Fresh Prince Of Sacks Returns To Saints Defensive Line

Defensive End Will Smith returns to the New Orleans this Sunday for their home game against the red hot
2-0 Houston Texans after serving a two game league suspension for use of a banned weight-loss substance.  Arguably, the Saints best pass rusher, Smith's absence was felt in their opening loss to Green Bay, but the defense managed just fine the following week against the Chicago Bears, battering Quarterback Jay Cutler sacking him 8 times while also forcing endless knockdowns.

With their highly balanced offensive attack, the Texans will undoubtedly provide the Saints defense a greater challenge than the Chicago Bears did.  Quarterback Matt Schaub is one of the league's highest rated passers and his primary target, wide receiver Andre Johnson, is regarded by many as the number one deep threat.  Smith's return has come at just the right time.  According to Sean Payton he has had a great camp.  Let's hope the rust has been knocked off.

Here is the first part of Brett Martel's AP story on the return of Smith published in the Biloxi Sun Herald:

A sack leader is back

METAIRIE -- As pleased as Will Smith was to be back at practice on Wednesday, he seemed even happier that he no longer has to worry about the specter of a suspension that has weighed on him for three seasons.
“I’m just glad to put it behind me,” said Smith, who in 2008 tested positive for a diuretic that is banned by the NFL because it can be used to mask steroid use.
“I know the coaches were always concerned about it, the fans, everyone was always concerned about it, and I’m happy that it’s over with now so I don’t have to worry about it and can just focus on football, focus on the Houston Texans and focus on the rest of the year.”
Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2011/09/21/3449827/a-sack-leader-is-back.html#ixzz1YhpduzYL   

Belhaven Alum Tramaine Brock Is NFL Interception Leader For San Francisco 49ers. Yeah, That's Right.

While researching the statistical leaders on the NFL.com website Monday night in an effort to make better decisions about my fantasy football team "yallaintgotachance" playing in the Ms. Mae's Bastard Sons league, I made a surprising discovery.  At the top of the interceptions leaders list was a name and picture that rang a bell, Tramaine Brock of the San Francisco 49ers.  So, I clicked on his name to access his profile, and right there it stated, college Belhaven and hometown, Gulfport, Mississippi.

 I could not have been more shocked that the little tiny school located just up the street from where I grew up had produced the leader of any NFL category.  Not Miami, USC, Florida, Ohio State, but Belhaven. Soccer teams and Singing Christmas Trees I give Belhaven credit for, but not for producing top notch NFL cornerbacks. If memory serves me correct, the school did not even field a football team untill about 15-20 years ago.  I had read during the preseason that Belhaven had a player in the NFL, but the name had escaped me, and I had wrongly assumed that he would be way down the depth chart and would be lucky to still be on the team when the regular season started.  Shame on me! 

Technically, Brock is not the league's interception leader.  He is tied for two with several other players, having intercepted a pass in each of the 49er's first two games.  For that reason, the leaders are currently listed in alphabetical order and the name "Brock" is the undisputed leader on that end, so what the heck give him the tiebreaker!                 

Now for a little more on Brock:  Even though Gulfport is listed as his hometown, it was nearby Long Beach where we went to high school and played for the Bearcats.  Coming out of high school, he was a two star recruit according to Scout.Com and enrolled at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, helping the Bulldogs win a national championship his sophomore year.  After community college, he spent a year at the University of Minnesota before transferring to Belhaven for his senior season, where he had 6 interceptions for the Blazers.  Now you may think the year he spent playing for Minnesota somehow dilutes this rags to riches story, but he definitely came to the NFL straight from the Blazers and not the Golden Gophers!

This is Brock's second year in the league.  He was an undrafted free agent for the 49ers in 2010 and finished up the season on the practice squad.   With the pass-happy NFC West that the 49ers play in, Brock definitely has the opportunity for quite a few more picks this season.  If he keeps it up, we could have another all pro player coming out of the Gulf Coast, and the first one from Belhaven.

Also listed among the NFL's statistical leaders is running back Fred Jackson of the Buffalo Bills, who leads the league with 229 rushing yards.  His alma mater is Coe College.  Where the Hell is that?

- Win

Tulane's Matt Forte Provides Bears Only Offensive Spark In Return Trip To The Dome

It was a complete game for the Saints both offensively and defensively in their 30-13 victory over the Chicago Bears, yet at times Slidell High School and Tulane alum Matt Forte gave the defense fits as the shifty and elusive running back rushed for 74 yards and caught 10 passes for 117 yards.

Here is an article from Jimmy Smith of The Times Picayune on Forte's return trip to the Dome:

On Sunday, this time wearing the colors of the Chicago Bears, Forté, the Slidell High School alum, provided the bulk of the Bears' offense in a 30-13 loss to the Saints, accounting for 166 of Chicago's 246 total yards, sending about 20 family members in attendance home satisfied with Forte's effort but disappointed in the game's outcome.
"It was nice to play in front of my family," Forte said quietly in front of his locker in the Bears' dressing room. "We didn't get the win, but this just gives us motivation to come out and work harder in practice. This was fun. It reminded me of the time we played LSU in the Dome."
For full article go to:  http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/09/matt_forte_is_offensive_bright.html

Destrehan's Ed Reed Continues To Pick 'Em Off

Big opening game for Baltimore Ravens Free Safety Ed Reed who had two interceptions in his team's 35-7 win over their divisional rival Pittsburg Steelers.   Reed, a native of St. Rose, Louisiana just outside of New Orleans, was All State at Destrehan High School before going onto an All American career at the University of Miami.  I've always thought it ironic that with rich history Miami has had of getting All American defensive backs right out of their own backyard in South Florida, arguably the best they have ever had comes from South Louisiana.  Now in his 10th NFL Season, Reed's two interceptions Sunday, which also happened to be his 33rd birthday, gives him an amazing 56 for his career.  Reed, who led the NFL interceptions in 2010 with 8, now also moves into second place in total intercpetion return yardage, trailing only Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Famer Rod Woodson.  It is pretty much certain that Reed will join Woodson in Canton one day.

Here is the link from The Baltimore Sun to Reed's post game interview:   http://www.baltimoresun.com/videogallery/64673665/Sports/Ravens-Reed-This-is-just-game-one

 

Cheeseheads Don't Get Crunked

Here is an excellent article from Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune constrasting the different celebration styles between Packers fans and Saints fans.  Let's just say that Packers fans are a little more subdued.  It is very reflective of the NBC promo for tonight's game in which a group of happy, peaceful Green Bay fans enjoying a neighborhood cookout are intruded by a Brass Band leading a group of Saints fans doing a Second Line Parade.  While the article focuses on the different collective personalities of both fan bases, it also makes the comparison between the similar playing styles that each team shares with their quick strike offenses and opportunistic defenses.

Can't wait till kickoff!

Green Bay Packers' celebration in stark contrast to New Orleans Saints'

By Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune
GREEN BAY, WIS. - About 40 people gathered in front of a wooden fence across the street from Lambeau Field on Monday to take part in what has become a ritual in this tradition-rich football town. The second annual Fence Paint & Tailgate Party attracted a small army of grandmothers, toddlers and businessmen decked head to toe in green and gold and armed with paint cans and brushes.
For full article:  http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/09/they_love_their_packers_but_gr.html