JACKSON, Miss. -- Offensive-minded new head coach Sean Payton saw the New Orleans Saints' defense get the best of his team's first scrimmage of training camp.
While two new marquee players, Drew Brees and Reggie Bush, each provided a sampling of their potential to move the offense, defensive stalwart Charles Grant who stood out most in a nearly two-hour scrimmage Saturday.
Grant had a sack, wrapped up Bush behind the line of scrimmage and rushed Brees into an ill-advised throw that linebacker Scott Fujita intercepted and probably would have returned for a touchdown if not for a quick whistle.
The defense gave up only two touchdowns -- and that was when reserves were on the field on both sides of the ball.
"It's always that double-edged sword," Payton said. "You're encouraged on one end because they established some pressure and hurried the quarterback. Then you want to check your protections and make sure that you're giving (quarterbacks) a chance to function."
The scrimmage, held in 60,000-seat Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, was closed to the public but open to relatives and special guests of players and team staff.
There were four interceptions and six sacks during the scrimmage. Brees and Adrian McPherson each were intercepted twice. Longtime cornerback Fred Thomas made the other interception of Brees, while veteran safety Jay Bellamy and rookie cornerback Grant Mason victimized McPherson.
The offense was at a disadvantage, however. Coaches decided not to allow tackling of position players such as quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. That meant quick whistles for sacks when defensive players got into the backfield before the quarterback could unload the ball.
It also meant running backs like Bush and Deuce McAllister never got a chance to lower their shoulders or demonstrate their abilities to slip tackles.
The offense also was without receiver Joe Horn, who was attending a funeral, and three other key players nursing minor injuries: receiver Donte Stallworth (groin) and first-string guards Jermane Mayberry (shoulder) and Montrae Holland (knee).
Bush did display the agility and acceleration that so often brings crowds to their feet, turning the corner around a solid block by left tackle Jammal Brown for an 18-yard gain early in the scrimmage. He also gained 13 yards on a catch in the right flat. While Saints staff did not keep official statistics, it appeared that Bush finished with about 35 yards rushing on seven carries and about 30 yards receiving on five catches.
"I don't think the offense had as good of a day as we wanted to, but that's what the scrimmage is for. To work on and get better next week," Bush said.
Payton said Bush "looked pretty explosive." Brees added, "We all kind of saw that gear that everybody talks about Reggie having. He looks good on a college field, I think he looks pretty good on an NFL field, too."
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