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October 19, 2008
As expected, Reggie Bush, Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey are all active and dressed for today’s game.
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
Continue reading “New Orleans Saints’ Reggie Bush has ‘a little swelling’ in knee”
October 19, 2008
Saints running back Reggie Bush, who didn’t practice Wednesday because of swelling in his left knee, said there’s no cause for alarm.
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
INSIDE THE GAME: New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers
October 19, 2008
Posted by Brian Allee-Walsh, The Times-Picayune October 18, 2008 8:24PM
Categories: Saints
David Grunfeld / The Times-PicayuneTaylor Mehlhaff gets his first chance to kick in an NFL road game today at Carolina.KICKOFF: Noon, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
COACHES: Saints, Sean Payton (20-18 in three seasons with Saints); Panthers, John Fox (55-47, in seven seasons with Carolina)
TV: 8 RADIO: 105.3-FM, 870-AM, 830-AM (Spanish)
KEEP AN EYE ON
JAKE DELHOMME
The pride of Breaux Bridge and former Lafayette-Louisiana standout needs no introduction to Saints fans. Delhomme was a fan favorite during his soup and salad days in New Orleans before his move in free agency to Carolina in 2003. To this day, former Saints coach Jim Haslett regrets not substituting Delhomme for injured starter Aaron Brooks in the 2002 season finale against Carolina, a game the Saints lost 10-6 to fritter away their playoff chances. Needing only one win in the last month of the season to clinch a playoff berth, the Saints finished 0-4 down the stretch. “I’m glad he didn’t, ” Delhomme said of Haslett’s decision not to play him. “Maybe, I would have played terrible, and I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to come here. I’m glad I didn’t play. It’s worked out, and I’m more than happy to be here.” The feeling is mutual. In his first season with Carolina, Delhomme led the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII where they lost in the final seconds to New England, 32-29. He was sorely missed for the final 13 games last season after undergoing “Tommy John” surgery on his right elbow. This season, he has completed 106 of 181 passes for 1,338 yards, with five touchdowns and five interceptions for a passer rating of 79.4. He possesses what Coach John Fox refers to as the “it” factor. “Whatever it is, Jake has it, ” Fox said. Teammates respond to Delhomme’s positive approach and fiery personality. He is credited with leading his team on 14 winning drives, including Week 1 when he threw a 14-yard scoring pass to right end Dante Rosario as time expired to beat San Diego 26-24. “His confidence is contagious, ” Saints Coach Sean Payton said. “It’s said all the time, but it’s not over until you play the full game, and I’m sure that will be the case this week.”
K TAYLOR MEHLHAFF
The team’s sixth-round draft pick will be playing in his first NFL road game since joining the 53-man roster Oct. 8. He got off to a rocky start last Sunday in his debut, missing wide right on a 31-yard field-goal attempt and spraying a kickoff out of bounds to give Oakland the ball at its 40-yard line. But he settled down and converted field-goal attempts of 44 and 33 yards in the Saints’ 34-3 victory. Mehlhaff will be going against one of the league’s best kickers in John Kasay, who has made all 11 field-goal attempts this season. Don’t be surprised if today’s outcome isn’t decided by a late field-goal attempt by either kicker.
WR MARQUES COLSTON, TE JEREMY SHOCKEY
Although no official word is expected to come until game time, it appears the Saints will regain the services of wide receiver Marques Colston and tight end Jeremy Shockey for today’s game. Colston, the team’s best receiver the past two years, tore a ligament in his left thumb in the season opener against Tampa Bay and has missed the past five games. He is expected to wear a small plastic splint on his surgically repaired thumb. Shockey has missed the past three games after undergoing sports hernia surgery Sept. 23. He was the team’s second-leading receiver with 16 catches for 151 yards before getting injured in the Week 3.
GAME PLAN
Offensively, Saints quarterback Drew Brees wants to get the ball in the hands of his posse of playmakers, especially running back/receiver Reggie Bush who has developed into one of the NFL’s most electrifying game-breakers.
Brees is putting up MVP-caliber numbers through six games and leads the NFL with a 105.0 passer rating. Payton’s game plan remains consistent — the pass helps set up the run — so expect to see John Fox’s pressure defense try to upset Brees’ rhythm. Seldom-used running back Deuce McAllister remains the X-factor.
On the flip side, the Panthers want to try and wear down the Saints’ suddenly stout defense with their one-two punch of running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.
