New Orleans Saints Holding the Offensive Line

By Dean Michaels

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

Obviously, Drew Brees is a great quarterback. Being honored as NFL 2009 FedEx Air Player of the Year -- ahead of Peyton Manning no less -- is a testament to that. Plus, the Saints possess awesome talent and depth in the remaining offensive skill positions.

However, those men in the "trenches," the Saints offensive line has earned a great deal of credit in leading the Saints dominating offense over the past two seasons.

As the old adage goes, "Behind every great man there stands a great woman." Mind you, we're not here to debate for or against the merits of this adage. However, the same (or almost the same) can be said of great quarterbacks -- "In front of every great quarterback there stands a great offensive line."

Here's a look at the Saints offensive line (arguably, the key to Saints Super Bowl XLIV victory)

The Saints offensive line remains one of the top-ranked units in the NFL. Since Sean Payton became Saints head coach in 2006, New Orleans has been the second-least sacked club in the NFL, surrendering only 73 in 64 regular season games over a span of four seasons.

In 2009, the Saints experienced their most significant turnover in personnel on the offensive line in the past three seasons, having to replace Pro Bowl tackle Jammal Brown with Jermon Bushrod during training camp due to to season-ending abdominal and hip injuries. Jermon Bushrod joined RG Jahri Evans, C Jonathan Goodwin, LG Carl Nicks and RT Jon Stinchcomb.

Bushrod filled in admirably. Protecting Drew Brees' blind- side as the Saints offensive line surrendered only 20 sacks during the NFL 2009 regular season. The Saints allowed the 4th fewest sacks in the NFL. Quite a feat for an offense that ranked first in overall offense, sixth in running and fourth in passing.

As a result of the astounding NFL 2009 season three Saints players from the offensive line (Evans, Goodwin, Stinchcomb) were named to this year's Pro Bowl NFC squad.

The offensive line continues to protect Brees in the postseason, surrendering only one sack in two games.

The Saints Offensive Line

LT Jermon Bushrod

A 2007 fourth round draft pick, this promising young lineman has helped spur the NFL's sixth best running game.

RG Jahri Evans

This 2006 fourth round draft choice has made a rapid ascent into one of the NFL's top right guards. Evans was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2009 (as a starter). Evans' streak of 64 straight starts with the Saints is the longest streak of starts in Saints franchise history among offensive linemen to begin a career and tied with Stinchcomb as the most by a current Saint.

Evans' streak of consecutive starts to begin a career is ranks third overall among all players in Saints record books.

C Jonathan Goodwin

Jonathan Goodwin took over the starting center position in 2008 after serving as a back-up for his first two seasons with the Saints and has distinguished himself in pass protection, run blocking and making line calls, opening 31 games in the middle of the offensive line over the past three seasons.

Goodwin was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2009.

LG Carl Nicks

This 6-5, 343 pounder who was a 2008 fifth-round draft choice, needed very little time to make a smooth transition to life in the NFL trenches. Nicks opened up the last 13 contests at left guard in 2008 and was selected for All-Rookie honors by several publications. He's started every contest in 2009 and combined with Evans for one of the NFL's top young interior combinations.

RG Jon Stinchcomb

This 2003 second round draft choice is one of the longest tenured players on the club and among the most respected by his teammates both on and off the field. Anchoring the right side of the line since 2006, he has combined with Evans to start all 64 games and provide uninterrupted service during this period, the most by the Saints during this period.

Stinchcomb is tied for the fifth-longest current starting streak among NFL tackles. Stinchcomb was selected to his first Pro Bowl this season.

G/C Jamar Nesbit

The most tenured blocker on the squad, this 11-year NFL veteran has started games at every position on the line with the exception of left tackle, providing solid versatility. Nesbit has also seen action as a blocking tight end in select formations. Nesbit has opened 90 of the 153 games he has appeared in through his NFL career, starting 43 of 84 with the Saints.

T Zach Strief

This 2006 seventh round draft choice has appeared in 57 games for the Saints and has opened five games at left tackle during this time, as well as filling in on the right side on several occasions. The versatile Strief, a tenacious blocker, possesses the ability to play guard has also served as an extra tight end in short yardage situations.

Scoring Machine

The New Orleans Saints led the NFL 2009 season in scoring with a club-record 510 points. The 510 total points ranks ninth-highest NFL history

Since 2006, the Saints 27.6 points per game average (1,765 total points) in 64 regular season games ranks third overall in the NFL. The Saints led the NFL in scoring for the second consecutive season, averaging 31.9 points per game.

With 76 points in two post-season games, the Saints hed into Super Bowl XLIV as the highest-scoring team in the playoffs.

In their first two games this season, the Saints put forth 40 point outputs back to back for the first time in club history. These efforts made the Saints the fourth team in NFL history and the first in more than 40 years, to score at least 45 points in each of their first two games.

With a quartet of performances of 45 points or more, the Saints have had four of their ten highest-scoring games in club history occur in 2009. Five of the ten have occurred on Sean Payton's watch since he arrived.

The Saints added to that total of 40 plus outputs with a 45-point effort in the NFC Divisional Playoff vs. the Arizona Cardinals, giving them their fifth performance of at least 45 points in the 2009 NFL season.

Following a 30 point output vs. the Carolina Panthers (November 8), the Saints have scored 30 or more points in four consecutive games for the second time in club history. The other streak occurred in the final two games of last season and carried over to the first two games of this year.

In 64 career regular season games played under Payton, the Saints have scored 20 or more points in 51 games (79.7%) and 30 or more points in 29 contests (45.3%).

Dominating Offense

Since 2006, the Saints are the NFL's top ranked offense in net yardage, averaging 391.8 yards per game. In the past three seasons, the Saints ranked first twice including the NFL 2009 season.

In 2009, the Saints averaged 403.8 yards per game (6,461 total yards), making them the only NFL club to average at least 400 yards per game. In a display of balance, the Saints were the only NFL team to be ranked in the top six in both passing and rushing.

The New Orleans offense found the end zone on 41 of their 71 opportunities (57.7 percent) inside the 20 yard line in the regular season in 2009 to rank fourth in the NFC and sixth in the NFL. The Colts were second at 66.0 percent scoring on 35 out of 53 possesions within the red zone.

In six trips inside the 20-yard line in the postseason, the Saints have been a perfect 100 percent, scoring touchdowns on each red zone possesion.

The Saints converted 88-of-197 (44.7 percent) of their attempts on third down to rank third in the NFC and sixth in the NFL. The Colts led the NFL in third-down conversion efficiency with a 49.2 percent mark (95-of-193). In 2009, the Saints offense averaged 6.25 yards on first down plays during the regular season ranking third in the NFL.

Since 2006, the Saints offense has been ranked first in the NFL in yards after the catch, led by a running back, tight end and wide receiver corps that obtain additional yardage after getting the ball. During this time, RB Reggie Bush is ranked fifth in the league with 1,817 yards after the catch, while teammate WR Marques Colston is 18th with 1,404.