Thoughts on Saints vs. Cardinals

Saints first:

• Drew Brees looked sharp. Mid-season sharp.
• Reggie Bush looked strange running between the tackles. That's not to say he can't do it - in fact, the commentators noted that he had a better yards/carry running between the tackles than outside of them - just that I'm used to seeing much larger backs do that.
• Who is Robert Meachem? Apparently he's a first-round draft pick from 2007 that was injured and unable to play for his entire rookie season. What happens if he becomes another weapon for Brees?
• The Saints offense looked dangerously good, and that was without Deuce McAllister and Jeremy Shockey. Yikes.
• Not sure what to make of their defense, but they drafted Sedrick Ellis, traded for Jonathan Vilma, and picked up some more corners to take over for Jason David. It could be good, and that would be plenty to get them into the playoffs.

Now the Cardinals:

• Edgerin James looks old, and the rookie they drafted looks like a backup. I wouldn't be afraid of that run attack at all.
• Matt Leinart (7/8, 91 yards) ended up with roughly comparable stats to Brees (6/7, 41 yards, 1 TD), but the eye test showed a bit more separation. Brees looked calm. Leinart looked unsure.
• I didn't notice anything else about the Cardinals, and certainly nothing that would hint that they could overtake the Seahawks, but it's the preseason so take that for what it's worth.
• On that note, I just noticed the Seahawks don't play the Cardinals until week 11. By that time the Cardinals should either be humming along with their problems ironed out, or they'll be reevaluating for 2009.