BillyCarpenter1

Saints Wednesday Notebook
By Chris Pika, October 8, 2003; 11:48 am
NewOrleansSaints.com

The Saints begin practice later today for this Sunday's game vs. the Bears (Noon CT; FOX, Saints Radio Network). New Orleans will look to get back on the winning track against a club they beat during the 2002 season in Champaign, Ill.

INJURY REPORT: The Saints listed DE Darren Howard (wrist) and Sedrick Hodge (knee) as out for this week's game in the injury report filed today with the league. Listed as questionable are DT Kenny Smith (knee), WR Michael Lewis (groin), LB Cie Grant (knee) and S Tebucky Jones (hip). T Wayne Gandy (hamstring) and CB Dale Carter (eye) are probable.


WR Donte' Stallworth had the second-most amount of catches by a Saints receiver so far this season
Michael C. Hebert
The Bears listed RB Rahib Abdullah (concussion) and DT Keith Traylor (knee) as out, LB Warrick Holdman (ankle) as questionable and WR Marty Booker (side) as probable.

CHICAGO UPDATE: The Bears come into Sunday's game after their first victory of the season, 24-21 over Oakland last Sunday at Soldier Field after a 48-yard field goal by Paul Edinger as time expired. The Bears had trailed, 18-3 at halftime and 18-6 going into the fourth quarter.

Like his counterpart, Deuce McAllister, on the Saints side, Bears RB Anthony Thomas has rushed for over 100 yards in his last two games, as he posted 123 yards last week vs. Oakland and 110 at Green Bay. He is already closing in on the Bears' top 10 in career rushing as his 2,205 yards ranks 13th and he is 266 yards shy of 10th place.

Last week vs. Oakland, behind Thomas' 123 yards and QB Kordell Stewart's 52 yards, the Bears went over the 200-yard rushing mark in a game for the first time since the 2001 season.

NFC LEADERS: Several Saints appear among the NFC leaders this week, including RB Deuce McAllister, who is among the leaders in several categories.
Rushing Yards: RB Deuce McAllister (3rd, 428 yards)
Receptions: WR Joe Horn (6th, 28 receptions), McAllister (T-9th, 23), TE Ernie Conwell (T-14th, 19)
Receiving Yards: Horn (10th, 300 yards), Conwell (T-17th, 219; tied for 2nd among all NFC TEs)
Most Yards From Scrimmage: McAllister (3rd, 586 yards - 428 rushing and 158 receiving yards)
Punting Average: P Mitch Berger (3rd, 45.7 average)
Net Punting Average: Berger (1st, 41.4 net average)
Sacks: DE Charles Grant (6th, 3.0 sacks), DT Grady Jackson (T-7th, 2.5), DL Willie Whitehead (T-7th, 2.5)
First Downs: McAllister (5th, 27 first downs), Horn (T-13th, 17)
Third-and-One Rushing: McAllister (T-1st, 6-for-6, 100 percent)
Fourth Quarter Passing: QB Aaron Brooks (6th, 94.6 passer rating)
Third Down Passing: Brooks (4th, 91.8 passer rating)
Third Down Receiving: Horn (2nd, 13 receptions, 195 yards)

TOP PERFORMANCES: A list of the top individual performances so far in 2003 for the Saints.
RUSHING YARDAGE
RB Deuce McAllister -- 124 yards on 23 carries at Carolina (Oct. 5)
RB Deuce McAllister -- 101 yards on 17 carries vs. Indianapolis (Sept. 28)
RB Deuce McAllister -- 99 yards on 22 carries at Seattle (Sept. 7)
RB Deuce McAllister -- 96 yards on 20 carries vs. Houston (Sept. 14)

PASSING YARDAGE (250+ yards)
QB Aaron Brooks -- 29 of 47 for 274 yards, 1 TD at Seattle (Sept. 7)

PASSER RATING
QB Aaron Brooks -- 111.5 vs. Houston (Sept. 14)
QB Aaron Brooks -- 104.4 at Tennessee (Sept. 21)

RECEIVING YARDAGE
WR Joe Horn -- 10 receptions for 111 yards, 1 TD vs. Houston (Sept. 14)
WR Donte' Stallworth -- 8 receptions for 101 yards at Seattle (Sept. 7)
WR Jerome Pathon -- 4 receptions for 89 yards, 1 TD at Tennessee (Sept. 21)
TE Ernie Conwell -- 6 receptions for 88 yards, vs. Indianapolis (Sept. 28)

QUARTERBACK SACKS
DE Charles Grant -- 2 at Seattle (Sept. 7)
DE Willie Whitehead -- 2 vs. Houston (Sept. 14)

McALLISTER'S TOP EFFORTS: Saints RB Deuce McAllister, despite flu-like symptoms at Carolina, had the best combined yardage day in his three-year career last Sunday. Here is a list of his best combined yardage outings.

Date, Opponent (Rush--Receiving--Total)
Oct. 5, 2003, vs. Carolina (124--59--183)
Oct. 20, 2002 vs. San Francisco (139--35--174)
Oct. 27, 2002 vs. Atlanta (115--56--171)
Oct. 6, 2002 vs. Pittsburgh (123--20--143)
Dec. 8, 2002 at Baltimore (127--10--137)