By Pat Kirwan

The defending champion Saints started 2-0, and then Reggie Bush got hurt. The offense sputtered and New Orleans dropped three of its next five games. It took time to adjust without Bush, but the Saints are now 7-3 and coach Sean Payton expects the dynamic running back to return on Thanksgiving against the Cowboys.

That’s terrific news for the Saints … and bad news for opponents. With Bush back, defensive coordinators around the league can’t be too happy. Whether he’s getting the ball or, even more importantly, being used as a decoy to set up other phases of the offense, he is a problem. A big one.

The first issue is where Bush lines up. He has four alignments on offense and the fifth is as a punt returner. They all tell a different story about what a defense should fear most. Here are the key alignments to keep an eye on as the Saints make a late-season run at the Super Bowl.

Read the rest of the story here.

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