NEW ORLEANS — Questions concerning the health of New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister and cornerback Mike McKenzie may have been answered last night.

Both veterans coming off reconstructive knee surgeries to repair torn anterior cruciate ligaments gave the Saints brass more reason to believe the two will be ready for Week 1 during the Saints' 14-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins in the Louisiana Superdome.

McAllister's numbers may look pedestrian as he tallied 11 carries for 30 yards and averaging 2.7 yards per carry along with and catching one pass for eight yards. He did pick up two first downs, though, in his one quarter of action.

Saints coach Sean Payton said he was satisfied with McAllister and McKenzie's performance.

"I thought he looked pretty good," Payton said. "I don't know if he had 11 or 12 carries, but he was right there at that number, which is what we wanted. We're trying to gather as much information as we can."

McAllister showed a little burst when turned the corner for a 9-yard scamper down to the Miami 23 on the team's first scoring drive. On the next drive, McAllister made Miami corner Andre Goodman whiff on a tackle on a screen pass for a 7-yard gain.

McKenzie looked nearly flawless in pass coverage. He broke up two deep passes in the first quarter, both coming on deep sideline routes from Chad Pennington and Chad Henne. McKenzie also came up to support the run as he stuffed former Saints running back Ricky Williams for no gain.

"It is preseason, but more than anything else it's just actually an opportunity to get out there in game-like plays and just really getting in the whole motion of getting back on the field in game-like speed," McKenzie said.

A turnover resulted in a Saints touchdown with 13:23 left in the first half as Mark Brunell found Lance Moore for a 2-yard scoring pass to extend the Saints lead to 10-0.

Defensive tackles Sedrick Ellis and Brian Young set up the Saints' lone touchdown.

Ellis, the team's first-round pick and No. 7 overall selection, displayed his bullying pass-rush ability as he blew through the Miami line for a sack and forced fumble on fellow rookie Chad Henne with less than two minutes left in the first quarter. Young pounced on the loose ball for the turnover at the Dolphins 19 with 1:42 remaining in the first quarter.

Martin Gramatica put the Saints on the scoreboard first as he booted a 40-yard field goal with 2:37 left in the opening quarter to push the Saints ahead 3-0. Gramatica went a perfect 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts during the preseason and made his case for remaining the Saints kicker.