TypicalBill
05-16-2003, 11:40 PM
After his rookie year in 2001, Deuce McAllister made the physical adjustments necessary to handle the rigors of a long NFL season and to make a big enough impact to earn a trip to the Pro Bowl.
McAllister has devoted his second offseason with the New Orleans Saints to addressing an area located above his shoulder pads. He hopes his teammates will do the same.
"One thing is maturity," McAllister says when asked where the Saints can improve the most. "We have to have our veterans step up. Our leaders have to lead, even if you're not a veteran."
After two NFL seasons and only one year as a starter, McAllister barely qualifies as a veteran. But he has moved into a leadership role, if only because he has emerged as one of the best and most productive players on the team.
Last season he led the NFC with 1,388 rushing yards on 325 carries. He generated an additional 342 yards on 45 pass receptions. In short, McAllister became a more than sufficient replacement for Ricky Williams, whom the Saints traded to the Miami Dolphins.
But McAllister felt a sense of emptiness when the year was over because the Saints, after losing their final three games, missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record.
"We've just got to try to be mature and try to be smart down the stretch," he says. "I think we felt like we had one of the best teams, if we could just get in the playoffs. But it didn't happen."
More (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6375122)
McAllister has devoted his second offseason with the New Orleans Saints to addressing an area located above his shoulder pads. He hopes his teammates will do the same.
"One thing is maturity," McAllister says when asked where the Saints can improve the most. "We have to have our veterans step up. Our leaders have to lead, even if you're not a veteran."
After two NFL seasons and only one year as a starter, McAllister barely qualifies as a veteran. But he has moved into a leadership role, if only because he has emerged as one of the best and most productive players on the team.
Last season he led the NFC with 1,388 rushing yards on 325 carries. He generated an additional 342 yards on 45 pass receptions. In short, McAllister became a more than sufficient replacement for Ricky Williams, whom the Saints traded to the Miami Dolphins.
But McAllister felt a sense of emptiness when the year was over because the Saints, after losing their final three games, missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record.
"We've just got to try to be mature and try to be smart down the stretch," he says. "I think we felt like we had one of the best teams, if we could just get in the playoffs. But it didn't happen."
More (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6375122)