8/18/05 Saints Gameplan (ed.) (at NE-P)

Bentley, good.

Thanks a lot for joining us, man. We appreciate it this week. Well, tell me, give me, give me the rundown. You got about 8, 9 days of camp to go. Are you tired yet?

Just a little bit. Just a little bit. Things are going well. We're shaping up to be a really good team. So I'm excited about this upcoming season.

There were a lot of fans really disappointed when they saw a turnover or penalty and all that. What do you say to that in response? I mean, it is only preseason and teams are basically working on some of their basic packages. You're not seeing the real team, so to speak. What do you say to fans who are a little disappointed by what they saw Friday?

Well, it's fair. It's fair for them to be disappointed. We haven't really put a great product out on the field since I've been here, and even before then. So the fans are kind of fed up. But in the same vein, I think it's only fair that they should be a little patient with us. We haven't put everything out on the field. We're still working on some things. And if they look back at us last year at this time, we're much better off than we were.

Talk a little bit to me about the transition a little bit under Sheppard to the more of a power running game. I know most O-linemen I've ever spoken to like to run block a little bit better than they pass block because it allows you to attack a little bit. You guys feeling comfortable with this a little bit changed identity offensively to really rely on Deuce and the power running attack?

Most definitely. I believe that Deuce is the best running back in the league and maybe I'm a little bit biased.

Yeah, that's all right.

Then again, maybe not. But Coach Sheppard did a great job implementing this offense and we're really excited about it. And it hasn't just been, you know, a lot of verbiage. And it's just from this past weekend, he showed us that he's serious about the run game and we're excited about that. And also the passing game is going to be fantastic too, because we've got great receivers and a great quarterback.

Talk about a guy who could be unhappy as you. I mean, you make the Pro Bowl as a guard, they move you the next year to center, and now you're, you know, wanting them to, you know, do for you what they've done for other people. What keeps you level? What keeps your attitude as it is and being a quiet leader on this team along the offensive front? I just like playing the game.

I'm not saying I would play the game for free, but I love to play the game. I love being around the guys. I mean, I understand it is a business and that it can only be split up so many different ways. And, you know, if they don't have it right now, I understand that. And, you know, it's a business.

Yeah.

And but I enjoy playing the game and I enjoy being around the coaching staff, around the guys. So why wouldn't I want to come to work? I'm still under contract. With New Orleans Saints, and I'm enjoying my time here, and we'll see what happens.

How many years you got left?

This is it.

This is it. This is the last year. Okay, well, guys, get to work. All right. And you've made the transition to center okay. I mean, do you have any reservations about that still in your second year?

No, no, no, no. I fought it a little bit last year, but this year it's unbelievable how I feel about the position. The guys next to me are great. Offensive line is great. Jack Henry's really done a good job with, you know, sticking with me, and so has Coach Haas. It takes a lot to make that kind of transition.

Sure.

So I'm enjoying it.

What's your outlook going into that game at New England?

Just another game. They put their pants on the same way we do. I don't think anybody out there has an S on their chest. So it's just another game. They've won a lot of games, obviously. They're a great team. I think it's a good challenge for us, just not even to say to see where we are, because they're not going to throw everything at us. They're going to give us a little bit of the pie. But just to be out there and just get in a rhythm and do what we do best. Not worry about who we're playing against, but do us. Do the New Orleans Saints.

Hola. Hello, welcome to CG's Countdown to Saints Football. I'm sitting here with Louisiana's own favorite, Deuce McAllister. Deuce, in the offseason they had speculation that you wouldn't be here. They got the deal closed and you're out there on the football field. You look very good. What are the fans expecting out of Deuce McAllister this year?

Well, first of all, Deuce McAllister is gonna expect a lot more than a fan can ever, you know, his expectations may be. You know, I expect to go out there and have a good year.

But I watched a lot of film. When you have a snag for the football, you could be a safety, you could be a cornerback, you a headhunter on the football field. What can these fans expect for you to be when it's game time?

