Bayoubuzz

The defending Super Bowl champions Saints played like world champs and demolished the Houston Texans 38-20 on Saturday night before 70,025 Who Dats in the Superdome. The next Saint foe will be the San Diego Chargers in the Louisiana Superdome.

For the second straight year, the Saints (1-1) embarrassed the Texans in their annual preseason series. The Saints won last year 38-14.

The Saints offense outgained the Texans 409-291 in total yards, including 275 yards to Houston's 162 in the first half. The Saints' second-string offense showcased a well-balanced attack as it ran 47 plays (23 rushing, 24 passing).

Quarterback Chase Daniel and running backs rookie Chris Ivory and Reggie Bush led the Saints high-powered offense.

Daniel threw for three touchdowns while completing 15 of 21 passes for156 yards. Ivory totaled a game-high 68 yards on 20 carries (3.3 avg.), Bush carried 7 times for 49 yards (7.0) avg.) and a touchdown. Thirty-eight of Bush's yards came on the opening drive.

Wide receiver Adrian Arrington, on the injured reserve list the past two years, caught 3 passes for a game-best 71 yards. Wide receiver Marques Colston chipped in with 4 catches for 49 yards.

Saints linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar led the Saints defense with 6 tackles (four solo). Linebacker Troy Evans and defensive end Will Smith each registered a sack and Smith forced a fumble.

After Drew Brees went 5 of 10 for 36 yards and had a 1-yard quarterback dive for a touchdown, Daniel came in and didn't miss a beat. Daniel went 8 for 13 for 126 yards and two touchdowns.in the second quarter.  Brees had a quarterback rating of 58.8. Daniel had a quarterback rating of 139.7.

His first touchdown pass was to Pierre Thomas for 31 yards. The Saints took a 21-7 lead at that point, but Daniel wasn't finished. On the next drive, Daniel marched the Saints 83 yards down the field and ended the first half with a 1-yard pass to fullback Zak Keasey. Daniel pumped his fist, reminiscent of last season's Super victory.

Right out of the gate, Bush single-handily marched his team down the field, running for 38 yards on 4 carries and ending the opening drive with an eight-yard touchdown run Bush broke tackles all night

The Saints host San Diego on Friday night before a CBS  (Ch. 4) national television audience.

The Saints officially declared trainin  camp over, meaning no more practices will be open to the fans this summer. Players will be allowed to check out of the team hotel in Kenner and on Monday the Saints a regular-season practice schedule begins, with just one practice.

What they were saying after the game:

Saints coach Sean Payton: "It was good to get a win. We're struggling covering kicks and punts. There's a lot we have to work on. We had almost 100 yards in penalties. There were a lot of things that were sloppy that we've got to clean up. Fortunately, we still have more time to left and more preseason games to evaluate these guys."

(On what he was happy about) "I thought we had some good tempo early on and I was pleased that we were able to score early. We did a good job on third downs in the first half and that was important. We had pretty good balance, when you look at runs and passes and yardage. We were close to 50-50."

(On Chase Daniel) "What I wanted to do was get him a lot of reps. I'll try to so the same thing with Patrick Ramsey next week when Brees comes out. It's harder when you continue to split them and at some point I wanted to see how he with the first offense, and then how he would handle it with the second unit. There were some good things. His job is to move the football and score and not throw interceptions so there's a lot for him to work on. But the repetitions, you really can't simulate especially fo ra quarterback when they are  and so I wanted to get a lot of snaps and plays. There will be a lot of tape for him.That will be good experience for him."

SAINTS NOTEBOOK: The Saints scored 38 points and that's the most ever in a preseason game in the Superdome and the second most in a home preseason game in franchise history.  In 1968, the Saints defeated the Browns 40-27 at Tulane Stadium. The franchise high for points in a preseason game was achieved a year ago in a 45-7 victory over Oakland...For the second straight week, Drew Brees played three series. He drove the Saints to two touchdowns -- a nine-yard run by Reggie Bush on the game's opening drive and a one-yard quarterback sneak by Brees...Chase Daniel started the second quarter for the Saints and played most of the final three quarters.  He finished 15 of 21` for 182 yards, three touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 117.5...

