Running back Deuce McAllister says he feels team’s pain
September 25, 2008
Posted by Mike Triplett The Times-Picayune September 24, 2008 10:52PMSaints tailback Deuce McAllister said he is flattered by all of the attention he’s received from fans and the media while he’s been out of action, but he doesn’t want it to become a distraction for the team.
Based on chatter among fans, there will be a great deal of support shown for McAllister in the Superdome on Sunday — or protest against his lack of involvement, depending on one’s perspective.
That could include an abundance of No.¤26 jerseys and the familiar “Deuuuuuce” chant at opportune moments.
“I understand just being here so long, the fans have seen me for so long, that’s what you become accustomed to. But I want my teammates to know I’m with them,” said McAllister, who emphasized that his replacement, Pierre Thomas, doesn’t deserve to be vilified.
Sure, McAllister admitted, he couldn’t help but think he would have gained some of those critical yards at Denver last Sunday or at Washington the week before, when the Saints were stopped six times in key short-yardage situations. He said any player would feel that way.
“But at the same time, I have full confidence in Pierre as a player, as well as Reggie (Bush) and the offensive line,” said McAllister, who has tried to be as helpful to Thomas as possible during games and during practice weeks.
Although McAllister has spent most of the last year rehabbing from surgeries on both of his knees, he reiterated Wednesday that he’s ready to play more and he wants to play more after receiving just two carries all season. But he said, “Patience is a virtue.”
“You can complain all you want, but at the end of the day, it’s about how hard you can work to improve and help the team.”
There’s no telling what McAllister’s involvement might be Sunday against San Francisco. Coach Sean Payton said McAllister had a good practice Wednesday, and he said part of the reason that McAllister didn’t play last week was because the Saints’ game plan called for a heavy passing attack.
However, backup tailback Aaron Stecker might return to the lineup this week after missing the first three games with a hamstring injury. So it’s also possible that McAllister could be de-activated with Stecker serving as the No.¤3 tailback.
Thomas, meanwhile, said he doesn’t take any of the pro-Deuce sentiment personally. He said he’s eager to see McAllister back on the field, too, because he believes he can learn a lot by watching him in action.
“I’m not going to get jealous,” said Thomas, who also ran for two touchdowns at Denver, giving him three on the season. “I think we can use each and every one of us in a different aspect and a different way. We’ve all got a certain skill level.”
Thomas said after reviewing film of the Denver game, he would love to get a chance to redo some of his runs. He gave one specific example of a goal-line run in the first half, when he jumped a bit instead of lowering his shoulder into the pile, but he said you have to rely on your natural reaction.
Regardless, Thomas didn’t have any gaping holes to run through on any of the short-yardage plays, some of which were stymied by blocking breakdowns.
The Saints made an extra effort to work on their short-yardage runs in practice Wednesday, installing a goal-line running session at the start of team drills. Normally, they do their goal-line work on Thursdays and Fridays.
HARRINGTON RELEASED: The Saints had to abandon their experiment with third-string quarterback Joey Harrington after less than a week, releasing him to make room for new tight end Sean Ryan. But Payton said he hopes the Saints will have a chance to re-sign Harrington down the road once they get a little healthier.
Ryan, 28, has appeared in 36 career games, mostly on special teams, with the Cowboys, Jets and Dolphins. He has nine career receptions for 90 yards, all with the Jets between 2006-07. He appeared in one game with Miami this season before being released.
The Saints also re-signed veteran offensive lineman Matt Lehr to replace guard Jamar Nesbit on the roster. Nesbit won’t count against the Saints’ 53-man roster while serving a four-game suspension for violating the league’s steroid policy.
49ERS INJURIES: The 49ers’ secondary isn’t quite as banged up as the Saints’ receiving corps, but they’re not far off. Cornerbacks Walt Harris, Shawntae Spencer and Donald Strickland were all either limited or held out of Wednesday’s practice, as were safeties Michael Lewis, Keith Lewis and Dashon Goldson. Harris and Michael Lewis are the only two starters in that bunch, though, and both of them are likely to play Sunday.
Tailback Frank Gore was held out of San Francisco’s practice to give him an extra day of rest after his heavy workload against Detroit last Sunday.
CRAFT IN ST. LOUIS: Former Saints cornerback Jason Craft was out of work for just one week before he was signed by St. Louis, where he’s been reunited with former Saints coaches Jim Haslett and Rick Venturi. Craft replaced another former Saint, Fakhir Brown, on the Rams’ roster.
