Payton and his coaching staff have been forming opinions about their players and have divided their thoughts into two columns: things they think and things they know. Nine of the front-line Saints didn't make the trip because they are on the mend.
Thursday night at 7 o'clock at Glendale, Ariz., the coaches hope to begin eliminating items from the "think" column. That's what preseason games are all about, not wins and losses. The Cardinals are favored by two points in the game (ESPN, Ch. 6).
(Quick, do you know the Saints preseason last year? 3-2.)
The Who Dats will be watching No. 1 draft choice Sedrick Ellis and last year's No. 1 Robert Meachem. Meachem, who sat out last season with a knee injury, has matured and is poised to show the Saints some return on their investment and making him the 27th over-all pick in 2007.
Ellis, the defensive tackle from USC, has had an outstanding training camp and is ready for some NFL action.
The Saints expect to be much quicker and more athletic along the defensive line this season with draft and free agent additions. They have a projected nickel defensive line of Will Smith, Bobby McCray, Charles Grant and Ellis. These players have defensive end skills and by putting them on the field at the same time, the pass rush will be dramatically improved and could be one of the best in the NF, which will take pressure off the linebackers and secondary.
The other day in training camp, Ellis was observed lugging four helmets and a couple of sets of shoulder pads off the practice field at MillsapsCollege in Jackson. The custom in the NF: is that rookie are made to carry the equipment of the veterans at their positions. Ellis had his own helmet and shoulder pads as well as the helmets of defensive tackle Hollis Thomas and AntwanLake, plus the helmet and shoulder pads of Smith.
"They didn't tell me about this part before I got to the NFL," Ellis told a reporter. "That's OK, though, I'm only a rookie this year."
There is a progression for coaches when it comes to player evaluation. A player performs well in the spring, and coaches say they want to see him in pads. They player does well in training camp in pads and coaches want to see him in games. The games are here.
Drew Brees will play only briefly, leaving the very veteran Mark Brunell an opportunity to get extended playing time. Brunell will play the remainder of the first quarter, the second and part of the third before Tyler Palko finishes up.
"Mark still has a strong arm,: said Saints quarterback coach Pete Carmichael Jr. "Usually when guys get to be his age (38), you start seeing their throwing arm get tired. But he still have a very lively arm and we believe in him."
The temperature is been 100+ in Glendale this week but the game is indoors. The temperature was 75 when the Saints played their first preseason game in their 42-year history in Anaheim, Cal., against the Rams. A crowd of 26,364 watched while hundreds of thousands of fans in Louisiana listened to the game on WWL Radio. The game wasn't televised.
The first touchdown in Saints history was scored by fullback Les Kelley on a pass from quarterback Gary Wood. The debut of All-Pro fullback Jim Taylor was not a highlight. The Hall of Famer lost two yards on his first carry and quickly learned he was not running behind the Green Bay offensive line. Taylor dropped two catchable passes from Woods and the Rams prevailed 16-7.
The Saints made two trades this season (tight end Jeremy Shockey and linebacker Jon Vilma) that and traded up to draft Ellis, moves they showed they are going for the gold this season. If Shockey and Vilma can stay healthy, I believe the Saints could make the NFC championship game this season.
The Saints' new pass rush will test former USC Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, who is trying to hang on to his starting quarterback job for the Cardinals.
Hornets to Appear on National TV 13 Times The Hornets will open the 2008-09 season on the road on Wednesday, Oct. 29, when they play the Golden State Warriors.
The Bees will on national television 13 times during the regular season in the NBA schedule released on Wednesday.
The Hornets will battle Shaq O'Neal, Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns on the road the following night on Thursday, Oct. 30, in a nationally televised game on TNT. The Hornets' first home game is on Saturday, Nov. 1 against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavilers.
"From the players to the coaches to the front office staff, our entire organization has set its sights on being a champion this season," said owner George Shinn in a news release. :We are eager for the 2008-09 season to get under way and for our wonderful fans in New Orleans and the state of Louisiana to experience the thrilling, non-stop action excitement of Hornets basketball in person at the Arena."
After starting the season on a two-game road trip, the Hornets will play five of their next six games at home. Included in those games are matchups against the Miami Heat on Saturday, Nov. 8 and the Lakers on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
"The schedule coming out creates a whole new excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season," said Hornets coach Byron Scott. :We look forward to carrying the momentum that began last season into the beginning of this season. The high hopes for this season will bring a wave of excitement and passion that even exceeds last year's run."
