METAIRIE, La. -- Pierre Thomas clutched a football in both his hands, clasping them tightly between his palms and biceps.
And then Reggie Bush and Lynell Hamilton both punched and grasped at Thomas, trying to force the running back to fumble.
It was a new world for the Saints running backs on Wednesday, two days after two fourth quarter fumbles nearly cost New Orleans a win on Monday Night Football.
“We’re trying to really emphasize really holding onto the ball,” Thomas said. “Us as ball carriers, that’s our most important deal. That’s our whole mindset, holding onto the ball.”
He added, “And we needed it.”
It’s quite the change from the beginning of the year. For much of the first half of the season, the Saints were at the top of the NFL in turnover differential.
While much of this had to do with a defense that was finding new ways to take the football away from an opponent, a lot also had to do with New Orleans’ offense caring for the ball.
After a shaky start turnover-wise to open the season – the Saints lost two fumbles and an interception against the Lions – the turnovers slowed down. Between the Eagles, Bills, Jets and Giants, New Orleans turned the ball over three times.
But in the past two games, much has changed.
Accordingly, so have the closeness of the Saints’ games. After having not trailed in the first five games, New Orleans has been behind in both games against Miami and Atlanta.
"At some point, (turnovers) catches up to you,” quarterback Drew Brees said. “We need to fix it. It's sloppy football. It's not what we preach around here. It's not what we teach. It's not how we work. It's a bad reflection on us. We don't like that. We need to fix that.”
Monday night against division-rival Atlanta, it almost cost the Saints a win.
“The turnover battle is a big role in the game,” Thomas said. “It really can determine a win or a loss. The way we played, there’s not doubt it was going to be a close game because we kept turning the ball over.”
While Brees threw three interceptions against the Dolphins, he was intercepted only once against Atlanta. However, the Falcons weren’t able to turn the turnover into points.
Mike Bell and Thomas’ fumbles, however, nearly cost the Saints.
After Thomas’ fumble, the Falcons drove to the Saints’ 10 before Tracy Porter intercepted Matt Ryan. A touchdown would have put Atlanta up in the fourth quarter.
Bell’s fumble led to a Falcons field goal that pulled them to within a touchdown and two-point conversion of tying the game.
Bell said he has though of nothing but his turnover since it happened and after thinking about it, he said he believes the bevy of turnovers comes down to focus, or the lack thereof.
“Like coach said, when you start having a little bit of success, you start to get comfortable and complacent,” Bell said. “Even if you tell yourself you’re not, that’s naturally what you do. Sometimes you need a reality check. That’s either a fumble or freaking getting yelled at by your coach, whatever it takes to snap you back to reality.”
For a team that’s beginning to realize its division title and Super Bowl possibilities by the day, Bell said turning the ball over like the Saints have recently will not do.
“For some teams, for mediocre teams, I can understand it,” Bell said. “Not for what we’re trying to achieve.”
