Saints-Giants Injury Reports: McCoy, Armstead out again Thursday

The New Orleans Saints injury report remained virtually the same Thursday as starting offensive linemen Erik McCoy and Terron Armstead did not practice once again, making it likely that neither will start Sunday against the New York Giants in Caesars Superdome.

Demario Davis also missed practice Thursday but it was not injury related.

The Giants had three players out, including lineman Ben Bredeson, along with wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton.

New Orleans Saints Thursday Injury Report
Position	Name	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday
C	Erik McCoy	Calf	DNP	DNP
T	Terron Armstead	Elbow	DNP	DNP
LB	Demario Davis	NFI – Personal		DNP
CB	Marshon Lattimore	Hand	FP	FP
QB	Jameis Winston	Knee	FP	FP

New York Giants Thursday Injury Report
Position	Name	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday
OL	Ben Bredeson	Hand	DNP	DNP
WR	Sterling Shepard	Hamstring	DNP	DNP
WR	Darius Slayton	Hamstring	DNP	DNP
RB	Saquon Barkley	Knee	LP	LP
DB	Keion Crossen	Elbow	LP	LP
LB	Tae Crowder	Hamstring		LP
DB	Nate Ebner	Quad	LP	LP
FB	Cullen Gillaspia	Ankle	LP	LP
WR	Kenny Golladay	Hip	LP	LP
LS	Casey Kreiter	Knee	LP	LP
DB	Logan Ryan	Hamstring	LP	LP
TE	Kaden Smith	Knee	LP	LP

---

New Orleans Saints Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen
Conference Call With New Orleans Media
Thursday, September 30, 2021

When you have Marshon Lattimore on the field, how much does that allow you to do different things on defense?

“Yeah, look, I honestly feel like cornerback is the hardest position to play in the National Football League because you’re going against the best athletes in the world. They know where they’re going, and you have to try to figure it out. From a skillset standpoint, I think it’s an incredibly difficult position (CB) to play and when you have talented people like (Marshon), it does allow you a little more flexibility in what you can do and how you can play the other guys. It’s no different than having any of our other best players, but we certainly like (having Marshon).”

How much of a different level does Marshon elevate his game when he goes up against the best of the best in the NFL?

“Yeah, certainly there’s times over the last four years that we’ve said,

“hey, you are going to go up against their best guy and we need you to take that guy out”

and there are times where he is on a guy and we will give him help. But there are a lot of times where he is on that (best) guy and is by himself. So, that is certainly one of those things where we feel like we have the advantage in that matchup regardless of who he is going up against. It allows us to utilize the other ten guys on the field to do a lot of different stuff.”

How impressive was Marshon last Sunday given the fact he has a cast on his hand (thumb surgery)?

“I thought he was outstanding the other day in New England. They challenged him and threw the ball at him. Nothing got over the top, there were a few underneath throws, but he had 10 tackles in the game. He didn’t shy away from it and I didn’t see any ill-effects from playing with the cast. Certainly, I know that (his thumb) still bothers him, so the fact he can go out and play the way that he did was impressive to see.”

Do you prototype really good tacklers at the cornerback position?

“Everybody at some point in time on the football field is going to have to be able to tackle. So, that’s certainly something we look for. We don’t want to have our corners to make a ton of tackles. We want our linebackers and safeties to make those plays, but there’s going to be times where we need (our corners to tackle). One of the things offenses do now in the NFL is they try to run the football and find any way they can to
make corners tackle, because a lot of times corners don’t want to do that. That is a prerequisite here and our guys have bought in to that and done a good job tackling.”

Is that the hidden element to why your run defense has been so good over the last couple of years?

“Well, certainly it takes all eleven guys to stop the run. There’s a lot we put on the plate of the front 7 and the backers, including the nickel player and our safeties fitting in the way they do, but those corners have been critical at times in some instances to limit some of those big gains that may occur (in the run game). So, yeah, they’re certainly a big part of it.”

Does Demario Davis look 32 years old with the way he thinks and is able to move so well?

“Well, he looks like he’s got ten years of NFL knowledge. He looks like a young player with a ton of knowledge, because he runs around the field and closes a ton of ground. He plays violently. He is a fun guy to be around, a fun guy to coach, and I am glad we got him (in 2018).”

What has Tanoh Kpassagnon brought to this defense?

