The main show during practice Monday morning was goal line and the defense stiffened up a during some crucial plays.

So, in the first go-round with the first team offense, Drew Brees dropped a snap and on fourth-and-goal, Marvin Mitchell tipped a Brees pass away to stymie the offense.

When the second-team offense went, Aaron Stecker scored right away on a 3-yard touchdown before Mark Brunell rolled to his left and found fullback Kevin Dudley for a touchdown.

On the next play Pierre Thomas burst through the line and front-flipped into the end zone. But again on fourth-and-goal, Mitchell knocked away a pass that would have gone for a touchdown.

And then the 1's played the 1's. On first down, the defense stuffed Deuce McAllister. A play later, the defense again came up with a stop, keeping Reggie Bush out of the end zone.

On third down, Stecker ran to the right between the guard and tackle and scored a two-yard touchdown. And on the final play of the series, linebacker Scott Shanle snuffed out a Bush run to the left.

In other news, Marques Colston (knee), Devery Henderson (hamstring), Tracy Porter (hamstring), Josh Bullocks (knee), Mike McKenzie (knee), Brian Young (knee), Josh Savage (shoulder) and Hollis Thomas (knee) all sat out. Head coach Sean Payton doesn't expect Colston, Henderson and Porter to play Thursday in the preseason exhibition.

The only other thing that stood out in practice was that Jason David and not Lance Moore was back with Bush and Skyler Green returning punts.

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