WR Lance Moore, CB Jabari Greer, and CB Tracy Porter are all listed as being out for the game.
RB Reggie Bush did not practice again on Friday, and has not practiced all week. Saints head coach Sean Payton lists him as questionable for the game. DT Sedrick Ellis is questionable as well.
S Darren Sharper has practiced on a limited basis all week and is listed as probably. C Jonathan Goodwin did not practice two of three days this week, but is listed as probable. TE Dave Thomas is probable as well.
Bush is suffering from swelling related to a knee bruise and Payton is hoping his running back will respond by game time to treatment. “From a rep(repetitions) standpoint I think he’s smart enough and knows what we’re doing, hence the reason we’re listing him as questionable,” Payton said on Friday.
The Saints are healthy and deep at running back with Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell, both of whom can easily carry the load if Bush were to be held out Sunday. The Saints secondary however is a concern. Both starting corners are out. The Saints will look to replace Greer and Porter with Randall Gay, Malcolm Jenkins and maybe even new Saints cornerback Chris McAlister who was signed to the team this week.
“One of the things that he has, with his experience, the ability to grasp the schemes and convert terminology that he’s used to, and some it’s similar,” Payton says of McAlister’s chances to play Sunday. “He practiced this week and the reason we signed him was because we feel like he’s going to be able to come in on a short week and do that so.”
“I’m just here to contribute. I really don’t know exactly what my role is going to be,” McAlister said this week, who believes it won’t take long for him to pick up on what the Saints defense does. “The defense is very similar. There’s just terminology difference. Other than that there’s a lot of carryover from what they did in Baltimore when I was there and what they do here.”
“My expectations of myself is to come in and play just as well as he(Porter) was playing,” says Jenkins of his opportunity to see more playing time this week. “We all prepare like we’re going to play, and you never know when your opportunity will come and the opportunity is here, and I have to take advantage of it.”
Injuries and who’ll play for those that won’t aside, Sunday’s game is a big one for the Saints. The last four games have not been pretty for the Black and Gold. 13 turnovers. Sluggish offensive play, and poor run defense has not only made the games close but has put the team in positions to lose the game.
“That’s something we can’t ignore, because that’s a problem. That’s something we have to fix, because if we don’t then we’re going to find ourselves losing here pretty soon,” says running back Reggie Bush of the team’s recent turnover problem.
“It is without a doubt the biggest statistic in football. If we keep going at the pace that we’re going then it will get us beat at some point, not once, but again and again,” says quarterback Drew Brees. “The first five games of the season we were very good in that regard. So we know how to do it, it’s just a matter of getting back to the fundamentals and that kind of thing.”
The Buccaneers are 1-8 but that win came two weeks ago at home when they beat Green Bay in a game where they picked up six sacks and three turnovers. Last week they lost late in Miami, but gave the Dolphins all they could handle.
“I think they’ve gotten steadily better all year long as a team. They’ve had a lot of turnover as a team and as a coaching staff, but the last two weeks coming out of the bye week, they’ve been energized,” says Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who attributes some of that turnaround to rookie quarterback Josh Freeman. “He’s not afraid to make plays. A lot of quarterbacks, especially young ones that get in the game are somewhat paralyzed and afraid to make plays, he’s not. He’ll force the ball into coverage. He’s got a big arm. He’s got a big body. Just because you get to him in the pocket, doesn’t necessarily you can get the big guy down.
He reminds me a lot of a young Donovan (McNabb), a young (Ben) Roethlisberger, a young Dante Cullpepper with that kind of a size when you’re 6-6 260. A lot of those guys play defensive end and play outside linebacker, this guy is playing quarterback. So when one of our little tweety birds gets in there and we rush him in there, and all of a sudden be careful what you wish for because you’re going to be hitting a big man. He’s extended plays very well, because he’s hard to get down in the pocket. So we got our work cut out for us.”
HOW I SEE IT
The Saints are the better team. There isn’t any question about that. The question is why have the Saints progressively played poor football. Many fans and the national media have already put the W in the win column, and are looking ahead to next Monday night’s matchup with New England. The Saints, and justifiably so, are focusing on improving as a team. If the Saints turn the ball over, fail to stop the run and play sloppy, the Patriots will embarrass New Orleans in a week, it’s time to get the problems fixed now.
The Saints have talent, it’s time to see if they are a mature football team. It’s one thing to say all week you’re focusing on stopping this and correcting that, the reality of it is that you must do it on the field. Sunday is a perfect game to iron out those kinks. I believe the Saints will be able to do what’s need for a win, 31-13, and feel better about their play as they head into that big game next week at 10-0.
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