BUMPS AND BRUISES
The list of players nicked up and taking it easy at practice was again a lengthy one. 19 total players were on the list, five of them missing practice. The encouraging news was that RB Reggie Bush and CB Jabari Greer practiced on a limited basis.
WR Lance Moore (ankle, hamstring), DE Bobby McCray (back, knee), CB Tracy Porter (knee), CB Randall Gay (hamstring), and LB Marvin Mitchell (hamstring) all did not practice.
Fourteen players worked on a limited basis aside from Bush, and Greer. LB Scott Fujita (knee), LG Jahri Evans (toe), LT Jermon Bushrod (thumb), RB Mike Bell (knee), RB Lynell Hamilton (shoulder), LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar (wrist), TE Jeremy Shockey (elbow), CB Chris McAlister (knee), LB Jonathan Vilma (knee), RB Pierre Thomas (wrist), C Jonathan Goodwin (ankle).
We also recieved an update on CB Tracy Porter who is recovering from a sprained MCL in his knee. Saints coach Sean Payton said Porter is ahead of schedule and remains optimistic that he can return before the end of the regular season. Porter suffered the injury two games ago.
BREES AWARE OF THE TRAP
The ingredients for a trap game are all there. A team coming off an emotionally charged victory against a good football team and working on a short week of preparation face a team with nothing to lose. The Saints face the Redskins this weekend in a game that has the makings of an upset. We all know the Saints record, but the Redskins are a three-win football team looking to pick up a signature win in a disappointing season. The Redskins have the home field advantage in a 91,000 seat stadium and the chance to hand an undefeated team their first defeat.
It’s not the first time the Saints have faced a similar recipe for disaster. Week 7, the Saints had just improved to 5-0 following a sound beating of the New York Giants. On deck the Miami Dolphins, a team that was 2-3. The Fins’ took it to the Saints, using turnovers to jump out to 24-10 halftime lead. “I think it was just one of those games where they were really up to play us, we made some critical mistakes early on and they had some balls bounce their way with a tipped interception. We did some uncharacteristic things. The fact was we were able to rally, stick together and win the game. I think we learned a lot from that game,” says Saints quarterback Drew Brees of a game in which the Saints would come back to win 46-34.
As a team, all week players and coaches have stressed the importance of taking every week equally serious. Mental diligence aside, the season is entering the final stages. Bodies are sore, bruised and minds are tired. Playing every week with a high level of intensity isn’t achieved easily.
“Anytime you come off a victory, obviously emotionally you have to get right back up for the next opponent, because to them, obviously this is the next most important game just as it is the next most important game for us, but to maintain that level of intensity and emotion each week is hard. That’s probably the biggest struggle in the NFL week to week and you talk about the season being a marathon. That’s why each week you see some teams with other teams with the records beforehand, you say that shouldn’t have happened. It’s because of the emotional levels. You have to stay up every week.”
This week’s challenge is the Redskins. Washington has played well as of late, losing their last two by a total of four points. The Redskins also have a two game winning streak against the Saints, beating them in 2006 in a game where a win would have clinched the NFC South. Then last season at FEDEX Field, Washington hit some big plays and kept the Saints from converting a few short yardage situations to win. It’s a steak that’s on the minds of the team.
” We recognize the last two times we’ve played this team they’ve beaten us, once down here, once up here last year. We haven’t finished the games very well. That’s an area that we’ve really improved upon. It’s something we’re going to have to prove again, and because it’s the next game,” Brees says. “Hey, we’re sitting here at 11-0 right now. We want to be 12-0. We want to keep this streak going. There’s no more important game than this week.”
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