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Saints Lose Preseason Home Opener
08/17/08 - 03:03 PM
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NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Deuce McAllister made a promising return from
his second knee reconstruction in three seasons, but the Saints
running back’s brief appearance wasn’t enough to keep the Houston
Texans from staying perfect in the preseason.
Matt Schaub was 14-of-16 passing for 187 yards and two
touchdowns, helping Houston (2-0) take a 31-27 victory over New
Orleans (1-1) on Saturday night.
The final score wasn’t the main concern for fans in the
Louisiana Superdome, who howled “Deuce!” when the Saints’ career
rushing leader made his first appearance in a game since Week 3 of
last season.
Gaining positive yards all six times he touched the ball,
McAllister strung together several short gains and converted three
first downs during a touchdown drive that helped New Orleans take a
20-17 lead at halftime.
“I’m happy with the way this first game - this first chance to
play - went,” said McAllister, who did not play in the second
half. “I felt like I played average at best, but it’s a start, and
you have to start somewhere.”
McAllister rushed four times up the middle for 16 yards and had
a pair of 5-yard receptions.
“I will take a few 4-yard carries like I had tonight,”
McAllister said. “I ran with some toughness . ... I’ve had to stay
patient through the whole process and I’m still trying to make all
the effort over the last year pay off.”
McAllister missed most of the 2005 after tearing his right ACL.
When he needed a second reconstruction on his left knee last year,
doctors took the opportunity to perform a second operate on his
right knee, which included a painful microfracture procedure to
regenerate soft tissue that mimics cartilage padding the joint.
That meant the 29-yeard-old had to rehabilitate both knees at
the same time. His practice time was limited early in training camp
this summer and he sat out the Saints’ first preseason game at
Arizona on Aug. 7.
It remains to be seen how his knees will hold up to the pounding
of a full season. During his limited action against Houston,
however, he showed the toughness and good instincts that made him
one of the most clutch short-yardage running backs in the NFL.
Houston got very little from its running game when the starters
were in, but Schaub had no trouble moving the ball through the air.
The three drives he led resulted in the Texans’ first 17 points.
His favorite target was Ken Walter, who had six catches for 100
yards, including a 26-yard score that gave Houston a 7-3 lead in
the first quarter.
Cornerback Jason David, unpopular with the Louisiana Superdome
crowd after struggling last season to adapt to the Saints’
man-to-man coverage scheme, was beaten on the touchdown, as well as
on 17- and 14-yard completions earlier in the drive, drawing boos
each time.
He was booed again after yielding a first-down reception early
in Houston’s next drive, which also resulted in a touchdown - a
1-yard toss from Schaub to fullback Vonta Leach.
Drew Brees was 12-of-17 for 147 yards, including a 5-yard TD
pass to Marques Colston, who leapt high over cornerback Jamar
Fletcher and pulled down a tough one-handed catch, narrowly getting
both feet down before crashing out of bounds.
Steve Slaton rushed 13 times for 57 yards, including 10-yard
touchdown run that gave Houston the lead for good. Chris Taylor ran
12 times for 34 yards and a 1-yard TD early in the second half.
Saints fullback Kevin Dudley scored the Saints’ final TD on a
1-yard pass from Mark Brunell late in the third quarter.
Martin Gramatica kicked field goals for 25 and 33 yards, the
first one set up by Jacoby Jones’ fumble on a punt return at the
Houston 10-yard line.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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