Saints Insider Wednesday mailbag
September 25, 2008
Saints Insider Wednesday mailbag – Jeff Duncan on Saints – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune September 24, 2008 3:48PM
Categories: SaintsHere is the first installment of answers for this week’s mailbag. It’s been a crazy week with tons of interest about the use of Deuce McAllister and the failures in the short-yardage offense. This version has been updated with additional questions from an edition I sent earlier today.
If you have new questions, send them to my email address — jduncan@timespicayune.com — and I’ll answer them in Friday’s mailbag.
Q: If Robert Meachem plays well enough for the “March to Colstonism” will Robert play next to him? Second, I have a hunch that Coach has a diabolical plan to not worry about numbers this year. Is Coach saving Deuce and Mike McKenzie for the end of the year so they will be super fresh for the playoffs? Third, how long can Brees keep being so bad ass? Sgt. Chad J. Hebert, USMC, Iraq.
A: Good questions. One, if Meachem continues to progress I think he would have a shot to start alongside Colston next season. With his speed and big-play ability, he’s the perfect compliment to Colston, who is the quintessential possession receiver. But for this season, I expect Lance Moore and Devery Henderson to continue to get most of the snaps with the first-team offense. Two, I think Payton is wisely being cautious with McKenzie and McAllister. He knows he can’t afford another setback. That said, when they’re ready to play he’s going to put them on the field. The Saints are going to have to win a lot of games to make the playoffs and they’re going to need McKenzie and McAllister on the field to get there. Third, Brees is off to a phenomenal start. In fact, he’s the subject of my column for Saturday’s editions of the Times-Picayune. I think you’ll find it interesting.
Q: 1.) Why haven’t the Saints traded for Lito Sheppard or Anthony Henry in order to solidify the cornerback position opposite McKenzie? 2.) Why are our $60 million ends not a force in the NFL, and better yet, why don’t we have a pass rush? Why don’t out DE’s have any definitive moves? 3.) Why don’t the Saints trade Deuce for a missing link on defense? Elgin, Houston.
A: 1.) There are a lot of reasons. Mainly, the Saints have very little to offer either team in return for a player of Sheppard’s caliber. They’ve traded half of their 2009 draft and really don’t have the luxury of being deep at other positions to make a deal. Second, we don’t know what kind of grade the Saints have on either player. They might not fit their style of play or salary-cap scale. 2.) No doubt, Will Smith and Charles Grant have gotten off to a slow start but neither has been terrible, either. Mostly, I think their meager production is a result of playing against two quick-trigger quarterbacks: Jeff Garcia and Jay Cutler. Few teams get sacks against those guys. I expect their production to increase in the near future. 3.) Not sure what team would want Deuce at this stage. He’s coming off double-knee surgery and has not really had the chance to prove himself on the field. Why would you trade a player or pick for McAllister when you could sign Shaun Alexander for free?
Q: What is the injury status of Mike Karney and Jammal Brown? A.J., New Jersey
A: Good news/bad news here. Brown worked with the first team offense during Wednesday’s practice. So it looks like he’ll be good to go for the 49ers. Karney, however, was not on the practice field. He has a sprained ankle, which must be a pretty nasty one to knock out a tough guy like Karney. Practice squader Olaniyi Sobomehin, a rookie from Portland State, could be the replacement on Sunday of Karney can’t go.
Q: What about the idea of putting Bush in the shotgun on short-yardage downs? Would be exciting to see. I bet he can get outside for a yard. Derek Ribardi from Morgan City
A: Trust me, Payton has almost certainly thought of this. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Saints busted something like this out for a special occasion in the near future. Now, whether they use it in goal-line situations or not remains to be seen. But I certainly wouldn’t rule it out.
