METAIRIE, La. -- Tackling is one of the buzzwords around New Orleans Saints camp this week.
Coach Sean Payton stressed that tackling will “be at a premium Monday night” against the Detroit Lions. And players have echoed him in the locker room.
Payton explained that the Lions have several open-field threats, from receivers Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate and Lance Moore to tight end Eric Ebron to pass-catching running backs like Theo Riddick.
“So you’re going from one team that we just played [Tampa Bay] that was a little bit more tight end, fullback, condensed formations on first and second down to a team that is gonna be spread out more,” Payton said.