RSS
Home
Jake Delhomme: Balance the biggest reason for Saints' success
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Jake Delhomme congratulates Drew Brees after the Saints improve to 8-0
If the old cliché, “offense sells tickets but defense wins championships” were true, the Saints no longer would be searching for their first Super Bowl. They had an elite defense for most of the Jim Mora era and never even won a playoff game.
Balance is by far the best formula for winning big, and New Orleans, 8-0 for the first time in the 43-year history of the franchise, finally has it.
Just ask Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme, whose 4-0 record against New Orleans at the Superdome ended Sunday when the Saints rallied from a 17-6 halftime deficit to win 30-20.
Delhomme, who also won his only start in the Dome as a Saints quarterback, was effusive in his praise.
“We said all week this was the best team in football in our opinion,” Delhomme said. “Watching them on film all year long, they give you matchup problems offensively and defensively.”
The Saints are on pace to break the NFL single-season scoring record because they have accounted for more points on offense (254) AND defense (49) than any other team in the league. The 2007 New England Patriots set the mark with 589, and New Orleans will reach 604 if it duplicates its 302-point production from the first eight weeks.
The Saints defense did not score in two of coach Sean Payton’s first three years (2006, 2008), but is averaging almost one touchdown per game this season, getting to the end zone two more times than the Cleveland Browns’ offense (five).
Add defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove’s game-clinching 1-yard fumble return against Carolina to the growing list. A refresher course:
– Darren Sharper’s 97-yard interception return against Philadelphia
– Sharper’s 99-yard interception return against the New York Jets
– Defensive tackle Remi Ayodele’s fumble recovery in the end zone against the Jets
– Sharper’s 42-yard interception return against the Dolphins
– Cornerback Tracy Porter’s 54-yard interception return against Miami
– Cornerback Jabari Greer’s 48-yard interception return against Atlanta
That total would be eight if linebacker Jonathan Vilma had not been flagged for a hit to the helmet on New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, negating another Sharper touchdown return.
DON'T MISS THE LATEST COMMENTARY ON THE SAINTS. CLICK ON SUBSCRIBE AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE
The defensive touchdowns are partly a function of good fortune, but Delhomme gave full credit to new coordinator Gregg Williams and the players operating his aggressive system. The Saints confuse offenses while rarely getting confused themselves with their multiple defenses.
“The looks that Gregg Williams’ defense gives you are all over the place, Delhomme said. “They bring corners, they bring safeties, they bring both safeties, they bring it all. They mix it up. That tells me they have smart football players because they can do all those things. I have to tip my hat to them. I really do.”
Carolina’s lack of balance made an upset unlikely even when it led 14-0 in the first quarter. The Panthers’ run/pass ratio was 22-5 in the first half. Wary of Delhomme’s NFL-leading 13 interceptions, the coaches refused to let him throw downfield, even on third-and-long.
The conservatism was mind-boggling at times.
With a 7-0 lead, Delhomme threw a flair to running back Mike Goodson behind the line of scrimmage on third-and-6. The Saints stopped Goodson four yards short of the first down.
Ahead 14-3, Delhomme handed off to Jonathan Stewart on third-and-11 from the Carolina 11. Stewart fumbled.
Still up 14-3, Delhomme gave the ball to Williams on third-and-21 from the New Orleans 27. He picked up 13 yards, and the Panthers settled for a field goal.
After Carolina went ahead 17-3, Williams gained 13 yards on a third-and-12 draw, then was stuffed for no gain on a third-and-16 handoff.
With that approach, Carolina controlled the clock but did not score enough points to hold off New Orleans’ inevitable comeback. Wide receiver Steve Smith, a notorious Saints killer in the past, was no more than a bystander, making three catches for 18 yards before a meaningless 46-yard grab in the final two minutes.
Delhomme knew Carolina’s quick 14 points would not hold up against the Saints’ explosive offense.
“Offensively they set the tone for everything else,” Delhomme said. “That’s not slighting their defense, but when they put up points the way they do, you have to throw the football. You can’t become one-dimensional.”
The Saints don’t have that problem. So far, their multiple dimensions have made them impossible to beat.
FOR MORE INFO: Go to SaintsReport.com and BlackandGold.com for lively message boards and all of the latest stories on the streaking Saints.
Saints-Panthers highlights
Related Articles:
Comments
