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METAIRIE, La. — The optimistic tweets began to grow the longer New Orleans’ game against went.

The Saints’ safeties were playing well, showing athleticism and ball skills most thought didn’t exist.

Only, they were watching Rafael Bush and Isa Abdul-Quddus, not Malcolm Jenkins and Roman Harper.

“Both of them when they come in, all they’ve done is make plays,” Jenkins said. “If they can continue to do that and just create that depth for us, it makes our depth a lot better.”

With Jenkins on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and Harper playing a portion of games at a hybrid linebacker position, it’s likely that the Bush-Quddus combo will continue seeing the light of day, including Sunday when the Saints (6-8) travel to play Dallas (8-6).

In just two games, Bush and Quddus have matched the interception total (3) of Jenkins and Harper.

Additionally, Quddus has 29 tackles and a fumble recovery to go with seven special teams tackles. Bush, meanwhile, has 10 tackles, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble in limited playing time. He also is second on the team with 11 special teams tackles and has a fumble recovery there, too.
It’s what the duo did on special teams that has caught the eye of the coaching staff.

“I think when you have a young defensive player and all of a sudden you see him on the coverage teams, you see him on the return teams, you see the courage, you see the play making in space, now it is the natural evolution to go play defense or offense,” Saints interim coach Joe Vitt said.
Special teams coach Greg McMahon believes, in fact, that if a player can’t cut it on special teams, they’re going to have a hard time making it on the regular teams.

“It all ties in together,” McMahon said. “There is no question, if a guy can’t go out and play special teams, then he is going to have a hard time playing defense or offense.”

Read more: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season | wwltv.com New Orleans

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Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

All little common sense goes a long way.