METAIRIE, La. -- Fully one third of all of sacks and interceptions the New Orleans Saints defense has produced this season happened in one game -- the last game.Middle linebacker Craig Robertson and defensive end Paul Kruger are among the Saints defenders who said theyd like to think the spike in big plays is something that can carry forward -- not simply the result of favorable matchups on a particular week.This Thursday night, the Saints play the Carolina Panthers and veteran, dynamic quarterback Cam Newton. Last week, it was Denver rookie Trevor Siemian, whose teams struggling running game has only increased pressure on him.Kruger said he sees the Saints defense starting to play well together, starting to understand each other as individuals and as a group.The Saints had six sacks against Denver, bringing their total for all nine games this season to 17. New Orleans two interceptions raised its total in that category to six.Kruger said a variety of factors play into a defenses ability to create pressure on a quarterback, including an opposing offenses scheme, play-calling and how quickly the quarterback is able to consistently make throws.In some of those earlier games, we were rushing the passer well. We just werent able to get there as often, Kruger said. Sometimes the stats dont tell the full story.The Saints are also getting healthier at key positions. Two games ago, top cornerback Delvin Breaux played for the first time since fracturing his fibula in Week 1. Also in Week 9, the Saints first-round draft choice, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, made his NFL debut after recovering from his own fractured fibula during training camp. And against Denver, linebacker Dannell Ellerbe played for only the second time this season.Both Rankins and Ellerbe had sacks, and Ellerbe blitzed frequently. While Breaux did not have an interception -- those were made by cornerback Sterling Moore and safety Kenny Vaccaro -- linebacker Craig Robertson said Breauxs coverage skills can sometimes force quarterbacks to hold the ball longer, leading to sacks or less accurate throws under duress.With the type of talent we added back, it was destined to happen, Robertson said, referring to his units spike in big plays. But at the same time, our coaches put together a great plan. ... We executed that plan as best as we possibly could.Saints coach Sean Payton said his defense played one of its best games this season last Sunday and that having players return from injury certainly helped.Fortunately, weve been able to get some of those guys back in and playing, he said.Panthers tight end Greg Olsen also noted that the Saints defense appears healthier than when New Orleans defeated the Panthers 41-38 in the Superdome in Week 6.Last week against Denver they really played well. Theyre playing fast, Olsen said. Getting those (previously injured) guys back into the mix always helps.The Saints also have tried a variety of defensive formations to keep offenses guessing. Last week, they decided to take advantage of Krugers ability to cover short passes, lining up five defensive linemen in some running situations.Its basically just getting a lot of big guys on the field, Kruger said. Its worked well for us in the short amount of time weve had it here.Whether New Orleans defense is all of a sudden an above-average defense remains to be seen. Currently, the Saints still rank 29th out of 32 teams in yards allowed per game with 400.6. The Saints are dead last in yards passing allowed with 292.7 per game.But their recently demonstrated ability to get more pressure on quarterbacks gives them hope of playing better down the stretch, and they know they dont have to be dominant with prolific quarterback Drew Brees running New Orleans league-leading offense.Weve got to trust who we can be and just know who we want to be, Robertson said.---Game notes Three Saints players did not practice on Tuesday: LT Terron Armstead (knee and quadriceps), CB Delvin Breaux and RB Daniel Lasco (hamstring). ... Five players were listed as limited: RB Travaris Cadet (toe), LB Stephone Anthony (hamstring), DT David Onyemata (knee), LB Dannell Ellerbe (quadriceps), P Thomas Morstead (ankle). ... Special teams regular and reserve LB Mike Mauti, who was placed on the non-football illness list on Monday, said hes been told by doctors he surgery for colitis (an ulcer) and does not expect to return to football until next season.---AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Mark-Herzlich-Jersey/ . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Dj-Fluker-Jersey/ . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Weston-Richburg-Jersey/ . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Dwayne-Harris-Jersey/ . