Opening it up

• By LES EAST
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Sep 8, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:30 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — Most of the New Orleans Saints’ offseason personnel moves came on defense as they took an if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it approach to their high-powered offense.

But in their 24-20 season-opening victory against Tampa Bay on Sunday in the Superdome, they showed that the offense has been retooled a bit as well.

Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush were the only running backs to carry the ball as Deuce McAllister, the franchise’s career rushing leader, did not play although he was active and suited up. Thomas and Bush combined for 24 carries for 103 yards, a 4.3 average.

“The one-two punch of Reggie and Pierre was very effective,” quarterback Drew Brees said. “That opened up some things in the passing game. Reggie out in space is a big weapon. We are going to continue to try and utilize that. Once we get Stecker back and Deuce in the mix, then we have a pretty formidable group of running backs.”

Bush displayed the balance as a runner and pass receiver that New Orleans envisioned when it used the second pick in the 2006 draft to select him, rushing a game-high 14 times for 51 yards and grabbing a game-high eight passes for 112 yards, including a virtuoso catch-and-run on a game-winning 42-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.

Tight end Jeremy Shockey, acquired in a July trade but absent from all four preseason games as he works his way back from a broken leg, caught six passes for 54 yards.

Throw in a few more familiar performances — Drew Brees completing 23-of-32 for 343 yards and three touchdowns, David Patten catching a 39-yard touchdown pass, and Devery Henderson catching an 84-yard touchdown — and you have the variety of weapons that could enable the Saints to improve on their fourth-rated offense of a year ago.

“We have a great mix of guys who do a lot of things well,” Brees said. “Coach (Sean) Payton does a great job of putting guys in position to be successful based on their strengths. Everybody has a role.”

Bush’s role continues to evolve in his third season. He excelled mostly as a pass receiver as a rookie, then was forced to take on an expanded role in the running game last season after McAllister was hurt and until he was hurt and missed the last four games.

“I thought he was dynamic today,” Payton said. “He changed the game around in a few situations. He was outstanding. He was explosive. He seemed faster than everyone else on the field.”

New Orleans took the opening kickoff and zipped through the Bucs defense for 76 yards in six plays, the last being Patten’s touchdown. Then came eight consecutive unsuccessful possessions, something Brees attributed to “first-game jitters” before the Saints scored 17 points on three consecutive possessions in the late third and early fourth quarters.

Martin Gramatica’s 34-yard field goal pulled New Orleans even at 10 late in third quarter, but the Bucs needed just four plays to regain the lead on Matt Bryant’s 33-yard field goal.

New Orleans began its next possession at its 16 and Brees immediately hit Henderson with a long pass up the left sideline that turned into an 84-yard touchdown. Bucs end Gaines Adams was offside when the ball was snapped, which convinced Brees to be more aggressive, knowing any bad play would be negated by a Bucs penalty.