By Dean Michaels

Super Bowl XLIV - February 7, 2010, New Orleans Saints vs Indianapolis Colts
Super Bowl XLIV - Saints vs Colts

Looking at the Saints' key team defensive statistics -- Points, Total Yards, Pass Yards and Rushing Yards Allowed -- it's easy to see why the Saints defense does not get all that much respect.

After all, the Saints defense ranks:

    21st in Points Allowed (21.3 / game);

    25th in Total Yards Allowed (357.8 / game);

    26th in Passing Yards Allowed (235.6 / game); and

    21st in Rushing Yards Allowed (122.2 /game)

Focusing on those stats, even Saints star defensive end Will Smith concedes:

"Yeah. Statistically as an overall defense, we're not top 5. I don't even think we're in the top 10."

However, the Saints defense is actually better than it gets credit for. You just need to dig a little deeper and look at the 'key' stats that make the Saints defense tick.

For the Saints defense the focus is "not necessarily giving up big yardage, but making the plays when we need to make the plays in important situations" according to Will Smith. "In certain categories we are in the top. I think we're No. 1 in the red zone, No. 1 in turnovers, other little things that we rank high in.

No doubt the best feature of the Saints' defense is forcing turnovers. The Saints have forced turnovers during the regular season and continued to deal big blows throughout ther playoffs.

The New Orleans Saints defense scored an NFL 2009 season-high eight touchdowns in the regular season, the second-highest total in Saints history.

The Saints ranked 3rd in interceptions (26) led by free agent acquisition safety Darren Sharper. Sharper, the NFL's active interception leader with 63 was tied for first in the NFL this with nine (tying his career-high). Sharper has a career-high three interception returns for touchdowns. In addition to Sharper, CB Tracy Porter (4), LB Jonathan Vilma (3), CB Jabari Greer (2) and LB Scott Shanle (2) also set or tied career-highs in interceptions in 2009.

A closer look at the Saints defensive impact players:

DE Will Smith

During the regular season, Smith recorded 77 tackles (42 solo), 13 sacks (2nd NFC; 5th NFL), three forced fumbles, his first career interception, and three passes defensed.

In the playoffs Smith made an impact in the NFC Divisional Playoff vs. Arizona when he picked off a Kurt Warner pass in the second quarter that led to a touchdown. In the NFC Championship game, Smith tackled Vikings WR Percy Harvin and forced him to cough up the ball on a reception at the start of the fourth quarter at their 22-yard line. The ball was picked up by DT Remi Ayodele and lead to a go-ahead touchdown three plays later.

On playing against Colts' QB Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLIV:

"It's a great thing to be able to be blessed to play against him. We know it's going to be a challenge, and we look forward to (it) as a defense. You always want to play against the best, and this is the opportunity for us to go out there and play against the best, and have a chance to win against the best."

On the Key to winning Super Bowl XLIV:

"They key to this game is to force turnovers -- if they're interceptions or fumbles, whatever way to get turnovers."

LB Jonathan Vilma

Jon Vilma has earned a reputation as one of the top middle linebackers in the NFL, capturing NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2004 and being selected to the Pro Bowl in 2005 and 2009. During the regular season Vilma recorded 130 tackles (102 solo), two quarterback takedowns, three interceptions (2nd among NFL linebackers) and eight passes defensed.

Vilma's third quarter interception of Minnesota QB Brett Favre in the NFC Championship game at the New Orleans 28 yard line averted a potential Vikings score. He also recorded five solo tackles, a forced fumble and a pass defense.

On whether it was the win against the New York Jets during the season when he knew that the Saints defense could be special:

"I would say before that. I would say that it was week three against Buffalo. They had a pretty hot start and we were able to hold them to seven points. It was actually a shut out on defense, we gave up a special team's touchdown. We felt that if we could get into games like that, where the offense was struggling a little bit in the beginning and blew them out in the end. To be able to say that the defense was part of the reason that we won this game, we never had a situation like that. The year before, it was always high scoring games. To go out there and perform the way we did that week, we felt like we had something special."

S Darren Sharper

The offseason free agent addition of Darren Sharper significantly strengthened the Saints with a proven performer with playmaking ability, leadership skills and a wealth of experience.

The NFL's active leader with 63 interceptions, tied for sixth all-time, Sharper's been voted to the Pro Bowl four times and scored 11 touchdowns off interceptions, the second-highest total in NFL history. With 13 touchdowns on combined fumble and interception returns, he's tied for first all-time in NFL record books. The 13-year NFL veteran has appeared in 196 regular season games with 180 starts. He's been voted an NFC starter in the Pro Bowl in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2009.

Sharper accumulated 376 return yards with his 9 interceptions this season. The 376 total interception return yards this season is an NFL record -- three of his interceptions were returned for TDs. Sharper also added 93 tackles (55 solo), half a sack and seven pass defenses.

In the NFC Divisional Playoff vs. Arizona, Sharper picked up a fumble in the first quarter that helped set up a touchdown to give New Orleans their first lead of the game. In the NFC Championship, Sharper put on a hard-hitting performance as he tied for the team lead with 12 tackles (eight solo).

On how difficult it is to disrupt Peyton Manning:

"He is probably one of the toughest. He's been around so long and played in so many big games. He is very mentally tough and has seen it all. He prepares harder than anyone prepares in this league. He is tough and has been a starter in every game he has had a chance to be a starter in. You can't go into a game expecting to knock a guy like that out because no one has been able to do it. That's what makes him so tough, he prepares himself so well. He's a tough football player. He knows we're coming a lot of the times and has the ability to get rid of the football so you can't really get those sacks or shots on him."

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Super Bowl XLIV - Saints Defense Actually Better than it Gets Credit For - Colts vs Saints