Q: I’ve noticed that very often after we lose, Payton takes responsibility for whatever ends up losing us the game, which is an admirable quality. However, I think it happens way too often. I can recall this happening after the Broncos game, the Washington game, the Tampa reverse game, the NFC Championship game when we quit running the ball. While I’m sure the players appreciate it, it seems to happen a lot and he doesn’t seem to learn much from these mistakes. My second question is, we seem to have been running very safe, very similar plays on these third-and-1′s that we don’t pick up. No tosses, no sweeps, no counters. Do you think the botched reverse against Tampa last year has gotten into Payton’s head? Not that he’s very conservative, but I haven’t seen much innovations in the run game. Eddy
A: Good observation, Eddy. I think Sean Payton values the relationship between his players and staff and wants to maintain the same accountability from himself that he demands from his players. So when he makes a mistake or calls a bad play or lets the team down with faulty preparation he wants to own up to it. I don’t think he’s disingenuous. He means it. As far as outsmarting himself on the third-and-1′s, that’s possible. He certainly hasn’t had the magic touch so far, but play-calling is like shooting baskets. Sometimes you get hot and find a rhythm and everything seems to work. Payton’s just going through a rut right now in short-yardage. And it doesn’t help that his offense lacks a bona fide power back, or at least one that the coach thinks is healthy.
Q: How bad is Deuce’s rehab coming along? My goodness, he did play two downs in a previous game and at the very least his presence would provide a distinct distraction for the opposing defense. Peter Koteas, Carefree, Ariz.
A: Actually, Deuce’s rehab is ahead of schedule. McAllister is coming off double-knee surgery. That’s an incredibly traumatic situation for a starting NFL running back, who make their livings with their legs. I’ve said this before, but what McAllister is trying to overcome might be unprecedented. So it helps to have a little perspective here. The whole thing is being exacerbated by the team’s failures to convert in short yardage.
Q: Why can’t you guys get to the bottom on this? If Payton will not answer the questions then go to Loomis. Something is wrong with this whole thing and the fans deserve to know. Richard Flaig, Metairie, La.
A: Richard, I assume “this” is the Deuce McAllister controversy. I’ve spoken with a number of sources on this situation and have not been able to uncover any clandestine motive to keep Deuce out of the lineup. I do think it’s fair to say Payton probably didn’t build much of the offense around McAllister this offseason because of all the uncertainty with his injury. That’s understandable. Six months ago nobody knew if McAllister would be back and if so at what level of health. So, Payton was probably doing his due diligence by making plans offensively to not have McAllister around. Now, he’s got him and is going to need to adjust plans to incorporate him into the weekly game plan. One thing I’m certain of: No on in the Saints organization, including Coach Payton, anticipated the groundswell of criticism that has accompanied the situation. Joe Horn was a popular player; but Deuce is sacred.
Q: Right before Katrina hit, the Saints were planning to honor Sam Mills and retire his No. 51 during one of the games. Whatever happened to those plans? Where did Jimmy Smith go? I did not notice his writing since Saints training camp. Don Gunther
A: Don, as far as I know the Saints and/or Superdome have never had any plans to retire Sam Mills’ jersey. In fact, it’s been a source of controversy since Mills retired after the 1997 season. Jimmy is switching to the Hornets beat with John Reid, the beat he had originally before Hurricane Katrina forced the Hornets to Oklahoma City and, as a result, Jimmy back to the Saints beat.
Q: I was wondering first if there is any sign that Meachem may be making strides in the right direction as far as routes and whether or not he will continue to be a dominant wideout upon Colston’s return? Also, during practice this week or last have you heard if Coach is allowing Deuce to sharpen his, can’t be too rusty, skills and especially at those third and one practice plays? Heath Danne.
A: Meachem is definitely improving but he’s a long way from “dominant.” Brandon Marshall of the Broncos is dominant. Terrell Owens is dominant. Nobody is scheming their defense around Robert Meachem right now. That said, he does have big-play ability, as we saw against Denver. As far as your second question, yes, McAllister is seeing more reps in short-yardage and goal-line situations in practice but I think Reggie Bush will become the primary back in those situations from now on. That’s the fallout from the failures on Sunday in Denver. Bush has a high success rate in short-yardage situations and Payton is going to play the percentages.
Q: When an offensive coordinator makes a call obviously the head coach is listening and can change the play. Is anyone in the booth urging Coach Payton to run something other than what he thinks is best at the time? Clem, Algiers.
A: Clem, I’m sure Payton’s staff — in particular offensive line coach Doug Marrone and quarterbacks coach Pete Carmichael Jr. — has input but Payton is ultimately the decision-maker. It’s his offense and he most certainly is in charge. Payton is not infallible but he’s one of the most creative play callers in the league. After all, the Saints scored 32 points and gained 502 yards last week. That’s pretty good production.
