JOESAM2002

Getting back to basics
By Chris Pika, October 1, 2003; 10:35 pm
NewOrleansSaints.com

The Saints looked to get back to basics as they returned to work on Wednesday afternoon in preparation for a return to NFC play this Sunday at Carolina (Noon CT; FOX, Saints Radio Network).


RB Deuce McAllister has rushed for 96 yards in four of the last five games
Michael C. Hebert
For Coach Jim Haslett, practice was about getting back to basics. "We need to get back to having fun," he said. "We can't worry about every little thing that happens. When you were growing up, this game was fun. When you were eight years old, you played for fun. You never played for money. You never played in front of six million people. You never played in front of every talk radio show in the world. You just went out and played for fun. To me it still comes down to doing the right things, taking care of the ball, still enjoying what you are doing and having some fun. Being 1-3 is not much fun, but you have to try to enjoy playing the game."

"Obviously, we're disappointed as players," said RB Deuce McAllister. "We have to go out there and have fun. It's too tense. It's too much like a job, which it is. When you take away the excitement and you put too much stress and pressure on yourself, you've seen the results. We've been pressing and guys have been taking turns making mistakes. We have to get on the same page and have some fun and play ball."

That process started with Wednesday's workout, according to QB Aaron Brooks. "Practice went well," he said. "There was a big emphasis in practice to have fun. I was out there bouncing around and talked a lot with a lot of players. Hopefully it will trigger throughout the whole team. I think that's the key. We need to come back to having fun. That's the way we play this game. We've played it all our lives, so we got to get back to having fun."

Brooks went on to say, "Things happen for a reason. I wouldn't say we weren't prepared. I think we were prepared. But each week, I think some people start to feel the pressure outside of here and that's not good. Those things become a distraction. That's why we're out here looking forward to Carolina, having a little fun and trying to get into our groove until we get our starters back."

Missing several starters, especially on defense, has presented a challenge to Haslett in putting together a game plan for the Panthers. "We are not done with the game plan yet," he said. "We do it day by day. We did first and second down today. We will do third down tonight and we will do short yardage and goal line the next night. It is an ongoing battle. We don't really know exactly who is going to play Sunday. You have to taper it down for whoever is out there playing, so they can get a good grasp of the scheme."

The Wednesday injury report for the Saints is as follows: OUT: CB Dale Carter (eye), LB Sedrick Hodge (knee), DE Darren Howard (wrist), WR Michael Lewis (groin), DT Kenny Smith (knee); DOUBTFUL: LB Cie Grant (knee), DT Johnathan Sullivan (knee), S Tebucky Jones (hip); T Wayne Gandy (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE WR Joe Horn (knee).

The Panthers injury report: QUESTIONABLE: LB Mike Caldwell (knee), TE Kris Mangum (ankle); PROBABLE: LB Dan Morgan (hamstring).


SERIES NOTES: The Saints are 9-7 all-time against the Panthers and have won eight of the last 11 meetings between the two clubs. Carolina dominated the series early by winning four of the first five games...New Orleans is 5-1 against the Panthers since Coach Jim Haslett took over in 2000. Haslett is 3-0 at Ericsson Stadium...Carolina won the last meeting, 10-6, at the Superdome on Dec. 29, 2002 to end last season...Against NFC South opponents since 2000, Haslett is 10-5 overall for a .667 winning percentage.

McALLISTER NOTES: McAllister has rushed for at least 96 yards in four of the last five games, including 117 on 28 carries vs. Carolina last year in the season finale (12/29/02). McAllister had 101 yards last week with a touchdown on 17 carries against the Colts, posted 96 and a TD in the victory over Houston (9/14/03) and 99 at Seattle in the opener (9/7/03)...With 1,783 career yards on 411 carries (4.3-yard average), McAllister needs 107 yards this week to move past RB Mike Strachan (1,899 yards from 1975-80) for 10th on the club's all-time rushing charts. QB Archie Manning (197175, 77-82) ranks ninth with 2,058 yards...This season, McAllister is 5-for-5 on 3rd-and-1 rushing attempts.

BROOKS NOTES: Brooks needs four touchdown passes to become the third passer in franchise history to reach 70 TDs. Brooks currently ranks third in team record books with 66 TDs. Manning is first with 115, and QB Bobby Hebert (1985-89, 91-92) ranks second with 85. Brooks also has 9,732 passing yards and needs 268 to become the fourth quarterback in club history to reach 10,000, joining Manning, Hebert and Jim Everett (10,622 from 1994-96).

God, I hope they're right. Sounds a little to easy to me though. But it's about as good an excuse as "the dog ate my game plan." I'm all for what gets this team on a winning streak. Good luck boys and remember, " Don't worry, be happy!"

BigB

Kind of hard to have fun when you are losing as badly as we are. I expected the defense to have problems, especially missing 5 starters from an already underachieving squad, but to have the offense play as poorly as it has is a true shock. :casstet:

JOESAM2002

No truer words were ever spoken BigB. I think we all feel that way to a degree. Welcome to B&G.Net by the way. I think you\'ll enjoy these folks, some are even crazier than I am. :P

FWtex

Looks to me like these coaches just don\'t get it and are out of all options THEY can think of.

It does not appear to be a problem of PRESSING to hard. I sure wish I knew what they see every week in those films they are suppose to be watching.

BigB

Thanks Joe....I look forward to many an interesting conversation here.