10/01 — As the Jets continue their preparations to face a great quarterback this weekend in New Orleans at the Superdome Showdown, the QB of their secondary is looking forward to the stiff test at the season’s quarter mark.

“The Saints have a lot of weapons and they’re not afraid to use all of them,” said S Jimmy Leonhard. “[Drew] Brees does a great job of spreading the ball around. They do some kind of unconventional things, but at the same time, they have a great scheme and they run it to a T. They do a great job of executing what they do. It’s going to be a big challenge for us this week.”

Unconventional is also a word that would properly defines the Jets’ defense. More often than not, they blitz. Then sometimes when an opponent thinks pressure is coming, Rex Ryan and Mike Pettine call off the dogs. They overload the line of scrimmage, befuddling offensive linemen and quarterbacks alike with looks they’ve never seen before.

But the Saints, under Sean Payton, are far from simplistic themselves. They share the same philosophy the Jets have — keep 'em guessing and attack.

“They’ll give you certain personnel groups and do something opposite of what you normally think. They’ll put in bigger people, more tight ends and backs out on the field, and then throw the ball,” Leonhard said. “They’ll put more receivers on the field and then run the ball. They’ll do a lot of different things. They mix it up really well. Drew Brees is playing as well as anyone in this league right now.”

Known as a passing offense for years, the Saints appear more diverse than ever. Their 40-point scoring average is scary, but this is a club that’s ranked higher in rush offense (second, 170.7 yards per game) than pass offense (sixth, 267.3 ypg). Last week, the Bills played a Cover-3 to take away the Saints’ vertical game and Payton’s troops responded with a 222-yard rushing effort.

“You kind of look at their offense as a finesse-type offense,” said Leonhard. “They do little things, and then you go and look at last week and they run for over 200 yards. You don’t see that in too many offenses. They’re executing at a very high level right now. We have to bring our 'A' game this week.”

Mike Bell, who is the Saints’ leading rusher with 221 yards, has a sprained MCL in his right knee and did not practice Wednesday. But the Saints still have the elusive Reggie Bush along with Pierre Thomas, who ripped up through the Bills for 126 yards.

This is a quarterback-driven league though and the 30-year-old Brees is on fire. He’s completed 69 percent of his passes for 841 yards, is averaging three passing touchdowns a game and has only been picked off twice.

“You just look at his production and you’d have to put him up there with the Bradys and the Mannings. It’s not like he’s a one-year wonder — he’s done this for a long time and no one gave him credit,” Leonhard said. “A lot of people give him more credit now. Every year it’s how he’s not tall enough, he’s not this, he’s not that. He just has results. He produces results wherever he’s been and whatever team he’s been on.”

But could there be issues on the 6'0", Brees’ backside? First-string left tackle Jammal Brown was placed on injured reserve this week and Brown’s backup, Jermon Bushrod, said he doesn’t expect to play against the Green & White. So Zack Strief will most likely be thrown into the unenvious position of lining up against a pack of hungry wolves.

“You have to come out and put hands in his face and you have to get bodies in front of him,” said Leonhard of Brees. “You have to get pressure on him put him on the ground a few times. Otherwise it could be a long day if you don’t execute.

“You can’t let a guy like that get into rhythm. He completes a lot of balls that are high-percentage even when he’s off, so you really can’t let him get into a rhythm. You have to change looks on him and do whatever it takes, really.”

The Jets are a little banged up in their secondary, but Ryan expects Leonhard (knee), Darrelle Revis (hamstring) and Kerry Rhodes (knee) all to be in the lineup. We’ll see if either No. 2 corner Lito Sheppard (quad) or nickelback Donald Strickland (ankle) or both return to action, but the Jets will need all hands on deck in this battle of unbeatens.

“They’re playing at a high level right now. Let’s see where we stand,” says the Jets’ defensive signalcaller. “You can’t blow it out of proportion. It’s the fourth game of the year and we have a lot of big games. But at the same time, it’s one you want. It could set us in a really good position if we win this week. You find out a lot about your own team.”