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Landon-Collins-Jersey/ . Michell Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom.PHOENIX -- One of the most popular Phoenix Suns players from the franchises past will guide the team to an uncertain future. At the news conference on Tuesday announcing his hiring as Suns coach, Jeff Hornacek spoke at length about his readiness for the job and the influences that will guide him. "Ive always felt that Ive been a coach," he said. "My dad was a coach, so Ive been around basketball since I was 5 years old." Hornacek played the first six of his 14 NBA seasons with the Suns. He was traded to Philadelphia in the Charles Barkley deal, then went to Utah, where he found great success as the backcourt teammate of John Stockton. Hornacek retired from playing to spend more time with his family, then eased into coaching, first as a shooting instructor in Utah, then since 2011 as a full-time assistant with the Jazz. His coaching style, he said, would be heavily influenced by his days playing for Cotton Fitzsimmons in Phoenix and Jerry Sloan in Utah. "Hopefully, I can take Jerrys toughness, Cottons enthusiasm and confidence-building and blend them together," Hornacek said, "and become a great coach like some of the great coaches that have been here in the past." He went through a "whos who" list of the best Suns players in the past, from Gar Heard to Walter Davis, Alvin Adams, Kevin Johnson, Barkley and Steve Nash. "Theres been great success here over the years," Hornacek said. But the Suns never have won an NBA title, and things have gone from mediocre to far worse the last couple of seasons. Hornacek inherits a team that went 25-57 last season, the worst record in the Western Conference and second-worst in Suns history. Only the teams inaugural season of 1968-69 was worse. Owner Robert Sarver said that these days the Suns "are selling hope." Hornacek will embody that belief as new general manager Ryan McDonough works to improve the teams unimpressive roster. Phoenix has the fifth and 30th picks in next months draft. Hornaceks philosophy will be to build teamwork with a consistent improvement on the court. He especially looks forward to working with young players, although he knows that fortunes arent transformed overnight. "Sometimes its a tough deal as a coach, as players," Hornacek said. "Youre going to have some struggles and thats when you have to stay positive through that, kknowing that youre ultimately striving to get better and you have a higher goal.dddddddddddd" He said that he will enter the season with no preconceived notions on players and looks forward to the teaching aspect of his job. He said that todays players often havent received much quality coaching before they get to the NBA, often after just a year in college. His experience the last few years with Utah, Hornacek said, showed him that the demeanour of young players is not indicative of their willingness to be taught. "They may look at you and you might think theyre not paying attention," he said, "but they really do want to learn." McDonoughs first task when he replaced the fired Lance Blanks was to find a coach. He had heard all the great things about Hornacek but said the hiring seemed "almost too obvious." After McDonough met with Hornacek last week, he understood what all of those who had promoted him for the job were talking about. The team then moved quickly over the weekend to finalize the deal. Hornacek brings an amiable personality to a challenging job. He thinks thats an asset, because when he does come down hard on players, it will be a rare occurrence that gets their attention. "You have to find that fine balance between being able to get on guys and not harping on them all the time," he said, "because if you do that theyre going to tune you out." Hornacek has a home in Phoenix but McDonough said the new coachs abilities, and not the fact that he had such strong ties to the Suns, were the reason he was hired. "That was a bonus," McDonough said. Hornacek replaces Lindsey Hunter, who became interim coach after Alvin Gentry and the team parted ways in mid-January. Hornacek was drafted in the second round by Phoenix in 1986, the 46th selection overall. He eventually became part of a high-scoring backcourt with point guard Kevin Johnson, but he was sent to Philadelphia in the Barkley trade. Hornacek spent less than two years with the 76ers before being traded to Utah, where he played alongside Stockton for six-plus seasons, helping the team twice reach the NBA Finals. He averaged 14.5 points, topped by a career-best 20.1 points in 1992, his final season with Phoenix. He retired in 2000, and after working with the Jazz in various roles, he became a full-time assistant coach in 2011. 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