Saints vs. 49ers Games Release (PDF)
*Included in the release are rosters, depth chart, notes, Saints-49ers series information and connections and 2010 final individual and defensive statistics
Rosters (PDF): Numerical & Alphabetical
With two weeks of training camp in the books, the Saints are set to return to the field by facing the San Francisco 49ers in their preseason opener.
It marks the first time the Saints will take the field after a playoff loss at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks, a postseason setback that has fueled competition at virtually every position in Saints' training camp.
This is the first time since 2003 and the third time overall the Saints have faced the 49ers in the preseason.
The last time that these two teams played was in week two of the 2010 season. The Saints traveled to Candlestick Park for Monday Night Football and came out with a win, 25-22. Despite winning the last six contests, four of which were held in the Louisiana Superdome, the Saints trail the 49ers all time with a combined 2445-2 record in regular season games. Under Sean Payton, the Saints are 11-10 in the preseason.
The Saints enter the 2011 season looking to build on their 2010 successes. The club ranked sixth offensively in the NFL in 2010 as QB Drew Brees finished first in the league in completion percentage (68.1%), third in the league with 4,620 passing yards and tied for second with 33 touchdown passes.
On the defensive side of the ball, coordinator Gregg Williams returns for his third season. Williams' aggressive defense finished fourth in the NFL in opponent net yards per game in 2010, led by LB Jonathan Vilma who led the Saints in tackles for the third consecutive season with 131 stops, while adding a career-best four sacks.
In his first year as head coach, Jim Harbaugh looks to lead the 49ers to an improved record after the team finished 6-10 in 2010. He will be making his NFL head coaching debut against the Saints.
Gameday at a Glance
DATE: Friday, Aug. 12
TIME: 7:00 p.m. (CT)
SITE: Louisiana Superdome
WORTH NOTING:
*Friday's game will be Saints' third preseason meeting with the 49ers and the first played in New Orleans with a 1967 contest being played in Portland, Ore. and a 2003 game being played in San Francisco.
*The preseason series is tied 1-1.
*The two clubs played last year in the regular season on Monday, Sept. 20 at Candlestick Park with the Saints winning 25-22 on a field goal by K Garrett Hartley as time expired, the sixth consecutive win by the Saints in the series between old NFC West foes.
*Friday night's preseason opening contest will be regionally televised on CST and FOX 8 with Tim Brando handling play-by-play, Solomon Wilcots serving as color analyst and Mike Nabors covering the action on the Saints sidelines.
*The game can be heard throughout the Gulf Coast on the New Orleans Saints Radio Network (870 AM or 105.3 FM serve as the flagship stations locally in the New Orleans area) with Jim Henderson handling play-by-play duties, former Saints fullback Hokie Gajan serving as color analyst and Kristian Garic on the the Saints sidelines.
*A Spanish broadcast is available on WFNO 830 AM with Emilio Peralta handling play-by-play and Marco Garcia serving as color analyst.
