star game that chooses to feature players from both the United States and Canada. Vitt said that he knew they were looking at someone that worked well within their defensive system when the coaching staff got a look at him during that all-star game. On Hick’s play Vitt further clarifies what the scouts saw when he told reporters, “He dominated, played really well, threw some bodies around. That’s where people really started to notice this guy, the raw pass-rushing ability, the feet, the hands. When you get ready in your third round, you love to get a guy that’s got some redeeming qualities of greatness that you can work with. And you can’t coach size and quickness.” So while the draft comments have come out against Hicks regarding his lack of strength against the run without being necessarily strong against the pass rush either, the Saints have taken a good look and like the potential they see, so have the confidence in your coaching staff that they can get it done in Hicks.

Nick Toon (WR, Wisconsin)

The 6’2”, 215 lb. wide receiver not only has great size for his position, something the currently suspended head coach Sean Payton likes to see in his receivers, but also has natural football IQ for the game, which made Toon a decent 4^th round pick at #122. Vitt spoke up on what he and the scouts saw in Toon when he said, “No. 1, I think he has a great pedigree. He’s a polished route-runner, can catch the ball outside the framework of his body and can make the big play.” That pedigree Vitt refers to has a lot to do a former NFL player drafted in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft as the #10 overall pick to the New York Jets, Al Toon, his father.  The younger Toon speaks of his father’s influence on his game and life, “My dad was a great football player and a great resource of mine growing up. He has been a great sounding board for me throughout my career, my entire life — a great blue print as far as a football player.”

With his pedigree what it is, one of the main reasons Toon did not find a team until the 4^th round was his draft workouts, but his resume from Wisconsin – leading the team with 64 catches tallying up 926 total yards and 10 touchdowns – is what the Saints coaching staff focuses on now. “We like the way this guy can run routes right now,” Vitt said. “He’s competitive. He’ll fight you for the ball. He’s a good blocker. He’s in good shape right now. He’s excited to be here, so we’re expecting the best.” The offensive coordinator for the Saints, Pete Carmichael Jr., supports the pick as well, telling the press that “he[Toon] can run faster than people give him credit for” and that “he’s a real smart guy who can play more than one position for us” speaking to Toon’s versatility as a player.  That versatility could put him in direct competition with current Saints WR Adrian Arrington who already had his eye on the spot left open by Robert Meachem, who left the Saints for the San Diego Chargers as a free agent after this past season. Out of the players drafted to the team, Toon has the greatest possibility making an impact sooner.

Corey White (S, Samford)

Corey White, the #162 overall pick, joining the Saints in the fifth round had this to say upon being drafted: “It’s going to be fun picking off some balls from Drew Brees. It is going to be real fun… I am real confident in my game. You have to be confident to play this game.” While White has great confidence in his game, there are many that did not have great confidence in the Saints choice of White. Coming from a small school and clocking in at just 5’11” and 206 lbs., he still led his team at Samford in interceptions last season, with a total of four at the corner position, along with five pass break-ups and 58 tackles, so the numbers are there, but there is one important factor missing that would have made him a better choice for the Saints… man coverage. White has proven himself to be a strong tackler and an aggressive player when it comes to secondary run support, yet he lacks the strength in the defensive style run by the very team he was just drafted to. Because of his strengths and the team’s defensive plan, White will most likely be removed from the corner position where he has comfortably shined at Samford to a safety position to begin his NFL career.  The team, however, could have good use of White in the near future within their secondary team, utilizing the strengths he does bring, sooner than he might see defensive play. Yet to be determined how many balls he will actually be picking off from his new QB.

Andrew Tiller (OG, Syracuse)

The decision to draft Tiller in the 6^th round (#179 overall pick) most likely had a lot to do with a recommendation from former offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the Saints, Doug Marrone. Tiller has been coached by and developed under Marrone up at Syracuse for the past three years, and so with in-depth knowledge of both team and player, Marrone sat in the best position to give his former Saints a tip where he saw fit.  Standing at 6’4” and 324 lbs. it comes as no shock that Tiller is known to be very physical and aggressive on the field, earning his spot as a starter for every game of the last two Syracuse seasons. That plus earning a spot on the first-team All-Big East last season still did not prepare the big man for the 2012 NFL Draft which he admits when he says, “I was in such shock. I’m still on a natural high right now. I’m waiting to come down.” With just a couple of weeks before having to report to mini-camp, we can only hope he gets his head out of the clouds soon and back to earth where he will have to call on all the coaching from Marrone he’s ever received in order to have a chance at earning a roster spot this coming season.

