Notebook: Marcus Ball may get start at safety
 

Marcus Ball’s most noticeable play against Cincinnati on Sunday was an offside penalty that turned a third-and-6 into a third-and-1 when he blitzed too early. He could be noticed more often next Monday against Baltimore because he might be starting.

Regular starting free safety Rafael Bush fractured his right fibula in the fourth quarter Sunday and could be out four-to-six weeks. Ball is one of only three healthy safeties on the roster along with starting strong safety Kenny Vaccaro and Jamarca Sanford, who signed last Wednesday.

Ball, who has six tackles in five games, played two seasons for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League before signing with the Saints last April.

“I would describe (Ball) as more of a strong safety type player,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “He’s played in some of the free safety groups for us. He had that early-season (hamstring) injury, and yet there’s some elements to his game that he needs to improve on as well. We’ll see where he’s at and how he factors in.”


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Re: Notebook: Marcus Ball may get start at safety
 

Two SSs and a special teams guy is all we have. That's not good.

Re: Notebook: Marcus Ball may get start at safety
 

Go get Pierre Warren back of the vikes practise squad. He knows the system

Re: Notebook: Marcus Ball may get start at safety
 

We better make a move.

Our next 6 games feature QBs who can sling it.

Re: Notebook: Marcus Ball may get start at safety
 

What about moving White to FS and Robinson to starting CB? Does Corey have the range to cover it?

Re: Notebook: Marcus Ball may get start at safety
 

A banged up Lewis at CB and a struggling KV as the only healthy safety does not bode well for the Saints. Who knows? I'm tempted to say Ball can't do any worse. Then, Flacco puts 55 on them. Tough to watch.

Re: Notebook: Marcus Ball may get start at safety
 

I think KV might get moved to FS seen as we drafred him for his versatility

Ball will most likely play SS

Has anyone else noticed that Patrick Robinson has played better in the slot
Corey white is flat out terrible

I watch other teams cornerbacks stay with receivers and Corey is always 5-10 yards away.

Re: Notebook: Marcus Ball may get start at safety
 

I thought about that but Vaccaro's been struggling enough as a full-time strong safety this season and giving him a different set of responsibilities as a free safety might make his head explode Scanners-style. On the other hand, you're right that we drafted him for his versatility in coverage and maybe a change will do him some good.

Re: Notebook: Marcus Ball may get start at safety
 

The bad thing for us is he was playing FS when he blew the coverage and let crabtree catch that 50 yard pass vs 9ers

Time for them all to man up and do their jobs.

Re: Notebook: Marcus Ball may get start at safety
 

Yeah he's much more effective playing press man against slot receivers rather than deep zone. A Cover 2 play call doesn't put Vaccaro in a position where he's particularly effective. We'll bring someone in and just have to figure out who is best in coverage between that person and Ball/Sanford.