With Bush limited, backups Stecker, Thomas complement Brees, passing game
 

http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...790.xml&coll=1

Coach Sean Payton had planned most of the week to use Stecker and Thomas against the Panthers, and he was pleasantly surprised that Bush was able to play as much as he did.

"(Bush) missed Friday's practice, and I felt like we needed to come in and have some balance in the running game," Payton said. "With that being said, we got Aaron and Pierre going a little bit in some of the core personnel groups, and we were able to utilize Reggie.

". . . I didn't think come game time that (Bush's injury) would be a factor. It's just the pain. And when you play running back, there's a chance you're going to get hit there, you're going to get banged there and it's going to be sore. It's managing the pain, and in Friday's practice it swelled a little bit. So I was pleased with his playing time, and he gave us some juice a little bit, as did Aaron and Pierre. I though we had good balance, a good mix."

Re: With Bush limited, backups Stecker, Thomas complement Brees, passing game
 

I actually didn't think that the running game ever got on track yesterday. Stecker had some good runs, but it was really the Drew Brees show. I did however like the fact that we were running up the middle more.

Re: With Bush limited, backups Stecker, Thomas complement Brees, passing game
 

Again just because 1 back didn't break 100 yards doesn't mean the running game wasn't effective. We did rush for over 100 yards as a team.

Re: With Bush limited, backups Stecker, Thomas complement Brees, passing game
 

Pierre continues to impress me. There was one play in particular, about 2/3 of the way through the game. He hit the wall, and I expected him to go down. He didn't. Then, as he struggled to the next set of tacklers, I expected the ball to get stripped. But he wouldn't allow it.

I tell you, I really like this kid.

Re: With Bush limited, backups Stecker, Thomas complement Brees, passing game
 

We didn't get many yards or have a good average, but our running game was effective.

Re: With Bush limited, backups Stecker, Thomas complement Brees, passing game
 

I do agree that the running game was better. I just hope they give PT more playing time so he knows where his blockers are. If you don't play it's hard to know what you're supposed to do or where your holes are.

Re: With Bush limited, backups Stecker, Thomas complement Brees, passing game
 

See my post in the "Wounded And Confused" thread. I posted our running log of the entire game.

The YPC average was brought down at the end of the game because we were running out the clock. When we ran our regular offense, we were ripping up the Panthers' defense with runs.

Re: With Bush limited, backups Stecker, Thomas complement Brees, passing game
 

Is this when he was being held up by 4-Panthers without any help and STILL remained on his feet fighting for whatever he could get?

The Panthers had a hard time tackling him. Many of his runs were blown dead by forward progress because Pierre just wouldn't go down.

Re: With Bush limited, backups Stecker, Thomas complement Brees, passing game
 

I was just happy to see the ball getting passed around. I kept telling (my poor) DH, "See what happens when you go to someone other than Bush or Colston?!".

DH and I are fans of Stecker, have been ever since the tail end of last season.

And I was definitely wow'ed by PT's ability to stay on his feet whilst dragging defenders with him. How big is he, anyway?!

(Only 5'11", 210 lbs!!)

Re: With Bush limited, backups Stecker, Thomas complement Brees, passing game
 

What I liked from PT was the way he stepped up and stood up a blitzing LB in the first half. A thing of beauty. That play alone should get him on the field more next week I hope. TUFF KID.