Q: Two seasons ago, Mike Karney was very successful in that Dallas game. I doubt if he has had 10 carries since then – It would seem as if a big man like Karney would have a better chance of getting a yard than Thomas or Deuce – it worked in Dallas. What has changed to take this out of the game plan? Dudley Passman, New Orleans.
A: That Dallas game was an aberration. Payton found a hole in the Dallas defensive scheme and exploited it. Such tactics wouldn’t work against other teams because they played different schemes with different personnel and difference philosophies. Most of Karney’s work that night was in the passing game, where the Cowboys failed to account for the fullback in certain situations. Credit to Payton for exploiting the gaffe. It also makes you wonder about the so-called genius of Bill Parcells. Other teams don’t have so much trouble defending the fullback.
Q: How many plays was Jason David in the game for on Sunday? I only saw three; two pass interference calls and the fumble recovery. If the guy is more of a liability than anything why do they continue to play him? Adam, May Denham Springs.
A: I don’t know the exact number but David played well more than three plays. When Randall Gay went down with a hamstring injury, David became the third corner in nickel situations. He played strictly outside, while rookie Tracy Porter slid inside to defend the slot position. David made a handful of plays on the ball but was exploited a couple of times in coverage against Brandon Marshall. That’s going to happen. I actually thought David defended those plays pretty well. He was put in a tough spot, considering his size disadvantage against the 6-5 Marshall. And one of those pass interference calls was cheap. If anything, Marshall initiated the contact. The one area that I thought David struggled in was tackling. He missed a couple in the open field that led to big gains. David almost certainly will see less playing time when Aaron Glenn and Randall Gay return from injuries.
Q: Is Deuce getting the Joe Horn treatment? Payton keeps saying that Deuce’s time will come, but what time is that exactly? When we’re 2-5? Also, I think I’ve noticed a tendency in Payton’s play calling inside the 5-yard line. In his first year, he did some out of the box stuff down there and some of it worked and some of it backfired. It seems now, however, that there is never any misdirection or play action in short-yardage situations. He either lines up and runs up the middle, or plays third-and-3 or third-and-4 from the shotgun. Ryan Gore, Shreveport.
A: I’ve addressed the Deuce situation ad infinitum above so I’ll mercifully move on to the play-calling question. Bush has not played in goal-line offense this year. When the Saints get close, they sub Pierre Thomas in for Bush. That limits their offensive options. The loss of Marques Colston also hurts because he provided a big target that defenses had to account for. When Colston went down, defenses could concentrate on Jeremy Shockey in the passing game and load up for the run. Now that Shockey’s down the options are even more limited. I expect Bush to be inserted in the backfield on short-yardage plays in the future. He might not be the greatest between-the-tackles runner, but he is one of the most versatile backs in the league and can be utilized in a number of ways down there.
Roster changes for the New Orleans Saints
September 25, 2008
Roster changes for the New Orleans Saints – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Teddy Kider, The Times-Picayune September 24, 2008 11:41AM
Categories: SaintsThe Saints released recently signed quarterback Joey Harrington and replaced him on the roster with tight end Sean Ryan.
Also, offensive lineman Matt Lehr has replaced Jamar Nesbit on the roster.
Ryan played one game this season with the Miami Dolphins and had no catches. He spent 2006 and 2007 with the New York Jets, played in 26 games and caught a total of nine passes for 90 yards and no touchdowns.
More details coming later today.
New Orleans Saints’ Nesbit gives his side
September 24, 2008
New Orleans Saints’ Nesbit gives his side – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune September 23, 2008 10:32PM
Categories: Saints
Michael DeMocker/The Times-PicayuneSaints offensive lineman Jamar Nesbit says he didn’t take steroids, only an over-the-counter body cleanser.The Saints got their daily dose of bad news Tuesday when the NFL announced that starting left guard Jamar Nesbit will be suspended without pay for the next four games for violating the league’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.
Nesbit, who will not be allowed to participate in any team activities until Oct. 20, insisted he never intentionally took any substances banned by the NFL. He said that his failed drug test stemmed from an over-the-counter product he took this summer, which was advertised as an all-natural body-cleansing health product.
Nesbit said he checked all of the ingredients on the bottle against the NFL’s list of approved substances and also called the company. But he said there was an unidentified ingredient in the product that caused him to fail a drug test this summer.
