Re: Do we need to address the RB position
 

The defense will improve greatly. We've acquired 3 players (Vilma, Morgan, Ellis) that have Pro Bowl caliber talent. If the coaches can be convinced to sit Bullocks down and play KK then each and every weakness the Saints had on defense last year (DT, MLB, WLB, both CBs, S) will have been addressed.

This will be a top 10 defense next year. A defense capable of dominating a game. A defense capable of going deep into the playoffs.

The second thing is that Coach Payton offense doesn't revolve around running the football. You're just not going to get 30 carries a game from the Saints offense.

The Saints offense is perfectly capable of managing the clock the way it is.

The running game for the Saints doesn't have to be the engine that drives it. All it needs to be is the reliable counterbalance to the passing game, which is the engine that drives it.

I strongly disagree with your assessment on the offensive side of the equation. Does the defense need to improve? Absolutely! Will it? Absolutely! However, the offense we've had for the last 2 years is a high caliber offense.

But if you read my sig, you know that's not enough.

SFIAH

Re: Do we need to address the RB position
 

The Professor has spoken

Re: Do we need to address the RB position
 

Could we land Rhodes at RB for a cheap pricetag? He's now available. I mean, it doesn't hurt to bring him in and check the waters. And we could ALWAYS use a little padding at the position.

Raiders release RB Rhodes - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Re: Do we need to address the RB position
 

As much as I would love Deuce at 100% I don't think it's going to happen, alteast not for the better half of the season. Maybe we'll be able to run by committee as Deuce gradually works his way back to full speed. I don't know why they don't let Karney share the pounding loads on 3rd down short yardage situations? I would take this over double reverse fumbles as happened at the end of the Tampa game last year. I am curious to see if PT can recieve most of the carries between the tackles along with Steady Stecker.

Peyton is an offensive genius. I'm sure he's thought over the situation and has some new plays to make the committee work.

Forget Dominic Rhodes , bring in Alley Broussard!!!

Re: Do we need to address the RB position
 

i too have seen the decrease in the use of fullbacks in the NFL...im worried that it is a lost art....although with the 2 back systems coming along it has brought rise to a newer faster smaller fullback role...the grinders...marion barber, duece, tj ducket.....etc....i think that karney is underused and he is a great talent...one of the best blocking fullbacks in the league...i also think he is clutch when he catches passes and he is great at running over defenders...i would love to see him integrated more in the run game

Re: Do we need to address the RB position
 

I totally agree about Karney. It would be great to let him pound it out for the hard yards. We could just let Sedrick Ellis lead block for Karney :D

Re: Do we need to address the RB position
 

.. it's not that Deuce won't be healthy come opening day, rather how long can he stay healthy.

I concur with SFIAH; the Saints offense doesn't revolve around the run. If Colston, Reggie, Meachem (hopefully), Miller/Johnson do their thing, PT and Stecker are more than capable of handling the hand-off .

Re: Do we need to address the RB position
 

Hell yeah! Has this kid done anything but gain yards and score touchdowns?? I don't think he's lost a yard or fumbled once.

What alot of you don't realize is that Rashard Mendenhall was behind Pierre Thomas on the depth chart in college - a spot that Pierre never relinquished to Mendenhall until he was signed by the Saints (Pierre Thomas and Rashard Mendenhall are the same exact size) Pierre Thomas was/is better than Rashard Mendenhall. Yet everybody wants to sleep on this kid like he doesn't exist.

If we needed to address the RB position, Sean Payton would've addressed it. Deuce should be kept to spell PIERRE THOMAS, not the other way around!

Sam Mills (5' 9") - No explaination needed.
Walter Payton (5' 10") - No introduction needed.
Barry Sanders (5' 8") - No introduction needed.
Maurice Jones-Drew (5' 7")- Produces, hard to tackle, leveled Shawne Merrypoppins.
Beerman Michael Lewis : D (5' 8") - The Living Legend
Bob Sanders (5' 8") - Fast, hard-hitting, playmaking safety.
Wes Welker (5' 9") - Leading Receiver of 08 Super Bowl.
Devin Hester (5' 11") - NFL record setting return man.
Steve Smith (5' 9") - Multiple Pro Bowler.
Tiki Barber (5' 10") - Pro Bowler.
Doug Flutie (5' 10") - Underrated clutch quarterback, led Bills to Playoffs 2 years in a row.
Drew Brees ("6 feet") - Short, but one of the best.
Deion Branch (5' 9") - Superbowl XXXIX MVP.
Jeff Garcia (6' 1") - Has taken more than one team to the playoffs, and has Pro Bowls.

Re: Do we need to address the RB position
 

Career Stats for Pierre Thomas
Rushing Receiving Fumbles
Games - 12
Games Started - 1
Att - 52
Yds - 252
Avg - 4.8
Lng - 24 (Touchdown)
TD - 0
Rec - 17
Yds - 151
Avg - 8.9
Lng - 17
TD - 1
FUM - 0 Lost - 0
2007 New Orleans Saints

And lest we forget that recovered fumble for a touchdown in Seattle, and that 24 yard touchdown scamper against the Falcons.

No fumbles, and nearly a 5 yard average....whoever's sleeping on this kid needs to be banned from all football talk until proven intelligent.

Re: Do we need to address the RB position
 

OMG... ive seen this a hundred times.. everyone saying that PT is better then mendenhal b/c PT was the starter...

PT was a SR when mendenhall was a TRUE SOPHOMORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! not only that but it wasnt like mendenhall didnt play... PT had roughly 50 more carries then Mendenhall in 06, yet he only had 110 more yards.. PT averaged 5.8 YPC to Mendenhalls 8.2 and they each had 5 rushing TDs in 06.. that doesnt show me that PT is better.. shows me that mendenhall is a more talented back with less experience but was putting out more production with less carries.. in 07 with mendenhall getting the bulk of the carries he gained over 1600 rushing yards averaging 6.4 YPC and had 17 TDs.. double the yards that PT had in any of the 3 years that he was the starting TB and double the TDs that PT had in any of the 3 years... quit saying that PT was a better back when they were at Illinois... b/c its just not true

let me explain it to you like this... jacob hester was the starting RB for LSU this past year as a SR.. is that b/c he is a better RB then TRUE SOPHOMORES Keiland Williams, Charles Scott, or Richard Murphy? NO! its b/c he had more experience and he knew the system better... any half descent LSU fan knows that a 3 of this years RBs have 10 times more talent then jacob hester..

i wish people would quit saying that PT is better then mendenhall b/c PT was starting.. that really has nothing to do with it