Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

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

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

It's the future. Isa is a terrific player and absolutely should be starting at free safety going forward.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

Start em now and fulltime ... Tired of Watching Harper get Moss'd

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

Isa has the instincts to play FS, it just comes natural to him

I've been one of the first to defend Jenkins, but Quddus is the better safety

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

I will beleive that when he has played more games. Jenkins is still one of the fastest guys on the team and nobody in the secondary or in the safties has compared to his level of intensity and dedication. If you have a hard time beleiving this go back and watch what Jenkins has done this year. I have never seen somebody come from the 30 yard line with about 30 yards between themselves and the receiver and still chase them down and stop the play. Not to mention he stayed in on the next 4 downs and stopped the final play on a 4th down conversion. Jenkins stays where he is at and Quddus should alternate.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

Get rid of Harper or bulk him up to play LB. Bush and Quddus at Safety and Jenkins at CB (where he belongs)

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

I'm glad I'm not the only one seeing the improved play when these guys are in there.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

That was a great play, but the fact of the matter is, that it was only 1 play. The rest of his year hasn't been very good. Dropped INT's, missed assignments, missed tackles, and speed?? Are you serious? The whole reason Jenkins was moved to Safety is because of his LACK of speed and the fact that we played mostly man to man defense. The recent talk about a possible move back to CB next year is because we now play a lot more zone coverage which does not suit Robinson or Greer, but does suit a slower CB like Jenkins. Not hacking on ya man but Jenkins ran something like a 4.6 or 4.7, 40, just saying. In his first two years Jenkins did make some great plays, not so much the last two.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

I know what you mean dizzle, I've been a Harper supporter for years, still am but there's no denying the defense is better with the young guys in. Profootball focus has graded and ranked the top 85 safties. Jenkins is dead last and Harper is 82nd of 85. Jenkins earned negative rankings in every catagory and Harper's best ranking was a neutral in grade in run support. Isa Abdul-Quddus, on the other hand is ranked 33rd and they give him a overall positive grade.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

There's no denying it anymore my fellow Saints fans... Jenkins is a terrible free safety. I love the player, just not at that position. Isa Abdul Quddus has balled his ass off every chance he's gotten, even when it was just on special teams.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

Yeah, the 1 or two times that happens every year can be really frustrating huh? /sarcasm.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

4.55 at the combine. 4.46-4.51 at his Pro Day.

He's not slow by any means... as we've seen the past two years(running guys down). I've said this in the past... Jenkins plays like a SS on the field. If he's still here when Harper is gone, I think he'll play very well there. It's weird as when he flashed his All Pro potential, he was playing nickel/safety. One would have thought a move to FS full time would have been perfect for him. I'm not ready to give up on him as a FS, but I'd like to see him go back to that role that he had success in. That way Jenkins, Quddus, and Harper can all see time on the field together.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

The young guys are impressive. I look forward to watching them grow.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

And be Saints for along time.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

He had a couple games this year where he showed excellent closing speed. I am not certain why he only does this at certain times, but the speed is there when properly motivated.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

Jenkins, Quddus and Harper would be a nasty combination. What if there was a way to work Bush into the rotation as well? All 4 of them are turning out to be excellent players. Imagine of they were all on the field at the same time. I think I have seen this happen on 2nd and 3rd downs at times. And if I recall correctly it either ended up in a pass deflection, an interception, or a dropped pass.

Jenkins played CB when he started for us but he sucked so bad at that position. Come to think of it he just sucks period. He got moved to FS where he hasn't done crap at all. I'm all for the new players taking over.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

Jenkins talked about Quaddus and Bush being depth- he!! he should realise he just lost his starting spot to Quaddus, his head is still in the clouds. Quaddus is our starter, trade Jenkins for some picks...please and invest in a corner that can play corner.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

Agreed

We draft corners every year and not one of them can play (except elbert mack but we didn't draft him)

We need a dominant CB, I have no idea how Patrick Robinson was ever a first round pick, that was like a "all the best players are gone, just choose anyone scenario"

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

The defense has been significantly better without Jenkins, and when Harper is not in there. Cut our losses.

Re: Young Saints safeties Abdul-Quddus, Bush stepping up late in season
 

I didn't see it that way at all. The defense was getting better with Jenkins and Harper back there and IAQ coming in in our nickel packages and Harper moving inside the box.

Our front seven started playing better.