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Most NFL head coaches allow their top players to go for three quarters or more in the third preseason game because it’ll likely be their final dress rehearsal before the regular season. While New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton will probably play his starters that much in tonight’s exhibition game with the Cincinnati Bengals in Paul Brown Stadium at 6:30 p.m. (CST and WJBO-AM, 1150), he’ll be more interested in two players that get about one quarter of work. Cornerback Mike McKenzie, who tore the ACL in his right knee on Dec. 23 and had reconstructive surgery, is scheduled to play for the first time this preseason when the Saints (1-1) and Bengals (1-1) meet. And tight end Jeremy Shockey, who has been slowly working his way back from a fractured leg he suffered in mid-December, will make his long-awaited debut with the Saints after being acquired from the New York Giants in late July. “I think the goal would be a quarter with him and a quarter for McKenzie,” Payton said Wednesday. “We just have to be mindful of how many reps and how much we give him (Shockey). The main objective is to see him at 100 percent when we play Tampa Bay (in the regular-season opener).
“I’m fairly confident the fans will like what they see,” he added. “He’s an explosive player and he’s someone that’s going to help us not only in the passing game, but in the running game.” Saints coaches are also looking to get something positive from McKenzie, even if it’s just one quarter, after their secondary was torched by Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub last Saturday. Schaub completed 14 of 16 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns and compiled an almost-off-the-chart passer rating of 154.9 in less than one half. “His recovery’s gone well and it’s an opportunity,” Payton said of McKenzie. “It’s his first live opportunity. For Mike, being his first time out coming off of an ACL, we’ll be anxious to see him play. I think he’s anxious to get out there and play. His rehab’s gone well and it’s time. “The doctors can tell you it’s not fully recovered and yet that takes place over time. There are some things you can’t hurry. But it’s recovered enough to where he feels comfortable. It’s strong. I think he’s done a real good job with the rehab. The surgical procedure was good and that’s good news.” The bad news last week, however, came on the other side. Cornerback Jason David, who was burned for four passes that went for first downs, will give way tonight to rookie Tracy Porter, a Port Allen native and the Saints’ second-round draft pick this spring. “I’m definitely a young guy that has to get a lot experience under his belt, but I’m up to the challenge,” said Porter, who led the Saints with six tackles in his pro debut last week. “I know that the secondary has been taking a lot of criticism, but the same thing happened when I was at Indiana. We did a great job of working together and developing chemistry and changed that around. “I’m definitely looking forward to getting a significant amount of reps. I don’t know how many or how few I’ll get, but I’m definitely looking forward to getting the reps defensively and special teams-wise.” Payton said Porter did OK in his first game after missing 14 practices earlier in training camp with a hamstring injury. Besides starting on defense, he’ll get a look as a punt returner again tonight. “He did OK, but there were some effort plays that bothered us that he needs to clean up,,” Payton said. “There was a third-down shallow cross where he lost his guy across the field. He’s put a couple weeks of practice under his belt after the hamstring and we’ll give him plenty of snaps.” He’ll get a lot tonight considering McKenzie will make only a cameo appearance and second-year pro Usama Young won’t play because of a hamstring injury. The defensive line is another thin spot for the Saints going into tonight’s game. Veterans Hollis Thomas (torn triceps) and Brian Young (foot) won’t play and first-round draft pick Sedrick Ellis (ankle bruise) likely won’t participate either. “It’s that time of the year,” Payton said. “The key is in this next two-and-a-half week period to get these guys healthy in preparation for our first game against Tampa. “That being said, it gives other guys more reps and a chance for us to evaluate them more. But from an injury standpoint, I’m pretty pleased with our health and our conditioning level.” http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/saints/27306629.html?index=14&c=y |
