by LES EAST; Special to The Advocate; , The Advocate

New Orleans signed safety Darren Sharper and cornerback Jabari Greer as free agents to bolster the secondary, then used its No. 1 draft choice on cornerback Malcolm Jenkins to do some more bolstering.

After a 4-0 start, it's safe to say the project is a success - No. 7 in the NFL in run defense, No. 11 in pass defense, No. 6 in total defense and tied for second in turnover margin (plus-7) - but it's not an unqualified success.

In those four games the Saints have faced teams that have a combined record of 8-11, three of the quarterbacks had never started an NFL game before this season (two being rookies) and the quarterbacks are the 15th-, 26th-, 27th-, and 31st-ranked passers in the NFL.

All of that changes Sunday in the Superdome when New Orleans faces the 5-0 New York Giants and Eli Manning. The Giants rank fourth in rushing offense, ninth in passing offense and second in total offense. Manning is the second-ranked passer in his family and the NFL.

"Of all the guys we played, he's the most experienced," Saints defensive end Will Smith said of Manning. "He's won a Super Bowl and has been in a lot of big games."

Williams coaches an aggressive style, utilizes a variety of packages and disguises blitzes well enough to confuse unsophisticated quarterbacks. But Manning is a six-year veteran who two seasons ago earned Most Valuable Player honors in the Super Bowl after defeating a New England team coached by an elite defensive mind (Bill Belichick).

"He's going to be expecting everything we're going to shoot at him," Smith said. "We just have to get (to him) fast enough."

Sharper, who has five interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, has had success against Manning. Sharper played 2? games against Manning while Sharper was with the Vikings, and he has four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. But those plays came in 2005 and 2007.

"He came into the league after me, so I've seen him mature and become a leader for that team," Sharper said of Manning. "He's definitely a guy I've seen get better, because he's gotten more comfortable in the system he's been in for a while, and with the weapons that he has he makes big plays."

New York has the sixth- and ninth-leading rushers in the NFL in Ahmad Bradshaw (58 carries, 375 yards, 6.5 average per carry, and two touchdowns) and Assumption High's Brandon Jacobs (100-335-3.6-1), respectively.

"They're both physical runners," Williams said. "They're both good on yards after contact. We pride ourselves on being a good tackling team on yards after contact, so that's going to be a good head-to-head battle this week to see where we measure up."

The Giants have a pretty good one-two punch at wide receiver also. Steve Smith leads the NFL in catches (37) and yards (481) and has scored four touchdowns. Mario Manningham leads the NFC in yards per catch (17.1), grabbing 20 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns.

Williams knows Manning and the Giants well because he was the defensive coordinator of the NFC East-rival Redskins during Manning's first four seasons in the league.

"I know this team, and when I talk about the NFC East, this is an old-fashioned NFC East-type of Football team," Williams said. "We've got to respond to that and understand we're playing a team out of the division."

That familiarity runs both ways. Tom Coughlin became coach of the Giants the same season Manning entered the league (2004) and Williams arrived in Washington.

"Gregg's defenses are very aggressive," Coughlin said. "They are an attack-style defense. He usually has something special planned for each opponent he plays. In the NFC East we saw him twice a year, and those were classic battles - tough, hard-nosed Football games - and that's the style he's brought to the table."

It's a style the Giants will bring to the Superdome also.

"They are a physical bunch," Williams said. "It's the most physical team we've played by far. It's the best-coached team we've played so far. They're a hard-nosed, physical Football team that doesn't beat themselves. This will be a good ballgame."

Notes

The Saints placed WR Rod Harper (foot) on injured reserve and re-signed QB Chase Daniel on Friday. ... Two CBs - Jenkins (ankle) and Leigh Torrence (hamstring) - are questionable for Sunday. ... Everyone else on the injury report - RBs Pierre Thomas (hamstring) and Mike Bell (knee), OT Jermon Bushrod (knee/ankle), G Jahri Evans (toe), DT Kendrick Clancy (knee), LS Jason Kyle (knee/ankle), and TE Darnell Dinkins (foot) - is probable. ... Three Giants have been ruled out: CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), DT Chris Canty (calf), and LB Michael Boley (knee).

Giants at Saints

WHEN: Noon Sunday

WHERE: Superdome, New Orleans

RADIO: WYPY-FM, 100.7

TV: Fox

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