Marcel Jones (OT, Nebraska)

Last, but definitely not least when you consider size (6’6”, 320 lbs.), Jones joined the Saints in the last round of the draft as the #234 overall pick for 2012. Again, as with many of the players already listed, the general public has been less than confident in the last pick of the Saints’ coaching staff, but in defense of himself and the coaches’ choice, Jones had a lot to say after he was drafted: “For a guy my size, I think I move my feet pretty well. I have a pretty good kick-slide so that will come in handy when Drew [Brees] drops back to pass.” Not lacking in confidence, as with Tiller, above, it will still be some time before Jones is most likely leaned on to protect the franchise quarterback, but Jones proves he has a good head on his shoulders when he continues to say, “ I’m a young guy; I’ve still got a lot to learn. I’d love to go in there and learn from all the veterans, ask them what I can bring. I think I can bring a little youth, I can move my feet pretty well, I’ve got pretty good hands and pretty long arms as well. I can use my length to my advantage when I need it. Those are some things I can bring to the team and am looking forward to bringing.”

Looking back at the details of the draft and the players brought on to the Saints, it really does not look as bad as some dramatized, but most likely does earn an average grade, even being left out of the first and second round picks. There were some places where the scouts could have looked to filling a couple of other positions, but through free agency pre- and post-draft the Saints have a good chance at giving themselves some stability to fall back on going into a rather unstable and still uncertain 2012 season. So fret not, Saints fans! We have plenty more to focus on than just development players at the moment, don’t you think?

Today there are two notable absences at the first offseason workout for the New Orleans Saints today: Sean Payton and Drew Brees. It had been announced last week that Saints assistant head coach and linebackers coach Joe Vitt would step into the offseason head coaching role in Payton’s absence. There was more unfortunate news that came to light recently that Brees and the Saints management had been unable to come to terms with Brees new contract, translating into no offseason training for Brees until the contract has been finalized.

The decision to name Vitt the interim head coach for the duration of Payton’s season long suspension (due to the recent bounty scandal) did not strike anyone as a surprise.  The Saints management is trying to make this unfamiliar territory of a season as familiar as possible as Vitt had already filled Payton’s shoes best he could during the 2011 season. Payton suffered a broken knee, a broken tibia and a torn MCL, benching him for a good three weeks, much less time, however, than a lesser man might have stood to not stand on the sidelines.  During this time Vitt stepped up and acted as the interim head coach until Payton could once again join him on the sideline.  This previous “tryout”, as well as the past six years Vitt has spent with the program, led general manager Mickey Loomis to speak up about the Saints decision and he did so with great confidence: “We [the Saints] are fortunate to have a great veteran coaching staff well equipped to handle this challenge. Joe [Vitt] and Sean [Payton] have worked closely together to build our program, one of the most successful in the NFL in the past six years, and I have the fullest confidence that Joe will continue that success that Sean has brought us.”

Also emphasizing the confidence and support of the Saints’ decision to move Vitt up in the ranks during Payton’s absence, Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints, said, “This is about our program, and the continued success of our program,” but there is another name that comes to mind when talking about the success of the Saints. Drew Brees. Brees, however, even in the midst of all the inner turmoil currently endured by the Saints franchise, has been unable to come to terms with a new contract with the team, during a time when his team needs its leadership most.  It is unclear why the Saints management is prolonging this process and holding out on one of their franchise players.  Do they feel that his presence on the field is not worth the increased pay or longer terms?

Strictly speaking, on the level of their own franchise, Brees holds 23 New Orleans Saints Franchise records, one of those records also managing to be listed as #2 in the NFL all-time records: most consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass. His number? Make that 43 games with at least one touchdown pass since 2009.  But maybe being an all-star in the franchise isn’t enough… maybe they need more.

Hard to believe since in this past season alone Brees has tied or surpassed nearly 45 NFL records ranging from being the single season passing leader of 2011 with 5, 476 yards to most 300+ yard passing games in a season with 13.  These records also include stats throughout his career including notables such as the most games with 5+ touchdown passes and no interception – tallying five there – and the most passing yards per game over the course of his career, averaging out to 263.7 yards/game.  Yes, to reiterate, those are NFL records, not just franchise records.

Looking at the cold hard facts alone, it is easy to see why New Orleans hit Brees with the franchise tag, but it is not as clear as to why a long-term contract has not yet been decided on.  While the practice field remains empty as the team focuses on its overall strength and conditioning for the offseason, there is still the question hanging in the air, causing even more unnecessary tension in the Super Dome, as to when their quarterback, their franchise player, their leader, will join them both on and off the field.