“The NFL’s policy is that I’m responsible for whatever I put in my body, ” said Nesbit, a 10-year veteran who has not missed a game in his five seasons with the Saints. “And to a certain extent, I understand the logic behind it. And I support the league in trying to keep the integrity of the sport clean. At the same time, I don’t think this rule was meant to affect the Jamar Nesbits of the world — or, I should say, the people that are trying to do the right thing.
“Hopefully people that know me or know of me know that I wouldn’t try to cheat the game or cheat myself.”
The NFL has a zero-tolerance policy for even a first offense, which results in an automatic four-game suspension.
Nesbit waived his right to appeal once the lengthy testing process was completed because he could not argue with the results of two urine samples and a toxicology report.
But his agent, Jonathan Feinsod, said Nesbit plans to pursue “all legal avenues” with the company that produced the alleged tainted product.
For legal reasons, Feinsod and Nesbit declined to identify the product. But Nesbit said it is accessible in a chain store and is not designed specifically for athletes.
When asked if the product actually worked as intended, Nesbit said, “Whether it worked or not, it’s not worth what I’m going through.”
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said players have the right to appeal their cases, but he reiterated what Nesbit said — all players are responsible for what they put in their bodies. He also pointed out that the NFL has a supplement certification program, through which players can attain approved supplements.
Saints offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb said the players with whom he has spoken all support Nesbit and his family and said it is a shame that Nesbit’s name will be tarnished by what he believes is an honest mistake.
Stinchcomb said it’s easy to be skeptical when so many NFL players claim their innocence in similar situations, but he’s not skeptical in this case because, “I know Nes.”
“You know, I’ve been with Nes for five years, ” Stinchcomb said. “He’s a good friend of mine, a man of character. His whole story in the NFL is really positive, and it just gets tarnished by a mistake.
“You don’t make a 10-year career out of cutting corners and cheating the system. He puts in the work. Your heart just goes out to him and his family.”
The Saints offered a brief comment through a statement released by General Manager Mickey Loomis, which said: “We are disappointed in the suspension of Jamar. We will support Jamar through this process and look forward to having him rejoin the team soon.”
The last Saints player to be suspended under the league’s steroid policy was defensive tackle Hollis Thomas, who missed the final four regular-season games in 2006. Thomas appealed the suspension, claiming his failed test came from an asthma medication, but his appeal was denied.
Before that, linebacker Sedrick Hodge served a four-game suspension at the start of the 2004 season.
Nesbit’s absence will put another burden on the Saints’ offense, which has been decimated by injuries this season.
Receiver Marques Colston (thumb) and tight end Jeremy Shockey (sports hernia) will be out of the lineup when the Saints host San Francisco on Sunday. They might also be without left tackle Jammal Brown (hip), receiver David Patten (groin) and tight end Mark Campbell (hamstring), depending on how quickly those players recover.
Nesbit will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by rookie guard Carl Nicks, a fifth-round pick out of Nebraska. Nicks (6 feet 5, 343 pounds) turned heads during training camp and the preseason with an impressive combination of power and athleticism.
Further complicating things for the Saints’ offensive line is that Nesbit has been the team’s backup center in every game this season. Veteran Matt Lehr could fill that role, but the Saints have released him before every game, and he was not back on their roster as of Tuesday evening.
Nesbit suspended for 4 games after positive test
September 23, 2008
Saints guard Jamar Nesbit has been suspended for the next four games for violating the NFL policy on anabolic steroids and related substances, according to a statement from the NFL.
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
Reggie Quietly Silencing Critics
September 23, 2008
Since Reggie Bush has been in the tabloids for his off-field pursuits as much as in the sports pages for his football exploits, we started there.
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
Report: Saints’ Shockey expected out 3-6 weeks
September 22, 2008
New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey is expected to miss three to six weeks after undergoing sports hernia surgery this week, a league source said according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. New Orleans …
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
Cheer dudes, boo duds
September 22, 2008
Never mind. I give up. With all the technology available to the NFL, it’s hard to believe the league couldn’t rectify that horrendous call in Sunday’s Denver-San Diego game.
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
Saints insider: Deuce McAllister’s return should help ground game
September 16, 2008
Posted by Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune September 16, 2008 8:32AM
Categories: Saints
Times-Picayune ArchiveDeuce McAllisterWhen it comes to NFL backfields, two running backs is good company — and three’s a crowd.
The best backfields in Saints history always have been double-barreled attacks: Chuck Muncie and Tony Galbreath; Reuben Mayes and Dalton Hilliard; Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush.
Rarely if ever though have the Saints been blessed with three good backs.