The Panthers rank 19th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (109.2) and 27th in yards per carry (3.6). “It’s a 4-2 running game, ” Fox said, alluding to the Panthers’ record. “It’s not bad. It’s not a 2-4 running game. It’s not an 0-6 running game. Like any area of our football team, we have not arrived yet. It’s something that’s a work in progress.”
An efficient running game will allow the Panthers to use big-play wide receivers Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith, each of whom is looking for his first breakout game of the season. Getting pressure on Delhomme from defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant is paramount to the Saints’ defensive success.
KEY MATCHUP
SAINTS LT JAMMAL BROWN VS. PANTHERS RDE JULIUS PEPPERS
Peppers (6-7, 283 pounds) is Carolina’s all-time leader in sacks with 59, including a team-high three this season. He is quick, agile and possesses long arms to keep a blocker at bay. He also is extremely active, capable of forcing fumbles, dropping back into pass coverage, making interceptions and blocking field-goal attempts (seven). Brown (6-6, 313) has been called for multiple false starts and needs to keep his poise against Peppers and protect Brees’ blindside. “He’s one of the league’s elite guys at that position coming off the edge, ” Brown said. “He’s real athletic, and he really has some power. He has really, really, really, really, good hips. You can tell he’s a good athlete because he jumps back in coverage. He can cover guys in the slot, so that tells you something about how well he moves. He’s the complete defensive end.”
BY THE NUMBERS
Š-5 — Saints record against the NFC South under Payton, including 1-3 against Carolina.
Ԫ-16 — Panthers record against the NFC South under Fox, including 8-4 against the Saints.FROM THE COACH’S MOUTH
“We’re trying to focus on this game in itself and understanding that we’re going to be gone for awhile. There are some logistical things that we cover in regards to leaving Charlotte and heading to London, but our focus really has to be on Carolina, a divisional opponent on the road. That in itself presents enough of challenges; we don’t need any more.” — Payton.
Bernard Pollard’s hit has made a huge impact thus far … Vegas odds…
October 19, 2008
Before this most of intriguing of NFL seasons began, Bernard Pollard was a nondescript special-teamer on one of the worst teams in the league.
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
Continue reading “New Orleans Saints set to face old nemesis”
October 18, 2008
When the Saints start talking about Carolina receiver Steve Smith, it sounds like a support-group meeting.
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
From look of New Orleans Saints, playing quarterback must be a Brees
October 18, 2008
Posted by Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune October 17, 2008 10:37PM
Categories: Saints
Michael DeMocker / The Times-PicayuneWith Drew Brees at quarterback, the Saints allowed the fewest sacks (16) in the NFL last season, and have allowed only six this season.To fully appreciate the brilliance of Saints quarterback Drew Brees, don’t look at the video of his 12 touchdown passes. Watch instead a 4-yard completion he made to tailback Reggie Bush in the fourth quarter of the Saints’ loss at Denver in Week 3.
Here’s the situation: It’s second-and-3 at Denver’s 32-yard line. The Broncos lead 32-26 and are trying to hold off a furious Saints comeback.
They send a corner blitz from the slot. A great call. The cornerback is unblocked and has a free path to Brees.
At the last second, Brees catches a blur of orange jersey in his peripheral vision, and lofts a no-look pass in the right flat, where he intuitively knows his safety valve is located.
Bush makes a nice catch and sprints to the right sideline for a 4-yard gain and a first down. Four plays later, the Saints score a touchdown.
Against a mortal quarterback, the play would have resulted in a sack. It would have put the Saints in a long third-down situation and effectively could have taken them out of field-goal range.
But the Broncos learned first-hand that Brees isn’t mortal.
At least not this season.
Sacking Brees has become a nearly impossible mission for NFL defenders.
Last season, the Saints allowed the fewest sacks (16) in the NFL. This season, they’ve allowed six, third fewest in the league behind Denver and Tennessee with two each.
The figures are even more impressive when you consider the number of times Brees drops back to pass. More than any other quarterback in the NFL the past two years.
While the credit must also go to the Saints’ offensive line, tight ends and backs, who work collectively to protect Brees, it’s also a testament to Brees’ intelligence, anticipation and preparation.
Literally and figuratively, he’s seemingly always one step ahead of the defense.
Avoiding sacks has become a league-wide point of emphasis in recent years. Sacks per pass play have dropped almost annually since 2000.
Few quarterbacks understand the importance of avoiding such negative plays better than Brees.
