Shocking news: Pierre Thomas listed as "out" for Sunday. Jeremy Shockey is probable with an ankle...

Shocking news: Pierre Thomas listed as "out" for Sunday. Jeremy Shockey is probable with an ankle injury, expected to play...

...Saints playing it close to vest on who will handle KOs and KO returns. Double-secret probation for anyone that gives up strategic secrets...

...Rookie CB Malcolm Jenkins is out of the starting nickel package. Saints going with vet R. Gay @ nickel. Jenkins strictly on special teams...

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over 2 years ago Dave Cariello 40 comments 0 recs |

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who will get more touches?

bush or bell?

by NYSaint on Sep 11, 2009 3:17 PM CDT reply actions

Bush

no question.

by FuSoYa on Sep 11, 2009 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions

meaning hand offs or receptions? Bush will get more total touches but Bell will get more handoffs. IF Bell messes around and gets hot and peels off a couple’ah good runs. I think it’s his position to lose.

by BigTMill on Sep 11, 2009 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Good point

I was taking it to mean total touches. Probably 50/50 from the backfield.

by FuSoYa on Sep 11, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions

I hope you aren't right

I feel PT should get a shot when TOTALLY healthy.

Besmirching the reverence of the sport of customer service since Aug 26, 2009

by asaint on Sep 11, 2009 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions

He will definitely “get a shot”. The question is whether he will win his starting job back. Frankly I hope he either doesn’t or has a really hard time doing so. Not because I don’t like him… not remotely because of that. Because I think it would totally RULE for us to have such a good running game that there aren’t enough touches to go around for all the Roaring Twenties…

I mean, seriously, wouldn’t it be cool to have people talking about us having the best QB in the game AND a running game that is constantly compared (favorably) to Earth Wind & Fire from last year?

by FriarBob on Sep 11, 2009 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions

A comment..and a solicitation

1) I guess Jenkins’ performance in the Miami preseason game hurt his stock with the coaches.

2) Does this mean I should play Mike Bell? I have Forte locked in as my RB1, then my other two RBs right now are Kevin Smith and Cedric Benson. I don’t want to play anyone in my fantasy world who’s against the Saints in the real world, but Smith is Detroit’s only real offensive option outside of Megatron—so I think I have to play him. Benson is pretty bad, but he had a few really solid games towards the end of last season—and he’s playing against Denver who was AWFUL against the run last season, and they really haven’t done anything to improve their front 7. But I’d LOVE to play Mike Bell just to have a Saint in my lineup. Any advice??

by jful on Sep 11, 2009 3:55 PM CDT reply actions

tough one

I might actually go with Bell. What the hell, right?

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by Dave Cariello on Sep 11, 2009 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Tough call

Unless your opponent for this week looks pretty strong, I’d probably stick with what you have already. I think the Packers D will be better than expected and will somewhat limit Forte’s production this week. I’m counting on them to menace Jay “Crybaby” Cutler all game long. I’m also hoping the Saints D will shut down Smith. They looked pretty good most of the preseason at stopping the run. Benson will probably be a good play against the Broncos in a home game. In one league, I’m trying to decide if I should play Bell or Darren Sproles as my RB2 this weekend. I’m leaning Bell. In another, I have Pierre Thomas, so I’m definitely going Bell in that one. It’s either him or Larry Johnson, and I don’t see Johnson doing anything against the Ravens.

"He has got a good ol' boy sense of humor, but he has also got a good ol' boy sense of kick you in the ass, too,"--Gregg Williams describing Bill Johnson. The D WILL ROCK THIS YEAR!

by David "Satch" Kelly on Sep 11, 2009 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions

tough my arse!

if you go down, go down with our boy, not theirs. That’s how I look at it. I mean if it was AP vs. Bell that’s a different ballgame, but if it’s close….I’m taking Black and Gold.

Besmirching the reverence of the sport of customer service since Aug 26, 2009

by asaint on Sep 11, 2009 6:27 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd go

with Smith, just because he’s bound to be involved in the passing game. If the Saints throw to a back, it will be Bush. If the Bengals throw to a back, it will be Leonard. I see a lot of “everything but the kitchen sink” blitzes by the Saints and that could lead to a sizeable gains on screens. Hell, even when they weren’t 100% committed to pressure, they’ve had problems containing designed flares and check offs to opposing backs. Forte’s a lock, obviously.

"It feels like a tiny prick " -Reggie Bush

by coldpizza on Sep 12, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Shockey "probable" with an ankle?

and so it begins. . .

Being a Saints fan will take years off your life

by MobileSaint on Sep 11, 2009 3:58 PM CDT reply actions

yeah i noticed that too

he better be ready come sunday… all his “this is the best i’ve felt in years” talk better produce!

by nanvinnie on Sep 11, 2009 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions

This scares me, too.

Another Crystal Cleeland? Seriously, nobody wants to play tight end for the Saints.

by xen-cuts on Sep 12, 2009 7:05 AM CDT up reply actions

So is

Jenkins not ready?? I know he didn’t look all that good, at least to me he didn’t, during pre-season.

by BigTMill on Sep 11, 2009 4:44 PM CDT reply actions

Apparently the coaching staff doesn't think so.

