TheOak

Pierre Thomas - in six seasons with the Saints has stayed healthy enough to play 16 games for 1 season, and 2 15 game seasons.

Mark Ingram - Played 16 games for one if his two seasons.

Darren Sproles - Stays healthy for the most part but is not a ground and pound RB.

Tavaris Cadet - I do not see him as a ground and pound guy.

We carried extra running backs (Ivory) so we would have some sort of health overlap.

So the question is, how do we plan on having a 16 game 100 yard+ season with inconstancy in our RB health?

When PT or Ingram goes down we are not sitting so pretty in the running game... and they will go down.

lee909

The rookie FA Alston looks a good back from the video I have seen.

Cruize

Two things concern me about the running game. The ridiculous 1 play in and out rotation and the lack of commitment to the running game and a balanced approach on offense.

Kryptonite

I've always said that there isn't a back in the league that would thrive in our offense, because the commitment isn't there. Playing ever 4th or 5th play on offense doesn't cut it. Commit to a back and let's move on.

Seer1

Still saying our defense will dictate our running game.

TheOak

Why commit to 4.6 Yards per carry when you can get 12.3 per pass? We run just enough to keep them honest.

papz

By treating 2013 as 2013. Even though they've had injuries in the past, doesn't make it a forgone conclusion that they'll be hurt again. Positive outlook my friend.

I believe this will be a big year for our backs. Sproles is going to be 2011 Sproles and Ingram will breakout as a 1,000 yard back. As for PT, he'll just continue to do what he does... produce when his number is called.

And if by some chance some gets knocked down, I take comfort in knowing that we do an excellent job scouting running backs that are left on the market.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

All little common sense goes a long way.

TheOak

Ive no negative outlook. I said they have yet to, not they cant...
The reality is that this is the first season since.. 2009? That we do not have a stable of RBs, and every year we gather when someone or the other goes down and say... "That's why Payton keeps a stable".

papz

I mean we have 4. We typically kept one inactive anyways. I'm sure we'll stash someone on the PS or do that rotating door with our back up corners last season. We should be okay.

TheOak

I agree we should be.. Out typical 4 of PT, Ivory, Ingram, Sproles was proven for the most part... Or at least we were familiar with their capabilities since they all had somewhat unique skill sets and purposes. I still think the loss of Ivory is going to be a little painful because out of all of them if we absolutely had to punch out 3 yards he would be the man I would give the ball to.