MIAMI - Ask NFL coaches to name the best play-callers in the league, and Sean Payton's name is mentioned quickly.

"Sean is a great play-caller," said Colts coach Jim Caldwell, who will be matching wits with Payton in Super Bowl 44. "He has an incredible knack for finding weaknesses and setting up plays and then taking advantage of opportunities. He's a very aggressive play-caller. They do a tremendous job of attacking you. He's not one of those guys who is going to settle for 5- and 6-yard passes.

"He is going to throw that thing deep on you often and early, so you have to be ready."

Much has been said about the Colts' high-powered attack led by four-time league MVP Peyton Manning. But the Saints led the NFL in points scored and yards gained. Quarterback Drew Brees led the league in passer rating (109.6) and set a single-season record for completion percentage (70.62).

If the Saints cannot contain Manning, their hope is to outscore him. New Orleans is capable of doing that. Here are some buttons Payton might push to attack the Colts:

1. Deep play-action passes
The Saints have an array of receivers who can get open downfield—Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem. And the Colts have shown a vulnerability to deep passes, especially after pump fakes by the quarterback.

During the AFC championship, the Jets scored on an 80-yard pass from Mark Sanchez to Braylon Edwards when Colts cornerback Jacob Lacey bit on a Sanchez pump fake. Later in that game, Jets wide receiver Brad Smith, playing Wildcat quarterback, hit Jerricho Cotchery for 45 yards, after safety Antoine Bethea and cornerback Kelvin Hayden were fooled, allowing Cotchery to get far behind them.

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Payton certainly noticed those plays. And his willingness to throw deep is one of the traits that make him an aggressive play-caller.

"He's unpredictable, not afraid to pull the trigger on any play, at any time," Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. "From a coordinator's point of view, that's scary."

2. Reggie Bush
Bush has a history of playing his best in big games, and his versatility makes him tougher to defend. Payton gets the ball to Bush in a variety of fashions—handoffs, screen passes, flare passes and reverses. And because Payton loves to ride a hot hand, Payton warned Bush on Tuesday that he might be utilized frequently Sunday.

Bush likes that idea.

"Coach Payton came up to me about 15 minutes ago and said, 'Make sure you're ready, because your tongue is going to be hanging out on Sunday,'" Bush said. "I thought Norm Chow was one of the greatest offensive coordinators (when at USC). But being here with Sean Payton, I haven't missed a beat. He constantly creates mismatches for me.

"He gives me a chance to be a nightmare for defensive coordinators every week."

3. New plays

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With two weeks to prepare for this game, expect Payton to install some new wrinkles. The Saints already run a complex offense, featuring frequent motion and multiple formations. And because Brees spreads the ball around, the Colts will have a hard time deciding which weapon they want to focus on.

The Saints' talent, Payton's imagination and Brees' ability to improvise make their offense anything but predictable.

"It's not like they are just depending on one or two guys," Hayden said. "Drew Brees gets the ball to numerous guys. He has so many options, it makes it difficult on the defense to try to just lock in on one guy."

Asked if he could anticipate how Payton might try to attack the Colts, Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey said, "Even if I had the answers for you, I would never tell you."

Figuring that out will be the Colts' super problem on Super Sunday.

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