To quote long time NFL Head Coach (now in the UFL), Dennis Green: “They are what we thought they were”—a statement applicable to both teams competing week one in the Louisiana Superdome.

The Saints were what we thought they were—an offensive team that can clamp down on any team in which it sees a weakness. The Saints are known for being a passing team, but managed to run (35) one more time than they passed (34). The most stunning thing seen on Sunday however, was how much better the Saints have become, defensively.

Don’t get me wrong, no one is going to confuse these Saints with the ‘76 Steelers, but certainly the 2009 version is far and away better than the 2008 squad.

Sedrick Ellis is coming into his own as a disruptive force up front. The revamped secondary or Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer, Darren Sharper, and Roman Harper and Usama Young, when healthy could be one of the most underrated units in the league. The linebacking corps lacks overall talent but has a great playmaker in the middle in Jonathan Vilma—who never fit well in Mangini’s 3-4 defense.

Read the rest over at Bleacher Report!