McAllister carries on through rehab
 

By Bradley Handwerger / WWL-TV.com Staff Writer bhandwerger@wwltv.com

METAIRIE – There was a moment, brief as it was in the grand scheme, that Deuce McAllister doubted playing any longer was worth it.


On Sept. 24, for the second time in three seasons, the Saints’ premiere running back tore an ACL. In 2005, it was his right knee. This time it was his left.


Why should he go on?


Tom Strattman / Associated Press

Deuce McAllister continues his rehab from an ACL tear early in the 2007 season.

“When it first happened, I was like, ‘I can’t do this. I can’t go through it again,’ ” McAllister said. “But once I started the process of rehab – I had the injury Monday night and had surgery Thursday – it was pretty much I’m in rehab session now. I’ll be back. There’s nothing that’s going to stop me from returning.”


More than six months after the injury, he has stayed true to that word. And this time, the rehab is easier, at least it is mentally.



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Re: McAllister carries on through rehab
 

We need him so bad. I pray he can stay healthy the whole season but I'd say its a 50/50 shot.

Re: McAllister carries on through rehab
 

I hope he tears it up and get comeback player of the year!!!!

Re: McAllister carries on through rehab
 

In some ways Deuce's role has been way overstated. Pass happy Coach Gadget isn't going to switch to a pound and ground game anytime soon.

Deuce only averaged 8 rushes per game the 3 games he played last year.

Did you know that the Saints ground game actually improved its YPC average in 2007 as opposed to 2006?

The Saints need to be able to run the ball effectively. Deuce isn't the only guy that can do that.

SFIAH

Re: McAllister carries on through rehab
 

Deuce needs to hang it up before he becomes a cripple in his old age.
If he comes back, my biggest fears are for him and the fact that he might be able to carrie the load thus costing us games. It means that we will have RB by committie our top rated offense will suffer.

We've addressed many of our defensive needs and I think Payton will suprise everyone and take Deuce's replacement with the 10th pick.

Re: McAllister carries on through rehab
 

Ho exactly did the offense suffer last year with the RB by committee. The YPC was up over 2006 though the carries are down.

The Saints really need an effective running game, not a prolific one. The Saints running game needs to be structured so that when the team needs 3 tough yards they can get them and when the team wants 4 yards on 1st down they can get them.

If by surprise you mean piss everyone off, then I guess you may be right.

SFIAH

Re: McAllister carries on through rehab
 

You can't just look at stats to say that the running game was better last year, because if you watched the games you know that it wasn't. WE are a pass first offense, which means that we do not need to have the best running game, but what we do NEED is a RB who can finish out games for us, a hard nosed,down hill,get you four yards a carry RB. When we had leads last year we could not run out the clock because we didnt have the type of RB that could keep getting us first downs on the ground and take time off the clock. Reggie and Stecker cannot run the ball when the defense knows you are going to run the ball because they are not pounding running backs that can move the pile. Deuce WAS that running back, but he most likely will not be that same RB after the 2nd ACL injury. I would not be upset if we drafted Mendenhall.

Pierre Thomas is a question mark. I personally think he looked good when we played him last year, and could see he being a Priest Holmesesqe undersized but very solid RB, but I am not 100% certain. He could also just end up rounding out our stable of finesse RBs