“You just have to realize what sacks do to a drive, ” Brees said.
Basically, they kill them.
As explosive as the Saints’ offense is, the unit has failed to score on any of the six drives in which Brees has been sacked this season.
“A sack is typically at least a 5- to 7-yard loss, and you lose the down, ” Brees said. “That’s worse than a holding penalty. At least with a holding penalty, you get the ball back. When you understand what sacks do, you have more of a clock in your head about getting rid of the ball. Throwing it away is OK, or even a check-down (pass) for 1 or 2 yards is better than no gain.”
Brees’ execution is the product of a combination of things: his hair-trigger release, quick-firing brain synapses and long hours of preparation,
“You just try to feel those guys, feel where they are, ” he said. “Every play is different. I can’t tell you this play I know I’m going to have three or four seconds to throw. You never know. The fact is if you know where you can get rid of the ball, you can keep out of trouble.”
It’s for these reasons that Vikings defensive end Jared Allen said the quarterback — more than his linemen — is the most important player in a team’s pass protection.
“Peyton (Manning) and Drew Brees do a good job of getting rid of the ball, ” said Allen, the 2007 NFL sack leader, in his weekly diary with The St. Paul Pioneer-Press. “When you play a quarterback that has a good internal clock, like Peyton Manning, in a system that’s designed to have a vertical threat but a check-down outlet, it makes it hard, especially as a defensive end. You can only do so much. You have to have time to get there. But if he’s getting rid of it under 2 1/2 seconds, it’s tough to get there.”
This is to take nothing away from the Saints offensive line, which features a former Pro Bowler in left tackle Jammal Brown and a future one in right guard Jahri Evans. The Saints’ front five is smart and communicates well in protection.
But they’ll be the first to tell you that Brees’ quick trigger makes their job much easier.
As internal clocks go, Brees’ is Rolex quality. He has an uncanny knack of unloading the ball a split-second before the defender reaches him.
“It’s subconscious, ” Brees said. “It’s never simple, but you try to make it that way.”
So far, Brees has made everything about playing quarterback look simple.
New Orleans Saints getting healthy
October 18, 2008
New Orleans Saints getting healthy – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune October 17, 2008 10:25PM
Categories: Saints
Scott Threlkeld / The Times-PicayuneMarques Colston is expected to return to the Saints lineup for the first time since the season opener against Tampa Bay.The Saints’ offense should be more loaded Sunday than it has been all season with tight end Jeremy Shockey, receiver Marques Colston and tailback Reggie Bush all expected to play at Carolina. All three offensive stars are listed as probable on the Saints’ official injury report after they practiced on a limited basis Friday.
Bush is expected to be “100 percent” and play his “normal role” on both offense and in the punt-return game, according to Coach Sean Payton. Bush and Payton reiterated Friday that they just wanted to rest his left knee earlier this week when he missed two practices.
He has been experiencing soreness and swelling throughout the season, but it obviously hasn’t slowed him down much. Both he and Payton said it will be good for him to play on natural grass the next two weeks, followed by the bye in Week 9.
“I’m looking forward to it, ” Bush said of the grass fields. “I always get injured on that field turf. That stuff is so hard on your body.”
As for Colston, who has been out since Week 1 with a thumb injury, and Shockey, who has missed the past three games after having sports hernia surgery, Payton said the key is being smart with the amount of reps.
When asked how it will affect his play-calling with so many options at his disposal for the first time, Payton said: “Hey, I’m looking forward to just seeing Jeremy block in the running game, just something as simple as that and what it does for you. And I’m looking forward to seeing Marques do some of those things you take for granted. But again, the key word is balance in their first game back. That’s something we’ve got to be smart about.”
This will be the first time the Saints have had their full complement of offensive weapons on the field together, considering that tailback Deuce McAllister was not used in the season opener while still recovering from last year’s knee surgeries.
And this should be the closest Shockey has been to 100 percent since he joined the Saints. He injured his groin early during training camp, and the issue never went away until he finally had surgery three weeks ago.
“This is the first time I can actually sneeze without feeling like I’m getting stabbed at a bar, ” said Shockey, who admitted he should have addressed the problem sooner rather than trying to fight through it. “It should have been fixed in camp. I live and learn. Next time I have an injury, I’ll be going to see my doctor.”
Colston said he has felt “no issues” with his surgically repaired thumb since he had the cast removed two weeks ago. He said he wanted to play last week but understands why the team decided to hold him back.