“I think versatility. We’ve played him at end, played him inside in some of our run packages. He was a guy that when he came out for the draft from Villanova, we went up there and worked him out. We really liked him here and thought there was a chance he could be a good player. Kansas City drafted him, but that was one of the guys that fits a mold of what we’re looking for (on the line). We like size, length, and athleticism. He has got all three of those characteristics, and probably a little more athleticism than I would’ve originally given him credit for. He fits what we are looking for. He is big, tough, a great athlete, works hard, and is smart. Those are the characteristics we look for. I do not think any of that with the people we have; whether we drafted them or acquired them in free agency, there’s a blueprint in what we’re trying to do. I think our personnel department with Jeff Ireland and those guys or Michael Parenton and those guys in pro personnel, they do a great job in finding guys that fit what we want to do.”

What’s the advantage to having length on the defensive line?

“Well, the first thing is that for a guy to block you, it’s much easier for him to block you if he can get into your body. Having size and length to keep blockers off of you so you can get off blocks and make plays is really what we’re looking at. The more space you can create between you and the blocker, the easier it is for those guys to go make plays.”

What has Kris Richard brought to the defensive room?

“Fundamentals, toughness, technique, and a simplification of the game. So, it has been fun for me to be with him and hear him talk and present at times to show how simple he can make the game seem. I think that is what the best teachers in our league do. They take what can be a complicated subject matter at times and simplify it to where they don’t have to think a lot during the game, they can just react to what they see.”

What would be an example of that simplification?

“Well, I won’t go there because I don’t want to divulge any of the secrets, but at the end of the day you teach in 3’s. You don’t want to say, if they do this, then you do that, over and over. That’s a lot of white noise. It should just be if they show this look, boom do this and react this way. That’s what he does a really good job of. Look, he’s coordinated in our league, played in our league, and coached at the highest level you can possibly coach at in our league, so he’s got a lot of experience. I think he’s been a real good addition to our team.”

Since he’s a former coordinator, is there anything you have tweaked system or concept wise that he has brought over?

“I don’t think there has necessarily been anything that’s been an overriding change in terms of fundamentally of what we do. There have been a lot of teaching points that we’ve changed a little bit in how we teach a few things. That’s kind of the evolution of football and always having to look to see if there’s a better way to do things. Look, I’m always trying to learn, and I know he’s brought a few things that we’ve talked over, and we figure out the best way to do things and then we go. That’s been great not only with Kris, but also with Ryan Nielsen, Mike Hodges, and all those guys play a critical role in our performance on defense.”

What do you think of the energy level of this defense so far?

“I think it’s huge. I think the defense has played off the energy, emotion, and they’re playing hard. Our guys have done a great job of preparing themselves each and every week to go out and play at their best. In doing so, they have developed a lot of confidence in their ability to go out there and play, so they have fun going out playing the game. Certainly, this is a tough ass business we are in, but it is still a game and should still be fun. Our guys are playing hard and having a lot of fun doing it.

New Orleans Saints Running Back Alvin Kamara
Media Availability
Thursday, September 30, 2021

Can you talk about the excitement of the team returning to New Orleans and to the Caesars Superdome on Sunday at full capacity?

“I think everybody is looking forward to that. We haven’t had a game at full capacity in (over) a year. So everybody’s excited.”

Can you talk about your excitement at being back in the Ochsner Sports Performance Center for what you do every day and just sleeping in your own bed at your place?

“It wasn’t really about what was going on in New Orleans (why he longed to be back). It was for our football team. Just being in our facility, being in our locker room, having our schedule, that’s the main thing.”

I think you are one of the favorites to jump into one of those bunker suites to celebrate a touchdown. Have you thought about it?

“I’m definitely going to be in there (laughter). I said that when we practice in the (Caesars) dome during camp. I’m going to jump right in there.”

Are there any rules or restrictions?

“Anything goes (laughter).”

Isn’t there a wall you have to jump over?

“It will be alright. I’ll jump higher.”

Were there any impressions you could share personally about your first week back here after Hurricane Ida?

“No, the lights (stoplights) still are not working downtown. They still flicker yellow so I’m just running through the lights (laughter).”

Do you think that regardless of the pandemic, fans will be even more hyped up for this game at full capacity after Ida, possibly giving them a three-hour escape for what they are dealing with from recovery?

“Yes, this city is fueled by the Saints, just being able to back in there after a year, then obviously the Hurricane, it’s something to take everybody’s minds off what’s going on. We’re excited. I know the city’s excited. We’re just ready.”

With 24 carries and 27 touches, do you feel that this week after the Patriots game on Monday or Tuesday or is it not all that different?

“It really doesn’t feel that different to be honest.”

Jameis Winston was asked yesterday about the 38 runs in the Patriots game and the team’s propensity to run the ball and explained that he has you and he has an
excellent offensive line, even though he has thrown for 5,000 yards. Do you agree with that flat out or is there a part of you that would like to see more from the passing game?

