GumboBC

Injuries are part of the game and every team has them. But some are more costly than others. Which are more costly?

Well, that depends.

It depends on:

1. How your team is built.
If you're a team that is bulit around the defensive line(like the Panthers) and you lose a couple of your star D-linemen, it would be more costly than losing a CB. Or, if you're a team like the 1999 Rams and you lose a couple of your star receivers, it would hurt much more than losing a DT.

2. Depth
Every team has depth. However, every team does not have QUALITY depth. Whatever positions a team is bulit around should dictate where the QUALITY depth is focused at. If your team is built around the running game, you should try and have a quality backup runningback. If your team is a high octane passing game, you should have quality backup receivers and a good 2nd string QB. You get the picture, right?

Let's apply that logic to the 2004 Sainrts.

But, what are the Saints built around?

1. Runningback - Deuce McAllister
2. Passing game- Aaron Brooks, Joe Horn, Donte' Stallworth, Boo Williams, Jerome Pathon.
3. Defensive line - Darren Howard, Charles Grant, Brian Young, Johnathan Sullivan.

That's the order I have them ranked. Even if you don't agree with the order, I think you'll agree those are the top 3 areas of importance.

Now, lets grade those areas.

1. Runningback -- If Deuce gets injured, the backup is Stecker or Lamar Smith. That's a BIG dropoff in talent. And in my book that's what you try to avoid is a big dropoff in talent. Especailly at the positions that your team is built around.

2. Passing game:
a.) QB Aaron Brooks - For those of you that don't like him, you'd probably be the first ones to begging for him to be back on the field. Maybe we have a Tom Brady sitting on the bench that could lead us to the promised land, but I don't want to have to find out. I mean Lamar Smith or Stecker could rush for 1500 yards, but it ain't likely. Most teams like to carry a veteran QB that they know what they're getting. Our backup QB's are a complete mystery.

b.) Receivers - We're deep at the receiver position and could probably deal with injuries here as well as any team in the league. Of course, we don't want to lose Joe Horn or Stallworth for a prolonged amount of time.

3. Defensive line: Although I'm not sure exacltly what we have with this group, we do know we've got some great DE. If Howard or Grant gets injured we have Will Smith, so we should be fine there. It appears we have some pretty good quality depth a DT, so we appear to be able to handle some injuries there.

So what does all of this mean. Well, it means if Deuce gets injured for a prolonged period of time, our offense takes a BIG blow. We need this guy to stay healty. And we need Brooks to stay healthy so we don't get to find out if we have a Tom Brady sitting on the bench.

It also means that injuries on the defense shouldn't hurt us as bad this year.

Let me also say that we proabably have the best depth on the offensive line as any team in the NFL.

And I don't think injuries in the secondary are going to be a big concern. I know a lot of you don't agree with this, but I just don't see a big dropoff in talent there and I think Keyou or one of the other CB might just surprise some folks. Furthermore, I think a strong pass rush wil hide some weak areas in the secondary.

And we're pretty deep at linebacker too. I think we have some guys there who could step up if need be.

Let's hope we don't have any injuries this year!! But, if we do, we should be in much better shape this year.





[Edited on 8/8/2004 by GumboBC]