Special teams and turnovers were the two areas Payton said concerned him the most after watching the game tape. Detroit accumulated 235 yards on special teams, and the Saints lost a fumble that was picked up for a touchdown on the play.
“We had a ball out on a punt. We had a ball out on a running play with the lead late in the game, you know, when we’re trying to put someone away. We had a blocked field goal, those things in a 17-14 game, all of a sudden one of those games slips away,” Payton stressed of the importance to play smarter. “It’s easier to come off of a win and coach those things hard and that’s what we’ve got to do this week. We’ve got to improve.”
In the Monday morning team meeting, Payton made it clear to those that earned roster spots via special teams play, must earn that roster spot every week. “If you’re making this roster and coming to the games as a special teams core player, then you need to excel in that area,” Payton said he told the team.
Running backs Reggie Bush and Mike Bell put the ball on the ground, Bush’s coming on a punt return, Bell’s fumble turning into a touchdown on the play. Both turnovers were unacceptable. “Just as we’ve made that emphasis on defense, and I’m talking about the takeaways, that same emphasis, that same attention to detail has to be made in protecting the football,” Payton said. “That’s something we got to look close at and understand where we want the ball, high and tight. That’s something we’ll still have to work on.”
BELL EARNING MORE PT
Payton was very complimentary of running back Mike Bell’s performance on Sunday. Bell rushed 28 times for 143 yards. Bell received the bulk of the carries due to the absence of Pierre Thomas. Thomas is recovering from a sprained right knee. So what happens when Thomas returns? “How do you work that rotation out? That’s something we’re going to have to look at. A will be dependent on if Pierre will be a hundred percent. We think this is the week were he’s going to be able to come back, so we will have to be smart with our personnel and packages,” Payton says. “You don’t want to effect how a guy like Mike Bell runs. He’s a guy that gets stronger as the game goes on.”
PHILLY AN EARLY GAUGE
Sunday in Philadelphia the Saints will get a good earl test as to where their football team stands. The Eagles embarrassed the Panthers in Charlotte on Sunday. Philly’s defense forced seven turnovers, picking off Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme four times.
“Certainly it’s a team we’re playing that I think is one of the better teams in the NFC. There’s a ton of things that we did yesterday that we won’t be able to get away in a game like this and I think our players will know that, they have to understand that,” stated Payton. “We’ve got to play better. It’ll be our first opportunity for this team to go on the road and play in a tough environment, it’s a tough stadium to play in, and it’s loud. We’re looking forward to it, we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
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