Quick takes from New Orleans Coach Sean Payton's teleconference on Thursday morning:

1. Dan Roushar has had to shuffle the deck a bit as Saints offensive line coach this season, having seen Terron Armstead, Andrus Peat, Senio Kelemete, Tim Lelito and Tony Hills all spend time on the left side of the line due to injuries. Armstead, Peat and Hills have played left tackle and Peat, Kelemete and Lelito have taken snaps at left guard. Roushar, in his first season as offensive line coach with the Saints after tutoring running backs and tight ends his previous three seasons, previously had stints as an offensive line coach in college at Michigan State, Cincinnati and Northern Illinois, his alma mater. "I think he's doing well," Payton said of Roushar. "As we were coming out of training camp there were some uncertainties. I think that group is playing pretty consistent and I think we're seeing the development we talked about from a guy like Andrus Peat. I think (right tackle) Zach Strief is having one of his better seasons of his career right now. We've had some subtle change occasionally on the left side, but I think Dan is doing well."
2. While Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was Payton's defensive coordinator from 2009-11, designs and employs an aggressive, attacking scheme, Payton said that the defensive challenges presented by the Rams have more to do with the players that carry out the assignments. "In other words, there are certain things they do defensively, there are certain things we do offensively," Payton said. "But (defensive tackle Aaron) Donald inside, (defensive end Robert) Quinn on the edge, the speed of the defense, the corners, I think (Alec) Ogletree is having a real good season at Mike (linebacker) – I think those are the inherent challenges."