Chris Ivory's rise to New Orleans Saints' lead-back status welcomed (2 Viewers)

[Saints1257]

Chris Ivory is taking it over.



http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?...' lead-back status welcomed | NOLA.com&src=sp


He's laid claim to the lead-back role and doesn't appear ready to relinquish it anytime soon, regardless of who comes off the inactive list.


He added, "We'll be smart about who's up and then having the plan that we think is best for our team, but certainly (Ivory) has earned the reps that he's getting now and the touches that he's getting now."


Translation: Ivory is The Man.


As takeovers go, Ivory's ascension to lead-back status has been somewhat gradual. Since his breakout 158-yard performance against the Bucs in Week 6, he's garnered 54 percent of the team's 175 carries, despite splitting time with Ladell Betts and Julius Jones.


Into the fore has strode Ivory, the Saints' most physical and dynamic runner since Deuce McAllister bulldozed defenses in the mid-2000s.
Ivory's presence has forced defenses to take notice. Consequently, the play-action pass has returned with a vengeance to the Saints offense.


What Ivory is doing this season is significant. He leads all rookie rushers with 636 yards and five touchdowns. His 5.2-yard average per carry ranks third in the NFL behind only Jammal Charles (6.2) and Brandon Jacobs (5.8).


And Ivory has done all this despite spending the first two weeks of the season on the inactive list and a good portion of the early schedule just trying to figure out where to go and whom to block.


very good long article here:http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/12/chris_ivory.html

 

[Domeination]

Ivory needs at least 15 carries per game. He's beasting, and the downfield throws have opened up now that defenses can't keep both safeties deep. They need to put that extra man in the box to try to stop Ivory. No way do I go away from Ivory right now if I'm Payton.

 

[kansast]

Who Dat!?

HOLD ON TO THE FOOTBALL !!!

 

[Goatman Saint]

I am sure tho offensive line loves it also. Instead of going after Brees and caring little about the run now defensive coordinators have to respect the ground game and the players have to respect a guy that can't be arm tackled.

 

[Bespoke]

Moar Chris Ivory plz kthxbai.

 

[Saints 4 life]

I have no problems with Ivory being our featured HB, none.

 

[Damarabi]

It seemed to me that Ivory was much more deliberate about picking his holes last Sunday. What I saw in the past was him hitting the line with reckless abandon. Against the Bengals he appeared a little more patient and with good acceleration was able to pick his hole and hit it. It paid off.

 

[krushing]

Who Dat!?

HOLD ON TO THE FOOTBALL !!!

I'm already wondering if he can hold it in Baltimore next week. Freezing cold and a hard hitting defense that knows how to take advantage of the cold. .

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

i like ivory, but i also have a memory
ivory can't yet do what PT did against Indy and will never be able to do what reggie did against ariz

but this for me was the best part of the article

Second, the Saints are going to need Ivory down the stretch. You don't win games on the road in December in Baltimore without a hammer between the tackles like Ivory. And his powerful runs will be invaluable if the Saints are forced to hit the road to say, Green Bay or Chicago, for the playoffs in January.

that's something reggie and pierre really can't do

but i'm much more inclined to see our backfield like our WR corps - whoever teh D can't deal with, that's who gets the ball

 

[keefresh2]

I didn't think it was a long article. Good reading though.

 

[Lucketty]

He's still too limited to be a "featured back", i.e. he evidently doesn't have the grasp of the passing game to be on the field on downs where he's not going to be either getting the handoff or going play-action. The number of downs played by guys such as Ladell Betts and Julius Jones this year attests to that. As long as he's running like this, though, we're going to do more of the things that he does well: heavy set, I formation and two tight ends with Meachem flanked out, pound it and run play action. And physically, the sky is the limit. He's a powerful, angry runner with speed to break a long run. If he gets acclimated to the passing game and continues getting more consistent with his decision-making, he has the physical skills to be elite.

 

[You]

He needs to block better.

When he is in the game it tells defenses that we are most likely running the ball because he is a liability in pass protection.

 

[Saints 4 life]

He's still too limited to be a "featured back", i.e. he evidently doesn't have the grasp of the passing game to be on the field on downs where he's not going to be either getting the handoff or going play-action. The number of downs played by guys such as Ladell Betts and Julius Jones this year attests to that. As long as he's running like this, though, we're going to do more of the things that he does well: heavy set, I formation and two tight ends with Meachem flanked out, pound it and run play action. And physically, the sky is the limit. He's a powerful, angry runner with speed to break a long run. If he gets acclimated to the passing game and continues getting more consistent with his decision-making, he has the physical skills to be elite.

You gotta start somewhere!!!

 

[Goatman Saint]

He needs to block better.

When he is in the game it tells defenses that we are most likely running the ball because he is a liability in pass protection.

Thats what Bush is for.