blacksaint

QB goes 7-of-13 as he tries to earn permanent spot

Sunday, August 19, 2007
By Jimmy Smith

CINCINNATI -- It took some time for free-agent quarterback Matt Baker to get into the game -- nearly four minutes had elapsed in the fourth quarter when he took over for Jamie Martin -- and the road was bumpy.

But Baker, bidding to win a job as one of the Saints' backup quarterbacks this season, led New Orleans to a fourth-quarter field goal on a time-consuming 17-play, 84-yard drive during which he was 6-of-12 for 67 yards, scrambling twice for gains of 3 and 5 yards when he couldn't find an open receiver.

On the game, Baker was 7-of-13 for 75 yards. He was sacked twice.

Rookie fourth-round draft choice Antonio Pittman, who played college football in nearby Columbus, Ohio, for Ohio State, scored a touchdown with a 1-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Pittman, hoping to earn a roster spot at the crowded tailback position, ran six times for 17 yards. Pittman currently is behind Deuce McAllister, Reggie Bush and Aaron Stecker in the tailback rotation and fighting Jamaal Branch and Pierre Thomas for a roster spot.

Baker signed with the Saints on Aug. 7 after being released by the Dallas Cowboys on July 26. He spent all of the 2006 season on the Dallas practice squad.

DIED, GONE TO HEAVEN: After broiling through three weeks of training camp, Saturday's game at Paul Brown Stadium was played in, for the Saints, brisk conditions.

The temperature at kickoff was 81 degrees; the relative humidity was 32 percent. The wind was out of the east at 9 mph.

STARTERS OUT: The Saints had six regular starters miss Saturday night's game against the Bengals. Standout wide receiver Marques Colston was rested because of a sore right knee.

Colston fully participated in Thursday's double workouts against the Bengals but came up lame Friday. Terrance Copper started in his place.

Also starting because of injuries to other players were left tackle Zach Strief for Jammal Brown (knee), center Jonathan Goodwin for Jeff Faine (calf), wide receiver David Patten for Devery Henderson (hamstring), defensive tackle Antwan Lake for Brian Young (foot), and outside linebacker Dhani Jones for Scott Fujita (heel).

Others sitting out Saturday's game included guard Dave Yovanovits (knee) and defensive end Rob Ninkovich (knee).

For the second consecutive game, the two defensive Thomases, Hollis and Fred, started the game on the bench behind defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy and cornerback Jason David.

NO RETURNS: The first three times Olindo Mare kicked off Saturday, it was apparent why the Saints traded a sixth-round draft choice to the Dolphins in April to obtain the kicker.

Mare's first kick to open the game sailed out of the end zone. His second, following the Saints' first touchdown, also was downed for a touchback 9 yards deep in the end zone. Mare's third kick went out of the end zone.

Kicking into the wind for the first time in the second quarter, Mare's knuckle-ball bounced at the 3-yard line and into the arms of former LSU player Skyler Green, who returned the ball 26 yards. The Bengals returned three kicks for 70 yards.

BIG HIT: Strong safety Roman Harper took out some frustration on Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the first quarter.

After the Bengals' receiver hauled in a 9-yard pass, Harper slammed down the unsuspecting Houshmandzadeh at the Saints' 44-yard line.

SIMONEAU HURT: Middle linebacker Mark Simoneau went out in the first half with a right knee injury.

It appeared that Simoneau might have gotten kicked in the shin. He was seen on the Saints' bench with ice on the knee joint and shin early in the second quarter. Simoneau was not seen on the bench at the end of the second quarter, nor in the second half.

The Saints did not specifically address Simoneau's injury.

NOT MY FAULT: One play after Strief was called for a false start, Bengals free safety Madieu Williams sacked Martin for a 6-yard loss.

It did not appear to be Strief's man. However, rookie tailback Antonio Pittman didn't pick up the safety blitz, leaving Martin susceptible to the sack.

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