How about that Saints rookie? Marques Colston, that is
NEW ORLEANS -- It became obvious to Saints coach Sean Payton
back in training camp that rookie receiver Marques Colston was
going to be good.
Maybe not the most prolific, big-play, touchdown-scoring weapon
on the team. Maybe not a prime candidate for rookie of the year.
But good.
"He's been consistent. That's the one thing you're always
looking for in a receiver and it had a lot to do with why we ended
up putting him there and not the other guy," Payton said this
week.
By "other guy," Payton meant the Saints' 2005 leading
receiver, Donte' Stallworth, who was traded shortly before the
regular season.
Stallworth has been productive in Philadelphia with 15 catches
for 304 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but has missed several
games with a hamstring problem.
Colston leads New Orleans (5-2) with 577 yards receiving and six
touchdowns on 33 catches. No Saints running back or receiver has
gained as many yards from scrimmage.
The Saints' far more famous rookie, Reggie Bush, has 42 catches
for 290 yards and 70 runs for 212 yards (502 yards combined). And
Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, has only one touchdown,
albeit on a 65-yard punt return that lifted the Saints past Tampa
Bay.
Whether the Saints have won or lost, Colston has been
productive.
His longest touchdown of the season, 86 yards, came in a 21-18
loss at Carolina. New Orleans' 35-22 loss to Baltimore on Sunday
could have been a lot worse if not for Colston, who caught six
passes for 163 yards, including touchdowns of 47 and 25 yards. His
catches included an over-the-shoulder grab as he was being tackled
by two players along the sideline for a 14-yard gain on
fourth-and-10.
"I don't want to hype him up too much, but I love the guy,"
quarterback Drew Brees said. "He's just scratching the surface, he
really is, of what he can accomplish. He'll make the plays for you
(in) critical situations."
Colston, a clean cut, soft-spoken, introspective, former
psychology student doesn't hesitate when asked if he's exceeded his
own expectations.
"By far. ... I just really wanted to get on the field and play
and contribute in any way possible," Colston said. "The thing is
to keep setting expectations and try to accomplish the new goals
you set for yourself."
Colston's 6-foot-4, 230-pound build gives him a natural
advantage catching the ball. Yet a number of his big plays had
little to do with his height and more to do with running crisp
routes, concentration in traffic and escapability once he's made a
catch.
Two defenders had shots at Colston when he hauled in his 47-yard
score against Baltimore. He spun free as they hit him
simultaneously, then sprinted away from remaining pursuers.
"It's body position, body control, catching the football and
just kind of that want-to," Brees said. "He makes catches that
look like every catch means everything to him."
Colston says it's clear to him that his understanding of the
game and his receiving skills are far more refined now than only a
couple months ago.
Brees said Colston arrived with a quiet confidence and strong
work ethic. The quarterback never felt compelled to be a mentor to
Colston or offer him any special encouragement to build the
rookie's confidence.
"I just let him play," Brees said. "He's got the right head
on his shoulders. I'm not going to mess with it."
It's far too early to make serious comparisons between Colston
and someone like all-time NFL receiving leader Jerry Rice, but the
resemblance is there: the soft-spoken humility; the body type; the
sure hands; the grace; the uncanny ability to get open downfield;
the instinct to run for their lives once they've made the catch and
slip defenders who seem to have them in their sights. Both played
for Division I-AA college programs, Colston at Hofstra and Rice at
Mississippi Valley State.
In addition to his long touchdown catches against Baltimore and
Carolina, Colston had a 35-yard score in a triumph at Green Bay. He
caught an important 12-yard touchdown pass in his debut at
Cleveland and a 7-yard TD in a victory over Philadelphia.
While Colston did not score in the win over Atlanta, he led New
Orleans in receiving that game with nine catches for 97 yards.
Colston emphasized that much of what he's accomplished has to do
with the team that took him in the seventh round of the draft -- a
team with a new coaching staff that was looking to overhaul the
roster. It's also a team with numerous other offensive weapons to
distract defenses, be it the flashy, versatile Bush, bruising
running back Deuce McAllister or flamboyant receiver Joe Horn. Not
to mention an experienced, accurate quarterback.
"I've been put in a great situation to succeed, coming onto a
team that definitely wants to win, has a lot of veteran guys,"
Colston said. "This coaching staff gives a chance for someone to
come in and thrive. ... Everyone came in with a clean slate, and
for me it kind of leveled the playing field. There was no bias when
things started."
Colston said he also has benefited from rarely encountering
double coverage.
"The first few weeks a lot of teams didn't even know who I
was," Colston said. "I really haven't seen too much of it. I
really don't know if I should expect to see it. We have so many
offensive weapons. We'll see what happens."
