Payton: Strong Running Game Provides "More Teeth in Your Play-Action Pass"
 

Opening Statement:
“Turk McBride (left ankle) did not practice, Mark Ingram (right toe) did not practice, Jonathan Casillas (right knee) did not practice, Scott Shanle (left shoulder) was limited, Sedrick Ellis (left hamstring) was limited, and Jon Vilma (left knee) was full. Today was mostly third down like all Thursdays. We went outside.”

Do you feel like you haven’t been outside in a while?
“It’s been a while. I don’t know how long. I thought the work we got was good. I think the temperatures were similar to what we’re going to see on Sunday.”

Was that what you were aiming to do with practicing outside today?
“Just to create that (type of) environment. We’ll try to do the same tomorrow.”

Are you going to try to do that Saturday in Tennessee at their stadium?
“We are going to go to Tennessee and do it.”

How much will you practice in Tennessee?
“It’s more of a half an hour walk-through and just kind of getting used to the field conditions and really the turf there.”

Are you not worried about getting out of your routine for Saturday?
“We’ve done this before. I would say this has been something we’ve done at least half a dozen times. In fact, in ’09 it became a pretty standard routine for us with quite a few places where we just ended up having what we would have here Saturday morning and flying out at 1:00pm, flying out earlier and having it at the stadium we were going to. I would say it’s probably part of ‘Plan B’ in regards to a second routine.”

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Payton: Strong Running Game Provides "More Teeth in Your Play-Action Pass"

Payton, just run the freakin' ball. Run it down their throats, you know we can. Brees will get his he always does.

Running game is gonna be BIG this week in the cold weather. Also stopping the run against the Titans.

This game will tell us a lot about how we'll likely perform in Green Bay in January if we make it there.

If we lay an egg like the Rams game, we're probably not gonna suddenly change and take care of bidnes in the playoffs on the road.

If we kick their ass, Green Bay fans better hope we get eliminated early.

I dont think it is "over" if we lose - but it will be an uphill battle

It seems Sean Payton has learnt that we need at least some form of balance, if we run the ball even 10 times less than we pass it we can be effective.

2009 - 6th in rushing - SB title
2010 - about 26th in rushing - one and done
2011 - 8th in rushing - won 4 straight, rush for 100 yards = W