Um, just me, man.

A guy who always gonna be around the ball. I'm sitting here with the man himself, Mr. Joe Horn, Hollywood. Joe, last year you was ranked among the top receivers in the National Football League. The fans want to know What can they expect out of Joe Horn?

More determined to get to the Super Bowl than I ever been. Every year. The older I get, the more mature and the more feisty I'mma get to get a Super Bowl ring for the fans here in New Orleans.

LeCharles Bentley, could you give the fans in New Orleans something they can look forward to on this upcoming season with this offensive line with you anchoring at the center?

Well, I'm excited about the run game. I think that with the new guys we brought in with Mayberry and Jamal Brown, our first-round pick from this year, and continuing from where we left off last year, the last 4 games. I'm really excited about what we can do.

You heard it first on CG's Countdown to Saint Football. 2,000 yards with Deuce McAllister, the Saints in the playoffs, and New Orleans, we on fire, baby. Till next time, peace.

Love you. Thank you, man, for taking some time out with us this week. All right. Being on the show, appreciate it very much. I'm gonna tell you the truth, I mean, I'm sitting here going, okay, franchise tag again, talented defensive end, 11, 11.5 sacks last year. You know, maybe is he still going to be here? He's so talented. He can draw some people that may help them in other areas. And here you sit. Are you surprised that Darren Howard is still here with New Orleans Saints?

I'm surprised a little bit. You know, every, you know, last couple of years I've been thinking it would be my last year, but somehow I end up back here. There's nothing wrong with that. I'm fine with that situation. There's a lot of talk about trades and going here and going there. But, you know, like I said before, the staff did a great job in telling me what was going on. That's all I really wanted to know. And keep me in the loop. And don't surprise me, let me know where I'm going to be. So they were pretty good about that. So I'm good.

Last week, the first unit seemed to play well. Of course, you didn't hold them to a field goal after the turnover early, but it seemed like the unit was pretty good. How do you feel about it from a playing perspective?

I think the unit was solid. We got a couple of details we got to, you know, fine-tune and take care of when we go back and look at the film. Some things to correct. But, you know, as a whole, I think we played well. You know, could have held them to a field goal, like you said. But other than that, you know, everybody was supposed to be.

You know, a lot of questions came up about the D tackle position. —position and your linebacking position. How do you see those positions for you? And you see this unit coming together and working and being a much improved unit this season.

I think those positions are coming on fine. Our D-tackles, you know, are solid, you know, and they can— they're always in that position. They're taking up 2 or 3 blockers and then giving our linebackers a chance to run downhill. You know, you got Courtney Watson in the middle. He's making all the calls and into his second season now. And, you know, last year, you know, he might say a couple of things and make calls and it's like, shut up, rookie, get back in your place, you know. But now people are starting, you know, People are starting to let him say his little thing. He can take charge of the huddle and things like that now. So it's going a lot more fluidly that way.

I know you look forward to it and it's gotten a lot of attention lately. One of the things is the 4 defensive end alignment in obvious passing situations with you and of course Will Smith and Charles and Tony in on the field at the same time. I'm sure you're licking your chops when that unit gets on there and you get to know that you're going to rush the pass.

Yeah, and you take pride in rushing the passer when you're a D-lineman. You know, you stop people on first, second down. You know, that's the key right there. You stop people on first, second down, you can get a chance to reward yourself on third down and try to get after the quarterback. And we take pride in that. We put our hand down in the dirt, those 4 defensive ends, man. You know, we're coming full bore.

What do you want to accomplish as a unit and as an individual going into preseason game number 2 against New England?

Correcting some mistakes, you know, holding on to the ball, you know, holding teams to field goals. Our second and third group getting a little bit more more work during practice. And you know, first 2 weeks, those groups don't get a lot of work in practice, so it kind of showed in the game. So you know, just improving on everything and going up. You know, we're playing the world champions. Everybody knows we're playing those guys, and you know, they practice like world champions, and they're gonna play a preseason game like world champions.