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by Dave Cariello on Sep 11, 2009 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions

and they see him everyday.

i thot jenkins was real deal awesomeness???

by xen-cuts on Sep 12, 2009 7:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Outside of special teams, CBs don’t typically contribute heavily in their first season. There’ve been a few exceptions over the years, though even then, it’s almost always a case of “no one better available”, as opposed to “he’s just that good”. 9 times out of 10, there’s at least two better suited to start on an NFL roster that early on. You don’t want to be the team that doesn’t have that learning buffer. Nickel or dime is the ideal spot for him in ‘09, imo. The last thing I want to see is another Alex Molden or Vince Buck type situation, where the guy gets throw to the wolves straight out of the gates and loses all confidence in himself. That’s how careers wind up going down the sh*tter. To be honest, I can’t think of a single CB in the history of the game that has truly benefitted from a baptism by fire. A handful that have played up to par as rookies (i.e., not been notably affected by it), then gone on to be great, but none that have failed miserably, only to rebound masterfully.

"It feels like a tiny prick " -Reggie Bush

by coldpizza on Sep 12, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Gay didn't really wow

me not that I can say that Jenkins looked great but I never saw Jenkins play too much.

Superbowl bound!!!...I hope? Go Saints! :D

by skinnykinney on Sep 11, 2009 4:48 PM CDT reply actions

oh well

at least we have a decent backup option?

by xen-cuts on Sep 12, 2009 7:06 AM CDT up reply actions

At least we have 2 CB's to start

in Greer and Porter. I still fear 3rd and long, though.

by FuSoYa on Sep 11, 2009 4:51 PM CDT reply actions

i hope we don't give up the middle like we did in preseason...

opposing TEs had SOOO much space

by nanvinnie on Sep 11, 2009 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions

yeah

the middle was bad and had only a few players to beat.

Superbowl bound!!!...I hope? Go Saints! :D

by skinnykinney on Sep 11, 2009 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions

you aint never lied

and it’s some nasty TE’s in the NFC Souf this year.

by BigTMill on Sep 12, 2009 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions

3rd and long - we'll keep rolaids and tums in business

Smell Greatness

by Hans Petersen on Sep 11, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Who Will Get More Touches, Bush or Bell?

whoever is getting yardage after a qtr and a half

"Indecision may or may not be my biggest problem" - Jimmy Buffet

by Philinwood on Sep 11, 2009 4:53 PM CDT reply actions

I like that answer

and I think that’s the way it should be. Unfortunately, sometimes Payton doesn’t always agree with you and I Phil.

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by Dave Cariello on Sep 11, 2009 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions

payton will stick to his game plan

and just tell the team they need to execute more. I bet Bell doesn’t get many touches at all. Payton likes Reggie running between the tackles so unless Payton has a change of heart with game planning (which he probably won’t) I’d look for Reggie on 80+% of plays. I just cannot envision Payton putting Bell in there.

I like Bell but Dave the Falcontastic Falconer is right: there is something wrong with bell that makes every team want to get rid of him. It might be the fumbles. But I remember him running people over in Denver…

by xen-cuts on Sep 12, 2009 7:09 AM CDT up reply actions

I remember Reuben Droughns, Olandis Gary and Quintin Griffin running people over in Denver, too. Just saying.

"It feels like a tiny prick " -Reggie Bush

by coldpizza on Sep 12, 2009 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Jenkins could have been starting at this point

if he didn’t hold out so long

"Indecision may or may not be my biggest problem" - Jimmy Buffet

by Philinwood on Sep 11, 2009 4:54 PM CDT reply actions

i don't know about that

unless they feel that he’s not completely in a great football shape right now. According to Williams and Jenkins, he knows the playbook. I think he didn’t get alot of preseason action which could have been caused by missing TC time during the holdout which hurt his chances to start. I don’t really see it that way. IDK why he’s not the starting nickel though.

Superbowl bound!!!...I hope? Go Saints! :D

by skinnykinney on Sep 11, 2009 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Overstated knowledge of playbook is the reason

Jenkins does not know the playbook well enough. He looked like doo doo in the preseason games because he had to react after thinking. He won’t be good until mid-season, if that. That is my prediction.

by xen-cuts on Sep 12, 2009 7:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Sharper didn't play much outside of Bengals game

I think he will hold down the throws over the middle better than we saw the last couple of games

Being a Saints fan will take years off your life

by MobileSaint on Sep 11, 2009 5:15 PM CDT reply actions

hope so

I don’t want brandon pettigrew having a good coming out party

Smell Greatness

by Hans Petersen on Sep 11, 2009 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions

He’s definitely gonna get looks, as Stafford attempts to acclimate himself to the speed of NFL defenders. Hopefully Lunch Pale brings his B-game (he doesn’t have an A-game).

"It feels like a tiny prick " -Reggie Bush

by coldpizza on Sep 12, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions