MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / July 29, 2000

THIBODAUX – “The Iron Age” has ended in New Orleans. Tonight, a new erabegins for the New Orleans Saints.

Gone are head coach Mike Ditka nd general manager Bill Kuharich. In thosepositions are Jim Haslett and Randy Mueller. Also in our 47 new playersout of the 87 currently on the Saints’ roster. They will be trying toimprove on a 1999 season that saw the team go 3-13.

That road begins tonight as the Saints open the preseason against the New York Jets at Giants Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game willbe televised on WWL-TV. St. Charles Parish Recreation Director LarryMatson will prove the play-by-play on WWL-870 Am radio.

With so many changes, one of the team’s concerns was how the players would jell together.

“We have so many new faces on this team, over 26 different players and you are returning only five starters from a year ago, it takes awhile to get some chemistry,” linebacker Mark Fields said. “But it’s coming along quitewell. I’m very surprised to see how well it’s coming along for a new teamand a new staff.”Among the 47 new players on the Saints roster is quarterback Jeff Blake, acquired from Cincinnati through free agency during the offseason. Blake,a former Jet, made the Pro Bowl in 1995 when he threw 28 touchdown passes for the Bengals. Blake will probably play the first quarter tonightalthough Haslett has not disclosed yet how long the starters will play.

The Saints are hoping Blake can take some pressure off Ricky Williams, who gained over 800 yards in his rookie season despite missing four games due to injuries. The Saints also drafted fullback Terrelle Smith inthe third round to provide blocking for Williams.

To help in the passing game, Joe Horn (Kansas City) and Jake Reed (Minnesota) were acquired in free agency. Horn hyperextended his elbow inpractice Tuesday but Haslett said it was nothing major. Both will be usedin the team’s new West Coast offense.

The line remains intact from last year with the exception of guard Chris Naeole, who will miss tonight’s game with a strained medial collateral ligament. Naeole is expected to miss two to four weeks. He was replacedthis week by backup center Wally Williams. The line also returns WillieRoaf, who was named to the 1990s NFL All-Decade team this week.

“If something happens to me this year on that field and I can’t play a down of football anymore, then I accomplished a lot in this game and I’m very proud of that.”On defense, defensive end Joe Johnson, who returned to practice this week after missing the 1999 season with a knee injury, also will not play tonight. Defensive line has been one of the few deep spots on the teamwith the acquistion of Norman Hand from free agency and Darren Howard, the team’s first pick in the draft this year.

Fields, Keith Mitchell and Charlie Clemons, another free agent signee, should start at linebacker. The secondary is a grab bag with Alex Molden,Fred Weary, Steve Israel, Kevin Mathis, Sammy Knight, Rob Kelly and Darren Perry all battling for starting spots. The squad showedimprovement Tuesday, defending a number of passes.

“Always, the key is to stay healthy,” Fields said. “When you start losing alot of your main players, you are going to be in trouble. I think we haveenough depth that in case we do get some injuries, we will be ok.”Look for the Saints to throw a number of short passes tonight. The teamworked on the short passing game in practice and Smith said it was an essential part of the West Coast offense.

The Jets are another team that underwent a number of changes in the offseason. Woody Johnson came on board as the new owner and Al Grohreplaced Bill Parcells as head coach. Vinny Testaverde returns aftermissing all but one game of the 1999 season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. The Jets are also searching for a replacement for wide receiverKeyshawn Johnson who was traded in April.

The Saints are meeting the Jets for the sixth time in the preseason but for the first time since 1983. It is also the first time the Saints have playedthe Jets in the preseason the road. The Jets lead the series, 3-2. Theregular season series is tied at 4. The Saints have won the last threemeetings, shuting out the Jets the last two times, including a 12-0 victory at Giants Stadium in 1995.

This is the ninth consecutive season that the Saints have opened the exhibition schedule on the road. The team travels to Minnesota nextSaturday.

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