New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton
Media Availability
Friday, December 16, 2011
Opening Statement:
"Here's the final report for today. Mark Ingram with his toe, did not practice. He's out. Jonathan Casillas, right knee, did not practice. He's out. Jon Vilma, left knee, was limited today, we're listing him as questionable. Turk McBride, ankle, was limited today and he's questionable and then the following four players are all probable and they were full; Sedrick Ellis with the hamstring was full, probable. Tracy Porter with the wrist is full, probable. Jimmy Graham with back is full, probable and lastly Scott Shanle, shoulder, full and probable."
There was an SI Peter King column where he said you were confident in your run game. Are you feeling that way more so now and emphasizing it more?
"I think a couple things…We went into this season with that goal in mind of being more balanced and having that aspect of our team be better and I think that as we've gone, we've done some things in recent games that have helped us win games. I think that was a goal to begin with to start the year and certainly it remains the goal as we head down the stretch here with three games left."
Does it have to do with the possibility of playing playoff games outdoors in January?
"I know where you're going. The importance of our run game is not with a specific game in mind. It's understanding that it's something that's served us well and it's something regardless of who we play that we feel is important to us winning games. We feel like it's important to us defensively to win that time of possession, that ability to control the flow of the game. We feel it's important in regards to our play action pass and we also feel like it's a strong suit of our team at our position group. We've gotten a lot better (there). It's regardless of opponent and clearly it was an emphasis to start the season."
Is Jonathan Vilma experiencing some more swelling this week?
"Yes. But, that being said he's taken the practice snaps. I listed him as questionable. He was limited and we just want to be certain."
Is Mark Ingram on the timetable you anticipate?
"I think so."
Are you hopefully he'll play in the regular season? Is that realistic?
"Yes, I'd like to think he has a good chance of being ready this week."
