Mickles: Deuce gives Saints jolt of energy

• By SHELDON MICKLES
• Advocate River parishes bureau
• Published: Sep 30, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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When the New Orleans Saints had 13 players who missed practice or had limited participation Wednesday when they began their preparations for Sunday’s game, right tackle Jon Stinchcomb wasn’t about to look for excuses.

The reason: As bad as it was, Stinchcomb didn’t have to be on the West Coast to know what the San Francisco 49ers were thinking.
“I don’t think the 49ers are feeling sorry for us right now,” he said.

It got worse the next day when a 14th player was added to the injury report. That total didn’t count guard Jamar Nesbit, who had just been suspended by the NFL for four games.

Stinchcomb was correct. Hobbled or not, he and his teammates knew they had to do whatever they could to hold it together and control things they could control.

It was plain and simple. Instead of spending time worrying about who they had or wouldn’t have for the 49ers, they looked at the positive side.

The mission was to find a way to stop the bleeding after they lost back-to-back road games, which had them on the verge of digging a hole almost as deep as the one they were in after a horrible 0-4 start last season.

Coincidence or not, but a player coming off a serious knee injury — his second in 23 months — and a tough year of rehab gave them the juice they needed to secure a win over the 49ers.

After an emotional welcome back from the Superdome crowd during pregame introductions, running back Deuce McAllister proved to be the salve that helped heal their many wounds with 73 yards on 20 carries.

“That meant a whole lot just to see him back there,” said Lance Moore, who caught seven passes for 101 yards and two TDs. “Just to see him back was a lift, but to see him carrying the workload for us again meant a lot.”

The Saints certainly needed some positive energy with their top two wide receivers as well as starting tight end, fullback and left guard out.

With McAllister inspiring teammates with tough runs of 10 and 9 yards, and several 5- and 6-yarders as well, and Drew Brees carving up the 49ers defense, the Saints survived.

Part of it was the cohesiveness the offense played with under the circumstances. In addition to Moore, Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson made big plays in the passing game and rookie Carl Nicks capably filled in for Nesbit in his first NFL start.

“It’s something that hits different teams at different times, and some years you’re more fortunate,” said coach Sean Payton. “The key for us is to play well and not allow it to creep in or become a reason for us not to expect to play well.