“You always want to play a balanced game, but some games might be more pass-heavy than run and some might be more run-heavy. Our attitude going into that game was we wanted to beat the Patriots with our run game and I think it was working. Sean (Payton) got into one of those flows and kept dialing it up. I don’t think it wasn’t we couldn’t throw that game. I think Sean kind of wanted to get the run going and have the o-line feeling good. We were feeling good and running well.”

The fact that there are seven touchdown passes, show that plays can be made?

“We’re not deficient. I don’t think it’s where there is a weakness why we’re running.”

Do you think people look at the volume too much since there has been an efficiency in the passing game?

“Anybody that watches the game of football and has the knowledge of football knows what’s going on. It just is what it is sometimes.”

New Orleans Saints Defensive End Payton Turner
Post Practice Press Conference with Local Media
Thursday, September 30, 2021

How does it feel to actually be home?

“Great, you know I’ve never missed this much humidity ever so it’s good to be back.”

Did you have time to get an apartment prior to the hurricane?

“Yeah, I got a little spot, it’s confidential, but I got a spot. I got (a place) during OTAs so I’m good now.”

What was one of the first things you did when you got back?

“Hit the bed. But, definitely went and got some food, had to, missing the food so that was good. Went and ate some pasta, some Cajun, got some crawfish in there.”

What was your first NFL game day experience like?

“Exciting, I got my first place under my belt. Got a first everything, got first penalty, got my first TFL (tackle for loss) so quite an experience. But really that’s all.”

What was the adjustment like in your first NFL game?

“Yeah, you come out here practice. They make practice harder than the game. So it’s kind of what I expected going out there and playing in Carolina.”

What are some things you need to improve on?

“Just keep getting better at every aspect, whether it be technique, pass rush, run stopping, just everything.”

How long have you been ready to go before you received the green light to go out and play?

“(I’m) always ready. Always ready to get some action. But I got the thumbs up. I was ready to go excited for that first opportunity.”

How disappointing was it to get sidelined early in your rookie year?

“Oh, it’s just another bump in the road. Everybody has their own journey to get on the field and that was kind of my way getting there so it was alright.”

What are your impressions of Daniel Jones?

“He’s a good quarterback. He’s athletic, he can do a lot. But it’s more about us than it is about him. We’re going to have a game plan in place, but just go out there and execute.”

How excited are you to play a game in the Caesars superdome?

“(I’m) super excited. I have only heard great things about the dome and the fans here. So I’m excited to get out there and play in front of them. It’s loud, like third/four down you’re not going to hear anything so just communication is going to be big, especially for the defense when we’re out there. But I’ve just heard that it’s deafening, so I’m excited to get out there and play.”

New Orleans Saints Wide Receiver Deonte Harris
Post Practice Press Conference with Local Media
Thursday, September 30, 2021

Happy to be back?

“I am, got to sleep in my own bed.”

What did you do the first couple days?

“Just tried to get my house back to normal. (I) Had a little damage to my house, so just trying to get that taken care of really.”

What repairs are you having to make to your house?

“I just had some problems with my roof and then some mold going on the walls, some on the ceiling.”

How excited are you about playing a game in the Caesars Superdome?

“Too excited, I can’t wait you know dealing with covid last year and only being able to have a certain amount (of fans) towards the end of the season and then this year we get the hurricane and now we got to play in Florida so to be able to be back with Saints nation and just have a full, packed stadium it’d be good, can’t wait!”

What’s it like when you run out of that tunnel?

“It’s crazy like, I still remember coming out preseason my rookie year and it was probably only like 20-30,000 people and I was like damn this is the loudest (stadium) I have ever heard and then when I heard it packed for the first time I was like it’s crazy. I’m pretty sure I’m going to get that same feeling like the first time I had when it was packed because it’s been a minute.”

Does it feel like the last time that place was full was your rookie season does it feel like it’s been that long?

“I feel like it’s been longer to be honest. Like I said, I just can’t wait to get back to it.”

You had some nice third down conversions, was that a glimpse of what you can be going forward?

“I mean I kind of always want the ball. I don’t know if that’s selfish or not, but I just try to come up whenever my number is called and it just so happened to be called on third down at that point in the game.”

You almost took a punt back, how close were you to taking it back?

“I feel like it’s like that almost every week, like every time I touch the ball, I feel like it’s always just one guy. I just got to get back to the drawing board and just make the one guy miss.”

How much were you sort of like worrying about stuff back in New Orleans while you were away?

“This is my first like hurricane ever that I won’t say experienced because I wasn’t here, but I didn’t know what to expect to be honest. I just did not want my house to be knocked over.”

