blacksaint

Posted: August 14, 2007
Mike Triplett
For Sporting News


The Saints were reminded just how fragile success can be in the NFL when three of their most valuable players went down with minor -- but scary -- injuries. First, C Jeff Faine strained his calf in the preseason opener. Then All-Pro LT Jammal Brown suffered a bone bruise in his knee when he got rolled up during a physical practice. Finally, linebacker Scott Fujita bruised his heel while the team was taking a field trip to a water park. Both of them should be back in plenty of time for the season opener, but it served as a reminder that health is by far the most important ingredient on a winning football team. Brown has two young understudies who will take advantage of the extra snaps -- second-year pro Zach Strief and rookie Jermon Bushrod, who has impressed early in camp. Fujita is backed by experienced veteran Dhani Jones, who signed with the Saints late in the summer to give them some depth and beef up their special teams. ...

Another player who has been slowed by injury in the past week is receiver David Patten, who was sidelined with turf toe. Patten had the early beat on the No. 3 receiver job and still has time to win it back. But young backups Terrance Copper and Lance Moore have both looked terrific in camp so far, and both of them are more valuable than Patten on special teams.

NEWCOMER REPORT: Veteran DT Kendrick Clancy was signed as an insurance policy late in the summer, and the Saints have already cashed it in. Clancy has been pushing veteran starter Hollis Thomas for the starting nose tackle job while Thomas has struggled with his weight and his endurance. That's nothing new for Thomas, who always uses training camp to work himself into shape. But Saints Coach Sean Payton has expressed his frustration with Thomas slow start while praising Clancy -- a 6-1, 305-pounder who was a starter with the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants the last two years. Clancy has decent athleticism for a run-stuffing tackle, and he definitely gives the Saints a fresh body to rotate in and out of the lineup with Thomas, no matter who starts.

SCOUTING REPORT: The one player the Saints can least afford to lose is QB Drew Brees, the runner-up in last year's league MVP voting. Veteran backup Jamie Martin has been underwhelming so far in training camp and the preseason. But Saints coach Sean Payton has steadfastly supported Martin, saying he's not looking for any upgrades in that department. It's hard to argue with Payton's quarterback preferences. And it's hard to argue with Martin's track record. He has been a career backup for more than a decade, and he has an impressive record when he steps in as an injury replacement -- including a 4-1 mark with the Rams in 2005. Martin (6-2, 205) is not particularly nimble in the pocket, and he doesn't throw with a lot of force, but he has a great understanding of the Saints' offense and he brings confidence to the huddle.

Mike Triplett covers the Saints for the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

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