| Rookie Akiem Hicks has been a savior for the Saints' defensive line. He also may be the only 2012 Draft pick to produce this season. (Getty Images) |
The potential of rookie DT Akiem Hicks has been one of the few positives in the Saints’ dismal start.
Although winless New Orleans languishes in last place in total defense and rushing defense, Hicks has nine tackles in two games after being inactive for the season opener against Washington.
He has the same number of solo stops (three) and assists (six) as starter Brodrick Bunkley, tying for second on the team among interior linemen.
“I’ve just taken in everything that the coaches tell me, everything my veterans tell me,” Hicks said. “I’m just taking in their insight. Everybody just gives me a lot of advice and tell me what I need to be doing to get better.”
Hicks took a circuitous route to the NFL. New Orleans found him at Canada’s University of Regina. Hicks played his junior and senior years of college there after the NCAA ruled him ineligible at LSU. Before going north of the border, he was at Sacramento City College (Calif.) for two seasons.
Hicks' quick development could prevent the Saints 2012 Draft from being a total wash. The organization traded their first-round pick to take RB Mark Ingram in 2011, lost their second-round selection as part of their bounty penalty and placed fourth-round pick Nick Toon on injured reserve. Fifth-round CB Corey White has struggled in extensive action.
Hicks, who has become entrenched in the four-man rotation in the middle, has thrived.
“They want a young guy to be full of energy just like I am,” he said. “I hope it works for what we’re doing. I just try to be myself out there and do what the defense allows me to do and what the coaches tell me I need to be doing.”
Brees can tie Unitas record: QB Drew Brees has thrown a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games, one shy of the NFL record set by Johnny Unitas. Brees has bigger concerns than records as the Saints try to win for the first time this season, but appreciates the significance.
“When you say that name, Johnny Unitas, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, certainly his accomplishments speak for themselves,” Brees said. “It’s humbling. Obviously we’re not there yet, but I focus on my job. I focus on what I need to do to help our team win. Usually, that stuff just takes care of itself.”
Brees has thrown for seven TDs in three games, putting him on pace for the second-highest total of his career. But his completion percentage of 54.7 is almost 10 points below his previous low of 64.3 in seven years with the Saints.
Getting closer: Despite their 0-3 start, Brees said the Saints were not far from turning the corner. After falling behind by 15 points to Washington and Carolina and having their rallies come up short, they blew an 18-point second-half lead to Kansas City before losing in overtime.
“We really had a pitiful fourth quarter, but if you look at the strides that we’ve made each game, I feel we’ve gotten better,” Brees said. “We haven’t put it all together yet, but we’re getting close to where we want to be, where we know we can be and should be and will be.”
This and that: DE Turk McBride (ankle) LB David Hawthorne (hamstring) and LB Jonathan Casillas (neck) did not practice Wednesday. Hawthorne and Casillas were hurt in the Kansas City game. Kromer said everyone else fully participated. The Saints released WR Greg Camarillo to make room for LB Ramon Humber , who came off a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Camarillo was active for two games but did not have a catch.
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSaints.