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An NFL quarterback, especially a throwing, right-handed quarterback, needs a good left tackle, or at least one that he can count on to protect his backside.

If a quarterback has reservations about that player, it could lead to quick throws, jumpy feet and, worse, big hits.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is one of the best passing quarterbacks in the NFL, but his left tackle is not. Not even close. That player is Jermon Bushrod, who started the season as a backup, taking over only after Jammal Brown went down for the season with an injury in the second game.

Brees, though, isn't concerned about Bushrod heading into Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Minnesota Vikings at the Superdome.

At least that's what he's saying.

"I'm proud of the way Bush [Bushrod] has played," Brees said as he walked out of the stadium late last Saturday night after his team's beating of Arizona in the divisional round of the playoffs. "We have a hard-working group of guys and he's improved each week. They take pride in what they do. It's the experience for him that has helped."

For a guy who was penciled in for a backup role this season, Bushrod will now be one of the key players this week. Left tackles usually are, but it's even more so when the player across from him is Jared Allen, one of the best pass rushers in football.

Think about that for a moment. The Saints' first Super Bowl appearance could be decided by what a player from Towson -- who hadn't made a start until Brown went down -- does against Allen.

Wow.

Allen has what scouts call an "all-day game" There is no let up, which means it will be a 60-minute game for Bushrod and one misstep could result in a sack-fumble-turnover.

If there's any apprehension, Bushrod wasn't showing it in the locker room after the Arizona game. When I talked to him, he wasn't sure which pass rusher he would face in the championship game. It could have been Cowboys speed rusher DeMarcus Ware, who beat him up pretty bad when Dallas beat the Saints in December, but now we know it will be Allen.

"I haven't played him, but I've watched him enough to know he's a special player," Bushrod said. "He has speed and power. He has it all. It will be a challenge."

Brees isn't too concerned either.

"He'll be up for it," Brees said.

At 6-5, 315 pounds, Bushrod has good size and he's athletic. He did a nice job earlier this season on Osi Umenyiora of the Giants. That was before Umenyiora was benched and was still considered a good speed rusher. Bushrod had some other good games as well, keeping Atlanta's John Abraham without a sack in two games.

Some were even speculating that the Saints might actually be better with Bushrod in the lineup than with Brown, who has been to two Pro Bowls. That wasn't true then, and it didn't play out as the season moved along.

The fact is Bushrod had problems down the stretch. Ware ate him alive. Even when he didn't get sacks -- he had two and a big one to end the game with a forced fumble -- he was hounding Brees. The Cowboys got Brees off his spot with pressure, which is the best way to beat him.

After the game, Saints coach Sean Payton said he should have helped Bushrod more.

"There were a few plays where I wish I would have done a better job of giving help to Jermon Bushrod down the stretch there," Payton said. "That's a tough assignment for any tackle to have and we've typically done a pretty good job formationally with our protections in accounting for a real good pass rusher and that's something that in hindsight we would have done better."

When he's comfortable, getting the ball out on time, Brees is lethal. The Vikings will try to make him jumpy with Allen and fellow defensive end Ray Edwards. Allen's the one with the sparkling resume.

That's why the Cowboys rolled protection to his side in this past Sunday's game, which allowed Edwards to go wild with three sacks. The Saints will probably do the same, especially based on what Payton said after Ware ate up Bushrod.

"We have to have a good plan as a team," Bushrod said. "Nobody goes into a game against a player like that and expects them to block them solo all day. You can't do that. It's a recipe for disaster."

The problem is when you help it takes a receiver out of the passing game. And we know Payton likes to flood the field with options for Brees.

But when the Saints were having problems down the stretch, one of the things you heard from scouts, coaches and personnel people on other teams was that Bushrod was a problem.

At times, he looked like a spinning top. But he did play well last week against Arizona in a game that Brees was not sacked.

"I just have to make sure my techniques are sound," Bushrod said. "When I had problems, I went back and watched the tape and noticed my techniques weren't right. That's the important thing."

No, the important thing is keeping Brees clean. At least Bushrod should take comfort knowing at least one person believes he can -- Brees himself.

"He has a huge challenge," Brees said. "But he'll be fine."

He sure better hope so.

It's on Bushrod to keep Brees running Saints' machine - NFL - CBSSports.com Football

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