He said he’ll wear a hard plastic splint over the thumb, with a glove over the top of it. He said he’s been catching balls with no problem with that set-up, and he doesn’t feel uncomfortable at all.
Receiver David Patten also will be back for the Saints after missing the past two games with a groin injury.
OTHER INJURIES: Four other Saints are listed as probable for Sunday — guards Jahri Evans (ankle) and Carl Nicks (illness), cornerback Mike McKenzie (knee) and safety Kevin Kaesviharn (back).
Three players are listed as questionable — cornerback Aaron Glenn (ankle) and defensive tackles Brian Young (knee) and Antwan Lake (groin). Young missed Friday’s practice after experiencing some soreness in his long-standing knee injury on Thursday night, but Payton said he thinks he’ll be able to play.
Only one player is listed as out — defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (knee).
The Panthers, meanwhile, could be without two starting offensive linemen. Center Ryan Kalil and right tackle Jeff Otah are both listed as doubtful with ankle sprains, though Coach John Fox said he was holding out hope they might play. Carolina’s rookie tailback Jonathan Stewart is listed as questionable after missing Friday’s practice with an illness, but Fox said he expects him to play.
NEXT STOP, LONDON: The Saints will be away from New Orleans for the next nine days after they fly to Charlotte today.
After Sunday’s game, they will leave for London so they can spend a full week getting adjusted to the time change and the unfamiliar surroundings.
“It’s going to be interesting, ” said Saints quarterback Drew Brees of the unusually long road trip. “Obviously, playing a tough divisional game on the road, and then having to jump right on a plane for seven hours to fly to London and having to get adjusted to the time change and everything, and playing a very good Chargers team that’s kind of in the same situation we’re in. . . . We’ll just try to get adjusted as quickly as possible.”
Both the Saints and Chargers asked the NFL to schedule them for East Coast road games in Week 7 so they could break up the journey a little bit. San Diego is at Buffalo this weekend.
Last year, the Giants and Dolphins both waited until late in the week to travel to London for the first overseas regular-season game in league history. But that approach was not recommended to this year’s participants.
“It’ll be great to get acclimated to the time adjustment, ” said Shockey, who made the trip with the Giants last year and said he prefers this schedule.
Obviously, the Saints’ players and coaches had to spend some extra time packing and making arrangements for family members, who will be flown up later in the week. But the most important thing, Payton said, is that they take care of business of the Panthers first.
“Our focus really has to be on Carolina, a divisional opponent on the road, ” Payton said. “That in itself presents enough challenges. We don’t need any more.”
SHOCKEY TRADES UP: Shockey said there’s a lot of things he likes more with the Saints than the Giants.
Even though it tortured him to sit out the past three games with an injury, he said he loved being a part of the team as a very vocal cheerleader on the sideline.
Part of the reason his relationship soured so badly with the Giants last year was that he was not allowed to stand on the sideline during the Super Bowl while he was out with a broken leg.
“Last year, it was handled very unprofessional, what the Giants did to me and not even wanting me go to the Super Bowl, but that’s the past, ” said Shockey, who was traded to New Orleans just before the start of training camp. “Sean, everyone here in this organization is first class, and I think that when we go to the Super Bowl this year . . . well, I’ll be playing in it and not on the sidelines.”
New Orleans Saints’ Young is a tough customer
October 17, 2008
New Orleans Saints’ Young is a tough customer – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune October 16, 2008 10:06PM
Categories: Saints
Eliot Kamenitz / The Times-PicayuneDefensive tackle Brian Young, after 16 months of nagging injuries, is showing that he is healthy and still capable.If Brian Young’s body has been trying to tell him something in the past 16 months, he’s not listening.
During that stretch the Saints’ 31-year-old defensive tackle has battled back from a fractured foot, three knee surgeries, a frightening battle with pneumonia that landed him in the hospital for 11 days, a torn plantar fascia tendon and a sprained ankle.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Saints moved him from his usual three-technique position to nose tackle for the first time at the start of training camp, only to switch him back last month.
But through it all, Young kept plugging away like he has throughout his nine-year NFL career. And when the Saints needed him most in the past two games, he delivered.
“Brian’s a tough guy. That’s on his resume, ” defensive end Charles Grant said.
“He’s a fighter, ” defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy said. “To have been through what he’s been through the last year, and he still goes out there like that, you don’t find too many people built like that. Just in life, not even talking about football.”
