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New Orleans Saints took a gamble that paid off against Carolina: film study - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com

Srgt. Hulka

New Orleans Saints took a gamble that paid off against Carolina:
film studyJeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune 01/03/2012 2:45 PM

The New Orleans Saints took a calculated risk by playing their regulars most of the way against the Carolina Panthers and largely escaped the 45-17 victory unharmed, which, other than the slew of records set, was the best news of the day.

The only regulars who sat were linebacker Jon Vilma, safety Malcolm Jenkins and wide receiver Lance Moore and running back Mark Ingram, who reportedly will undergo season-ending surgery on Wednesday to repair a toe injury which had sidelined him for the final month of the regular season. Saints coach Sean Payton said both Vilma and Jenkins were held out as a precaution and both could have played if needed.

Otherwise, the Saints went full-speed ahead and largely lived to tell about it.

SaintsBro

I saw or heard an interesting comment, which I may be garbling, but basically I heard that either Payton or Williams said something along the lines of, they felt that the injuries to Jenkins and Graham and some of the others, happened in the last Tampa Bay game last year because the players didn't "have their head in the game," that it actually came about because they weren't going full tilt but were holding back, or were not mentally "in it" on every snap....I may be garbling that quote a bit, but I thought it was interesting in light of the decision this year to keep players in. They sure looked to me like they were playing playoff caliber football right up until the end of the 4th...my recollection of the Tampa game last year was, not so much of that, they looked like they were coasting out there or "phoning it in" against Tampa last year.

darstep

...and that's exactly how injuries happen:
while trying to avoid contact rather than bringing the wood.
while playing tiddly-winks rather than lowering the boom on somebody.
while standing around at the end of play and getting your ankles rolled on.
while giving up too soon on a errant throw and still getting creamed by an opponent.
We had a chance to get to the #2 spot if SF stumbled and we needed to be ready.
Saints were sharp, and need to stay sharp each week to accomplish their goal.
I'm glad they played most everybody and closed the regular season strong.
I hope it carries over into February.

**SaintSince67**

FireVenturi

I think we are as healthy or healthier at this point than we were in 09....let's go!!!!