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Saints-Buc preview
09/04/08 - 08:54 PM
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NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Drew Brees wasn’t with the Saints when they
fled New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina approached in 2005, so he
talked to neighbors before the team left for Indianapolis last
weekend to get out of Gustav’s way.
“We tried to do all the things people told us, get all the
loose items out of the yard so they don’t become flying objects,
clean your refrigerator out of anything that can spoil,” Brees
recalled after practice this week in the Colts’ new Lucas Oil
Stadium, where the Saints spent most of the week. “I got coached
up by some people who have been through it.”
Gustav weakened a little before it hit Louisiana and swerved far
enough west to spare New Orleans catastrophic damage. So now Brees
can look forward on Sunday to something with which he does have
experience: leading the Saints back into the Louisiana Superdome in
a symbolic march of strength following a disruptive storm,
something he did in 2006.
Soon after Gustav had passed, officials decided the Superdome
and the city would be in good enough shape to host a game this
weekend - a decision that pleased the Saints, who wanted their
opener against Tampa Bay to be on home turf.
“We understand that there are some people that are going to
have a lot of work to do in regards to their home, downed trees,
downed power lines, water damage and all these things,” Brees
said. “But, obviously, we’re hoping they can be there (at the
game) because we want to give them what they deserve.”
Brees thinks Saints fans deserve a lot better than they got last
season, when New Orleans hobbled to a disappointing 7-9 regular
season record, missing the playoffs in a year when it was widely
expected to contend for the Super Bowl.
The Saints have a new slogan this season. It’s “edge,” printed
on T-shirts and banners around their training headquarters. For
Brees, it means the Saints should have an edge about them as they
did in 2006, when most people expected them to be lousy following a
3-13 2005. But the Saints, inspired both by being underestimated
and by their mission to uplift a recovering region, put together a
storybook run to the NFC championship game.
This season, the Saints have a host of high-profile players who
come into their season opener with their share of doubters.
Deuce McAllister is trying to prove he’s still an elite rusher
after his second knee reconstruction in three seasons. Mike
McKenzie, who also had a knee reconstruction late last season, is
trying to prove he still has top-notch cornerback speed.
Tight end Jeremy Shockey, jettisoned by the Giants after
breaking his leg and openly criticizing the franchise, is trying to
prove he can be a team player and big-play receiver again. Jonathan
Vilma, traded from the Jets after struggling to adapt to their 3-4
defense and seriously injuring his knee, wants to show he can play
at a Pro Bowl level again after moving into New Orleans 4-3
defense, which he thinks suits him better.
Wide receiver Robert Meachem, who didn’t dress for a single game
as a rookie in 2007, wants to show he was worthy of being a
first-round pick.
The Saints’ entire secondary is looking for redemption after New
Orleans finished 30th against the pass last season.
The Buccaneers swept both games in 2007, crushing the Saints in
Tampa Bay in Week 2 and coming back to win in the Superdome behind
strong running from Earnest Graham - and with the help of a botched
exchange between Bush and Devery Henderson on a reverse, which set
up the Bucs’ winning score.
Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden suspects the Saints will be tougher
this time and could very well draw energy from what’s bound to be a
hero’s welcome at the dome.
“They’re a heck of a football team. Let’s start right there,”
Gruden said. “They have a great returning group of football
players. I’m sure it’s going to be loud. It always is when these
two teams square up in the Superdome. If there’s any added
incentive for being enthusiastic, I’m sure we can expect it to be
the loudest it can get.”
The Bucs’ running game, already strong behind Graham, should be
bolstered by the return of Warrick Dunn from Atlanta.
Jeff Garcia and Joey Galloway have torched the Saints’ secondary
in the past. Last season, they hooked up four times for 135 yards
and two touchdowns in the Bucs’ early triumph. Galloway had 56
yards receiving when the teams met again in Week 13, with Luke
McCown playing quarterback because of Garcia’s bad back.
The question this time is how Garcia and Galloway will play
coming off injuries.
Garcia, 38, saw limited playing time in only the final two
preseason games because of a strained right calf.
“I’m experienced enough at this point to know what I have to do
to prepare for this first game,” Garcia added.
Galloway missed the entire exhibition season with a sore groin
and he wasn’t sure Gruden would let him play.
“I’ve been telling him I’ve been ready forever, but that’s just
not my call,” Galloway said. “He’ll let me know if I’m playing or
not.”

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