| A big play last month by Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins was the beginning of a major turnaround for the New Orleans defense -- and the entire team. (US Presswire) |
When safety Malcolm Jenkins tracked down Tampa Bay receiver Vincent Jackson at the 1-yard line to prevent a long touchdown last month, he started a trend that could turn around the Saints season.
From that moment, the Saints red-zone defense has been remarkably good.
The Bucs failed to score in four plays, turning over the ball on downs.
Against Philadelphia, CB Patrick Robinson returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown after the Eagles had first-and-goal at the 5. The Eagles had four more possessions inside the Saints 20 and produced six points, one fewer than they gave up on the interception.
Atlanta failed to convert a third-and-1 at the New Orleans 18, settling for a field goal, and the Falcons turned the ball over on downs with a chance to take the lead in the final two minutes after having second-and-goal at the 1.
Oakland failed to score after having first-and-goal at the 1, eventually throwing an interception in the end zone.
The Saints won all four games, helping them get back to .500 after an 0-4 start.
“If you look at the history of what (defensive coordinator) Steve Spagnuolo has taught as a coordinator and what he did as a head coach in St. Louis, they’ve always had great red-zone defenses,” Saints interim coach Joe Vitt said. “They’ve always had great goal-line defenses. … You need to have the right people and you need to have prideful men, and I think that when you’re down there on the goal line, making plays on the 1-yard line, it’s a testament to your players’ resolve and physicality.”
The self-effacing Spagnuolo deflected the praise, noting the good and bad aspects of a defense that stiffens near the goal line.
“I would prefer to do that out at the 50-yard line or their 40 and get the ball back,” he said. “We are facing good offenses and these are good football teams we are playing. They are going to move the ball a little bit. It happens to every defense. When you keep them out of the end zone and either make them kick field goals or either more of a bonus in getting a turnover – that’s huge.”
Tackle trouble: After starting two games at right offensive tackle in place of injured Zach Strief (groin), Charles Brown left late in the first half against Oakland with a knee injury and did not return. Bryce Harris, an undrafted rookie out of Fresno State, replaced him and fared well the rest of the way, but Brown’s status could cause a roster move.
Vitt said Brown was being evaluated Monday.
“We usually bring a group of athletes in on Tuesday and look at them and see if they can help our football team,” he said. “We’re waiting for the evaluation to see where that is.”
Strief appears unlikely to return in the next two weeks, although the Saints have not said anything official about his status.
Vitt said Eric Olsen, the other backup lineman on the active roster, was more suited to play guard because he's not tall enough (6-feet 3, 305 pounds) to be an ideal tackle. The Saints do not have a tackle on their eight-man practice squad.
Monday night plans: The 49ers, the Saints’ next opponent, are playing Monday night against Chicago. Speaking in the early afternoon, DE Cam Jordan said players would watch the game but not as a group because they had Thanksgiving priorities.
“A lot of guys are starting to prep for families coming in over the next two days or so,” he said. “I’m now going over to Sam’s Club to get ready for my mother to come. This will be the second or third time she’s actually made the trip to New Orleans, so I have to make sure my room’s clean.”
Vitt said the coaches would watch it from their offices, separately.
“No, we don’t sit around and get popcorn,” he said. “Our coordinators watch it on TV because you pick up some things on TV like the cadence and potentially some checks on defense and things like that.”
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSaints.