Double trouble

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Nov 7, 2009

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In their first six games this season, the New Orleans Saints did a solid job in giving up just 92.3 rushing yards a game while not allowing any individual to run for 100 yards.

That changed in a flash Monday night when Michael Turner burned them for 151 yards in a win over the Atlanta Falcons, who finished with 161 total rushing yards and a healthy 6.7-yard average on 24 carries.

If Turner was trouble in reeling off runs of 37, 24 and 22 yards, the Saints may be facing double-trouble today in the person of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart when the Carolina Panthers (3-4) and Saints (7-0) meet in the Superdome at 3:05 p.m.

With Williams and Stewart combining for 979 yards in just seven games, the Panthers, who rank fifth in the NFL in rushing with 148.9 yards a game, will be a stern test for the Saints. After ranking eighth a week ago, the Saints are 11th in rush defense at 102.1 yards per contest.

While Turner is more of a power runner, Williams and Stewart are slashers. Williams has piled up 619 yards and five touchdowns, while Stewart has added 360 yards and scores TDs.

Add it up and it’s not good news for the Saints, who’ll be without the defensive tackles who started the season —Sedrick Ellis and Kendrick Clancy — because of knee injuries. The Saints put Clancy on injured reserve Saturday and signed DeMario Pressley from their practice squad.

That means Remi Ayodele and Anthony Hargrove will start on the inside and take on a heavier burden against the Panthers’ running attack.

“When you’re running the ball the way they’re able to run it, it’s not just the runner or just the offensive line,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “It involves a lot of different aspects, and they’re a challenge because of that.”

Williams and Stewart were a handful for the Saints in two losses to the Panthers a year ago. Stewart had 68 yards and a TD and Williams added 66 yards at Bank of America Stadium, then Williams gashed the Saints for 178 yards, while Stewart added 56 in the season finale in the Superdome.

Together, they rushed for 368 yards and averaged 4.8 yards on 77 carries.

But that was under former defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs. With Gregg Williams in charge, the Saints have made a considerable jump before falling back after allowing 298 rushing yards to the Falcons and Miami Dolphins the last two weeks.

The Saints have also played the last two games without strongside linebacker Scott Fujita, one of their top run-stoppers, and will likely do so again today since he hasn’t practiced all week with a strained calf.

“Fortunately, we were able to hang in there and come up with enough plays (against Atlanta),” Payton said.