Falcons will be the first test for Saints’ defense

    It was quite an admission from one of Sean Payton’s closest confidants.
    At halftime of the nationally televised preseason game between the Saints and Texans, analyst Jay Glazer said the following: “The Saints don’t have the players on defense, yet. They have to rely on the scheme (of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan).”
    Glazer just didn’t pull that out of thin air. So, if the Saints are once again going to return to Super Bowl contention, the question is, how important is defense in the equation?
    There is no definitive answer.
    Here are the last five Super Bowl champions and their rank in regular-season total defense: 2012 Ravens (17th); 2011 New York Giants (27th); 2010 Green Bay (fifth); 2009 New Orleans (25th); 2008 Pittsburgh (first).
    A much bigger barometer for the Saints is the season opener. It seems ludicrous to think that the first game of the season could be such an accurate indicator of a team’s success.
    But, in 2006, the Saints won Payton’s first game as head coach, 19-14, over the Browns. Drew Brees was solid, throwing for 170 yards and a touchdown. That day, the Saints weren’t great but looked radically different from 2005.
    They were efficient. And efficiency later led to excellence. The Saints reached the NFC Championship Game, losing at Chicago.
    One year later, the Saints and Colts were tied 10-10 at the half. Indianapolis scored 31 unanswered points. Many of Peyton Manning’s throws were aimed at Saints cornerback Jason David. A weakness, the Saints’ secondary, had been exposed. New Orleans finished 7-9.
    Two years later, Brees threw six touchdown passes to five different receivers. Mike Bell rushed for 143 yards as the Saints routed the Lions 45-27. Five months later, the Saints were in Miami on a Sunday night with their first Lombardi Trophy in hand.
    And, there was 2012. Rookie Robert Griffin III burst into the NFL. Griffin threw 19 completions for 320 yards and two touchdowns as the Redskins beat the Saints, 40-32. Redskins running back Alfred Morris, a rookie sixth-round pick from Florida Atlantic, rushed for 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Saints defense was exposed.
    So, now we are days away from the opener against the Falcons.
    The TV commercial for a bank credit card is a classic. In it, Sean Payton peers above the menu to look his waiter straight in the eye. Payton peruses the menu, and then orders.
    “I’ll have the roasted Falcon,” says the Saints head coach.
    “Excellent choice,” says the waiter.
    During the week, Payton will be asked about the significance of the game. He will give the stock answer. “One of 16,” says Payton.
    But, he knows better. Payton knows that a win over Atlanta will be a huge confidence boost for his team.
    Ed Daniels is sports director of ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at edaniels@clarionherald.org.