Scouting Report: Saints at Falcons

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Saints announced Saturday that running back Reggie Bush will not play Monday night due to a torn knee ligament. Bush was not listed on the team's injury report at the time this story was initially published. Click here for information regarding Bush's injury.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Twelve games into the 2007 season the Falcons, like most teams in the NFL, are searching for answers to questions on the field big and small. With four games left in the regular season, the team plans to address the issues and stock up on some momentum to carry into 2008.

“I think these last four games will show a little bit about the character of this group here," veteran center Todd McClure said. "From what I’ve seen in the locker room and when we go out on the practice field, nobody is throwing it in. We’re out here – we get paid to play the game – and guys are willing to work.”

Head Coach Bobby Petrino outlined the team's approach this week as it prepared to host the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.

“We’re working hard on keeping a professional attitude -- coming here to work every day and being positive," he said. "We want to play better. We want to see improvement by each player in all three phases of the game.”

One phase of the game in particular will have a new look Monday night. Quarterback Chris Redman is set to get his first start since 2002. The five-year veteran who spent the last three seasons out of football came in for Joey Harrington last week and led back-to-back touchdown drives.

“I’m just going to go out there and play and do the best I can," Redman said. "Every quarterback has their own style of play. I’m just going to go in there, try to get the tempo (up) and play good football and try to make good decisions.”

With continued hard work, the Falcons look for another victory.

ON THE GROUND: Saints running back Reggie Bush hasn't had the success he'd like in his first couple months as the team's full-time starter. An injury to Deuce McAllister in September led to Bush's current role as the team's heavy-lifter.

However, Bush was involved in a key play last week that may have cost the Saints a victory. Leading 23-20 late in the fourth quarter, the running back made a bad pitch to Devery Henderson on a reverse. The ball hit the turf, the Bucs recovered in New Orleans territory and went down the field for the game-winning score.

It was insult to injury for Bush, who has faced questions this season ranging from his ability inside the tackles, his eight fumbles and his lack of a big play (his longest rush this season is 22 yards).

"To a certain degree, I do blame myself for it," Bush said. "The ball was in my hands and, as a leader on this team, those are plays you've just got to make... It was tough for me because I wasn't able to make a play and for so long in my life I'm always the guy who was Mr. Dependable. In that situation, I didn't hold up my end of the bargain."

The highly-touted running back still leads the team in rushing (581 yards and four touchdowns) and receiving (73 receptions for 417 yards). He's been contained however, averaging less than six yards per reception and less than four yards per rush.

The Saints have run the ball on just 37.9 percent of their plays this season, but the Falcons defense knows it must account for the running back.

"We know Reggie is going to be the key guy for them but we also have to be smart in not letting anyone else get into the game," defensive end John Abraham said.

"It's a tough task for all 11 of us on defense," added linebacker Michael Boley. "He can pose mismatch problems in a lot of different ways."

Atlanta is coming off its third-best rushing performance of the season (111 yards). The Falcons rushed for 112 yards against Indianapolis the week before marking the first back-to-back 100-plus performances of the season.

Speedster Jeroius Norwood will likely be called upon to carry more of the load and he's coming off one of his better performances of the season. Norwood finished with eight carries for 94 yards. He also had three catches for 21 yards.

“We have to get Jerious touches and there is no question about it," Petrino said earlier this week. "When you watch the video you see that he is the most explosive player out there for us. His speed shows up and he makes big plays whether it’s catching the ball or running the ball. It’s a situation where we have to get him more touches one way or another.”

THROUGH THE AIR: With depth at receiver and a quarterback that has thrown the ball around since his college days, the Saints offense powers through the air more than the ground. That brings a quick-strike ability the Falcons are familiar with, but  must study come Monday night.

"They do a good job letting (Drew) Brees stay in the pocket and pass the ball," Abraham said. "He really hasn't been getting pressure and hit that much. Our main thing is trying to do that."

Brees has already eclipsed the 3,000-yard passing mark for the sixth time in his career and is enjoying unprecedented protection from his offensive line. He's been sacked just 11 times this season. If the Saints stay on that pace, it will mark a new season low for the quarterback during his career as a starter.

In short, Brees has had the time to find receivers Marques Colston and David Patton, often deep down the middle of the field. He also has a good game against the Falcons to build on, throwing for 219 yards and two touchdowns (no sacks) when these teams played earlier in the season.

Colston started the season slow, but is back on pace. Through 12 games the receiver has 70 catches for a team-high 886 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

“They’re still the same football team," Falcons safety Chris Crocker said. "They have some weapons. They know how to hurt teams and, defensively, we’ve played these guys a number of times already. We’ll be prepared. We know what they do... There’s still homework to be done. We still look at all our cut-ups and all our footage of what they’ve done throughout the season. They have a couple wrinkles and I’m sure they’ll do little things differently, but they’re still going to get back to what they do best when it’s all said and done.”

Redman moved the Falcons offense through the air last week, throwing for 172 yards in just more than a quarter of work. Petrino said he likes the quarterback's quick release and knowledge of the offense. Both will come into play Monday night against what has been, at times, a struggling secondary fronted by a big, aggressive defensive line.

The Saints rank 24th in the NFL with 22 sacks, but that's no reason to ignore Will Smith, who leads the club with five quarterback drops. Pressure from the front seven has helped keep the defense afloat, even though it ranks 22nd in points allowed and 28th against the pass (259.5).

New Orleans still has Mike McKenzie leading the secondary. McKenzie has three picks on the year, two of which have been returned for scores. There's also leading tackler Scott Fujita, who seems to feel more and more comfortable in a defense that has allowed him to make plays for nearly two seasons.

SPECIALTIES: An Adam Jennings punt return for a score was erased by a penalty last week -- a dagger the Falcons hope to avoid moving into the final month of the regular season. The team ranks 31st in the league in punt return average -- a stat that should improve against a Saints team that allows 8.8 yards per return and has given up one kickoff return for a touchdown this season.

Saints kicker Olindo Mare checks in with just eight made field goals on the season (53.3 percent). He has made kicks of 50 yards or more in eight of his 11 NFL seasons.

Bush has returned just three punts this season (down from 28 a season ago). Don't be surprised if he gets more chances in the final month of the season as the Saints make one final push toward a playoff spot. Bush has a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown in his short career.

SHUFFLING THE CARDS: Both the Falcons and Saints head into the weekend very healthy. The only question mark on the Falcons side of the ball is at defensive back, where Antoine Harris is nursing a bone bruise he suffered against the Rams. Petrino had no definitive word if Harris would play when he met with the media Thursday. If Harris can't go, look for Lewis Sanders and maybe rookie David Irons to get some reps on special defensive packages.

• RELATED: Falcons-Saints Injury Report

TALE OF THE TAPE: Some stats to consider as the Falcons take on the Saints.

NUMBERS, NOTES AND COLORS: Some digits, thoughts and colors to get you ready for the Saints game...

• The Falcons will wear black jerseys for Monday's prime-time game.
• Boley has the fifth-most tackles among linebackers taken in his Draft class (2005).
• With just 80 more receiving yards, Roddy White will be the first Falcons receiver to hit 1,000 yards in a season since 1999.
• Atlanta's defense ranks first in the NFL in opponent third down percentage (32.4 percent).
• Norwood is one of only three players in NFL history to have runs of 60 yards or more on his first three career rushing touchdowns.
• The Falcons offense ranks sixth in the NFL with 73 third down conversions.
• Kicker Morten Andersen has scored in 356 consecutive games.