Saints Still Not Feeling the Power

Ricky Williams carried the ball only 10 times in another abbreviated appearance for the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

So much for the Coach Mike Ditka’s vision of the Saints playing power football this year.

Luckily for the Saints, George Seifert’s new team, the Carolina Panthers, looked nothing like his old ones at San Francisco.

The Saints defeated the Panthers, 19-10, in a dull season opener that emphasized the problems each team still has this season. Special teams and defense were the difference as Tyronne Drakeford returned a Carolina fumble 20 yards for a New Orleans touchdown on the opening kickoff, and the Saints shut out the Panthers in the second half.

New Orleans, 28th in the league last season in total offense and last in rushing, gave up eight draft picks for Williams, counting on the Heisman Trophy winner to run the football the way he did at Texas, where he was the NCAA record-holder for yards rushing. But his NFL debut was cut short by another injury to the left ankle that sidelined him the final three exhibition games.

Williams had his best run to pick up the Saints’ initial first down to end the first quarter, but he got up limping on his left leg and hopped to the sideline. He had two carries in the second quarter, then left for good, finishing with 40 yards in 10 carries.

“I’m happy with Ricky,” Saint Coach Mike Ditka said. “I think what bothered me the most was that we didn’t block well in the beginning.”

Carolina had only 12 first downs and two third-down conversions in 12 attempts. New Orleans had 13 first downs and converted five of its 17 third downs. The Saints had 255 total yards, the Panthers 246.