Foxborough, Mass. - The buildup prior to the Saints-Patriots preseason meeting was all about quarterbacks Tom Brady and Drew Brees, and rightfully so. But as the game unfolds, both defenses are dominating the flow of the game.
The Saints are building off a strong performance against a shaky Cardinals offense and pulled in two turnovers in the first half. One came on an interception from cornerback Marquis Johnson who started the game due to injuries to Patrick Robinson and Jabari Greer. He has filled in nicely on the outside and has registered four tackles.
The Saints' other turnover should be credited to the entire defensive line. In the first quarter, Junior Galette flushed Tom Brady out of the pocket where Will Smith and Cameron Jordan converged for a collision-hit that forced the ball out. Curtis Lofton tracked down the loose pigskin on the sideline to set the Saints up for an easy field goal.
Johnny Patrick has also played well out of the nickelback slot. He had a nice pass breakup on a deep pass from Brady to veteran receiver Brandon Lloyd. He got the start at nickel for the second week in a row, signaling the coaching staff's desire to let him prove his worth there, and not on the outside.
The transformation under Steve Spagnuolo is evident by all the pressure the defensive line is putting on teams early in the preseason and the dividends are obvious as the first team defense has yet to give up any points in their limited playing time.
