Interesting stat (1 Viewer)

[fr3sh]

Mike Bell did a lot of the dirty work for us that Super Bowl year.

I think Payton envisioned Ingram in a similar role. (Eventually becoming the workhorse)

 

[SuperRemo]

we need to get better RBs, know this sounds strange considering our stable full of backs but I don't like any of them as workhouse types.

Sproles is a situational guy
PT is old and screen game only

Ivory would be the closest but h'es only good for 12 games a yr
Ingram is not that guy.....

I say keep Sproles and Ivory, trade PT and make Ingram battle it out in camp with a bottom round or udfa gem or we could sign a guy like joique bell.....

 

[Bespoke]

Just a random thought. In order for us to develop a sick-nasty running game again, 2 things need to happen.

1.) Our O-line needs to develop a type of mean streak, or we need to get another big nasty mother trucker of a beast (like Carl Nicks was) We have some really intuitive, technically sound O-linemen but they are more skilled in working out in space, and sliding out mirroring and shutting down Pass rushers. We need someone another plower on the Line to just get them in that pounding mindset, Evans is the closest right now.

2.) Once we have that established our Running backs need to get in a groove, and we need to just keep feeding them. I think both Ingram, and Ivory are fully capable of physically punishing a Defense, but they need consistent carries once they start getting hot. Not one, or two plays then pull them for another back.

 

[dtc]

The year we went to the superbowl, Brees threw the fewest attempts of any he has been a Saint. The year he threw the second fewest attempts as a Saint, we went to the NFC championship. The key for us to get ahead is to run the ball and play defense. That is how the Ravens and Niners got to the Superbowl, The threat of Brees throwing will always be there. If we have so many great running backs, why can't we run the ball?

stats: Drew Brees Stats

Extrapolation from isolated stats is a fun exercise, but rarely conclusive.

You know what stands out about our SB year?

Turnovers and Defensive points.


You know what stands out about the year we went to the NFC Championship?

Decent D.

You know why we stunk last year? Because our D couldn't tackle, defend, stop the run, stop the pass or get off the field. We couldn't pressure or sack the QB and our special teams was god awful, horrible like the smell of a body that's been in a refrigerator without power for a year.

If we had run the ball more successfully last year, we would have lost just as many games because we gave up more points than we scored and were playing from behind.

 

[kcirdor]

I previously put together a set of data from 2009 that proved our balance to everyone that wanted to claim we were only balanced because we were blowing out teams and started running the ball to kill the clock.


Free NFL Play by Play database (MySQL) containing 518,000+ plays

Here is saints play counts from 2009.

 

[ndcc]

Our having a defense that is respectable... allows Brees to have a more balanced attack.

 

[SweetT]

Brees throwing more helps pad my fantasy football stats though lol.

 

[Archie_4_HOF]

The year we went to the superbowl, Brees threw the fewest attempts of any he has been a Saint. The year he threw the second fewest attempts as a Saint, we went to the NFC championship. The key for us to get ahead is to run the ball and play defense. That is how the Ravens and Niners got to the Superbowl, The threat of Brees throwing will always be there. If we have so many great running backs, why can't we run the ball?

stats: Drew Brees Stats

Our offensive line is and has been suspect for a few seasons now. Despite the accolades, Brees makes them look good in the passing game. We have no edge rushing attack because we have poor run blocking tackles and little assistance from a solid blocking TE.

 

[SaintsFanInLA]

I haven't read all of the posts, but often times when we were winning we were NOT balanced EARLY in the game. We threw a lot, got a comfortable lead and started running to grind the clock out, mid to late 4th quarter.


By the time the game was over, it LOOKED balanced at the end, and it was AT THE END. But people didn't seem to pay attention to that fact that we passed A LOT in order to get the lead, then ran to ice the game.

But a part of this is having a defense that can get off the field with a lot of 3 and outs and turnovers, not giving up either LONNNNNNNNNG sustained drives ending in 7 points or quick 80-yard drives.

 

[stcal]

3 5000 plus yard seasons equaled:
1 no playoffs
1 divisions round lost
1 no playoffs
obvious we do not need him throwing that much. so our sign is if gets 5000 yards no super bowl. no qb has thrown for that much and won a sb

 

[blackadder]

The year we went to the superbowl, Brees threw the fewest attempts of any he has been a Saint. The year he threw the second fewest attempts as a Saint, we went to the NFC championship. The key for us to get ahead is to run the ball and play defense. That is how the Ravens and Niners got to the Superbowl, The threat of Brees throwing will always be there. If we have so many great running backs, why can't we run the ball?

stats: Drew Brees Stats

Bingo.

Inconsistent running game and poor defense have been the achilles heel of this team since Payton got here. If we had done consistently better in either of those areas we would have at least one more Lombardi with Brees.

I hope they commit to getting it fixed instead of falling back into leaning on Brees and throwing the ball 50 times a game. That is not a formula for post season success.