Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

Which 5 are you keeping and why?

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

for me the choices are easy, i'm not going into detail on the obvious ones. but you keep pittman cause he was drafted in the 4th, i mean we moved up to get the guy in the draft, they darn well should be keeping him. how can you discredit what thomas has done in the preseason? impossible, there is no way you don't keep this guy.. stecker and dudley are out, you don't keep 2 fb's and like others have suggested, you just plug in a te up there if karney is out. stecker is used on special teams, but seriously how many times have we heard his name this offseason other then on messages like this asking who we keep... just my opinion :)

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

Bye Stecker... he was the easiest one considering the young talent we have and the money he makes.

It came down to Dudley and Thomas for me. As much as I like Thomas, I don't where he fits on the team. Pittman is our 4th rounder and he hasn't done anything that would lead us to cut him. I kept the fullback for depth. Actually we probably would be able to get Dudley through waivers and put him on our PS. That would let Thomas make the final 53... as I don't think he'd clear waivers. Tough decision... I'd be happy to have either on this team.

I've never been a proponent of keeping two fullbacks on the roster but I like Dudley a lot.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

my thought is you keep the 2 rookies and hope Stecker clears waivers. If he does, you resign him and put either Thomas or Pittman on the practice squad.

If not, you still have two top ten RB's, and a great FB

A lot of people are writing that Stecker is a great blocker and 3rd down back. even in 3rd and long, should he be on the field with Karney, Reg and Deuce watching from the sideline? No

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

Get rid of Stecker and his money. Keep Thomas, he's better more versitile and cheaper than Stecker. I'd rather keep Dudley than Pittman but I can't see keeping 2 fullbacks on the roster. Deuce and Reggie are obvious. I'm not all that impressed with Pittman, he goes down after the first touch, like he's playing touch football. So I really don't care what they do with him.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

I don't think Stecker goes through waivers. I believe with his time in the league he is automatically a FA. But I do think he is expendable. Maybe trade him for a future pick since I don't think we will be picking too high in the draft the next few years. Defintely keep Thomas. I like Dudley but agree you can't keep 2 FB when a TE could do the same job.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

Don't forget Stecker is turning 32 in November he is on the downside of his career I say trade him whole he still has some value. Pittman and Thomas are young and getting better plus Thomas will never clear waivers and Dudley will.

McAllister, Bush, Pittman, Thomas at RB and Karney at FB

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

Not so fast guys. Getting rid of Stecker creates a major problem. He is a special teams ace, and very good on offense, especially in the blocking department on 3rd down. He is also listed as first string on the depth chart for kick returns. I know he is 32 and the upside of the other reserves is promising, but remember, the Saints are trying to win it all this year. With that said, the final cuts will be very interesting. I think the reserves at RB/FB that get cut, they will all probably be employed by another team very shortly afterwards. It is actually nice to have this type of problem for a change. It wasn't too long ago that the Saints were just trying to find an able body to fill in for Deuce on occasion.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

Could Dudley be used asa 3rd TE?

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

I'd hate to see him go to another NFC south team......such as Tampa.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

ditto what MathewT said.

Pittman flat sucks right now, he could get better, but right now he sucks. Stecker is clearly a better choice right now for what he can bring to the table this season. I`d be shocked if Payton chose to keep Pittman over Stecker.

Deuce, Reggie, Karney, Stecker, Pierre

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

After watching the replay of the game, how can anyone even consider cutting Pierre Thomas? This kid is good! To put it in Coach Payton's own words. He's earned it. Not that Payton said that Thomas has earned a spot yet but after all it is our new slogan.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

Looks like my picks were correct

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

all praise d24. he got colston last year and now the cuts.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

Ya gotta hand it to the coaching staff and the front office on their personnel decisions. It appears that they are still hitting homeruns. I, for one trust in Mickey Loomis and Sean Payton.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

Hi Fellas I know I'm new here but I think the Saints did the right thing, they already have the best runningback dou in the league. Stecker being # 3 knows the system and is good to give the boys a breather. And if Pierre Thomas was the RB that was drafted 4th would any of us Saints fans thought twice about releasing Pittman. The only reason I would have liked they to hold on to Pittman (release - Boykin) is to trade him for a 5th or 6th round draft pick.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

First off, let me welcome you to the board. Feel free to jump in with the rest of these crazies.

Since you brought it up, i've been a supporter of Thomas since day one. This kid showed that he wanted to play. Pittman never impressed me. He looked to me like he was playing touch football until the Miami game. When they touched him he went down. He never looked to me like he wanted it, that is until he realized Thomas was taking the lead. Thomas earned the job, Pittman didn't.
As far as Boykin is concerned, this goes back to training camp last year. He was a favorite in camp. He had personal problems and left early. But they wanted him back. That's why I think he's back. I'm kinda glad he made it. He sure worked for it and earned it.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

Well I appreciate the welcome. Everyone wants to tinker with the RB situation, I think it's a big upgrade from McAllister, Bush, Stecker, McAfee to McAllister, Bush, Stecker, Thomas. We all love Fred McAfee but we didn't want to see him on the field (front office YES, field NO) although he was a great special teamer. I think Pierre Thomas is that and so much more. Antonio Pittman didn't block did we really want him protecting Brees?

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

I think they made the right call by keeping Stecker. He's a vet and a proven commodity on the ST. You're going to need that for the Superbowl run.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

Maybe he is all that and a bag of chips but until this preseason he hasn't really impressed me. It did seem however that this preseason he played with a little more ummmmph. I sure hope so.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

good call by you guys, who got it right. i'm glad this staff practices what it preaches.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

All I'm saying is that Aaron is a vet. It is apparent to me that Coach Payton pays great attention to team chemistry, and that may have had some impact in this decision. If you cut Stecker, your backfield has a combined 7 years of expirience. Now were talking 13.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

I'm not disagreeing with what you say, all i'm saying is that it's me. I haven't been impressed with him. The coaching staff surely is or they wouldn't have kept him. I guess the same can be said for Fred Thomas. He got beat like a drum last year often. I had heard that he played hurt most of the year and if that's true maybe that's why he got beat so often.

It's just me, something about Stecker just sticks in my craw I guess. When he saves our butts in some important game, i'm sure i'll change my tune.

Re: Running Backs (Final Cuts)
 

Looks like you nailed it... Saw that Stecker was named as one of the team co-captains. I guess that chemistry and experence does carry weight when it comes to this team. Its rather refreshing don't ya think.