Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

METAIRIE, La. — The optimistic tweets began to grow the longer New Orleans’ game against went.

The Saints’ safeties were playing well, showing athleticism and ball skills most thought didn’t exist.

Only, they were watching Rafael Bush and Isa Abdul-Quddus, not Malcolm Jenkins and Roman Harper.

“Both of them when they come in, all they’ve done is make plays,” Jenkins said. “If they can continue to do that and just create that depth for us, it makes our depth a lot better.”

With Jenkins on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and Harper playing a portion of games at a hybrid linebacker position, it’s likely that the Bush-Quddus combo will continue seeing the light of day, including Sunday when the Saints (6-8) travel to play Dallas (8-6).

In just two games, Bush and Quddus have matched the interception total (3) of Jenkins and Harper.

Additionally, Quddus has 29 tackles and a fumble recovery to go with seven special teams tackles. Bush, meanwhile, has 10 tackles, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble in limited playing time. He also is second on the team with 11 special teams tackles and has a fumble recovery there, too.
It’s what the duo did on special teams that has caught the eye of the coaching staff.

“I think when you have a young defensive player and all of a sudden you see him on the coverage teams, you see him on the return teams, you see the courage, you see the play making in space, now it is the natural evolution to go play defense or offense,” Saints interim coach Joe Vitt said.
Special teams coach Greg McMahon believes, in fact, that if a player can’t cut it on special teams, they’re going to have a hard time making it on the regular teams.

“It all ties in together,” McMahon said. “There is no question, if a guy can’t go out and play special teams, then he is going to have a hard time playing defense or offense.”

Read more: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season | wwltv.com New Orleans

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

It's the future. Isa is a terrific player and absolutely should be starting at free safety going forward.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

Start em now and fulltime ... Tired of Watching Harper get Moss'd

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

Isa has the instincts to play FS, it just comes natural to him

I've been one of the first to defend Jenkins, but Quddus is the better safety

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

I will beleive that when he has played more games. Jenkins is still one of the fastest guys on the team and nobody in the secondary or in the safties has compared to his level of intensity and dedication. If you have a hard time beleiving this go back and watch what Jenkins has done this year. I have never seen somebody come from the 30 yard line with about 30 yards between themselves and the receiver and still chase them down and stop the play. Not to mention he stayed in on the next 4 downs and stopped the final play on a 4th down conversion. Jenkins stays where he is at and Quddus should alternate.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

Get rid of Harper or bulk him up to play LB. Bush and Quddus at Safety and Jenkins at CB (where he belongs)

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

I'm glad I'm not the only one seeing the improved play when these guys are in there.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

That was a great play, but the fact of the matter is, that it was only 1 play. The rest of his year hasn't been very good. Dropped INT's, missed assignments, missed tackles, and speed?? Are you serious? The whole reason Jenkins was moved to Safety is because of his LACK of speed and the fact that we played mostly man to man defense. The recent talk about a possible move back to CB next year is because we now play a lot more zone coverage which does not suit Robinson or Greer, but does suit a slower CB like Jenkins. Not hacking on ya man but Jenkins ran something like a 4.6 or 4.7, 40, just saying. In his first two years Jenkins did make some great plays, not so much the last two.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

I know what you mean dizzle, I've been a Harper supporter for years, still am but there's no denying the defense is better with the young guys in. Profootball focus has graded and ranked the top 85 safties. Jenkins is dead last and Harper is 82nd of 85. Jenkins earned negative rankings in every catagory and Harper's best ranking was a neutral in grade in run support. Isa Abdul-Quddus, on the other hand is ranked 33rd and they give him a overall positive grade.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

There's no denying it anymore my fellow Saints fans... Jenkins is a terrible free safety. I love the player, just not at that position. Isa Abdul Quddus has balled his ass off every chance he's gotten, even when it was just on special teams.