Injury Report: Saints could have Terron Armstead, Ted Ginn, Jr. back for Steelers game

It appears that Terron Armstead is set to return to his familiar position at left tackle for the New Orleans Saints this Sunday.

Armstead practiced in full Friday, a most likely indication that he will be cleared to start Sunday.

The timing is excellent.

Jermon Bushrod, who has played in place of Armstead for the past five weeks, has been declared out of the game against Pittsburgh Sunday afternoon in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome with a hamstring injury suffered in last week’s victory at Carolina.

Meanwhile, Max Unger, Andrus Peat, Ryan Ramczyk and Thomas Morstead all practiced in full Friday, an indication that all will play Sunday. All had been limited on Thursday.

The wait continues for Ted Ginn, Jr. The starting wide receiver has missed the last 10 games with a knee injury. He was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 19.

Ginn, Jr. has been activated and added to the active roster after he practiced throughout this week. It is likely that he will be on the field Sunday, providing a real bump to a group that has struggled most recently. The timing is excellent.

Ginn has 12 catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns in the four games played this season.

The Saints can clinch home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a victory Sunday. That would enable Sean Payton to rest key players for two weeks, including for the regular season finale against Carolina and through a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Pittsburgh may be without both their leading rusher and receiver on the year. Running back James Connor is officially out with an ankle injury while wideout JuJu Smith Shuster is listed as questionable after suffering a groin injury in practice Thursday and missing Friday’s workout.

 
New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton
Post-Practice Media Availability
Friday, December 21, 2018

A month away from home before you play a home game Sunday, have ever been through anything like that?
“I’m sure we have. It doesn’t see like that, yet it’s one of those things you don’t focus on and that you can’t control. We’ve played well on the road this year and that’s one of the reasons we are in the position that we are in right now and (now we’re) able to come back home for the final two games. “

With two offensive linemen in the Pro Bowl, how do you think the group is blocking and if that is deserving?
“They’re playing well. They’re protecting. The thing that you see on tape is not just the on schedule throws, but the off schedule throws where he (Drew Brees) buys some time, steps up (in the pocket). I think they’re playing extremely well. You can see it on film week to week.”

What did you think of the performance last week by Jaylen Samuels, the Steelers running back?
“It was good. His tape was good. Those guys ran the ball well last week. New England was doing certain things to take some of the throws away. It was a relatively low-scoring game, but he certainly looked comfortable in his role.”

Do you see a playoff atmosphere in this game?
“I think so. This is an important game for both teams obviously. It’s a real good football team we’re playing. It will be a good enviernment.”

What’s been the difference in your screen game from last year to this year?
“That’s a good question. Some of it’s the main coverage we’re getting. It’s an area that we have to improve on. Some of it happens with a certain defense, but it’s something we have to work on.”

Do you think Alvin Kamara is very durable and resilient with some of the hits he takes in games?
“He’s a strong runner. He runs with real good pad level and power. Both he and Mark (Ingram) have that ability to get their pad level down and move forward. It’s a good skillset that he has.”

When he’s airborne and comes down, have you seen many players pop back up as quickly as he has?
“I notice when he gets airborne at times. He’s an explosive player.”

You mentioned on the teleconference this week about the active roster numbers as a league issue that should be addressed. Have you addressed that with Mrs. Benson at all?
“Not necessarily. The question to me (that was answered is that) it’s a management council/players union/CBA discussion. I think that’ll change. All the parties are interested in player health and safety. With more players on gameday that’s one way to enhance player health and safety. Fewer snaps on special teams for some players. We were an injury from playing a tight end at tackle last week. I know it’s been fine, (but) I think you will see that change.”

Is there a number that you find more ideal than 53?
“53’s the active and I’d just be throwing out numbers, but I think you’ll see that bump. I think you’ll see the gameday number jump.”

In the move to waive Derek Newton and sign Cornelius Lucas, do you see the need for someone to be available more immediately?
“No, just taking a look at a few different options.”

