New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees

Media Availability

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

So much has been made of how good you and the team is in play action. Can you talk about it and how happy you are to have that weapon in your arsenal?

“Typically the run game is what creates good play action. If you run the ball well, teams have to respect it. If you don’t, it’s going to be a long day and then your ability to run play action off of that, I think they just complement one another. The better you are at the play action, the better you are at the naked bootlegs and that kind of thing then the more opportunities that will open up in the run game. The combination of the two complement each other. Typically a great run game is what sets it up too.”

Even though you’ve run the ball successfully, people don’t consider you guys a run team. What do you do to make it work so well?

“Fundamentally there are certain things. You talk about your body language making it look like the run, the way you extend your hand out, the way you keep your off-hand closer to your belly. They’re not sure if the ball is in your hands or the running back’s hands. Timing. Timing of understanding when routes are going to open up down the field and being able to get a good pre-snap read, get your eyes back around, confirm what you saw pre-snap, see the adjustments being made and just be prepared for anything the defense is doing to you.”

It seems like you had four running backs all capable of doing different things. Now with Mark Ingram being placed on Injured Reserve, you have to feel very fortunate with the spot you were in last year that you have guys that are rolling. How fortunate do you feel about that?

“We feel real fortunate. Going into the last playoff game, we had quite a few backs on IR. We lost Julius (Jones) and Reggie (Bush) during the game. I’m not even sure if they would have been able to play in the next game.”

Would Joique Bell have been the starter the next week?

“Yes, or Heath Evans would have gone back to his college days and then carrying the rock as a running back. You obviously go with what you have. Right now we have at least three really healthy backs. That’s the opportunity where you want to work every guy in the mix, realize their strengths. That’s helpful.”

Do you feel that unit has been underplayed a little this year, considering they are a top ten unit running the football?

“Yes, it’s a huge part of our offense. Typically, I’d say when you look at an offense, it would probably be hard to be top ten passing and rushing because there are only so many plays in a game and so you’re running it more you’re throwing it more. I think it’s great that we’ve been able to sustain the efficiency in both and create for the other, especially when you look at the overall yardage, both passing and rushing. It’s pretty unique.”

Can you talk about some of the offensive differences with the 2009 team, considering that Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles weren’t even members of that team?

“Sure, (it’s) obviously a huge credit to them for the type of players they are and have become. I think it’s a huge credit to our coaching staff in helping to integrate those guys into our system and really build around their strengths, because I think that’s a huge part of being great coaches and part of a coach’s job is to put people in the position to succeed and it’s harder than it seems. Especially with the number of guys we have to be able to balance it out, get everybody their touches and opportunities. That’s something that takes a lot of time and a lot of planning.”

There is an argument that the Lions have an edge because they have a hunger because they haven’t been to the playoffs in 11 years. Do you remember when this team was like that in 2006?

“Both teams have played in a lot of big games, especially this year and I don’t think that one side necessarily has the advantage over the other in either regard. Both sides have some big time players that have played in some big time games. It’s the most important game of the season. It doesn’t get any bigger than this Saturday night just because we all have the same hope, dream and aspiration of continuing on and that’s what makes the playoffs so great to watch.”

When you found out the game would be on Saturday night, were you pleased about that?

“It doesn’t matter. Worry about the things you can control. We can’t control what day we play or what time we play at. Obviously it’s another short week coming off a Monday night game, Sunday going into Saturday. I think that we have a good plan in place, a good routine established.”

I know the Lions aren’t a division team, but do they become like a division opponent since you played them already? What kind of advantage and disadvantage is there to that?

“The fact that we played them only four weeks ago, I guess there’s some carryover from that game where you remember how the game unfolded, the type of talent that you were going up against, but then again a lot’s happened in the last four weeks. I feel like we’re playing better football than we were then. I feel like they’re playing better football than they were then. Certainly they’re healthier. Other than that, you go off by what you seen on film, your experiences playing them and you understand there’s going to be some new stuff too.”

That’s all for today.

Saints Coach Sean Payton released his final injury report Saturday prior to the team’s game Monday night against the New York Giants in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. It contained no real surprises, although the status of linebacker Jonathan Vilma is once again cloudy.

Vilma, coming off reportedly minor knee surgery, had been listed as limited at practice on Thursday and Friday. But he did not practice Saturday, Payton said, and was listed as questionable.

Defensive end Turk McBride, who has had his foot encased in a heavy boot for weeks now, did not practice and is out.

