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DT Brian Young |
Notes: Practice Report Wednesday
Three defensive starters, Faine sit; none ruled
out yet
posted October 31, 2007 - print
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neworleansprofootball.com
Injury Update: Defensive starters Brian Young
(knee), Charles Grant (ankle) and Scott Shanle (hamstring) sat
on Wednesday. Joining them out of practice was also center Jeff
Faine (pectoral).
All but Faine played in San Francisco.
"We’ll see where they’re at tomorrow,"
Payton said today.
Reserve linebacker Alfred Fincher also sat out after the effects
of a concussion.
Young has had his knee drained of fluid twice in the past two
weeks and needs to recover from those minor procedures before
practicing. Grant and Shanle were injured in San Francisco.
Josh Cooper stepped in at left defensive end and Troy Evans stepped
in for Shanle at weakside linebacker. Jonathan Goodwin started
for Faine. Young was missed in the rotation that still featured
Hollis Thomas, Kendrick Clancy and Antwan Lake.
Jason David returned to action in San Francisco, missing time
since the Monday night loss to Tennessee when he suffered a broken
forearm. David still has the only Saint defensive touchdown and
one of three interceptions for the team, the lowest total in the
NFL. David also has the defense's only touchdown of the year.
Bush Back: RB Reggie Bush is 24th in the NFL
with an average of 85.1 yards per game. But he's averaging 109.0
yards per game in the three Saint victories, averaged 6.4 yards
per carry last week, leads NFL runningbacks with 43 catches and
also racked up one marketing agent lawsuit this week.
Bush practiced despite bruised ribs that limited him in the second
half of Sunday's game, and afterwards was asked questions about
football - other topics were banned.
""I'm focused on football and this game with the Jacksonville
Jaguars as well as our team," Bush said. "The team is
first and foremost and that's it."
Positive Stat Line: In four losses, Drew Brees
attempted more than 40 passes, thrown nine interceptions to one
touchdown for a 57.38 passer rating.
In three victories, Brees has attempted no more than 39 passes,
thrown one interception to eight touchdowns for a 112.98 passer
rating.
The short passing game has been the focus all season long, as
Brees' passes per attempt went for 5.25 yards in the four losses
but 7.35 yards in the three victories. Dallas QB Tony Romo is
averaging 8.3 yards per attempt, New England QB Tom Brady is averaging
9.1 yards per attempt.
Still a Long Ways To Go: The Saints are 25th
in the league in pass yards per game (234.4), 25th in sacks (11),
24th in passing touchdowns allowed (12).
Even in three wins, the Saints are giving up 275 yards passing
per game. Their nine sacks in three victories is a big improvement
over two in four losses, but Matt Hasselbeck still hung up
362 and the Falcons' two quarterbacks rung up 273. Alex Smith,
without a throwing shoulder and missing his top receiver, found
190 yards in the air against the Saints. The Colts, on the other
hand, are giving up only 165.4 yards per game.
Quite simply, the secondary is still not making plays. Five out
of seven opponents have converted better than 45% of third downs.
The Saints' past two opponents have converted 50% or better of
their third down conversions.
Since averaging 4.1 yards per rush in the opener, the Saints
have yet to average more than four yards a rush since, including
twice averaging less than three yards.
The Saints must try to be more balanced in their attack. Despite
the blowout, Payton had Brees throw the ball 39 times in San Francisco,
though in the second half the Saints ran 16 conventional rushing
plays against 13 passes.
Draft Picks So Far: Of the Saints' seven draft
picks, five made the team, and of them, two have played: third
round pick CB Usama Young and seventh rounder LB Marvin Mitchell.
Additionally, third round pick G Andy Alleman was active against
the 49ers because of Faine's injury. First rounder WR Robert Meachem
and fourth rounder OL Jermon Bushrod have yet to be active.
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