saintz08

Haslett expects Bouman to be better this time


New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett expects Todd Bouman to do better in his second outing as the team's starting quarterback.


Bouman, who threw four interceptions and fumbled once in the Saints' 27-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers, will start Saturday against the Detroit Lions.

Before Sunday, Bouman hadn't started since Dec. 23, 2001, when he subbed for the injured Daunte Culpepper while with the Minnesota Vikings. Haslett had expected he might be rusty.

"He had three disappointing plays," Haslett said. "I thought he made good decisions for the most part. He ran the offense extremely well. I thought he brought some energy to the field.

"He'll be better this time."

The Saints (3-11) must win either this week or in their season finale Jan. 1 at Tampa Bay to avoid their worst season since Mike Ditka's final season in 1999. New Orleans was 3-13 that season.

The Saints will meet Detroit on Saturday in the Alamodome. The team has split two games in the facility, its last a 34-31 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 16.

The Saints switched to Bouman with the benching of Aaron Brooks, who has thrown more interceptions (17) than touchdowns (13) and has his worst quarterback rating (70.0) since becoming the starter in 2000.

The 33-year-old Bouman, four years older than Brooks, hasn't been a statistical improvement. He completed 17 of 34 passes for 193 yards against Carolina, but his early 23-yard touchdown pass to Donte' Stallworth was overshadowed by the four interceptions and fumble.

"Obviously it didn't go as well as I wanted it to," Bouman said. "Winning is the bottom line, and we didn't win the game. Nothing else matters."

Haslett said Bouman's stats would have been better if not for six dropped passes, five he claimed were botched by Stallworth.

Haslett said Bouman's mistakes came on the fumble and two interceptions that all occurred in the end zone or within five yards from it. The other interceptions came after running back Antowain Smith couldn't handle a deflected pass and when Bouman threw a desperation heave at the end of the first half.

Haslett said the coaching staff probably contributed to one of the end-zone interceptions by putting Bouman in the shotgun instead of a goal-line offense.

But the other, when the Saints were trailing only 10-7 in the first half, changed the momentum of the game. Bouman decided to throw toward Stallworth when Joe Horn, who had been struggling through double coverage from the first series of the game, had just gotten open.

"He should have thrown it to Joe," Haslett said. "He made a poor decision, and the next thing you know they're ahead 17-7."

Bouman was 5-of-13 with one interception in the second half of the Saints' 52-3 loss to Green Bay earlier this season.

His best game came in 2001, when he was 21-of-31 for 348 yards and four touchdowns against the Tennessee Titans.

He was acquired by New Orleans for a sixth-round draft choice.

"Under the circumstances with him coming in and playing for the first time, I think he did well," Horn said.


http://www.nola.com/sportsflash/sain...orylist=saints


Would everyone not think so . They are playing the lions for the Reggie rights , not the Panthers .......

\"Americans play to win at all times. I wouldn\'t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed.\" - George S. Patton
On another note, I\'ll take a bite of that crow 08. - Saintfan
Brooks is a moron!! - Halo

Tobias-Reiper

...one of the numbnuts "narrating" the game made a comment that he had talked to Boumann and Boumann said that, prior to this past week, he never got reps with the 1st team, and that most of the reps he got, he got with the practice squad... so I would give Boumann the benefit of the doubt...

... it does sound like our beloved coaching staff's M.O., i.e., not being prepared...