What did you like about Lucas?
“He’s played more recently, yet Newton was someone I was real impressed with. They’re different type players.”

How do you guys look at the opportunity to be the number one see in the NFC on the playoffs?
“It’s just the next step. The first one is trying to win a division. The next one is trying to give yourself the best options, opportunities going into the tournament. That’s what we’re playing for. That’s significant. Obviously what Pittsburgh’s playing for is significant. That’s why I think it will be a playoff-type atmosphere.”

Does the rest factor cross your mind at all?
“Not right now, I’m concentrated on this game.”

Eli Apple made a big play last week and seems to be settling down and playing good football the last couple of weeks, can you talk about that?
“He’s gaining confidence. I think that it’s encouraging. It will be a good test this week.”

Has the scheme changed where you don’t need guys around him to help as much now that he’s been here a while?
“No, it was really getting him up to speed with what we’re doing, the technique we’re playing with, how we want him to play relative to the technique. I think you’re seeing more of that.”

From the games you’ve seen him play in New York up to now in the game against Carolina, what type of progress have you seen?
“He’s a young player in year three. Through the draft process, the evaluation process, even in New York, our exposure to him with the Ohio State ties. We liked his length, ball skills, those are traits that are hard to find in a corner.”

There are terms in special teams of four core guy or special teams ace? Do you have anyone truly like that?
“Without using that term, I think we have some really valuable core special teams players that I’m glad we have.”

Saints Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen
Conference Call With New Orleans Media
Friday, December 21, 2018

What are some of the biggest challenges the Steelers’ offense present, particularly with the two receivers that everybody talks about with JuJu (Smith-Schuster) and AB (Antonio Brown)?
“I think they’ve got a lot of weapons on the offensive side of the ball. I think I would start up front. I think they do a really good job up front, both in the run and the pass- game. They do a really good job of protecting for Ben (Roethlisberger). I think their receivers, obviously, are very explosive. I think different types of receivers they have – JuJu Smith-Schuster, who’s a little bit of a bigger more physical type of receiver. He’s got a big catch radius and I think he does a really good job. Antonio Brown, not quite as big of a receiver but yet, very fast, shifty, quick. And I think all of them do a really good job of staying alive through the down, and so when it’s not there early and Ben does a good job of maneuvering in the pocket and buying a little bit of extra time. They do a really good job of uncovering and getting some of those off- schedule plays down the field which presents a challenge. And then look, I think they’ve got a couple of tight ends that are pretty good in the passing game and have a good rapport with Ben. So there’s a lot of weapons there and a lot of guys that you have to try to defend.”

How do they compare to some of the teams you’ve faced already this year with weapons like that? I mean you look at Julio (Jones) in Atlanta.
“I don’t know how they would compare in terms of those other teams. Obviously, they do have a lot of weapons. They’re a very explosive offense. They create a lot of challenges in terms of coverage, as well as trying to get pressure on the quarterback. So certainly, they’re one of the better offenses in the league.”

Looking specifically at their offensive line, I think they’ve got three Pro Bowlers on that unit. Can you see that on the film when you’re watching those guys?
“Absolutely. Like I said before, I think it is one of the better offensive lines in the league. I think they are coached extremely well. You do not see a lot of miscues by them. They generally have the proper targets both in the run-game and the passing game. So when you’re playing against offenses like this, that have the explosive weapons on offense, and they have a quarterback like Ben (Roethlisberger), and they are able to do both block and a run game and do a good job in protection. I think that really makes it a difficult challenge.”

Is that why they’ve been able to just plug in running backs and everybody’s just doing so well, just because of the guys up front?
“Well, certainly I think that’s part of it. I think most of the most of the really good offenses that you see in this league, I think there’s probably a combination of a good quarterback and a good offensive line. I think that’s where it all starts.”

