Saints out to bounce back tonight
Published 12:00 am Saturday, August 5, 2000
MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / August 5, 2000
THIBODAUX – For the New Orleans Saints, the 2000 preseason could not have gotten off to a worst start.
Not only did they lose an ugly 24-20 decision to the New York Jets last Saturday, but they lost three projected starters in the process. Two, tightend Cam Cleeland and cornerback Steve Israel, are out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon and broken ankle, respectively. Free safety Rob Kelly isexpected to miss up to six weeks with a broken leg.
The Saints will be hoping for better results tonight when they travel to Minneapolis to take on the Vikings. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The gamewill be televised by WWL-TV.
The Saints made a number of moves to week, signing free agent defensive end Alfred Williams and fullback Brian Milne and trading backup linebacker K.D. Williams and a third round draft pick to Green Bay for quarterbackAaron Brooks and tight end Lamont Hall.
Defensive end Troy Williams, quarterback Pat Barnes and wide receiver Anthony Rodgers were released.
As for the play on the field, the Saints had an up-and-down night against the Jets. Jeff Blake completed 6-of-11 passes for 44 yards, most of the shortvariety, and was intercepted once. Jake Delhomme followed Blake andcompleted 14-of-19 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown.
Rickey Williams carried eight times for 29 yards. Rookie Chad Morton had sixcarries for 30 yards and also returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown.
The defense was scorched for 454 yards. Vinny Testaverde, Ray Lucas andChad Pennington combined to complete 25-of-33 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns.
The Jets also ran for 152 yards on 30 carries. Sammy Knight did return aninterception 65 yards for a score.
The Saints defense will have to do better going against one of the most potent receiver corps in the league. Cris Carter and Randy Moss combined tocatch 170 passes for over 2,600 yards and 24 touchdowns in 1999.
One of the big questions facing Minnesota this season is whether second- year quarterback Daunte Culpepper will be able to get Carter and Moss the ball on a consistent basis. Culpepper has not attempted a pass in the NFL inthe regular season.
Robert Smith heads the running game having rushed for over 1,000 yards each of the last three seasons. The Vikings are also reportedly high on third-round selection Doug Chapman.
Tackle John Randle, a perennial All-Pro, leads the defense. Like the Saints,there are question marks in the secondary. The Vikings ranked 30th in theNFL last season in pass defense.
Blake is expected to start tonight and play a quarter and a half. Billy JoeTolliver, Delhomme and Brooks are also expected to see action. Defensiveend Joe Johnson, on the mend from a knee injury last season, will not play.
The Saints travel to Lafayette, Ind., next week to play the Indianapolis Colts.
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