| Saints offensive tackle Zach Strief is questionable with a groin injury for Sunday's game against the 49ers. (US Presswire) |
Saints offensive tackle Zach Strief (groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with San Francisco. Speaking after practice on Friday, he agreed with that assessment.
Strief, who participated on a limited basis Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, said he did not know whether he would be able to play.
“Any athletic movement starts with your core, so there’s a lot of things that can hurt,” Strief said. “I’m so close, but that’s why I can’t give an answer. It’s so close either way. In a controlled situation, it’s absolutely fine right now, but the fact of the matter is in a game you’re not in a controlled environment.”
Strief said he has spent plenty of time in practice helping undrafted rookie Bryce Harris, who will start in his place if he can’t go. Harris played the end of the first half and the entire second half against Oakland last week after Strief’s backup, Charles Brown, sustained a knee injury.
“I’ve tried to do anything and everything I could to pass on the knowledge I have this week,” Strief said. “Sometimes with guys the concern is you don’t want to train the guy that’s going to replace you. That’s essentially what you’re doing, but if you’re going to say I’m going to do anything to help the team, that includes helping the guy behind you be a 100 percent.”
San Francisco OLB Aldon Smith, who had 5½ sacks against Chicago on Monday night, likely would line up against Harris early and often.
“We obviously put together a game plan this week with the thought that we’re going to have to help those guys,” offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael said. “Last week (Harris) got thrown into the fire in a two-minute drill, and as the game evolved, he calmed down and helped us.”
Debunking the conventional wisdom: Conventional wisdom is New Orleans' defense got strafed by San Francisco in the 49ers’ 36-32 win in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs last season.
Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins remembers it differently, and the statistics bear him out. The 49ers scored 17 points early, capitalizing on three turnovers, and 13 points late, getting some big plays. In between, they had a total of six first downs on 11 possessions.
“Leaving that game, I thought we played well defensively,” said Jenkins, who was burned on a beautiful 49-yard pass from Alex Smith to tight end Vernon Davis for San Francisco’s first TD. “They made plays at the end of the game to win. They finished better than we did. But for us to even be in that game, the defense made a lot of stops to allow our offense to get back in the game. Overall, I thought our defensive performance was pretty good.”
Injury report: The Saints announced Friday that Brown, DE Junior Galette (sprained ankle) and cornerbacks Corey White (left knee) and Elbert Mack (concussion) were out of the San Francisco game. The injuries to the CBs leaves New Orleans with three corners -- starters Jabari Greer and Patrick Robinson and reserve Johnny Patrick.
RB Darren Sproles, who practiced all week, is probable. He has missed the last three games with a broken left hand.
Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSaints.