These aren't same old Saints

NEW ORLEANS (AP) _ The New Orleans Saints, tied with defending Super Bowl champion St. Louis for the lead in the NFC West, have surprised everyone but themselves. <br><br>``Who would have thought that

Tuesday, November 28th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW ORLEANS (AP) _ The New Orleans Saints, tied with defending Super Bowl champion St. Louis for the lead in the NFC West, have surprised everyone but themselves.

``Who would have thought that the Saints would be sitting here talking about first place? Nobody in the country, that's who,'' offensive lineman Wally Williams said Monday. ``Nobody but the people on this team would believe we could survive everything that's happened.''

After opening the season 1-3, New Orleans won six straight and is 8-4 with four games left. The Saints beat the Rams 31-24 Sunday.

The Saints enter December in first place in their division _ on the basis of tiebreakers _ for only the second time in franchise history. They won the NFC West in 1991 when Jim Mora led them to an 11-5 record.

``We shocked the world,'' receiver Willie Jackson said. ``We shocked everyone but ourselves.''

The turnaround from last year's 3-13 record has withstood the loss of running back Ricky Williams, who accounted for 45 percent of the Saints' offense through the first nine games, and starting quarterback Jeff Blake, who went out last week.

Counting cornerback Fred Weary, who tore a ligament in his knee against the Rams, New Orleans has lost nine players _ six starters _ to season-ending injuries since training camp.

The 2000 Saints are made up of a group of low-round draft picks and free agents cast off by other teams. The only big-name players are on the offensive and defensive lines.

The latest star is 24-year-old Aaron Brooks, who on Sunday made his first start since the 1998 Peach Bowl for Virginia. When Williams went down, a pair of running backs _ rookie Chad Morton and journeyman Jerald Moore _ stepped in, picking up where the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner left off.

``Just looking at us on paper, it might not look like we have a lot of talent,'' Moore said. ``But we really do.''

The change in the Saints began with the hiring of Randy Mueller as general manager and Jim Haslett as head coach, said secondary coach Rick Venturi, a holdover of both the Mora and Mike Ditka days.

``Everything they did from the personnel changes to the systems they brought in to the attitude they had was directed at building this,'' Venturi said. ``They knew what they wanted to do and they did it. It's been great to watch.''

Beyond the work ethic, Haslett, a former NFL linebacker, has established an attitude the players love.

``He's not afraid of anyone or to do anything,'' Venturi said. ``Onside kicks to start the game, going for it on fourth down when you're way back on your end of the field. He'll do anything it takes and the players love it. He's brought, not arrogance, but certainly a swagger to the team.''

Down the stretch, New Orleans plays Denver, San Francisco, Atlanta and St. Louis, with all but the 49ers' game at home.

``We know it will not be easy, but we really believe it can be done,'' offensive lineman Wally Williams said. ``Coach always tells us nobody can beat us but us. And he says we'll find a way to win. If we have to lie, cheat and steal we'll do it, but we'll win.''