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

Sharper, the Saints free safety, has been the team and NFL pace-setter when it comes to interceptions and interception returns this season. He intercepted two passes in the season opener against Detroit and has grabbed five more, returning three for touchdowns.

Greer and Porter, the starting cornerbacks, were slower to get in on the act but they're trying to close the gap. Greer grabbed his first interception against the Giants three weeks ago, and Porter grabbed his first a week later in Miami, returning that 54 yards for a touchdown.

Last week against Atlanta, Greer and Porter each made an interception, and Greer scored for the first time, on a 48-yard return. Not to be left out, Sharper made an interception at the very end of the game.

"We're always competing," Sharper said. "As soon as one guy makes an interception and does something with it - scores a touchdown or makes a long return, you can anticipate that the next guy is going to try to do something good. It's a friendly competition that pushes us all to play better."

Sharper called it "Football obsession." Porter said it's contagious, and he made one of the biggest plays in the victory against the Falcons when he grabbed a pass tipped by linebacker Jonathan Vilma, ending an Atlanta threat near the New Orleans goal line with the Saints leading by four points in the fourth quarter.

"When we've had opportunities, we capitalized on them," Greer said. "We're making sure we're breaking on the ball. Me and Tracy work hard. After every practice, we're making sure we're doing something to improve our footwork. Any time you feel comfortable in your backpedal, any time you feel comfortable breaking on the ball, you can put yourself in position to make plays."

Greer credits the pass rush for adversely affecting quarterbacks and Sharper and strong safety Roman Harper for covering the corners' backs. Harper said the cornerbacks make the safeties' jobs easier as well.

"Both Tracy and Jabari can really run," Harper said. "Deep balls, post routes - that's not going to happen. Guys are not just going to outrun them. They allow Sharper to go up the middle and take a gamble here. It allows me to do the same thing. It makes it a lot easier when everybody is trusting each other."

Porter, a native of Port Allen who showed promise as a rookie second-round draft choice last season, saw his first season end in the fifth game when he suffered a dislocated right wrist.

"His loss last year was significant," coach Sean Payton said. "He had earned a job as a starter and was having success. It was unfortunate and he handled it well. He rehabbed well and he has been able to put himself back into a position where he's playing very competitively."

During the offseason, the Saints signed Greer as a free agent from Buffalo to man the other side.

"He has good transitional speed, good ball skills, and he has done a real good job for us," Payton said about Greer. "Week to week, he has been very consistent. I think he was a key offseason acquisition for us."

Sharper said Greer's ability to cover receivers one-on-one at a Pro Bowl level gives the team a lot of flexibility in the secondary.

The Saints (7-0), the only undefeated team in the NFC, have a league-leading 16 interceptions, one more than their total for all of last season. They'll try to increase that number against Carolina on Sunday in the Superdome.

"Our corner play has been outstanding," defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. "We're not afraid of putting our corners out there. The fun part of coaching here is that you're not afraid of this offense not scoring some points if you do make a mistake.

"So as I talk about all the time, if you want to live on the edge, play on the edge. That's our way of playing. So our corners are going to make their plays."

Notes

Three Saints - WR Lance Moore (ankle) and DTs Kendrick Clancy (knee) and Sedrick Ellis (knee) - have been ruled out of Sunday's game. ... PK Garrett Hartley (ankle) is doubtful. ... LB Scott Fujita, who has missed the last two games because of a calf strain, is listed as questionable, but he did not practice Friday. ... C Jonathan Goodwin (knee), LB Marvin Mitchell (foot), and CB Malcolm Jenkins (ankle) practiced fully and are probable. ... One Panther - FB Brad Hoover (ankle) - is out. ... RB Jonathan Stewart (Achilles) is listed as questionable, but he practiced fully Friday. ... WR Mushin Muhammad (knee) and PK John Kasay (groin) are questionable but did not practice.

Panthers at Saints

WHEN: 3:05 p.m., Sunday.

WHERE: Superdome, New Orleans

TV: Fox

RADIO: WYPY-FM, 100.7

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