Murray has to be the gameplan this week. (1 Viewer)

[Taker597]

We just need to go 100% with Murray. We saw him in the screen game. We see flashes of him in open space. Go into this game with using Kamara as a decoy moreso than a weapon. You'll get some good gashes with Murray.

Payton has been getting a better feel for how to use Cooks and Murray every week. Murray got some wheels. He gets to the 2nd level. He's gone. It's time for a mini breakout game for him while Kamara is hobbled.

 

[Bespoke]

If Kamara is really favoring his ankle/knee that badly this week in practice I say just sit him for a week, and let him get healthy.

I know it's going to be an unpopular opinion because the Bears are a Conference match-up and all that, but you could clearly see that Murray was the more healthy back yesterday and Kamara was just not slipping the first Defender like he does almost always. So I don't even want to risk the chance he gets injured any worse. Need him too much for the stretch run where all the Divisional games are.

The caveat is of course maybe the ankle/knee tweak isn't that severe he has makes a lot of progress, and is healthy to play like normal. A lot can change in 7 days.

 

[wayne5w]

Just about every time Murray got the ball he did something great in that game. Why Payton continued to feed an obviously hobbled AK is beyond me, especially with Murray ballin. I am a huge AK fan but don't see any point to play him when it is hurt. Murray is a lot better than I had expected. Very exciting RB duo we have now.

 

[SaintsIn2009]

Just about every time Murray got the ball he did something great in that game. Why Payton continued to feed an obviously hobbled AK is beyond me, especially with Murray ballin. I am a huge AK fan but don't see any point to play him when it is hurt. Murray is a lot better than I had expected. Very exciting RB duo we have now.

Agreed. It was obvious AKs injury was effecting him or the Jags were just ready for him, but I doubt that’s what happened. When Murray was featured more in the second half he was straight up beasting. Beautiful screen runs, tough runs up the middle, making first tackler miss, he was very impressive and was rarely stopped for short yard gains. I liked what I saw and would love to see him get more touches. Get him warmed up and he can do some damage by tiring out the defense with his big frame.

 

[Mississippi Saints Fan]

Murray's touches have been extremely limited, but he's looked pretty good from what I've seen. We went out and got the man, so we might as well use him. I don't want to run AK into the ground if he's dinged up. I agree, use him sparingly and as a decoy. The bye is coming up, and we're really going to need him for some tough division games after that.

 

[BlackandGoldXLIV]

I don't understand why Payton doesn't play the hot hand. Murray was feeling it. I would of run his legs off.

 

[Saint Kamara]

I think this will be our worst offensive performance with Bridgewater if Kamara is indeed limited or even worse out.

Chicago defensive collapse against Oakland isn't sitting well and they will be rabid in front of their home crowd.

It will take all of Payton's ingenuity to construct an offensive game plan to go up against the best defense in the NFL.

There won't be any "riding" Murray in this game.

This might end up being the highest number of punts in Morstead's career in this game (and that speaks to all the 3 and outs the Chicago offense is going to endure against our great defense).

I predict 18 punts in this game by both teams combined.

 

[Mississippi Saints Fan]

I think this will be our worst offensive performance with Bridgewater if Kamara is indeed limited or even worse out.

Chicago defensive collapse against Oakland isn't sitting well and they will be rabid in front of their home crowd.

It will take all of Payton's ingenuity to construct an offensive game plan to go up against the best defense in the NFL.

There won't be any "riding" Murray in this game.

This might end up being the highest number of punts in Morstead's career in this game (and that speaks to all the 3 and outs the Chicago offense is going to endure against our great defense).

I predict 18 punts in this game by both teams combined.

Not to take the Bears lightly, and I don't disagree with anything you said, but I looked it up and 2 of their 3 wins were against a 1-5 team and 2-4 team. I'm not any more nervous about this game than I have been about the others. It looks like a potential defensive slugfest, for sure, which fits right into the style of football we've been excelling in. The key will be not turning the ball over. I do think the O will struggle, but as long as we can play smart, we should be okay. I'm sure Payton will have a good plan. Just have to hope everyone is on their game.

 

[Taker597]

I think this will be our worst offensive performance with Bridgewater if Kamara is indeed limited or even worse out.

Chicago defensive collapse against Oakland isn't sitting well and they will be rabid in front of their home crowd.

It will take all of Payton's ingenuity to construct an offensive game plan to go up against the best defense in the NFL.

There won't be any "riding" Murray in this game.

This might end up being the highest number of punts in Morstead's career in this game (and that speaks to all the 3 and outs the Chicago offense is going to endure against our great defense).

I predict 18 punts in this game by both teams combined.

You’re missing about 5 TOs...

 

[Saint Kamara]

Not to take the Bears lightly, and I don't disagree with anything you said, but I looked it up and 2 of their 3 wins were against a 1-5 team and 2-4 team. I'm not any more nervous about this game than I have been about the others. It looks like a potential defensive slugfest, for sure, which fits right into the style of football we've been excelling in. The key will be not turning the ball over. I do think the O will struggle, but as long as we can play smart, we should be okay. I'm sure Payton will have a good plan. Just have to hope everyone is on their game.

Yep all that is fair.

And I'm certainly not saying we will lose, I think it's a 50/50 proposition. I think we will fare just as well on defense as they do.

 

[sfidc3]

I think it would be wise to sit Kamara or use him primarily as a decoy against the Bears if he is not 100% for the following reasons:

1) I think we can get the Bears offense to commit multiple turnovers
2) I think Murray is the type of back that heats up with more carries and after the last game he has to be more comfortable and confident in his role in the offense
3) I think our 3rd back (Washington) is a pretty good back and it would be nice to see what he could do with a few touches.....

We need Kamara down the stretch...he was not effective and obviously could not cut/move like he normally can....if he is not any better we need to rest him....

 

[saint_drago]

I totally agree. If AK is dinged up then he should sit this one out. He's far too important in terms of our long term goals to risk further injury in a game in October.

Murray has proven to be capable back when he gets the touches. He's not going to set the world on fire but he can help us win the game running behind this O line.

 

[Big_L]

Who is the 3rd back? Murray and back #3 should carry the load. Maybe some fullback runs too. I'd like to see Ginn or Lil Jordan contribute as well. I am in the minority here, but I think the Bears are more reputation than actually ability. Yes, they have some ballers, but I think we more than match up with them. NO by two scores.

 

[Zack Lee]

Not to take the Bears lightly, and I don't disagree with anything you said, but I looked it up and 2 of their 3 wins were against a 1-5 team and 2-4 team. I'm not any more nervous about this game than I have been about the others. It looks like a potential defensive slugfest, for sure, which fits right into the style of football we've been excelling in. The key will be not turning the ball over. I do think the O will struggle, but as long as we can play smart, we should be okay. I'm sure Payton will have a good plan. Just have to hope everyone is on their game.

I feel like it kind of hinges on our O line. If they show up the way they have the last two weeks I feel pretty good about our chances. If its more like Dallas, then we could be in for a long day. And I'm not taking anything away from that great Dallas front, I just think that we were not hitting on all cylinders and it wasn't any one guy.

 

[David Robbins]

We just need to go 100% with Murray. We saw him in the screen game. We see flashes of him in open space. Go into this game with using Kamara as a decoy moreso than a weapon. You'll get some good gashes with Murray.

Payton has been getting a better feel for how to use Cooks and Murray every week. Murray got some wheels. He gets to the 2nd level. He's gone. It's time for a mini breakout game for him while Kamara is hobbled.

Ok. But, when Kamara gets over his injury, he goes back to being the featured back. Kamara is still the best back on this team.