The Saints start the 2nd Quarter by running the ball all out with Hamilton and Bush combining. The drive stalls when the Saints fail to convert on 3rd down. Garrett Hartley will try from 35 yards and makes it. Shame he didn't have that in him last week.
The Panthers next possession sees Moosie boy Mohammed beat 4 Saints players as they try to make tackles. So much for the early optimism that we remembered how to tackle. The D redeems itself though with some more aggressive tackling and pursuit to stop the Panthers on next few downs to give the Saints the ball back at the Saints 41 or so.
The Saints do nothing on the next possession and I'm loosing the will to continue writing about this.
The teams then swap possessions a few times in this snoozefest before Moore drives the Panthers down the field just before the half and throws a 30 yard TD to Dwaine Jarrett.
Saints 3 Panthers 14
Courtney Roby fumbles the ensuing kick off which the Panthers recover and Roby is hurt during the play which is not a good sign. Is Courtney Roby injured for the playoffs? Let's hope not as he has had an excellent season.
The Panthers kick a field goal to extend the lead before half time.
Saints 3 Panthers 17
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Saints Vs Panthers 1st Quarter
The Saints fly into Carolina today with home field advantage secured throughout the playoffs courtesy of the Vikings choking even more than we have at this vital juncture in the season. It makes this game something of a meaningless contest for the Saints in so far as Drew Brees is sitting it out along with any number of Saints starters. So the point of today is to see how the second stringers get on whilst resting the heart ahead of what promises to be an agonising game in 2 weeks.
The Panthers take the opening kick off and will start at their own 32.
1st down Panthers.
Jonathan Stewart takes the opening hand off and runs into the Saints front 4 for a gain of 1. 2nd and 9.
Stewart takes the next hand off makes a simple cut back and runs the length of the field for a touchdown of 67 yards. The Saints D over pursued the play and were left embaressed. Oh dear. Looks like it's going to be more of the same today.
Saints 0 Panthers 7
1st down Saints at the 35.
Mark Brunell comes in to make his first start since the 2006 season and completes 3 yards to Marques Colston. 2nd and 7.
Mike Bell takes a hand off and gets hammered for a gain of 1. 3rd and 6.
Brunell drops back and is hit on release so the ball goes incomplete. Jermon Bushrod again got beat. 4th and 6 so the Saints punt it 51 yards.
1st down Panthers at their own 9.
Stewart up the middle for no gain.
Stewart again but this time drags the pile for a gain of 8. 3rd and 1.
Stewart again on the hand offand just gets it according to the officials only.
1st down Panthers.
Moore to Mohamed and already I can't be bothered to keep this up all the way through the game. They got a first down out to the 37.
Next set of downs sees a couple of incompletions so the Panthers will punt.
Saints start their next possession at their own 11.
Bell run, Brunell airs his old arm but does not complete although a pen moves the chains anyway to the 21.
Reggie Bush makes a nice run out right for 11 or so. Brunell then hits Dinkins for a few before setting up a screen to Hamilton that picks up another 1st.
Mike Bell then takes 1 carry a good few before being dropped for a big loss on the next play. The drive was going so well until then as well. Reggie Bush tries to convert 3rd and 11 on a draw but the Saints fool no one so punt.
Panthers start at their own 9. 2 carries make 0 yard and brings a big smile to my face. That smile becomes a huge beaming laugh as Matt Moore rolls out on 3rd and 10, looses his feet and looses control of the ball on his way down coughing it up in the process to Anthony Hargrove who recovers in the end zone for a touchdown. Well done big man. That's his 2nd TD against the Panthers this season. Except the Panthers challenge and win it so ignore the above. The Panthers punt to Reggie Bush who returns it 30 yards to the Panthers 20 before the zebras pull it back for a blocking pen.
So the Saints start at their own 45 do nothing with it and then punt straight back.
The Panthers start at their own 12. 1st 2 plays and the Saints D looks totally different by gang tackling runners at the line. Impressive. 3rd and 7, will the Saints hold? Yes they do as the Panthers run it and Jabari Greer makes a great tackle for only a gain of 1. Good showing by the Saints D as the Panther punt and Reggie Bush fair catches near midfield.
Brunell rolls out and completes to Dinkins to end the 1st Quarter.
The Panthers take the opening kick off and will start at their own 32.
1st down Panthers.
Jonathan Stewart takes the opening hand off and runs into the Saints front 4 for a gain of 1. 2nd and 9.
Stewart takes the next hand off makes a simple cut back and runs the length of the field for a touchdown of 67 yards. The Saints D over pursued the play and were left embaressed. Oh dear. Looks like it's going to be more of the same today.
Saints 0 Panthers 7
1st down Saints at the 35.
Mark Brunell comes in to make his first start since the 2006 season and completes 3 yards to Marques Colston. 2nd and 7.
Mike Bell takes a hand off and gets hammered for a gain of 1. 3rd and 6.
Brunell drops back and is hit on release so the ball goes incomplete. Jermon Bushrod again got beat. 4th and 6 so the Saints punt it 51 yards.
1st down Panthers at their own 9.
Stewart up the middle for no gain.