“I mean, you just can’t have enough Brian Youngs on your team, ” defensive line coach Ed Orgeron said.
Young was limited throughout training camp because of the lingering knee injury and the new plantar fascia and ankle injuries, and he played sparingly in the first four games this season.
But injuries to Antwan Lake (groin) and Sedrick Ellis (knee) thrust him back to his old position and into the starting lineup.
He and Clancy played most of the snaps at tackle against Minnesota and Oakland, helping to shut down those teams’ dangerous rushing attacks. Young also had a sack and forced a fumble against Vikings quarterback Gus Frerotte late in the third quarter, though Minnesota recovered.
“For him to come out and step up the way he has, has been pretty impressive, ” said linebacker Scott Fujita, who joked that Young looked like he was on skates half the time during training camp because he “just couldn’t really stick both of his feet in the ground.”
Young, who had missed only one game in his first three seasons with the Saints (2004-06), has clearly been energized by his latest opportunity.
“It feels good, because it’s been frustrating, ” said Young, who will likely continue to play heavy minutes at Carolina on Sunday with Ellis and Lake still on the mend. “Last season I missed like seven games, and that’s not something I’ve been used to in my career. And then I start off the first four games this year, I think I had like one assisted tackle (actually three assists). So I was getting a little disappointed.
“But now I’ve finally got my foot feeling pretty good. And my knee’s been doing well. You know, it’s going to have a little nagging pain that I’ll be dealing with all year. But all in all, I’m feeling pretty good right now.”
Young, who signed with the Saints as a free agent from St. Louis in 2004, chose to stay in New Orleans this season, agreeing to a three-year contract in late February rather than exploring the free-agent market.
His role became a little fuzzy when the Saints drafted two defensive tackles in April — Ellis in Round 1 and DeMario Pressley in Round 5. The newcomers played Young’s three-technique position, which led to his position switch at the start of training camp.
But plans have changed about a dozen times since then, after Pressley suffered a season-ending foot injury in camp, Hollis Thomas suffered a torn triceps that knocked him off the roster, and Young, Lake and Ellis suffered their various injuries.
“I’ll tell you what, I haven’t coached as many good defensive tackles that can step in and do the job, ” Orgeron said. “They’re doing the job.”
Clancy and Young have thrived by focusing on their specific assignments in the Saints’ gap-control defense, where they stress plugging the rushing lanes. The Saints haven’t allowed a run longer than 8 yards by a tailback in the past two games.
“We’ve basically been just going after it every day, ” said Clancy, another nine-year veteran who also has bounced up and down the depth chart since training camp. “We know we’re a couple of men short, but we know that we can’t make any excuses. We just have to keep on plugging away, keep on going, going until the bell rings and just see how we come out.
“That’s basically the attitude. We’re just going until the bell rings.”
Young said the defensive tackles are “kind of the grunts of the defense, ” much like the offensive linemen, who do the dirty work without getting much of the glory. But he said he’s not motivated by getting credit for his accomplishments.
“I just want to win, ” Young said. “I’m getting to the end of my career, I want a Super Bowl. I lost one (with the Rams in 2002). I want to win one. And I think we’ve got a heck of a shot this year.”
THOMAS’ TIMETABLE: The Saints aren’t eligible to re-sign Thomas until around Nov. 1 because of the injury settlement they reached when they released him in September. The timetable is based on the expected recovery time of the player’s injury. Thomas is eligible to sign with another NFL team before then if he is well enough to pass a physical, but that hasn’t been the case.
Whether or not the Saints want to re-sign Thomas is still up in the air. They hope to be healthy by next month.
INJURY UPDATE: Tailback Reggie Bush did not participate in team drills again Thursday because of swelling and soreness in his left knee. But he was involved in individual drills, and he and Coach Sean Payton describe his inactivity as a precaution. It appears as though he will play against Carolina.
Bush has been dealing with occasional swelling since training camp, and Payton said he aggravated the condition in Week 1 against Tampa Bay. Bush has managed to play well, with great speed and explosiveness throughout the first six weeks. Payton said he’ll probably be fighting through it until the bye week in two weeks.
Receiver Marques Colston (thumb) and tight end Jeremy Shockey (sports hernia) also appear on track to return Sunday. Both participated in team drills on a limited basis Thursday and said they feel good about their chances of playing. Payton said it was a good sign that Shockey was able to work for a second straight day, with only minor soreness after Wednesday’s practice.
