... in 2008. They struggled to pick up first downs in short-yardage situations, particularly when power running back Deuce McAllister was not on the field.
While they tried to fix their leaky defense in the offseason, the only significant move they made in the running game was releasing McAllister, whose damaged knees kept him from being an every-down back. They are gambling that holdovers Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush will pick up the tough yards they weren’t able to get in crucial situations last season.
That liability might have cost the Saints a playoff spot, contributing to two excruciating losses in consecutive weeks after they beat the Tampa Bay Bucs to open the season.
Trying to protect a 24-22 lead at Washington with a little more than four minutes left, they handed the ball to Thomas on 3rd-and-1 at their own 37-yard line. He hesitated, got caught from the backside, and was tackled for no gain.
A first down would...
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