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By Mike Detillier / Sports Correspondent

Every week, all you hear from football fans is just how bad defenses in college and pro football are today.

Many blame it on the unusual year of 2020 without spring and summer drills, tackling and taking bad angles to the football, the lack of playing together as a unit and the ability to hone in a defensive scheme, but it is more than that.

While 2020 is the most unusual year ever for both college and pro football, defenses are struggling because of what has happened in the off-season for years. Summer events such as 7-on-7 training and games have benefited the offensive side of the ball.

It has hit high school football and has taken over the college game.

It’s a personnel issue, especially with more 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-6 players today playing wide receiver and tight end and not outside linebacker or defensive end.

And the quarterbacks entering the college football world are more experienced and football savvy in the pitch-and-catch part of the world than ever before.

And it’s hit pro football too.

Full Story - Daily Comet

By John DeShazier | Senior Writer - NewOrleansSaints.com

The early bye week possibly came at a fortuitous time for the New Orleans Saints.

Several bodies needed the rest, recovery and rehabilitation, and the Saints (3-2) needed to iron out a few wrinkles before entering their season-ending 11-game marathon, beginning with Sunday's game against Carolina (3-3) in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

There should be a quick indication in the game of how much the Saints improved and shored up during the break. The Panthers likely will be a stern test.

Here are a few keys to the game:

1. GROUNDED: The Saints aren't exactly ground-and-pounders when it comes to the running game, but that doesn't mean they can't do it. Against the Lions, in a 35-29 win, New Orleans had 42 attempts for 164 rushing yards and three touchdowns, significantly above the team's season averages of 28 attempts and 115 rushing yards per game. The reason to mention this is because the Panthers allow 121.7 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry. Alvin Kamara (281 yards, 4.6 per carry) and Latavius Murray (218 and 4.2) could have busy days for the Saints as runners.

Full Story - NewOrleansSaints.com

By Kyle T. Mosley | SI

It's been a tough week for the New Orleans Saints wide receiving corps. On Wednesday, many were surprised when the team listed All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas with a hamstring injury. Thomas confirmed with his social media posting, saying it was a "setback."

On Friday, New Orleans was dealt another blow. Wideout Emmanuel Sanders became ill on Thursday, got tested, and was confirmed positive with COVID-19. Coach Payton confirmed the report on Sanders with media. He said tests were ordered for approximately 20 people who electronic tracers had them in contact or near Sanders. At this point, no other Saints player had a confirmed COVID-19 test stemming from contact with Sanders.

Finally, Sanders' close friend and teammate Bennie Fowler was placed on injured reserve by the Saints because of a shoulder injury.

Full Story - SI

By John Sigler | Saints Wire

There’s a big matchup brewing between Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints against Teddy Bridgewater and the Carolina Panthers, so we previewed the game by going to the best source of Panthers analysis we know: Tim Weaver over at Panthers Wire.

We exchanged a series of questions and answers to touch on several topics in this week’s game, which could get interesting considering how much star talent isn’t available for either team. Both squads will have to adjust and find new ways to win on Sunday, and the more creative team just might come out ahead. Here’s what we learned:

1. So how has Teddy Bridgewater looked? He became a Saints fan favorite in short order and still has a lot of good will going his way, but not this week. Has he lived up to expectations after signing a big contract with Carolina in free agency?

It’s still early to say if he’ll live up to the contract he signed. Bridgewater has been mostly what we expected. He’s a solid QB who generally makes good decisions and is a very accurate passer. Teddy’s deep ball has also been pretty on-point this year, even if there haven’t been too many of them. He’s also a tremendous fit for Joe Brady’s offense.

Full Story - Saints Wire - USA Today

By John Sigler | Saints Wire

Both wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and cornerback Ken Crawley were placed on the COVID-19 reserve list this week, prompting the New Orleans Saints to promote a pair of wide receivers from the practice squad: veteran Austin Carr and rookie Juwan Johnson. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill first reported the roster moves.

Per an NFL rules tweak, these will not count against each other player for future promotions (the new CBA allows for two practice squad call-ups per player each season). Because they are filling in for teammates on COVID-19 reserve, both players are granted a temporary exemption. Carr has already had one game-week promotion so he is still allowed one more, while Johnson retains both of his future opportunities.

Full Story - Saints Wire - USA Today