Guards Jahri Evans (ankle) and Carl Nicks (illness) were back during team drills. Evans was limited and Nicks was at full speed. It looks like they’ll both be able to play Sunday. Also practicing on a limited basis were cornerbacks Mike McKenzie (knee) and Aaron Glenn (knee), safety Kevin Kaesviharn (back) and Lake (groin).
Ellis (knee) remained out and is not expected to play Sunday.
ROSTER MOVES: The Saints released backup tight end Sean Ryan, which could be a sign that Shockey’s return is imminent. He was replaced on the roster by receiver/return specialist Courtney Roby.
Roby, 25, was a third-round draft pick out of Indiana in 2005. He appeared in 25 games with Tennessee in 2005-06, catching 23 passes for 317 yards and one touchdown. But he has only appeared in one NFL game since then, with Indianapolis earlier this year on special teams.
The Saints also made two moves on their practice squad, replacing cornerback Darrell Hunter and receiver Joe West with cornerback Quincy Butler and guard Cameron Stephenson.
New Orleans Saints Oct. 16 practice report
October 16, 2008
New Orleans Saints Oct. 16 practice report – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune October 16, 2008 1:42PM
Categories: Saints
MICHAEL DeMOCKER / The Times-Picayune
Tailback Reggie Bush did not participate in team drills again on Thursday because of swelling and soreness in his left knee. But he was involved in individual drills, and he and Coach Sean Payton have continued to describe his inactivity as a precaution. It still appears as though he will play Sunday at Carolina.Bush has been dealing with occasional swelling since training camp, when he missed a handful of practices, and Payton said he aggravated the condition with a specific injury in Week 1 against Tampa Bay. Obviously Bush has managed to play well, with great speed and explosiveness throughout the year, but it’s been a long six-week stretch. Payton said he’ll probably be fighting through it until the bye week in two weeks.
Receiver Marques Colston (thumb) and tight end Jeremy Shockey (sports hernia) also appear on track to return to the lineup Sunday. Both players participated in team drills on a limited basis Thursday. Payton said it was a good sign that Shockey was able to get back out there for a second straight day, with only a minor amount of soreness after Wednesday’s practice.
Guards Jahri Evans (ankle) and Carl Nicks (illness) were both back during team drills. Evans was limited and Nicks was full-go. It looks like they’ll both be able to play Sunday. Also practicing on a limited basis were cornerbacks Mike McKenzie (knee) and Aaron Glenn (knee), safety Kevin Kaesviharn (back) and defensive tackle Antwan Lake (groin).
Defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis remained out with a knee injury, and he is not expected to play Sunday.
…
The Saints released backup tight end Sean Ryan on Thursday, which could be a sign that Shockey’s return is imminent. He was replaced on the roster by receiver/return specialist Courtney Roby.
Roby, 25, was originally a third-round draft pick out of Indiana in 2005. He appeared in 25 games with the Tennessee Titans between 2005-06, catching 23 passes for 317 yards and one touchdown. But he has only appeared in one NFL game since then, with Indianapolis earlier this year on special teams.
The Saints also made two moves on their practice squad, replacing cornerback Darrell Hunter and receiver Joe West with cornerback Quincy Butler and guard Cameron Stephenson.
New Orleans Saints Insider: First-and-10
October 16, 2008
New Orleans Saints Insider: First-and-10 – Jeff Duncan on Saints – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune October 16, 2008 10:26AM
Categories: SaintsSome Who Dat lagniappe as the Saints prepare for their most important game of the young season. Saints players and coaches have tried to downplay the significance of this one, but, c’mon, everyone knows what’s at stake this weekend.
First (take) ….
The most important number from the Saints’ rout of the Raiders last week? Zero.
That’s the number of severe injuries the Saints incurred in the easy win, assuming Reggie Bush’s mysterious knee problem is not serious.
It’s been a while since the Saints haven’t played a game and lost a starter to some form of malady.
So far, Saints starters have missed a combined 21 games because of injury. Every position group, with the exception of quarterback and running back, has been affected.
Despite the adversity, the Saints have managed a respectable 3-3 record, just one game out behind the NFC South leaders.
All indications are that Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey will return to the starting lineup this week. If so, then the offense will be missing only left guard Jamar Nesbit. That’s the healthiest they’ve been since the season opener. And Nesbit is due back from his four-game suspension next week.
