blacksaint

By SHELDON MICKLES
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Oct 29, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO — After being plagued by inconsistency and dropped passes earlier this season, the New Orleans Saints wide receivers corps certainly showed up Sunday.

From a 43-yard catch by David Patten on the Saints’ first offensive play, to Marques Colston’s three-touchdown performance, to Devery Henderson’s two receptions and Terrance Copper’s first TD of the season, the Saints made the plays in a 31-10 rout of the San Francisco 49ers.

Obviously, it helps to have quarterback Drew Brees play his finest game of the season. He hit on 31 of 39 passes for 336 yards and four TDs, but he also got lots of help from his receiving friends — starting with the long one, which could have been even longer, to Patten.

Patten used a double-move to easily get past cornerback Nate Clements and safety Mark Roman, but had to slow down to catch the slightly-underthrown ball. While it could have been a 73-yard TD, it was a sign of things to come as far as Patten was concerned.

“First of all, coach (Sean) Payton was aggressive with the play call,” said Patten, who caught five passes for 109 yards in the first half. “He wanted to come out and establish that aggressiveness early. We wanted to show that we didn’t have anything to lose.”

Payton also wanted to continue to instill some confidence in his receiving group, which led the league in dropped passes after the first four weeks of the season.

Colston caught eight passes for 85 yards and TDs of 17, 3 and 15 yards — the last giving the Saints an insurmountable 31-3 lead with 8:47 to play in the game.

When all the numbers were added up, the five wide receivers had 18 receptions for 237 yards and four TDs. Patten, who made his first start for the Saints, and Colston combined for 13 of those catches and 194 yards.

“Overall, it was our most complete game this season,” Brees said. “I feel like we could have played a little better in the second half, but we were under control a little bit.”

Brees said the Saints ribbed Colston a little about having a chance at two more touchdowns. But the second-year pro couldn’t hang on while trying to make a leaping grab in the end zone in the first quarter and was interfered with when Brees fired a deep pass down the middle in the second period.

Copper got his first TD of the season on a 2-yard slant two plays later.

“Colston did a great job,” a smiling Brees said. “We were messing with him and telling him he could have had five. But he played a great game, as did the other guys.

“You never know who’s day it’s going to be in this offense,” he said. “Two weeks ago (in Seattle) it was Patten. Today, it was Colston. The other guys like (Lance) Moore and Copper, they have to know that at any moment the ball might be coming to them.”

“This was just my day,” Colston said. “I take nothing away from the 49ers because they have a good defensive group.

“It was definitely a confidence-booster personally and for the offense to go and get on them quick,” he said of the pass to Patten on the first snap. “He definitely balances the field because he’s the kind of receiver who makes plays all over the field.”

“Coach had a lot of confidence in us that we would do what we do best,” Patten said. “On that first pass play, I think we all fed off it. All the guys responded today.”

2theadvocate.com | Saints | Saints receivers do their part in rout — Baton Rouge, LA

saint4life
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saintsrule

I hope they can keep up this great play.