Like Les Miles, Sean Payton likes the running back by committee approach, but right now, Miles seems to have a better concept of how to do it. LSU runs a guy a few times, then trots out another. Usually by mid second half, someone has proven they have the "hot hand" and he gets the brunt of the work down the stretch. In the Saints version, no one ever gets to demonstrate he has the hot hand. Payton changes out running backs on virtually every play. Occasionally a back gets the ball on back-to-back running plays. Three in a row? Very rare. Great backs always talk about getting a feel for the game and getting stronger as the game wears on. The Saints backs never get the chance to get the feel for the game. Thoughts?
I agree. With LSU they let the back stay in for the entire series. The Saints run them in and out. Our superbowl year, we featured Thomas. Then we got Ivory and now Ingram and Sproles. Of course the Saints only rush once in a while so even if we had one back for the whole game, they couldn't get consistency.
Completely agree...RBs need to get consecutive carries in the Saints offense it doesn't happen thats why I didn't agree with trading up for a RB because for how we use RBs u can find late round pick or FA.
Unfortunitly other then 170 pound Sproles all of the saints RB's are brittle. If CSP fed one guy the ball 20 times a game he wouldn't be suited up the next week. His method of use them only when you need them and let's win by air will make sure that all of our backs are healthy come playoff time. Then you might see a RB with more touches at the end of the year. As far as LSU it seems that Blue, Ware and Hillard are NFL size backs playing college talent for the most part. They can handle the work load as the saints backs can't. However I am not convinced that LSU RB's can handle 20 carries a game in the NFL. Ware out of all of them seems to be the best NFL prospect.
I agree, all of the Saints backs have had their issues with staying healthy. But I don't necessarily think anyone needs to get 20-25 carries a game. But give someone 5, 6 carries in a row, and give them a chance to get into a rhythm.
I agree with this. Unless we come out gaining 5 yards per carry, Payton loses patience in the running game, then just uses it sparingly to keep the D honest. None of them can ever get into a rhythm when he does this. Not only that, Ingram is the type of back that needs at least 20 carries to get going. He's a power back that can wear a defense out, if given the opportunity. The more carries he gets, the stronger he becomes, so I do not think he's being utilized to his max ability. Sean Payton has forgotten more about football then I'll ever know. But, in my opinion, he needs to show more patience in the running game and give each back a series or 2, like MC said, to see which one has the hot hand.