Meanwhile, free safety Kevin Kaesviharn, wide receiver David Patten and cornerback Aaron Glenn also working toward a return this week or next. And defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis should be back after the bye week.
That’s a scary thought for the rest of the league. The way Drew Brees is playing, he doesn’t need a lot of help right now, and as they say in New Orleans, he’s fixin’ to get some.
… And 10 (more observations)
1. Casual locker-room observation of the week: The defensive backs might be the closest – and craziest — position group on the team, followed in no particular order by the offensive line, tight ends and running backs. All of the units are pretty tight but the Saints DBs always seem to operate in an exclusive pack. Their lockers are grouped in the far corner of the locker room, and the players are constantly clowning and crackin’ jokes with each other back there. On Wednesday the group was attacking a large take-out order of Popeye’s chicken and jamming to a large boom box. It’s a fun-lovin’ group.
2. Off-the-field note of the week: Wanna know how physically demanding the NFL is? Fullback Mike sees an army of trainers and physical therapists on Tuesday to get him through the week and prepare his body for the following week’s game. The process begins on Monday when he receives treatment from trainers on assorted injuries. On Tuesday, he sees a chiropractor and a stretching and massage therapist, who he flies from Arizona to work on his body. Karney needed extra work this week. He played a season-high 45 snaps against the Raiders.
3. Quote of the week: “It was only a 1-yard gain, but it was an exciting 1-yard gain.” – Karney on his second-quarter check-down reception against the Raiders, in which he eluded linebacker Kirk Morrison, ran over Ricky Brown, then dragged safety Tyvon Branch, end Jason Richardson and linebacker Thomas Howard for the final 2 yards. While Karney gained a foot or so, the play was officially ruled a no gain. Karney said it was the first time he’s ever caught a pass on that pattern. “I’ve probably run it 100 times and usually I just sit out there. I couldn’t believe when Drew threw it to me.”
4. Didya notice of the week: After sending his initial kickoff out of bounds, rookie Taylor Mehlhaff did an excellent job on his remaining kickoff. He averaged a solid 65.6 yards a kick on his seven kicks. The Raiders only averaged 16.8 yards a return because Mehlhaff’s hang-time was consistently higher than the 4.0-second threshold the Saints try to hit.
5. Fact of the week: Saw this cool stat on NFL.com: With his next punt return for a touchdown, Reggie Bush will join Eric Metcalf — the player he’s often identified with – as the only players in NFL history with at least 10 rushing touchdowns, five receiving touchdowns and five touchdowns on punt returns. Bush has 3 ½ more seasons to match Metcalf, who didn’t accomplish the feat until his sixth year in the league.
6. Encouraging stat of the week: Drew Brees has completed passes to 15 different receivers this season, tied with injury-riddled Seattle for the highest number in the league. With the exception of recently-released wide receiver Terrance Copper and tight end Buck Ortega, every skill-position player who has played a down for the Saints this season has caught pass. Brees has thrown touchdown passes to seven receivers and that number doesn’t include Marques Colston or Jeremy Shockey, considered his top two targets.
7. Disturbing stat of the week: Despite the big win, the Saints only averaged 3.7 yards a carry against the Raiders. They have not averaged more than 4.0 yards a carry in a game this season. Their 3.3-yards-per-rush average ranks 29th in the league and is well below the 4.1 NFL average. Rushing is becoming less and less important in today’s NFL but the Saints still need to improve in this area.
8. What I liked from Week 6: The Saints eliminated the mistakes that cost them in previous weeks. They only committed four penalties in the game, none pre-snap.
9. What I didn’t like from Week 6: The Saints’ pass defense produced an interception and two sacks but they had opportunities to do so much more. Defensive backs dropped a handful of interceptions, including a gimme by Roman Harper on the Raiders’ opening drive. If Harper makes the interception the Saints have a chance to record their first shutout in more than 12 years. The Saints’ last shutout was a 12-0 win against the Jets on Dec. 24, 1995.
10. Fearless prediction for Week 7: The Saints haven’t won consecutive games since Weeks 14 and 15 of the 2007 season, but they’ll snap that streak on Sunday. They’ll also end a three-game road losing streak, which dates to last season. It won’t be easy. Carolina is smarting after last week’s humbling road loss at Tampa Bay and the home crowd will be whipped into a frenzy, but the Saints understand what’s at stake here. Besides, you can make a strong case that the Saints are better than their 3-3 record and the Panthers are worse than their 4-2 record.
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