Down 21 points…and the Saints march back and find a way to win!

I think we will have some new Stars this week as well as see some names that have been weekly names to be awarded star omitted from this this week’s list.

For starters quarterback Drew Brees was a true gamer - his tenacity to go for it on 4th&1 - was pure brilliant, gutsy…and just what you want from your quarterback and leader! While he was brilliant in some aspects, in order to be a true championship caliber team - Brees and the Saints need to learn how to demolish weaker teams like the Dolphins so that they are able to withstand the test of the cream of the crop that the NFL has to offer (included but not limited to: Colts, Patriots, Steelers). Brees was two yards away from another 300 yard performance which is great, but he had 3 interceptions, which is pad enough on it’s on and even worse he only threw one touchdown pass. Brees also fumbled the ball twice (lost once) and only completed just over 57% of his passes.

Not all of it was his fault - Brees along with the offensive line will not be receiving a star this week. The O-line was responsible for giving up five sacks to the Dolphins. Brees fumbled twice which means that O-line was getting pounded the whole afternoon.

Another normal recipient is running back Pierre Thomas who had been showing signs of pro bowl caliber running, but hit a huge wall in the Dolphins defense, only eight rushes for a measly 30 yards. Less than 4 yards per rush and you would hope he would make up for that effort with better receiving statistics, but Thomas only caught 1 pass for fourteen yards.

I am giving a Star this week to Reggie Bush. I know he statistics were not good, but he is getting one solely for that five yard superman leap into the endzone. Besides that amazing play he had 3 catches for 16 yards and 3 rushes for 10 yards. Other than that one spectacular play, Bush was unfortunately a non factor….again! I feel there is still hope for the former number 2 overall pick, who has a ton of talent - it is up to the Saints’ staff to harness that talent in a productive and useful manner. Letting him catch balls out of the backfield - in a designed patterned. Lining him up at wide out and getting him in open space, EVERYONE knows that is where he is most dangerous and can become electric on the field. I feel that the Saints NEED…it is imperative to get Bush in the mix if they have a chance to go deep in the playoffs!

Mike Bell - another running back for the Saints filled the void for non factors Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush. Rushing twelve times for eighty yards, compiling a 6.7 yard average per rush attempt. It doesn’t matter that he did not score a touchdown, he moved the chains and his performance made the opposing defense have to respect the run so they couldn’t put eight men in the box. Bell has truly been one of the shinning stars the Saints could have never expected that landed in their laps.

BEAST!!! Jeremy Shockey was “en fuego”….last week grabbing four catches (out of five targets) and racking up a total of 105 yards in receiving. Shockey had great second and third efforts to turn catches for 10-15 yards into 25+ yard gains. This is definitely a roll over from last week’s emotional game against the Giants (Shockey’s former team, who traded him away for a second round pick two offseasons ago).

Marques Colston had another good day at the office, bringing down five catches for seventy-two yards and getting in the endzone once. Though Colston had one big glaring negative, Brees threw to Colston 12 times and for Colston to only come down with five…well there is room for improvement.

Another wide out who had a great game was Devery Henderson who had 4 catches for 71 yards. Henderson is hit or miss if he is going to have a big game, he definitely showed up last week - catching nearly all the balls that Brees threw his way.

Jonathon Vilma had a very impressive game acquring ten tackles, seven of which were solo, and three of which were tackles for a loss. Vilma was all over the field helping try to limit the amount of yards Miami’s wildcat offense was accumulating.

Tracy Porter made huge plays all day for the Saints. He had 9 tackles (6 solo), three pass deflections, 1 interception returned 54 yards for a touchdown! Huge plays from Porter, who bobbled another pass from Miami’s quarterback Chad Henne into the hands of fellow Saints’ safety Darren Sharper. Porter’s ability to see the field allows for the Saints to be more agressive and thus have a better opportunity to create more turnovers for the opposing offense (which the Saints should still be a leading candidate for most take aways).

Darren Sharper, not be out done, had four tackles (three of which were solo) and 1 interception that he returned 42 yards for a touchdown. Sharper’s veteran presence is very important to the success of the Saints, who are on the verge of becoming real contenders for a NFL championship this year.

