LT Jermon Bushrod is out. LT Jammal Brown is out. RB Mike Bell is out LT Zach Strief will start at LT...A third stringer will protect Brees on the blindside. Lance Moore at WR is questionable
Moore being out would be a big help, especially with our depleted secondary. Hopefully Ryan's got some awesome blitz packages coming from the left, which I'm sure he does. Maybe this will be Gholston's break-out game. If he can't beat a third-string left tackle, well...
Strief is actually the 2nd RT, but can play both right and left. He's started 3 games in his career, and saw a lot of action in a few more. I'd rather have Bushrod in there, I personally believe he's the future at LT, but I'm not losing any sleep with Strief in that spot, he's a very good insurance policy. Mike Bell may be out, but we still have Pierre and Reggie. Those two guys can get it done on their own, you'll also see Lynell Hamilton who carried the ball 5 times for 24 yards, a 4.8 YPC average, and a score last week. As for Lance, I'd expect him to be a go. He's been practicing and I don't see why he wouldn't go.
Moore will play, he practiced all week. Strief is only labeled the 3rd string LT because he is actually the 2nd string RT. He's started games for us in the past and Brees has all the confidence in the world in him, from what he says atleast. Strief came in last week and played very well against Buffalo, which is obvious by the way we ran the ball in the 2nd half. I dont see that being a problem.
WR Lance Moore was limited Friday with a strained right hamstring and his availability for Sunday is listed as questionable.
Gholston does not play against LT. He lined up against RT against Tennessee. Now if Ryan wants to explore Saints weakness, he probably won't even line Gholson against LT anyways. If we win and Brees' numbers are just like Schaub/Brady/Collins, I can assure u the excuse would be the LT. Our #2 and #3 CBs being out wouldn't be considered.
No excuses will come from me. Injuries are part of the game, every team has them. Tom Brady said it best when he said, the game of football waits for no one, no matter who you are. The trainer comes out, gets you off the field, a back up player comes in and a new play is called. Sums it up, IMO.
; Probable is much better than questionable. http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2009/10/new_orleans_saints_coach_sean_5.html