That’s could be the case soon.
With McAllister rounding into form and nearing full health, Saints Coach Sean Payton could soon find himself trying to cram three backs into his weekly game plan.
His options consist of:
Reggie Bush, a former Heisman Trophy winner, No. 2 overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft and one of the NFL leaders in all-purpose yardage each of the past two seasons.
Pierre Thomas, the only Saints back to amass 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in the same game.
McAllister, the all-time leading rusher in club history.
After sitting idly in the opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, McAllister carried twice for two 5-yard gains in the Saints’ 29-24 loss to the Redskins on Sunday in Landover, Md., and said Monday he’s ready mentally and physically for a larger load on game days.
“It’s coming,” McAllister said. “We don’t know when it is, but it’s coming.”
When it does come, it could be a thorny issue for Payton.
On one hand, he has to do what he believes is best for his team, and if that means relegating McAllister to a reserve role, then so be it.
On the other, he must pacify a respected leader in the locker room and one of the most popular players in club history. (Payton no doubt heard the rousing round of cheers from the Saints fans at FedEx Field on Sunday when McAllister ran on to the field.)
Payton must find a way to improve the team’s anemic rushing attack, which produced 55 yards on 19 carries against the Redskins.
Payton also must avoid the temptation to rush McAllister back before he’s ready. It’s the same issue he’s dealing with at cornerback with veteran Mike McKenzie.
“Deuce is making progress,” Payton said. “I’ve been encouraged with what I’ve seen. It’s just getting to where you feel like he’s clearly further along than he was at the start of training camp.
“I think you just have to trust your gut. What I have to do is to make the decision with the best interest of the team in mind, and sometimes that’s hard. I think (McAllister and McKenzie) have had outstanding rehabs. Coming off the injuries that they’ve had, it has gone fairly well. It’s coming, sooner rather than later.”
It can’t come soon enough for Saints fans, who watched in frustration as the Saints squandered a game they could have won Sunday, in part, because of a inert ground game.
Other than one 9-yard scamper by Bush in a two-minute drill before halftime, no Saints back had a run of longer than 5 yards against the Redskins.
What’s more, when the Saints needed to convert a third-and-1 late in the fourth quarter, Thomas was stuffed for no gain, causing fans to wonder why McAllister wasn’t turned loose, especially after his 11-carry performance in the Saints’ final preseason game against the Miami Dolphins.
For his part, though, McAllister said Payton made the right call. He said Thomas had practiced the short yardage plays all week and executed well on the play, which failed, Payton said, because of a missed blocking assignment by left tackle Jammal Brown — which allowed a safety to get through on the backside.
“Obviously, I want to be involved, I want to be in there, not just for that play but for the whole game,” McAllister said. “(But) it’s still a work in progress. We’re looking at long-term as far as being able to get us to the playoffs.”
Ever the team player, it isn’t in McAllister’s nature to rock the boat.
Even while wistfully recalling the last time he played at FedEx Field, a 30-carry, 165-yard day in 2003, McAllister said he understands the need to exercise caution with his injury and said he’s fine with whatever role he’s asked to play for the team — at least for now.
“I’m not even going to try to decipher it at this point, and I don’t want you to try to decipher it either,” McAllister said. “I’ll go out there and prepare to be the starter against Denver, and if I don’t play then I don’t play. It’s not something that I’m going to fuss and whine about it. Whatever my role is, that’s what I’m going to go and do.”
Still, McAllister’s teammates know their former team captain is growing antsy.
“I can sense he’s a little frustrated,” Mike Karney said. “He’s not going to tell you what he’s really thinking. He’s not going to show his cards. I would think he would be frustrated, though, because he’s worked his ass off. He’s done everything they’ve asked him to do, lose weight, rehab his ass off. He’s in great shape. So, yeah, I would think he would be a little frustrated.”
Payton sensed this frustration enough to call McAllister after the opener and assure his star back he still was in the team’s plans.
Payton even acknowledged Monday juggling three backs in the weekly game plan will be, in a word, “challenging.”
“When and if we get to that point — and I think it’s coming sooner rather than later — then certainly the question is how much does Deuce affect Pierre’s role,” Payton said. “It’s getting to the point where (Deuce) is feeling more and more confident.”
McAllister said Monday he’s capable of making every cut he needs to make to be effective and that his condition wouldn’t limit the Saints’ game plan in any way. He said he knows he’s not the same back that he was in 2002, but added “there’s still some things that I can go out there and do and help this team win.”
