It’s not that they’ve been victimized by bad calls the way the Packers have, but Saints tight end Jimmy Graham said the return of regular officials should been a boon for his team.
The 0-3 Saints need whatever help they can get at Lambeau Field Sunday, and Graham hopes a crew with a better handle on the pace of the game will help.
“We’re such a rhythm offense and there has been zero rhythm these past three games,” Graham told Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com. “Literally, the minute you have some kind of momentum there’s a 10-minute delay.
“That’s not how we operate as an offense. We have so many personnel groupings, shifts and motions. It’s all about timing. Drew [Brees] is a timing quarterback. That’s what we harp on and why are practices are so full speed because we need that. It’s been really disrupted.”
Graham said he’s been taking more shots than normal from defenders, who were pushing the boundaries of illegal contact under the eyes of the substitute teachers.
“A lot of guys have just been holding me or looking to hit me 10 yards down the field,” Graham said. “I can’t let that happen anymore.”
Or better yet, there are other guys on the field with him now that might not let it happen.
