Tough night for Ian Book.
Playing in the NFL is like playing in a College Football Playoff game every week, and we know how bad Notre Dame was in those games. I will say this, Book took his licks like a man, and he didn’t get much help from his offensive line or Alvin Kamara, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else in the world besides the Superdome on Monday Night.
A Dolphins defense that intercepted Saints rookie Ian Book twice and sacked him eight times was probably enough to push Miami’s winning streak to seven games.
Book started for the Saints (7-8) because of a COVID-19 outbreak that took 16 players off the active roster, including starting QB Taysom Hill and veteran backup Trevor Siemian.
“Rookie quarterback — we mixed up some looks on him,” Needham said. “Had him a little confused out there and I think that played a big part.”
With the Saints’ offensive line missing three starters, including both tackles, Book completed 12 of 20 passes for 135 yards.
“Just keeping him upright tonight was a challenge,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “The first interception was a throw he’ll want back, but that’s a tough position for him to be in.”
Book got a roar of encouragement from the crowd when he first took the field and Saints fans were cheering again two plays later when he completed his first career pass. Then they let out a collective gasp on his second pass — Needham’s pick-6.
Needham said a “max blitz” helped set up his first interception for a score at any level of football.
“We knew the ball had to come out quick so I was just staring at the quarterback and right when he said, ‘Hut,’ he was looking at the slot,” Needham recalled. “I think the ball got tipped and it landed right in my hands.”
The good news for Book is his girlfriend Kendall Moore was there to support him even after the eight sacks and 14 QB hits.
Flip the pages to check out more of Ms. Moore.