METAIRIE, La. James Van Riemsdyk Flyers Jersey . -- Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro, who early this season lambasted New Orleans defense for canceling out Drew Brees brilliance, no longer sees it that way.Weve gotten better every game, Vaccaro asserted after practice Wednesday as the Saints prepared to meet the Los Angeles Rams this Sunday. The stats, obviously, on total defense might not say it, but if you look up certain things, theres an improvement.Indeed, recent numbers back Vaccaro up. After allowing opposing offenses to pile up nearly 420 yards per game through their first five games, New Orleans has yielded an average of 346.2 yards during the past five. The club still ranks 27th in total defense, but thats up from dead last after Week 1 and as bad as 31st through the seasons first several games.When Rams rookie quarterback Jared Goff, the NFLs top draft choice last spring, makes his first road start in the Superdome on Sunday, hell face a defense that has held opposing quarterbacks to 234 yards passing or less three times since Week 7. The Saints are coming off their best defensive performance yet, having held Carolina to 223 net yards and just 173 through the air.Our defense is playing really well, Saints right tackle Zach Strief said. Those guys have bailed us out so many times the last few weeks.After giving up 34 or more points in four of their first five games, the Saints have given up fewer than 24 points per game in the five weeks since -- even as their offense has given up both an interception and fumble return for touchdowns, and as their special teams unit had a kick blocked for a defensive 2-point conversion.New Orleans is also getting more turnovers lately, and has climbed into a tie for 10th in the NFL in takeaways with 15 -- six on interceptions and nine on fumble recoveries.They definitely have changed some things, Goff said when asked if hes noticed an evolution of New Orleans defense when he compares recent game video to clips from early in the season.One of those changes involves New Orleans base formation, now comprised of four linemen, two linebackers, three safeties and two cornerbacks. In three of the past four games, one of the two linebackers has been Dennell Ellerbe, who missed the first six games of the season with a quadriceps injury. Since his return, hes been one of the top playmakers on the team while handling wide-ranging responsibilities, from blitzing to covering tight ends.Hes just a great player. You see him in pass rush. You see him in coverage. He can cover tight ends. He can play the run, Vaccaro said. He literally can do it all. Hes the same Dannell who won the Super Bowl with Baltimore when he was healthy.Ellerbe already has been in on 16 tackles, including two sacks. He also has been credited with four quarterback hits and two passes defended.Meanwhile, the Saints interior line has gotten a boost from the return of rookie tackle Sheldon Rankins, the clubs top draft choice in April, who broke his fibula in training camp. Also back is cornerback Delvin Breaux, who has played two of the past three games since returning from his fractured fibula, which occurred in Week 1.I just feel like we had a few guys go down early that we needed, Ellerbe said. So now that were getting those guys back, were having our full defense back -- the defense that we were supposed to have.Game notes RB Mark Ingram, who left last Thursday nights game at Carolina after being knocked unconscious, was at practice today. He confirmed that he was diagnosed with a concussion, but said he expects to play Sunday. I felt good. I was running fast, I was making my cuts, Ingram said. Im feeling good and looking forward to playing. ... Also practicing Wednesday were left tackle Terron Armstead, who has missed the past two games with a nagging knee injury, and Breaux, who was scratched from the last game after playing the previous two. Breaux has said he expected to return this week, and was only held out last Thursday because the Saints didnt want to unduly stress his recently healed fibula with two games in a five-day span.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Ivan Provorov Jersey . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Bobby Clarke Jersey . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. http://www.hockeyflyersauthentic.com/travis-sanheim-jersey/ .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Carltons Dylan Buckley and Nick Graham have another AFL season to prove themselves after the Blues gave them one-year contracts on Wednesday.Both players are coming off two-year deals, but neither was able to cement a senior berth in Brendon Boltons first season at the helm.Buckley, 23, and Graham, 22, played 11 and 12 games respectively for a Carlton team that finished 14th and will need to feature more regularly in 2017.Both Dylan and Nick have a strong work ethic and a continual desire to improve their game, which theyve displayed since arriving at the club, Blues football boss Andrew McKay said. Scott Laughton Jersey. Theyre team players who are well respected around the club, and every time they run out in the navy blue jumper you know theyre going to give their all.Buckley, the son of Carlton triple-premiership player Jim Buckley, has played 38 games since arriving at the club via the 2011 draft.Graham, a third-round pick in 2012, has made 28 senior appearances for the Blues. 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