DT Sedrick Elllis had a productive first half, getting a sack on QB Matt Schaub in the first quarter and recovering a fumble in the second quarter...For the second straight week, WR Adrian Arrington hauled in the longest play from scrimmage for the Saints. He caught a a 48-yard pass from Daniel in the second quarter, nine days after a 51-yard touchdown catch and run in the preseason opener at New England. Arrington, who caught three passes for 71 yards, also had third-quarter touchdown from Daniel...Thomas Morstead, who suffered a shoulder injury last week, returned to action and handled punting and holding duties. Garrett Hartley handled kickoff duties...For the second straight week, the Saints had a scoring drive of more than 10 minutes. The fourth-quartre  drive that ended in Hartley's  field goal, covered 60 yards, 18 plays and took 10:08 off the clock. Against the Patriots, Brees engineered a 20-play 86-yard drive that took 10:01...

Rookie Trindon Holliday of LSU, who has been wearing a cast on an inured thumb the week, tried to return punts and kickoffs.  He dropped a punt at the Texans' 15, setting up a Saints touchdown. "We're trying to find out with his thumb injury," said Texans coach Gary Kubiak.  "He practiced all week, but it was a problem. If he can't hang onto the ball, we need to find somebody else to do it. He's struggling with the thumb in fairness to him."

Saints quarterback Chase Daniel

(On his touchdown pass to Arrington) :We had run that earlier in the game, but the coverage was there, and I had to throw it away. We came back and completed it. He's a tall guy and I took advantage of his height against the safety. I made the throw to where he could go up and get it and he did the rest."

(On playing tonight) "It was awesome. I was able to go there and do my best. I didn't really look over my shoulder as much as I have in the past. It was fun to go out there and play and have some fun."

Texans coach Gary Kubiak:

(On your thoughts about tonight's game) "Not very good. I don't know if we really stopped them other than when Danny Clark had the pick. We had a couple of  turnovers and were struggling to stop them so it makes it even worse. We are disappointed as a football team. We ran three plays offensively and we were down 14-0 because of a turnover and  a long drive. Avaunt a good football team, like that, you have a hard time making that stuff up. I am very disappointed."

Quarterback Drew Brees:

(On the swagger being back this week) "The first preseason game we were working out the kinks. Your young guys are getting their first opportunities in real game action. You just try to find you rhythm. I though this i week if practice was a lot better than last week's. The tempo at practice was a lot faster and a lot more upbeat."

(On Chase Daniel's play) "I was proud of Chase. He has worked extremely hard and he has done that throughout the whole offseason by the time he has committed not only physically, but mentally studying the offense. He's had success despite the odds throughout his entire career dating back to high school. He makes plays and wins games. There has to be something to be said for that despite his size. I've been down that road before, so I know where he is. He just  has to keep humble, go out there and do it again."


Jets rookie Joe McKnight of John Curtis and USC has reportedly been "at times difficult to coach" in the Jets training camp  He is unwilling to run between the tackles and makes too many mental errors.], both of which were visible in last week's "Hard Knocks." At this point, McKnight may have trouble making the Jets' roster. The Jets could carry two fullbacks with Danny Woodhead as the No. 3 tailback instead...The Bucs barely drew 30,000 fans for their game with the Chiefs last weekend...

Hall of Famer Jim Brown, the greatest Brown of all-time, will skip the Browns' Ring of Honor ceremony. The snub is caused by frosty relations between the franchise and Brown. Brown has refrained from publicly criticizing the team this offseason, but he was miffed that Mike Holmgren removed him from the senor management position with the team. Brown is also upset that the team curtailed its financial involvement in Bown's Amer-I-Can Program. I'm afraid the Browns have seen the last of Brown...


The Saints had eight third-down conversions. That's 50 per cent.The Texans had one third-down conversion for 13 per cent success.Bush averaged 7.0 yards per carry between the tackles...The Saints dominated the Texans so much up front that they had the ball for 40 minutes compared to the Texans' 20 minutes...Well, at least the Texans know they don't have to play the Saints again this season...

For the first time in NFL Kickoff history and in the spirit of New Orleans. the NFL will host a parade to ring in its 91st season and celebrate the Saints' Super Bowl championship. The Krewe of NFL Kickoff Parade travels through the heart of the French Quarter, stepping off at 5 p.m. on Esplanade Avenue and North Peters, heading downtown on Decatur and North Peters crossing Canal Street to Tchoupitoulas and ending at Julia Street. Fans may line up along  the parade route to be part of the celebration. Fans may check www.nfl.com/kickoff for the most up-to-date information about the parade and festivities...

by Ed Staton

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