When you were looking to bring Demario (Davis) in, what made you guys think he would fit in the position that you all are playing him in, even though that wasn’t really what he was doing beforehand?
“Well number one, I’d say when he first came into the league, he did play a version of what we are asking him to play. They had David Harris there at the Jets initially (playing on the inside). David was the Mike, Demario took over as the Will. I think what you’re really looking for is you are looking for a skillset, and a player, and the position he plays at the Will linebacker is a playmaking position. You’re looking for a fast, athletic type of linebacker that has the ability to cover in space. He has the ability to cover running backs and tight ends, and also the ability to do some things in terms of pressure. So we felt like he had the athletic skillset. When we had an opportunity to visit with him, we realized that he had an intelligence level. We knew he was our type of guy. We knew that he was a team football player and he’s really fit in nicely to what we’ve been trying to do with him.”

We see some of the splash plays, the sacks, and sideline-to-sideline type plays, but are there some unseen things with him that are kind of playing a role?
“I think certainly the physicality in the run game has been a really good presence for us this season. I think you don’t always notice some of these interior runs that he’s able to set up. I think he’s big, he’s strong, he can come downhill, he can attack the line of scrimmage and attack these offensive linemen and shed blocks and be able to get off blocks and make tackles inside. So, certainly, everybody sees the plays that are made out (in) space but when you really get down and you watch the game tape you see a lot of really good things you know from an interior presence in the run game.”

What has he brought to the locker room and the film room?
“He’s a guy that loves football. He is football 24/7. He’s a team player and certainly brings an energy level to our football team that that’s contagious. And so it’s just been a really good addition for us.”

Does Cam Jordan’s personality bring anything? Does that kind of help things off the field with guys?
“Certainly. Cam’s got a unique personality. He’s pretty loose. (A) very confident person, very confident player. I think that’s a little bit contagious to our football team. I think our guys, really all of them, they understand they come they come to work every day. They enjoy playing football. They have fun out here and that’s what’s really… It’s been pleasurable for me to be a part of because they’re having fun playing the game, but yet they understand when it’s time to go to work and they work and do the things that we have to do to get ready for a ballgame each week.”

Does Cam’s personality take some getting used to as a coach?
“When you when you do the job that we do as coaches here, you deal with a lot of different personalities and each one of them is different. I think that’s what’s unique about the game of football is that you get 53 guys (on the main roster), 10 on the practice squad, and so you’re dealing with 63 guys that come from all kinds of different backgrounds whether it be economic backgrounds or ethnic backgrounds or religious backgrounds and you get all these guys to come together as a football team and become really one big family. I can’t say enough good things about the locker room that we have down there in and the way our guys come to work every day and continue to try to get better.”

You talked about backgrounds, David Onyemata obviously had an unusual football background coming into the league. Can you talk about what you saw from a guy who hadn’t been able to play at a high level of competition coming in and how he’s evolved from what you first saw?
“Bill Johnson at the time was our defensive line coach. He actually went up to Manitoba Canada and scouted David (Onyemata) and came back and just fell in love with the kid. The number one thing you’ve got to identify is does the player have the skill set to do the things that you’re going to ask him to do which David obviously did and then the one thing that we realized in spending time with him is he actually is a very quick learner. Even though he didn’t have a lot of experience at play in the position, he had the skill set to play and he had the mental capacity and the mental ability to learn. He just had to see it once or twice and then he had it. So that’s why I think now in his third year you’re really beginning to see his growth as a player because he does have a little bit of experience now to fall back on and understand what offenses are trying to do and how they’re trying to attack him and so he understands how to combat that.”

When you get a player who’s not from a so-called Power 5 conference, is there any uncertainty about whether the numbers you see or even what you see on film is quite as credible and will translate the way it might from one of those schools?
“I would say this, when you’re talking about the draft or whatever the case may be and you’re bringing in a guy, you don’t ever there’s always a little bit uncertain because you never really know exactly what you have until you get him in your building and get an opportunity to work with him so. I would say there’s probably a little bit more uncertainty with players that don’t come from some of these Power 5 conference teams. Again, you are really looking for does a guy have the physical ability to play? Can he learn and then not only can he learn the playbook, but does he have some functional intelligence where he can apply the things that we’re trying to teach him and so those are all the things that you’re trying to figure out before you bring anybody into the building.”