Was it demoralizing a little bit like saw the roof was missing shingles?

“Yeah, definitely and then just seeing things on the internet going on throughout New Orleans and you kind of just feel bad for the people who can just pick up and leave and they got to just go through it. So prayers out for them and hopefully everybody can get back on their feet soon.”

How much more potential or how much more do you think you can impact the passing game?

“I don’t know. I mean all I do is just go out there when they tell me to go out there and just be ready whenever my numbers called. I study the playbook. I get with the quarterbacks get with the coaches and just talk over things. And like I said, just try to make a play whenever my numbers called.”

How does it feel to be more involved in the passing game now?

“I’m never really satisfied. I feel like I could always do more. But I feel like I’m definitely taking a step in the right direction.”

New Orleans Saints Defensive End Cameron Jordan
Post Practice Media Availability
Thursday, September 30, 2021

How do you feel about facing a quarterback (Daniel Jones) who’s leading his team in rushing?

“I don’t know if I know how to answer that. I do know that within every game plan we are going to focus on trying to eliminate his ability to rush as well as we know what their main running back (Saquon Barkley) can do. I think they’ve got a lot of talent from bringing (Kenny) Golladay over from Detroit to Evan Engram to the first round young boy (Kadarius Toney) that they brought in to again Saquon and Daniel Jones.”

I remember you did some social media posts about having to do some repairs around your house, you mentioned the roof I think.

“I mean, look we all had some issues coming back, I don’t think anybody came out unscathed and I definitely wasn’t. It took up my fence, like, how do you, it took up the summit blocks, confused. I was missing a little from the front like Sharief (Ishaq) (laughter), and then I realized I had a lot missing on the backside. It took me by surprise. I’m sorry, you didn’t deserve that. I missed you.”

You know (Sharief Ishaq) just had his first kid, right?

“I know, I know I commented on it. I was like he’s a whole dad now (laughter).”

I remember that happened once during Katrina where we had to replace the whole fence. Is it just kind of weird though being on your property and losing that privacy?

“Yeah, Ida happened and then once it passed maybe it was two days after I came back into the city. Me and a teammate flew in and had to go get our own perrspective, he went to go get his car, I want to go check on the house. Make sure there was no leakages, God’s blessings it was all cosmetic. Sort of ripped up my little turf that I had so we’re getting that redone, gate, some random floodlights, the gutter situation so again all cosmetic, so glory to God. The whole family was safe, was able to evacuate when I evacuated and you can’t put a price on health and my family was healthy and all this other stuff, if insurance doesn’t take care of it, I’ve been blessed with enough years in this league and I’ll be just fine. I’m more worried about the city, the community and honestly there are so many more families that are affected by this (more) than I am. That is why I think our team tries so hard to help our community as it was when we were in Dallas and as we will be going forward.”

How excited are you to be back in the Caesars Superdome with a normal crowd?

“I have no idea. That’s another question I just don’t know yet, like, it’s been a full two years since I’ve seen the crowd fully fitted, a year and a half? So for us to go into, are we at full capacity? I don’t even know what to expect. I am trying to prepare my rookies from last year like Malcolm Roach and my rookies this year because when the crowd is rocking as we know it all can do, it’s deafening and it can be rattling if you are not used to that. Especially if you come from a University of Houston, not knocking the crowd
there, but just saying when you get 75,000 full fledged who dat’s in there, phenomenal, take over.”

What does that do for you guys on the defensive line, just everybody’s tall and long, like how does that help you guys?

“I don’t know about everybody’s tall and long. Have you not seen Malcolm Raoch, (Christian) Ringo. I think that officially now includes me.”

That wasn’t a short joke.

“I’m looking at Tanoh Kpassagnon just like I’m confused like why is he 6-7, Marcus (Davenport) is 6-6, young payday (Payton Turner) is 6-5, Grando (Carl Granderson) is alleged some days, he’s 6-3, some days he’s 6-4 ½, some days he’s 6-5 depending on his posture. I don’t know when I became the short defensive end and I don’t, like I don’t know how to feel about being this short thing. So I’m going to take it as if you’re talking to me, but that’s okay. I think that with our length we’re going to be able to effect the pocket, effect the passer like we’ve been able to do the first and the third game and a little bit of the second game. And I think, again, we have to be more consistent. I think what you’ve heard from Sean Payton is we want to be a consistent team. We want to be somebody who’s even keeled. And we’ve put on a display the first game, we’ve put on a talent show that third game and we have to continue from there. If we could have every game end up like the third game I’ll be just fine.”