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?sectio...&id=2645009
NEW ORLEANS -- It became obvious to Saints coach Sean Payton
back in training camp that rookie receiver Marques Colston was
going to be good.
Maybe not the most prolific, big-play, touchdown-scoring weapon
on the team. Maybe not a prime candidate for rookie of the year.
But good.
"He's been consistent. That's the one thing you're always
looking for in a receiver and it had a lot to do with why we ended
up putting him there and not the other guy," Payton said this
week.
By "other guy," Payton meant the Saints' 2005 leading
receiver, Donte' Stallworth, who was traded shortly before the
regular season.
Stallworth has been productive in Philadelphia with 15 catches
for 304 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but has missed several
games with a hamstring problem.
Colston leads New Orleans (5-2) with 577 yards receiving and six
touchdowns on 33 catches. No Saints running back or receiver has
gained as many yards from scrimmage.
The Saints' far more famous rookie, Reggie Bush, has 42 catches
for 290 yards and 70 runs for 212 yards (502 yards combined). And
Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, has only one touchdown,
albeit on a 65-yard punt return that lifted the Saints past Tampa
Bay.
Whether the Saints have won or lost, Colston has been
productive.
His longest touchdown of the season, 86 yards, came in a 21-18
loss at Carolina. New Orleans' 35-22 loss to Baltimore on Sunday
could have been a lot worse if not for Colston, who caught six
passes for 163 yards, including touchdowns of 47 and 25 yards. His
catches included an over-the-shoulder grab as he was being tackled
by two players along the sideline for a 14-yard gain on
fourth-and-10.
"I don't want to hype him up too much, but I love the guy,"
quarterback Drew Brees said. "He's just scratching the surface, he
really is, of what he can accomplish. He'll make the plays for you
(in) critical situations."
Colston, a clean cut, soft-spoken, introspective, former
psychology student doesn't hesitate when asked if he's exceeded his
own expectations.
"By far. ... I just really wanted to get on the field and play
and contribute in any way possible," Colston said. "The thing is
to keep setting expectations and try to accomplish the new goals
you set for yourself."
Colston's 6-foot-4, 230-pound build gives him a natural
advantage catching the ball. Yet a number of his big plays had
little to do with his height and more to do with running crisp
routes, concentration in traffic and escapability once he's made a
catch.
Two defenders had shots at Colston when he hauled in his 47-yard
score against Baltimore. He spun free as they hit him
simultaneously, then sprinted away from remaining pursuers.
"It's body position, body control, catching the football and
just kind of that want-to," Brees said. "He makes catches that
look like every catch means everything to him."
Colston says it's clear to him that his understanding of the
game and his receiving skills are far more refined now than only a
couple months ago.
Brees said Colston arrived with a quiet confidence and strong
work ethic. The quarterback never felt compelled to be a mentor to
Colston or offer him any special encouragement to build the
rookie's confidence.
"I just let him play," Brees said. "He's got the right head
on his shoulders. I'm not going to mess with it."
It's far too early to make serious comparisons between Colston
and someone like all-time NFL receiving leader Jerry Rice, but the
resemblance is there: the soft-spoken humility; the body type; the
sure hands; the grace; the uncanny ability to get open downfield;
the instinct to run for their lives once they've made the catch and
slip defenders who seem to have them in their sights. Both played
for Division I-AA college programs, Colston at Hofstra and Rice at
Mississippi Valley State.
In addition to his long touchdown catches against Baltimore and
Carolina, Colston had a 35-yard score in a triumph at Green Bay. He
caught an important 12-yard touchdown pass in his debut at
Cleveland and a 7-yard TD in a victory over Philadelphia.
While Colston did not score in the win over Atlanta, he led New
Orleans in receiving that game with nine catches for 97 yards.
Colston emphasized that much of what he's accomplished has to do
with the team that took him in the seventh round of the draft -- a
team with a new coaching staff that was looking to overhaul the
roster. It's also a team with numerous other offensive weapons to
distract defenses, be it the flashy, versatile Bush, bruising
running back Deuce McAllister or flamboyant receiver Joe Horn. Not
to mention an experienced, accurate quarterback.
"I've been put in a great situation to succeed, coming onto a
team that definitely wants to win, has a lot of veteran guys,"
Colston said. "This coaching staff gives a chance for someone to
come in and thrive. ... Everyone came in with a clean slate, and
for me it kind of leveled the playing field. There was no bias when
things started."
Colston said he also has benefited from rarely encountering
double coverage.
"The first few weeks a lot of teams didn't even know who I
was," Colston said. "I really haven't seen too much of it. I
really don't know if I should expect to see it. We have so many
offensive weapons. We'll see what happens."
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?sectio...&id=2645009
Did you know Colston can be used as a TIGHT END in Yahoo Leagues ?? 
Q 
