Payton: Running game must improve and has been

papz · 10-14-2010, 01:50 PM

Brett Martel
AP Sports Writer

Published: Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 9:28 a.m.
( page of 3 )

METAIRIE — Although the Saints haven't been known as a running team in the Sean Payton era, the coach and his players are well aware that New Orleans' past two playoff seasons came when they ran the ball well.

Through five games this season, the defending Super Bowl champions rank 31st — or second to last — in the NFL in yards rushing per game at 75.6, a figure Payton wants to see rise in a hurry.

"When we've been clicking, we've had balance and we just haven't been throwing the ball," Payton said after Wednesday's practice. "We do a lot of play-action and that's effective when you're running the ball efficiently. That's something that we'll continue to work on."

The Saints' rushing average has increased marginally during the past two weeks, despite injuries to top two running backs Pierre Thomas (sprained left ankle) and Reggie Bush (broken right leg).

Thomas, who was the Saints' top rusher last season (793 yards), has missed the past two games and did not practice on Wednesday, leaving his status unclear for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay. Bush, who rushed for 390 yards last season, has missed the last three games and expects to miss at least one more.

In 2009, Thomas, Bush and Mike Bell, who rushed for 654 yards, led a ground attack that ranked sixth in the NFL with 131.6 yards per game. In 2006, the Saints' only other playoff season under Payton, they averaged 110 yards rushing and ranked 19th.

This season, the Saints were counting on Lynell Hamilton to take over for Bell as their pounding, short-yardage, ball-control running back, but Hamilton went out for the season with a torn right knee ligament in training camp.

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Payton: Running game must improve and has been | HoumaToday.com

10-14-2010, 01:50 PM	#1
papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,772	Payton: Running game must improve and has been Brett Martel AP Sports Writer Published: Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. Last Modified: Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 9:28 a.m. ( page of 3 ) METAIRIE — Although the Saints haven't been known as a running team in the Sean Payton era, the coach and his players are well aware that New Orleans' past two playoff seasons came when they ran the ball well. Through five games this season, the defending Super Bowl champions rank 31st — or second to last — in the NFL in yards rushing per game at 75.6, a figure Payton wants to see rise in a hurry. "When we've been clicking, we've had balance and we just haven't been throwing the ball," Payton said after Wednesday's practice. "We do a lot of play-action and that's effective when you're running the ball efficiently. That's something that we'll continue to work on." The Saints' rushing average has increased marginally during the past two weeks, despite injuries to top two running backs Pierre Thomas (sprained left ankle) and Reggie Bush (broken right leg). Thomas, who was the Saints' top rusher last season (793 yards), has missed the past two games and did not practice on Wednesday, leaving his status unclear for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay. Bush, who rushed for 390 yards last season, has missed the last three games and expects to miss at least one more. In 2009, Thomas, Bush and Mike Bell, who rushed for 654 yards, led a ground attack that ranked sixth in the NFL with 131.6 yards per game. In 2006, the Saints' only other playoff season under Payton, they averaged 110 yards rushing and ranked 19th. This season, the Saints were counting on Lynell Hamilton to take over for Bell as their pounding, short-yardage, ball-control running back, but Hamilton went out for the season with a torn right knee ligament in training camp. Read the rest here... Payton: Running game must improve and has been \| HoumaToday.com
	Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege. All little common sense goes a long way. Last edited by papz; 12-24-2011 at 06:47 PM..