Cornerback Patrick Robinson (stomach) and defensive end Cameron Jordan (hand) were listed as full and are both probable for the Giants.

The Giants list, on the other hand, was a lengthy one.

Out for the Saints are tackle Will Beatty (eye/back), running back Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), and defensive back Derrick Martin (hamstring),

Linebacker Michael Boley (hamstring) is doubtful, the Giants said.

Two wide receivers are questionable. They are Mario Manningham (knee) and Michael Clayton (knee). Clayton did not appear on the club’s report until Saturday.

The other players on the list the Giants all tagged as probable. They are defensive end Justin Tuck (ankle/shoulder), tackle Kareen McKenzie (toe), defensive end Osi Umenyiora (knee), and running back D.J. Ware (concussion).

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

News and notes from the New Orleans Saints’ practice Wednesday. 

Saints practiced at their indoor facility.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Specialists: The Saints are in as good of shape as any team in the NFL at the kicking positions, with fourth-year kicker Garrett Hartley and third-year punter Thomas Morstead. They didn’t bring in any competition for either player to camp.

Hartley had his ups and downs last season, but the Saints showed faith in him, and he eventually settled in. With his strong leg and improved confidence, he’s one of the best young kickers in the league. Morstead’s own booming leg is an asset on both punts and kickoffs. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him flirt with his first Pro Bowl invitation this season.

Second-year long snapper Justin Drescher was solid when he joined the Saints late last year, and he seems to have the edge on rookie Kyle Nelson in camp.

Newly signed veteran Darren Sproles will likely take over both kickoff and punt return duties for the Saints. He’s above average in both areas, having returned two kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns in his career. Sproles’ second cousin, Courtney Roby, is obviously in the mix for kickoff returns as well, having held down that job for the past three years. Either way, the Saints figure to be doing a lot more kneeling for touchbacks under the NFL’s new rules.

Veteran receiver Lance Moore is another experienced punt returner. And undrafted rookie receiver Joseph Morgan is making a push to be considered for the job after his spectacular 78-yard touchdown in the Saints’ preseason opener a week ago in the Superdome.

FIRST DOWN

The Saints turned their attention toward Saturday’s preseason game against the Houston Texans during Thursday’s practice. The offense and defense practiced against “scout teams,” instead matching wits against each other.

Still, the day provided some highlights and lowlights. The most dramatic moment

came when quarterback Sean Canfield hit rookie receiver Joseph Morgan for a big gain down the field against the first-team defense. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams responded by dragging most of the defensive players down the field for a not-so-private chewing-out session. He let them know in no uncertain terms that they didn’t look ready for Saturday’s game and that they all shared in the blame. They can make up for it, of course, by having another performance similar to last Friday night’s against the San Francisco 49ers.

Receiver Devery Henderson made a terrific catch early in practice while filling in for the scout-team offense, but he later dropped a ball with the first-team offense in the end zone.

Safety Roman Harper also dropped a chance at an interception and immediately punished himself with a set of push-ups on the field.

Rookie safety DeAndre McDaniel reeled in an easy interception on a ball floated up by Canfield.

GAME PLAN

Safety Malcolm Jenkins and guard Jahri Evans are both expected to play in Saturday’s game, despite being limited by knee injuries this week. Cornerback Tracy Porter won’t play, despite returning to practice this week from his knee injury.

Coach Sean Payton listed cornerback Leigh Torrence (hip) and tight end Tory Humphrey (knee) as “questionable” after they didn’t practice Thursday. Everyone else on the injury report won’t play.

INJURY REPORT

G Jahri Evans: knee

RB Chris Ivory: foot

RB Joique Bell: knee

TE Tory Humphrey: knee

CB Leigh Torrence: hip

CB Johnny Patrick: knee

CB Fabian Washington: hamstring

DE Jeff Charleston: ankle

DE Greg Romeus: knee

DT Tom Johnson: calf

LB Clint Ingram: hamstring

LB Ezra Butler: hamstring

LB Ramon Humber: hamstring

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

Morning walk-through, then travel to Houston.

If anybody needs tickets to games, remember to click the tickets link at the top.

The New Orleans Saints announced Thursday morning that their Friday, Saturday and Sunday practices will begin at 4 p.m. on the team’s outdoor fields in Metairie. Today’s practice begins at 5 p.m. but is inside and not open to the general public.

There will be no practice Monday. The team’s first preseason game is Aug. 12 vs. the San Francisco 49ers in the Superdome.

Here is the revised schedule, as of today.

If anybody needs tickets to games, remember to click the tickets link at the top.