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Written by Brian Allee-Walsh, NewOrleans.Com's Saints Beat | Friday, 20 November 2009 00:55 | Saints News
The Marques Colston we have seen the past two games is not the Marques Colston we are used to seeing.
Numerous drops, a fumble at the goal line, three catches for 62 yards and no touchdowns. No, this is not the same gifted 6-foot-4, 225-pound wide receiver that New Orleans Saints fans are accustomed to seeing since he first sprang on the NFL scene in 2006 with tentacles for fingers and butter for hands.
If we know it, then he certainly knows it, because Marques Colston is a consummate professional.
“Obviously, I’m bothered by it,’’ Colston said after spending extra practice time Thursday with his fellow wide receivers and quarterback Drew Brees. “No one likes to play less than their best. At the same time I know and I understand that I’m a better player than what I’ve been these past two weeks.
“It’s just a matter of preparing the way that I have in the past and just bounce back and play a great game on Sunday and then all is forgotten.’’
No doubt, the seventh-round pick from Hofstra would like to forget his last two games.
Only once in 50 regular-season games in which he has played has he had fewer catches over a two-game stretch. Last season, in Games 6 and 7, he caught two passes for 56 yards and no touchdowns.
Yet, in spite of his recent slump, Colston still leads the team in receptions (39), receiving yards (613) and touchdown catches (6).
“We have all the confidence in him,’’ Saints Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael said. “And if you asked him he probably felt like has hasn’t played two of his better games. But we’re confident that he is going to be back.
“There is a trust factor between him and Drew, that is so unbelievable. You see them out here working and they don’t come off the field until it’s the way they want it to be. So we think Marques is ready to go.’’
Colston gave credit to his recent opponents _ Carolina (1 catch, three drops, 45 yards) and St. Louis (two catches, one fumble, 17 yards) _ for essentially taking him out of each game.
But he also shouldered some of the blame for a lack of production.
“In some cases, they’ve done a good job and in other cases I haven’t done my job,’’ he said. “It’s something that obviously doesn’t sit well with me but in the grand scheme it really doesn’t bother me because I know the kind of player I am and I know what I’m capable of.
“I just continue to prepare at the same high level and good things are going to happen to me on Sunday.’’
The unbeaten Saints play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-8) at noon Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. I fully expect Colston to return to form, meaning he’ll make five to six catches for 75 to 100 yards and score a touchdown or two.
That’s not asking too much, considering he has 254 catches for 3,613 yards and 30 touchdowns in 50 games.
“The season has an ebb and flow to it,’’ he said. “I just got to ride out these low moments and come out on the other end and just get back to what I’ve been doing.
“It’s such a long season. You can’t dwell on the past bad games and you can’t dwell on the past great games. You’ve got to have a short memory. My mind right now is focused on Tampa Bay and going down there and getting a big win against a divisional opponent. I fully expect to get back on track this week, and that’s that.’ ’
He paused.
“I’ll be fine on Sunday. That’s the day that counts to me.’’
I have no doubt.
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