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I just watched--for about the tenth time--the highlights DVD of the 2009 season. Like the 2009 season, the video is just magical. But I was struck that so many of the big plays during that season were made by players who left before 2012--Sharper, Porter, Bush, Meachem (though I also saw big play after big play by Thomas)--leading to the question of whether we had in 2012 a unit better than, or even as good as, our units in 2009.
At receiver, we had Meachem as well as Colston, Moore, Henderson and Shockey.
In the offensive line, we had Nicks, Goodwin and Stinchcomb.
At running back, we had Bush, Bell and Hamilton as well as Thomas.
In the defensive line, we had a younger Will Smith, Ellis before he regressed, Ayodele, McCray and Hargrove.
At linebacker, we had a younger Vilma and Fujita.
At defensive back, we had Sharper and Porter as well as Greer and Harper.
And in the return game, we had Roby and Bush.
I will quickly note that we still have Brees and young players like Graham, Jorden and Hicks, and that 2012 was clearly an atypical season because of Payton's absence. But the gap in talent between then and now is glaring.
At receiver, we had Meachem as well as Colston, Moore, Henderson and Shockey.
In the offensive line, we had Nicks, Goodwin and Stinchcomb.
At running back, we had Bush, Bell and Hamilton as well as Thomas.
In the defensive line, we had a younger Will Smith, Ellis before he regressed, Ayodele, McCray and Hargrove.
At linebacker, we had a younger Vilma and Fujita.
At defensive back, we had Sharper and Porter as well as Greer and Harper.
And in the return game, we had Roby and Bush.
I will quickly note that we still have Brees and young players like Graham, Jorden and Hicks, and that 2012 was clearly an atypical season because of Payton's absence. But the gap in talent between then and now is glaring.