Time to let the Deuce loose

Written by Les East | Tuesday, 23 September 2008 14:53 | Saints News

If the Saints had run the ball effectively in short-yardage situations the last two weeks, they’d likely be 3-0 instead of 1-2.

Deuce McAllister has stood helplessly, though suited up and eager to go, on the sideline as Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush have run into brick walls, and two potential victories have turned into defeats.

I don’t question Coach Sean Payton’s decision not to run McAllister into the game after he has gotten virtually no practice or game time in such situations.

I also don’t question Payton’s decision to not try and convert fourth-and-2 and instead try a 43-yard field late in the game against the Broncos.

But I do have questions.



Why run the ball on the third-and-1 that preceded that fourth-and-2 and why run the ball on fourth-and-goal late in the second quarter?

Your offensive line has proven it’s undependable in short-yardage situations and you refuse to play your best running back – McAllister, Deuce, No. 26, franchise’s all-time rushing leader, guy standing near you on the sideline, foaming at the mouth to get in the game.

So accept the fact that right now your chances of running Thomas or Bush and converting a crucial short-yardage situation are less than the chances that your very smart, very talented quarterback (Drew Brees) can fake a handoff, find a receiver, and convert the down.

You certainly aren’t shy about throwing the ball the rest of the time, so why get bashful when the game is on the line?

Now, back to McAllister. I wrote last week that I think he should play more and return to being the featured back on this team because I think he has shown that he’s healthy enough – not to be the McAllister of old, but to be better than the Thomas or Bush of now.

Payton said McAllister will play when “I feel like he’s ready.”

Here’s more Payton on McAllister: “He’s not on the injury report. … He’s healthy. … He’s rehabbed. … I think he’s free from the pain of his injury, and I think he’s moving around well. … He just hasn’t played in a while. The bottom line is he’s recovering from a significant injury. He’s working his way back in the lineup. … He’s not getting those practice snaps in preparation for the short-yardage plays.”

So, according to Payton, the only thing preventing McAllister from playing is Payton’s decision to not give him adequate preparation in practice. But, according to Payton, that will change.

Then the next question becomes, what are you waiting for? You can’t take an “if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it” approach because your short-yardage running game is broke bad.

You already have two losses that could have been wins with more efficient short-yardage running. Maybe McAllister, even with sufficient practice time, wouldn’t have made a difference. We don’t know. Here’s what we do know – what you’re doin’ ain’t workin’.

Getting back to the fourth-and-2 decision. Payton was asked what swayed him in his decision to kick the field goal, which, as you well know, Gramatica missed.

Payton’s reply – “common sense.” Fine, use that common sense to put No. 26 at the head of the halfback line when practice resumes Wednesday. Insert No. 26 into your game plan, and starting lineup. Give No. 26 the football, especially in short-yardage situations, against San Francisco on Sunday.

Then let’s see if No. 26 is ready. Can he do worse than Thomas and Bush (and the offensive line) have done the last two weeks?

If McAllister is incapable of contributing to this team, then why is he active? Or, to put it another way, since he’s active, let him contribute.

I know injuries are filling up your inactive list so you’re not sitting an able body to keep McAllister active, but since McAllister is active (and in your word, healthy), have him do something – be a decoy on the hypothetical short-yardage play-action pass I’m advocating, or keep him in to pass block. Isn’t he a better pass blocker than Bush?

Good teams find some sort of role for all 45 active players to contribute on Sunday.

Good teams find ways to win; this team is finding ways to lose.

Good teams make the decisive plays that the Saints have failed to make the last two weeks because good teams have 45 playmakers being utilized in a manner that maximizes their opportunities to make those plays.

You have one of the very best playmakers in the history of this franchise raring to go. Give him a fair chance – in practice this week and in the game on Sunday – to make plays.

You need him.