For this season, it's pretty clear that we'll benefit by having both. For next season, money will play a role, and if PT is looking for a big pay day we may cut him loose.

Some good points. I have a few questions..

1. What is more important?
Ability to block (I have yet to see proof Ivory can't).
Ability to make a Defense load the box so Brees can air it out easier? <-------- To me this one opens up a lot just being in the backfield.

2. What would you rather?
A back that delivers 50 yards rushing but does not fumble?
A back that Delivers 150 yards but may fumble? <-------- To me this one opens up a lot just being in the backfield.

Saint LB understood where I was going with this. I know everyone loves Thomas and he is near and dear to their heart. This whole poll and thread is based on the statement in the OP. "If Ivory is still performing this way 3 weeks from now"... In 4 games Ivory has 1/3 of the yardage that Thomas has for 22 games last year.

However if Ivory is still running like he is now when Thomas comes back. Ivory is my man. I have yet to see any Defense worry about Thomas. We do not need a blocker, that's what the O-Line is for. We need a back that can punch out 7-10 yard carries or longer to throw the Defense off.

I looked at Thomas's stats last year. There is nothing in there that would make me worry as a Defensive coordinator.
Pierre Thomas: Game Logs

Our passing game has not benefited from Thomas. It benefited from Bush. With Reggie and Ivory in the game Drew's options are wide open.

Keep this one key point in mind. There are dozens of comments out there from people who believe "they have figured us out"! Ivory putting people on their ass and chunking out 10-15 yard carries changes that whole dynamic.

We need to get out of that "thats our man" frame of mind with the exception of only a few players. No one knew who Arian Foster was last year. Now they are preparing for HIM.

Since when do we just use one back the whole game?

If Ivory keeps his 6.3 avg then linebackers have to respect the Saints run game again like last year which will open up the passing game for Drew and his cast of weapons which makes this offense scary good again

PT probably would have torched Tampa for 150 but who can say. Ivory wasn't being stacked up at the point of attack as in previous weeks. He wasn't at 10 ypc previously, he was more normal like 3.9 or so, which in my eyes, is a good number. We won a Superbowl in large part because of our positive turnover ratio. Ivory is significantly impacting that number. 400 yards of offense becomes mute if we are coughing up the ball in the red zone. PT, if healthy, should get the lion's share unless Ivory can show that he excels head-to-head against the same opponents week-to-week over time.

PT has broken 100 yds twice in his Career.


Poydras, you missed the point. We never have. We normally hand the ball to 2-3-4 players a game.... The point was who becomes the workhorse.

Both, and Reggie too

i agree ! GEAUX SAINTS!!

How about this question...

Since many blamed our offensive struggles on Bush's absence, does Ivory's play and putting up 31 points prove that Bush's absence was NOT the reason our offense struggled?

I think with the way Ivory is performing it makes the FO look very smart not giving Thomas his big money contract. He is a good player, but when you factor in his propensity to injury it is easy to see that he is a replaceable back. To answer your question I play whoever is hot at the moment.