Lastly, Courtney Roby had another well done job returning the ball on kick offs for the Saints. Roby who returned 6 kick offs for a total of 185 yards, manage to take one kick off 87 yards, and compiliing a 30.8 yard average for kick off return yards.

There were some great performances…but also this team has room for improvement, they have shown the ability to play a complete…working well in all phases of the game. It will be important for the Saints to come out and showcase themselves on national television against the Falcons,  by playing a complete game…solid running game, smooth passing attack, stout defense, and obtaining good field position from the special teams.

Here is a recap of who was awarded a star this past week: RB Reggie Bush, RB Mike Bell, TE Jeremy Shockey, WR Marques Colston, WR Devery Henderson, LB Jonathon Vilma, FS Tracy Porter, SS Darren Sharper, and KR Courtney Roby.

Adding that to the season’s total…here is the most recent Star Studded Saints for the season:

(4) QB Drew Brees

(4) SS Roman Harper

(4) SS Darren Sharper

(3) Defense

(3) O-Line

(3) RB Mike Bell

(3) WR Marques Colston

(3) RB Pierre Thomas

(2) OL Jermon Bushrod

(2) CB Jabari Greer

(2) KR Courtney Roby

(2) TE Jeremy Shockey

(2) MLB Jonathon Vilma

(1) RB Reggie Bush

(1) LB Scott Fujita

(1) DE Charles Grant

(1) WR Devery Henderson

(1) P Thomas Morstead

(1) WR  Lance Moore

(1) FS Tracy Porter

(1) LB Scott Shanle

(1) DE Will Smith

You always want your team to do well, but a true test of a quality team is how they react under the pressure of adversity. I am very proud and impressed of the Saints with how they were able to comeback from 21 points this past week and thus far through the season. I truly believe they will continue to stay undefeated this week against the Atlanta Falcons at home this coming Monday.

The Falcons are coming off a hard loss to the a hungry Cowboys team, who needed a victory to stay in the mix in the competitive NFC East. Atlanta will be without their back up running back J. Norwood and with Michael Turner…hasn’t being quite the “burner” he was last year, I feel the Saints will be able to shutdown the running game of the Falcons. Thus requiring them to rely more on their franchise quarterback Matt Ryan to make plays - which he is capable of - to his arsenal of receivers but the way the Saints’ defense is playing, especially with the efforts of the secondary with the like of Roman Harper, Darren Sharper, and Tracy Porter…they should pose for quite a threat to snare a couple of balls from the Falcons’ wide outs and other receivers.

I am expecting the Saints to start off early and often to rush the ball and then once Pierre Thomas and/or Mike Bell have successfully run the ball down the Falcon’s defense then I see Brees releasing that ball and letting his core of wide outs juke and swerve around, over, and possibel through the Falcons’ secondary to set up the potenital for a TON of points to be scored Monday night at the Superdome for the hometown Saints.

I know the big story for Monday Night Football will be the return of Brett Farve to Green Bay…as well it should be…Farve and the Packers were a consistent contender for over a decade and they both deserve their fair share of the lime light.

That being said the Falcons and the Saints provide an intreging match up of two teams that are division rivals and could potentially meet up in the playoffs - if they play their cards right. I do not care who you ask, players….they get PUMPED up for Monday Night Football, no matter the other story lines…for 4 hours the whole NFL world gets to be revolved around them and they get to let their talent, hard work, and preparation shine on display for everyone to see. They want to showcase themselves in the best way possible and I foresee a great game unfolding with the Falcons @ the Saints!

Combing that with the fact that the Saints do so well at home, the players love playing infront of their supportive fans. I cannot think of a team that appreciates it’s fans more than the Saints do - everyone knows the city of New Orleans is still struggling from hurricane Katrina and all the torment she brought with her, but that doesn’t stop the Saints’ fans from coming out and supporting their beloved Saints who are so thankful to have such tried and true fans!

Keep supporting your Saints…and they will continue to shine for you!

Go Saints!!!