Stewart again but this time drags the pile for a gain of 8. 3rd and 1.
Stewart again on the hand offand just gets it according to the officials only.
1st down Panthers.
Moore to Mohamed and already I can't be bothered to keep this up all the way through the game. They got a first down out to the 37.
Next set of downs sees a couple of incompletions so the Panthers will punt.
Saints start their next possession at their own 11.
Bell run, Brunell airs his old arm but does not complete although a pen moves the chains anyway to the 21.
Reggie Bush makes a nice run out right for 11 or so. Brunell then hits Dinkins for a few before setting up a screen to Hamilton that picks up another 1st.
Mike Bell then takes 1 carry a good few before being dropped for a big loss on the next play. The drive was going so well until then as well. Reggie Bush tries to convert 3rd and 11 on a draw but the Saints fool no one so punt.
Panthers start at their own 9. 2 carries make 0 yard and brings a big smile to my face. That smile becomes a huge beaming laugh as Matt Moore rolls out on 3rd and 10, looses his feet and looses control of the ball on his way down coughing it up in the process to Anthony Hargrove who recovers in the end zone for a touchdown. Well done big man. That's his 2nd TD against the Panthers this season. Except the Panthers challenge and win it so ignore the above. The Panthers punt to Reggie Bush who returns it 30 yards to the Panthers 20 before the zebras pull it back for a blocking pen.
So the Saints start at their own 45 do nothing with it and then punt straight back.
The Panthers start at their own 12. 1st 2 plays and the Saints D looks totally different by gang tackling runners at the line. Impressive. 3rd and 7, will the Saints hold? Yes they do as the Panthers run it and Jabari Greer makes a great tackle for only a gain of 1. Good showing by the Saints D as the Panther punt and Reggie Bush fair catches near midfield.
Brunell rolls out and completes to Dinkins to end the 1st Quarter.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Saints Injury Report for Carolina Panthers Game
After last weeks debacle against the Tampa Bay Bucs the Saints now head into Carolina to face the Panthers in a battle for pride and to restore confidence to the team and fans ahead of the playoffs. The wheels have come off the team at just the wrong time so if we are to make any progress in the playoffs the Saints need to deliver a commanding performance this week to restore confidence amongst themselves.
With home field advantage secured thanks to the Vikings also stumbling at just the wrong time the Saints should focus on executing plays to generate some belief and kick start some momentum ahead of 2 weeks sitting on the sidelines.
Here's the complete Saints injury list for the Week 17 clash:
Lance Moore Saints WR: Ankle injury, game status out. He did not participate in practice this week.
Pierre Thomas Saints RB: Rib injury, game status out. He did not participate in practice this week.
Usama Young Saints S: Abdomen injury, game status out. He did not participate in practice this week.
David Thomas Saints TE: Calf injury, game status doubtful. He did not participate in practice this week.
Scott Shanle Saints LB: Concussion injury, game status doubtful. Limited participation in practice this week.
Darren Sharper Saints S: Knee injury, game status questionable. He did not participate in practice this week.
Jonathan Vilma Saints LB: Knee injury, game status questionable. He did not participate in practice this week.
Sedrick Ellis Saints DT: Knee injury, game status questionable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Bobby McCray Saints DE: Back injury, game status questionable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Jeremy Shockey Saints TE: Toe injury, game status questionable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Jermon Bushrod Saints T: Wrist injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Darnell Dinkins Saints TE: Foot injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Jahri Evans Saints G: Foot injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Randall Gay Saints CB: Concussion injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Jabari Greer Saints CB: Groin injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Lynell Hamilton Saints RB: Shoulder injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Jason Kyle Saints LS: Back injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.
With home field advantage secured thanks to the Vikings also stumbling at just the wrong time the Saints should focus on executing plays to generate some belief and kick start some momentum ahead of 2 weeks sitting on the sidelines.
Here's the complete Saints injury list for the Week 17 clash:
Lance Moore Saints WR: Ankle injury, game status out. He did not participate in practice this week.
Pierre Thomas Saints RB: Rib injury, game status out. He did not participate in practice this week.
Usama Young Saints S: Abdomen injury, game status out. He did not participate in practice this week.
David Thomas Saints TE: Calf injury, game status doubtful. He did not participate in practice this week.
Scott Shanle Saints LB: Concussion injury, game status doubtful. Limited participation in practice this week.
Darren Sharper Saints S: Knee injury, game status questionable. He did not participate in practice this week.
Jonathan Vilma Saints LB: Knee injury, game status questionable. He did not participate in practice this week.
Sedrick Ellis Saints DT: Knee injury, game status questionable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Bobby McCray Saints DE: Back injury, game status questionable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Jeremy Shockey Saints TE: Toe injury, game status questionable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Jermon Bushrod Saints T: Wrist injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Darnell Dinkins Saints TE: Foot injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Jahri Evans Saints G: Foot injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Randall Gay Saints CB: Concussion injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Jabari Greer Saints CB: Groin injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Lynell Hamilton Saints RB: Shoulder injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Jason Kyle Saints LS: Back injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
