Clapp, Small provide former player perspectives to massive weekend matchups

NEW ORLEANS – A former Tiger and a former Saint previewed what is arguably Louisiana’s biggest-ever weekend of regular-season football Tuesday at the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Quarterback Club presented by Home Bank at Rock ‘n’ Bowl.

“Here we are again,” former LSU defensive lineman Tommy Clapp said as fourth-ranked LSU gets set to play host to top-ranked Alabama Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.

“The Saints could be the best team in the NFL,” former wide receiver Torrance Small said as New Orleans prepares to welcome the unbeaten Los Angeles Rams Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. “We’ll find out this Sunday.”

Clapp said that despite significant changes on offense, the Tigers have earned this position.

“This team has done what it needs to do to put themselves in the position they’re in,” Clapp said. “(Steve) Ensminger’s brought a little bit of multiple to this offense. It is different, but the primary focus is still to run the ball, control the clock, take care of the football.

“The people inside that building felt like they would be 8-0 or 7-1 right now.”

While the goal for the underdog Tigers is by no means staying close, forcing Alabama to play a 60-minute game could play to LSU’s advantage.

“If LSU’s going to have a chance, they’ll keep it close, they’ll get Devin White back at halftime,” Clapp said. “I just want to see a game where (Alabama) has to compete into the fourth quarter. It would be nice to see this unfold Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.”

Clapp’s oldest son Will elected not to return for LSU for a fifth year and was a seventh-round pick of the Saints in April.

Small said the key to the Saints’ success has been to keep the ball in the hands of the offense.

“Offense, we’re good,” Small said. “Up front (on defense), we’re as strong as anybody.”

Small was a deep threat in his days in a Saints uniform, something New Orleans has missed since Ted Ginn Jr. went on injured reserve.

“(Rams defensive coordinator) Wade Phillips, he’s going to push that a little bit and see if that’s something (the Saints offense) can do,” Small said. “I like what Sean Payton’s doing. He called a great game (at Minnesota).

“We’ll find out a lot about the Saints this weekend,” he added. “Once you get to eight games, that’s a lot of info for (other) teams to know about you.”