Underhill: The Saints believe their running game has the potential to be as good as anyone's (1 Viewer)

[Dan in Lafayette]

By Nick Underhill -- Advocate

Joel Thomas knows this team has an opportunity.

The Saints running backs coach sees the names on the depth chart -- Adrian Peterson, Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara -- and the possibilities start to swirl. This group could be special. This group could be one, like in 2009 and 2011 when New Orleans averaged more than 130 rushing yards per game, that complements the passing game and takes pressure off the defense.

“It’s an opportunity to do something here that hasn’t been done before,” Thomas said. “We have very talented running backs in our room right now. You can put us up there with these other groups, whether it’s Atlanta’s duo or Dallas’ duo. I think we got one of the better groups in the NFL.

“We just got to produce. That’s the bottom line. It’s all talk right now until we get to Sundays in September.”

Full Article -- Advocate

 

[Superfuzz]

“We just got to produce. That’s the bottom line. It’s all talk right now until we get to Sundays in September.”

Full Article -- Advocate

Im more worried about the state of the Defense. "We just got to produce..." is even more critical on that side of the ball. Thanks for a good read,

 

[Surviving Saint]

Im more worried about the state of the Defense. "We just got to produce..." is even more critical on that side of the ball. Thanks for a good read,

We just need turnovers. It doesnt matter how many yards we give up, keep our offense on the field and we will dominate.

 

[Superfuzz]

We just need turnovers. It doesnt matter how many yards we give up, keep our offense on the field and we will dominate.

Pass-Rush
- Get to the passer any way possible
Sop the Big Play
- See above
Secondary
- DB's be more self sufficient
TACKLING!

 

[AARPSaint]

No mention of Lasco in the article. Maybe Nick Underhill was just focusing on the newcomers, but it was curious.

An additional reason to improve the run game has to do with the Thursday night games. Brees seemed tired in last year's Thursday game, and a better running game would take some of the pressure off him.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

No mention of Lasco in the article. Maybe Nick Underhill was just focusing on the newcomers, but it was curious.

An additional reason to improve the run game has to do with the Thursday night games. Brees seemed tired in last year's Thursday game, and a better running game would take some of the pressure off him.

Lasco was a 7th round pick and other than ST's play, and a few nice blocks in pass protection is a relative unknown. He just talked about the higher profile additions + Cadet has been a mainstay.

 

[kcirdor]

Big Running game makes a woeful defense manageable. I've been trying to 'Osmose' my thoughts into Sean Payton for 10 years now.

 

[Flipx99]

Im more worried about the state of the Defense. "We just got to produce..." is even more critical on that side of the ball. Thanks for a good read,

It's wierd that you brought that up in reaction to this article about the potential of our running game. While I was reading the article I could not stop thinking that the price of beer in the Dome is too high.

 

[Optimistic Ozzy]

Lasco was a 7th round pick and other than ST's play, and a few nice blocks in pass protection is a relative unknown. He just talked about the higher profile additions + Cadet has been a mainstay.

You're right, Cadet HAS been a mainstay, but with the talent of this group he will be released.

 

[Saint_Ward]

In honor of a recently deceased High School Football/Basketball coach (Coach D), I will use the phrase I remember him for (first Basketball practice of the year).

Gentlemen... we gonna run today.

 

[Clintonrebel]

McAllister and Bush on the field at the same time was fun to watch.

And we won.

Good O line, good backs and great coach/QB tandem. Adequate/average defense with young depth has me optimistic.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

Big Running game makes a woeful defense manageable. I've been trying to 'Osmose' my thoughts into Sean Payton for 10 years now.

A big running game in a SP offense doesn't mean we'll run the ball 50/50. It means that he'll be more privy to run the ball 3 or 4 times a game where he would typically pass it because he has confidence in the run game. SP has also talked about efficiency when running the ball.

If he feels the running game can get him 4-5 ypc when he needs it he'll be more privy to run it. However in our down years we've average significantly less and thus his thought process is simple...why hand the ball off for 3ypcs when i can just put in Drew hands in those moments and pretty much get an easy 4-5 yd completion.

Thus you get 3 or 4 more passes a game where we could have run it but there was no confidence in the run game.


We'll still be a pass 1st team as we've always been, just hopefully you can slash into those extra passes with some runs because you are confident you'll get consistent yards.

 

[NOLAJM504]

It's wierd that you brought that up in reaction to this article about the potential of our running game. While I was reading the article I could not stop thinking that the price of beer in the Dome is too high.

Exactly. It's like they are looking for any excuse to tear into the FO for whatever is on their chest. Nevermind the article didn't pretend to have anything to do with the defense.

 

[whodatphil]

Looking at how AD's incentives are set up, I really expect us to run a lot more than usual. Curious how it will look with both Brees and AD on the field at the same time, or even a 2 rb set

 

[CitySaint]

AD being sub par in pass blocking might be a problem. SR posters used to complain until the cows came home about Ingram and telegraphed plays early on, how will that work with Peterson? And I have no idea how AD's production goes if on a rotation where he's is fed a dozen carries a game at best.