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METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Saints coach Dennis Allen has determined that Andy Dalton will stay the New Orleans Saints beginning quarterback for a fifth straight week — although Jameis Winston is wholesome sufficient to return.
“Offensively, I really feel like we’re in somewhat little bit of a rhythm,” Allen mentioned Wednesday after noting that Winston, who has been recovering from again and ankle accidents, was wholesome sufficient to take part totally in follow.
“We have been transferring the ball successfully. We have scored factors,” Allen continued. “So, we will proceed down that street with Andy.”
New Orleans (2-5) has misplaced 5 of six video games and dropped two straight. However because the Saints put together to host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, they’re only one sport out of first place within the NFC South — a division by which each group has a shedding report.
The Saints have averaged 31 factors per sport throughout Dalton’s 4 begins after averaging 17 factors in Winston’s three begins.
And whereas Dalton threw three interceptions in a 42-34 loss at Arizona final week, a kind of passes went by way of the fingers, and off the helmet, of meant receiver Marquez Callaway. One other occurred on a throw by which Dalton was getting hit as he launched the ball.
“Within the final 4 weeks, once more, we’re one of many high offenses when it comes to transferring the ball, we’re one of many high offenses when it comes to scoring factors. And that is actually the secret,” Allen mentioned. “We have to do a greater job of defending the soccer. And if we try this, I believe we may be extremely efficient offensively. … If we proceed to play effectively offensively and transfer the ball offensively, Andy will keep in there.”
Neither Dalton who’s 1-3 as a starter, nor Winston, who’s 1-2, spoke with reporters after Wednesday’s follow.
“We have been in a position to simply form of get into a superb movement,” mentioned operating again and offensive captain Alvin Kamara, who’s had 179 yards receiving and 251 yards dashing within the three video games he is performed with Dalton at quarterback.
“I believe with Andy, he does a superb job of simply staying poised and being calm about the way in which he’s within the pocket and the way in which he will get to his reads. I really feel like he by no means panics,” Kamara mentioned. “It looks as if he will get to the correct place on the proper time. Minus a number of the issues we had been doing that had been self-inflicted, he is performed effectively. I believe it is going to be good transferring ahead.”
Saints rookie Chris Olave, who leads the group in receiving, had his season excessive of 147 yards receiving at Carolina in Winston’s final of three begins to open the season. However he has continued to be productive within the three video games he is performed with Dalton, placing up 227 yards and each of his touchdowns this season in these video games.
“They’re each actually good quarterbacks,” Olave mentioned. “I do know it is a robust choice.”
Olave mentioned Dalton “provides the offense loads of confidence.”
“He is poised again there. He is assured. I really feel like he does all the pieces proper,” Olave mentioned. “He is aware of the place to throw the ball in sure coverages, he makes use of his check-downs, he does not power the ball down the sphere.”
Winston, who received the Heisman Trophy and a university soccer nationwide title with Florida State within the 2013 season, has accomplished 63.5% of his passes for 858 yards and 4 TDs vs. 5 interceptions this season.
Allen mentioned the choice to stay with Dalton over a wholesome Winston was not a simple one, “however but, if you have a look at what we have been in a position to do statistically, we’re changing third downs, we’re scoring factors, we’re transferring the ball.”
“There’s loads of issues that we’re doing very well offensively,” Allen added. “And I did not really feel like there was any have to upset the apple cart there. We’ll preserve going how we’re.”
NOTES: 4 gamers didn’t follow on Wednesday: WR Michael Thomas (foot), CB Marshon Lattimore, WR Jarvis Landry (ankle) and TE Adam Trautman.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
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