“It’s coming,” he said. “The time is coming.”
Sean Payton wants Saints to finish
September 16, 2008
Sean Payton wants Saints to finish – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Brian Allee-Walsh, The Times-Picayune September 16, 2008 8:33AM
Categories: SaintsOn a rainy Monday morning in a darkened film room, Saints Coach Sean Payton shined a telling light on his team’s first loss.
Showing his players only the final 14 minutes of their 29-24 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., Payton produced a handful of plays that perhaps illustrate why the Saints are 1-1 and not 2-0 going into a pivotal road game against the Denver Broncos (2-0).
“It’s not any one specific player that we were looking to call out during that film session,” Payton said. “But it was really merely a way for us to say that we have a team down nine with a quarter of football left, this is what happened and this is what really didn’t happen.
“If you want to be a good team, when you’re in a position to close someone out, you have to be able to finish. That’s the disappointing thing because we had that opportunity, and we weren’t able to do it.”
Squandering a 24-15 lead in the fourth quarter strongly suggests the Saints are not yet “a good team” and might be slow to develop into one until a handful of injured starters return on defense.
Starting cornerback Mike McKenzie is poised to come off the inactive list for Sunday’s game at Invesco Field after missing the first two games while recovering from reconstructive surgery on his right knee in January.
Cornerback Aaron Glenn suffered a strained ligament in his right ankle against the Redskins, leaving his status in doubt. Glenn started against the Redskins in place of opening-game starter Randall Gay, who was sidelined Sunday with an injured hamstring. Payton said he would update his team’s injury list Wednesday.
“Regardless of where Aaron is, I think Mike is getting close,” Payton said. “I talked to him last week and even yesterday at the game about being closer to getting him going. He’s done a good job of trying to evaluate himself during the practice week and knowing where his weaknesses are right now health-wise. He’s full go, but what are his limitations?”
McKenzie’s return takes on added importance against the Broncos, who are averaging a league-high 40 points and feature one of the NFL’s most prolific passing offenses with quarterback Jay Cutler and wide receivers Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall.
“No, my knee is not 100 percent,” McKenzie said. “But I don’t think anybody out there is 100 percent. But I feel real good, fresh, and I haven’t had any setbacks. I’m just continuing to work, and when the coaches feel comfortable with what they’re seeing, they’ll give me the opportunity to go out there.”
To say McKenzie would have meant the difference between winning and losing if he had played against Washington is speculation. But there is no disputing he is the team’s best cornerback and would shore up a pass defense that yielded 321 yards against the Redskins, including a 67-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jason Campbell to wide receiver Santana Moss.
“The sooner we can have (McKenzie) on the field and get him to where he’s 100 percent again, the better off we’re going to be,” Payton said. “He had a really good year for us a year ago.”
Payton identified five plays that spelled his team’s demise and enabled the Redskins to overcome a nine-point deficit on a hot, sunny day near the nation’s capitol. But none hurt the Saints more than a 23-yard completion from Campbell to tight end Chris Cooley on second-and-22 from the Redskins’ 6-yard line with 9:57 remaining.
“If you study the course of the game, it shifted on that (play),” said Payton, whose team was leading 24-15 at the time. A closer look of the game tape also gave Payton more cause for concern.
Clinging to a 24-22 lead with 4:34 remaining, the Saints failed to make a third-and-1 at their 37. Payton said left tackle Jammal Brown missed a key block on safety Chris Horton, a native of New Orleans who stopped running back Pierre Thomas for no gain and forced the Saints to punt.
Overall, the Saints rushed 19 times for 55 yards, with a long of 9 yards, for a 2.9-yard average.
“We felt pretty good about who was running it,” Payton said. “We just need to do a better job of blocking. I think it starts with being physical, and I don’t think we were the most physical team yesterday. When you’re rushing the ball well, generally you’re getting off on the line of scrimmage and you’re playing with an attitude.
“We got beat there a number of times on the backside and didn’t finish runs and really made it difficult for the backs to have any kind of consistency, so we have to get that corrected.”
The Saints return to practice Wednesday to begin game preparations for the Broncos, who are coming off an improbable 39-38 victory against the San Diego Chargers. Denver amassed 34 first downs and nearly 500 yards, and scored the winning points on a two-point conversion with 24 seconds remaining.
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