New Orleans Saints Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael
Conference Call with Local Media
Friday, December 21, 2018

What have you seen from Mark Ingram over the years?
“I think like any player over the years you learn from experience and you grow that way. He’s always been a guy that’s passionate and has a ton of energy. A great teammate, he’s a great football player and the thing about Mark is you’re comfortable handing him the ball, you’re comfortable throwing him the ball out of the backfield, splitting him out. He’s got versatility. Just like any player over the years his game has grown. But he’s obviously a big part of what we do.”

What has Ingram brought to the locker room?
“I think he’s a great teammate, he cares about them and he’s passionate. I think they respect his game, how he plays, how he goes out and gives effort, 100 percent effort. He’s always bringing his best and I think that the players, like I said they respect that and I think that it’s mutual between him and the players and I think he just has a great relationship with so many guys.”

Is this Steelers defense probably about the same as every other Pittsburgh defense in the past several years?
“I’d say that every time you get ready to play them you just see what a great defense they have. They do a great job with their front seven getting pressure, handling the running game. They’re multiple in their personnel groupings and what they do coverage scheme wise. I think that it is always a tough opponent to prepare for. You know we’re going to get there best.”

Is it important to get the run game going this week?
“Yeah, I think over the last couple weeks there are things for us that we have got to clean up. We played some good defenses, but there are also things we have done to hurt ourselves, some missed opportunities. We have to clean up some of the penalties. We can’t be getting ourselves in third and long situations as much as we have been. It is just things as a coaching staff we’ve got to clean up and get better (with).”

What’s been one of the biggest differences you think between the Saints screen game from this year to last year?
“I think we put a lot of emphasis on it, just like we do all parts of the game and just some things haven’t gone our way and again, we’re in here, we’re coaching, we’re trying to get better and we’re keep working at it.”

Why has the offensive line done such a good job limiting the penalties?
“I think they have done a really great job, our offensive line, just really throughout the whole season, all those guys. We’ve had to mix up some lineups at times, but I think those guys play with such discipline and Dan Roushar obviously does a great job with them with their technique and their fundamentals and I think that helps limit maybe some of the holding calls and stuff like that. I think they’ve been playing at a high level.”

How do you teach and instill that blocking discipline?
“I think like I said, it starts with in training camp with Dan Roushar and Brendan Nugent and just the teaching and those guys are playing well and you said it. There’s probably times where you could call it on a lot of plays. But I think that for the most part these guys have been playing well.”

How do you think Will Clapp and Cameron Tom filled in last week?
“I think they filled in and did a great job and as they came in we were able to run the ball and I think that they did a really an outstanding job filling in.”

Were you scrambling at all trying to think of who would be the emergency offensive lineman when Jermon Bushrod departed on Monday and if another lineman had gotten hurt?

“We always have a plan in place. We just hope it never gets to that. But there’s been times where it’s come close and it’s obviously things that we discussed about during the week and you just hope it doesn’t come up.”

Do you ever notice when Alvin Kamara jumps and gets hit hard and just pops right back up?
“It’s pretty amazing, where sometimes you’ll watch a play from one angle and you think, oh man he’s got to be on the ground and then you watch it from there and he disappears off the screen and you watch it from another angle and you’re like Oh man, he’s still up. I think he’s just got such great balance and like you’re saying some of the things that he’s able to do is pretty special.”

Does it surprise you those hard falls never phase him?
“You are absolutely right. He has just kind of got a knack (to) keep his balance and keep going. Even when you’re saying, even when he lands hard and he just kind of has that feel right.”