Tuesday Morning Sports Page

Yeah.. I was out of town the first part of the weekend so I've had some catching up to do.

Also catching up are the Carolina Panthers who managed to insinuate themselves back into the NFC South race Sunday by knocking off the Saints in a game that wasn't as close as the score would indicate.

Points of interest:

• One positive thing we can say about the Saints this week is that the team continues to play like a determined, well coached football team. Yes there was a big turnover. And, yes, there were more costly penalties this week than in the first three. Also, in the first quarter Sunday, the Panthers managed to pull a fast one after a questionable reception by Keyshawn Johnson. Eschewing a huddle, Carolina hurried to the line and ran another play before the Saints could challenge the catch via replay. This set up the Panthers' first touchdown. BUT unlike last year's Saints, this group is rarely confused for very long. Some of this may be the quarterback as well as the coach but this year's Saints do not waste timeouts loafing around just trying to get a play called. In the fourth quarter, the Saints turned the hurry-up tactic to their advantage and quickly ran a play while the Caronlina defense was substituting players. Deuce McAllister ran through the bewildered Panthers for the go-ahead touchdown. Finally, one thing this team does not do (as of yet) is fold when they appear beaten... as the late touchdown by rookie-of-the-year candidate Marques Colston would indicate.


TD tally: Colston 3 Stallworth 2.. oh and his hammy hurts


• Usually weeks 4, 5, and 6 on an NFL schedule are pivotal. Teams that have been feeling each other out for the first few weeks begin to expose weaknesses that will persist for the rest of the season if proper adjustments are not made. The Saints offense may still have a few tricks to reveal in Act Two. The defense, on the other hand.... well.. it may get uglier from here. Late in the game, the Saints D needed only to come up with one crucial stop to give themselves a chance to win. In one of those moments where all of the guesswork is removed and the game just comes down to which team is more physical, the Panthers just lined up and steamrolled the hapless Saints.. not only draining the clock but adding a 43 yard touchdown run by DeShaun Foster for emphasis. Future opponents watching this film will conclude that the Saints defense can be pushed around by a determined ground attack so we may see a lot more of this. And at this point, it is too late to see if the Cowboys have any more extra linebackers to lend out.


If you can't stop 'em when you know they're coming right at you, you're in deep doo doo.


• As for the offense, so far they've traded on their opponents' fear of Reggie Bush's potential. While defenses are nervously watching Bush line up in the slot... run backwards... and drop the ball a lot, Deuce McAllister, Marques Colston, and even Devery Henderson have been eating their lunches. This is attributable to some creative coaching, and... again.. competent (for a change) quarterback play but pretty soon, people will start to wise up. The question for the Saints will soon become, when defenses pay less attention to Bush, is he actually good enough to make them pay? Early indications are that there may be reason to doubt this.


Enigmatic Saints reciever Reggie Bush


• Similarly, the Saints are hoping that Colston's early success will open things up for Joe Horn later on.


Joe Horn (not pictured) Where the hell is he?


• The next few weeks will determine if these hopes are well founded. Of course, if the defense falls apart none of this will matter. In any event.. the three game season was exciting.

Non-Saints items: Jamarcus Russell for Heisman? Not after his unforgivable clock mismanagement at the end of the Auburn game.

Who the hell is stupid enough to fake a punt on his own 6? Oh yeah. Welcome home, Green Wave.