….ummm…a win is a win…that is about it. Lets start with who stood out in week 10.

Running back Reggie Bush had his best game this season, which is great because the way other running backs Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell played, it was imperative Bush stepped up and made plays for the Saints offense. Bush only carried the ball six times but amounted 83 yards and scored once. He also had 2 catches for 15 yards and another score, finishing the day with two touchdowns as well as two punt returns for 5 yards. In total Reggie touched the ball 10 times in the game and got 103 total yards - just slightly over 10 yards per touch. Great numbers,  as the games keep coming it will be crucial to keep exploring ways to utilize Bush’s talents on the grid iron. As he showed against the Rams this past weekend he has the potential to make a big play whenever the ball is in his hands, as he ran the ball for 55 yards on one carry - the longest of his carreer thus far.

Courtney Roby had a great day returning kicks for the Saints and setting the offense up with great field position. Roby had one great run back for 97 yards, which also happened to be for a TOUCHDOWN! His three returns went for a combined 146 yards, which amounts to a 48.7 average.  Way to go Courtney!

Devery Henderson played a good game at wide out for the Saints - who were in need of a receiver to step up. Henderson was targetted six times by Brees and caught four of those attempts for a total of 72 yards, which brings it to a nice healthy average of 18 yards per catch.

David Thomas stepped out of the big shadow Jeremy Shockey had been casting at the tight end position and grabbed 5 passes from Brees getting 45 yards. Haven’t heard too much from Thomas this year, probably because of the outstanding play of Jeremy Shockey, but numbers do not lie and Thomas when given the opportunity did not disappoint. Brees threw to him six times, I like it when receivers catch balls that are thrown their way…and…ABSOLUTELY dislike dropped passes.

Safety Roman Harper had another productive day at the office bringing eight tackles, seven were solo and one was a tackle for loss.  Harper also had one pass deflection. Just another day for what is becoming a normals day work for Harper. His his speed motor is running well in this agressive Saints’ defense.

Jonathon Vilma played a great game at middle linebacker for the Saints’ who really appreciated his eight tackles, six of his were solo and Vilma also had one tackle for loss. Vilma has been hit or miss this year, but besides the play of Darren Sharper I would say Vilma still is the most talented defensive player the Saints’ have at this moment (Sedrick Ellis, Will Smith, and Charles Grant have the potenital to surprise him if they could perform better consistently).

Lastly, making his debut on the Star Studded Saints’ list is cornerback Usama Young who had four tackles, three of which were solo as well as one interception and one pass deflection. This is the first we have heard of Young this year, but it is good he stepped up when he did because the usual suspects of Darren Sharper and Tracy Porter did not play up to their usual high level. Young came up with an interception which along with the 4 tackles and pass deflection were a nice body of work.

Here is the Updated Listed of Star Studded Saints through week 10:

(7) SS Roman Harper

(6) SS Darren Sharper

(5) QB Drew Brees

(5) RB Pierre Thomas

(4) WR Marques Colston

(4) MLB Jonathon Vilma

(3) Defense

(3) O-Line

(3) RB Mike Bell

(3) CB Jabari Greer

(3) FS Tracy Porter

(3) TE Jeremy Shockey

(3) DE Will Smith

(3) RB Reggie Bush

(3) KR Courtney Roby

(2) OL Jermon Bushrod

(2) WR Devery Henderson

(1) LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar

(1) LB Scott Fujita

(1) DE Charles Grant

(1) P Thomas Morstead

(1) WR  Lance Moore

(1) LB Scott Shanle

(1) TE David Thomas

(1) CB Usama Young

This week I want to also give a shout out to what I am calling the Twinkle of the Week - for the guy who did well, but saw only limited action. From this past weekends game it is non-other than wide out Robert Meachem. Meachem one 27 yard touchdown catch and one carries for 41 yards. Only twice did the guy get the ball in his hands but when he did he totalled 68 yards in offense. I hope the Saints coaching staff finds a way to integrate him into the offense next week against the Tampa Bay Bucs.

I also have a couple ‘Aints of the Week for players who did not perform very well:

Quarterback Drew Brees had a horrible day at the office for going up against the St. Louis Rams. How is it possible that Brees puts together such great games against solid openents but when he plays the lowly Rams he musters just as many touchdowns as interceptions (2 each), as well as only throwing for less than 225 yards. Usually Brees is weekly passing yard leader with 300+ yard performance. I have grown to expect far more from Brees - he needs to get back to that MVP caliber performances he had been putting up, not this middle of the road games which are not going to get it done in December and January when the games count the most.

Pierre Thomas ran the ball poorly, eleven rushes for thirty-seven yards. Whhhhaaaaaat? A measley 3.4 yards per carry. No touchdowns, yyeeeaaassh! Thomas was suppose to be a back the Saints could depend on rolling out 4 or 5 yards per carry ESPECIALLY against a porous defense in the Rams and use Thomas as a good way productive way to chew up the clock.

The last ‘Aint of the week goes to Marques Colston, this past week the wide out did not do much. Acquiring tw0 catches for 17 yards and 1 rush for six yards. No touchdowns and 1 fumble (which he lost…UGH). I understand that Brees only threw to him twice, but it is Colston’s job to create separation and space for Brees to feel comfortable enough to throw the ball to Colston, if Colston was not able to meet his side of the deal then I feel he deserves just as much of the blame.

Lastly, a comment about the play calling…in total the Saints had a total of 65 offensive plays…usually a team is hoping for 75-85 plays on the offensive side of the ball…come on, I am not impressed with the lack of plays that lead to the defense being on the field longer than they needed to be. Get it together game planners!!!!