Go Back   New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com > Main > Saints

Saints prepared if Erik Lorig injury lingers

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Mike Triplett METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints have never specified the nature of fullback Erik Lorig’s leg injury. But clearly it’s not a minor issue, since Lorig hasn’t even watched a practice in street clothes since first suffering ...

Like Tree17Likes

Closed Thread
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-20-2014, 06:41 AM   #1
Threaded by TheOak
10000 POST CLUB
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cypress Tx.
Posts: 18,978

Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rating: (0 votes - average)

Mike Triplett

METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints have never specified the nature of fullback Erik Lorig’s leg injury. But clearly it’s not a minor issue, since Lorig hasn’t even watched a practice in street clothes since first suffering the injury during a scrimmage on Aug. 2.


The fact that the Saints immediately went out and signed veteran fullback Greg Jones was another indicator that they didn’t expect Lorig back quickly.

It’s still unknown when or if Lorig is expected back this season. But coach Sean Payton said the team will prepare as if he’s not going to be ready for Week 1, with Jones and third-year pro Austin Johnson competing to serve as Lorig’s replacement.

"Our preparation's got to be with the idea that, as Erik's rehabbing, we've got to be ready to have a fullback Week 1, with the chance it's not going to be Erik," Payton said. "And so both of those guys are competing.

“Greg’s a veteran player. Austin's been with us now for the better part of a year and a half. And so I think, No. 1, Austin's had a good camp. Greg's been here for two weeks. Both of them will play a lot again this weekend [Saturday night at Indianapolis].”

Payton later added that Johnson is “doing real well.” The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder spent most of last season on the Saints’ practice squad after signing with the team in January 2013. Johnson was actually a linebacker in college at Tennessee, and he signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2012. But he didn’t find a permanent home that season.

Read More
New Orleans Saints prepared if Erik Lorig injury lingers - ESPN

Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	15172819-standard.jpg
Views:	0
Size:	73.5 KB
ID:	9682  

Views: 5053
Old 08-20-2014, 08:35 AM   #2
Site Donor 2014
Truth Addict
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R)
Posts: 24,635
Re: Saints prepared if Erik Lorig injury lingers

I think we'll be OK with Austin Johnson if Lorig can't go.
dizzle88 likes this.
Danno is offline  
Old 08-20-2014, 08:51 AM   #3
xan
Professor Crab and
Site Donor 2014
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Princeton
Posts: 3,355
Blog Entries: 34
Re: Saints prepared if Erik Lorig injury lingers

Does he have hands? I don't remember him playing.
xan is offline  
Old 08-20-2014, 08:59 AM   #4
Site Donor 2014
Truth Addict
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R)
Posts: 24,635
Re: Saints prepared if Erik Lorig injury lingers

Originally Posted by xan View Post
Does he have hands? I don't remember him playing.
From what little I've seen of Austin Johnson I'd say yes, he looked to have soft hands and agile feet.

I know I sound like a broken record but I really like what I've seen from him and think at worst he'd be about equal to Jed Collins and likely much better running and receiving.

And I kinda like that he was a LB turned FB.
spkb25 and lee909 like this.
Danno is offline  
Old 08-20-2014, 09:03 AM   #5
1000 Posts +
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,254
Re: Saints prepared if Erik Lorig injury lingers

I really, really like Austin Johnson a lot. When I re-watched the Rams game I noticed him at least 5-6 times with great lead blocks. He's noticeably faster to the hole than Jed was.

We can also use Watson/Hill in the FB spot. Or even somebody like Nic Jacobs down the road.
spkb25 and dizzle88 like this.
Jack Vegas is offline  
Old 08-20-2014, 09:14 AM   #6
10000 POST CLUB
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,838
Re: Saints prepared if Erik Lorig injury lingers

Austin Johnson impressed last preseason aswell

I remember him catching a pass in the flat and bouncing off 3 defenders for a first down, the guy has good hands and doesn't go down easy, also made some great lead blocks for Ingram in the rams game
dizzle88 is offline  
Old 08-20-2014, 09:18 AM   #7
10000 POST CLUB
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 10,507
Blog Entries: 3
Re: Saints prepared if Erik Lorig injury lingers

Hat on a hat. No matter your contract. Austin can block and that's what he'll be used for. The longest pass he'll ever catch is ~5yds in the air so I'm not worried
ScottF likes this.
saintsfan1976 is offline  
Old 08-20-2014, 01:36 PM   #8
Site Donor 2019
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Posts: 3,521
Re: Saints prepared if Erik Lorig injury lingers

Originally Posted by saintsfan1976 View Post
The longest pass he'll ever catch is ~5yds in the air so I'm not worried
With Payton as a coach you never can tell.

I can see it now, third quarter in the Super Bowl, Payton pulls out his super secret double reverse fullback flee flicker.

It could happen.
Utah_Saint is offline  
Old 08-20-2014, 02:15 PM   #9
5000 POSTS! +
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 6,324
Re: Saints prepared if Erik Lorig injury lingers

Originally Posted by Utah_Saint View Post
With Payton as a coach you never can tell.

I can see it now, third quarter in the Super Bowl, Payton pulls out his super secret double reverse fullback flee flicker.

It could happen.
true, but it deserves to be noted that our FB had 29 touches last year. I don't expect any significant increase or decrease in that area
ScottF is offline  
Old 08-20-2014, 02:25 PM   #10
5000 POSTS! +
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 9,003
Re: Saints prepared if Erik Lorig injury lingers

Who picked up Jed Collins?
The Dude is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules

LinkBacks (?)
LinkBack to this Thread: https://blackandgold.com/saints/67559-saints-prepared-if-erik-lorig-injury-lingers.html
Posted By For Type Date Hits
Saints prepared if Erik Lorig injury lingers This thread Refback 08-20-2014 08:32 AM 2


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:24 AM.


Copyright 1997 - 2020 - BlackandGold.com
no new posts