Dear Darren Sproles: Please Don't Come Back
 

Obviously I am joking with the title of this post.

Sort of.

I love me some Darren Sproles. He's absolutely amazing to watch and he's arguable the Saints most powerful offensive weapon. But the Saints running back has missed the past two games with a hand injury and there's no denying in those two games, the Saints offense has finally found a successful running game and a balanced offense.

So excuse me if I'm not in a rush to see him return to the field. Just take a look at these offensive statistical comparisons, with and without Sproles in the lineup:

Average rushing yards the first 7 games (with Sproles) - 72.8 yards

Average rushing yards the last 2 games (without Sproles) - 144 yards

Average run/pass ratio the first 7 games - 30%/70%

Average run/pass ratio the last 2 games - 47%/53%

Dear Darren Sproles: Please Don't Come Back - Canal Street Chronicles

Re: Dear Darren Sproles: Please Don't Come Back
 

Ingram/Ivory have been running like men possessed without Sproles!

Re: Dear Darren Sproles: Please Don't Come Back
 

I think the biggest addition has been the power run game with Ivory/Ingram. Now, if we could use the power run to set up the screen game with Sproles...*drool*

Re: Dear Darren Sproles: Please Don't Come Back
 

I think when Sproles comes back we'll use him in a slightly more limited role, kind of like the way we used Cadet in this game. You just can't take Ivory, Ingram or PT off the active roster.

Re: Dear Darren Sproles: Please Don't Come Back
 

We need him

Re: Dear Darren Sproles: Please Don't Come Back
 

I was mad all year about Ivory being inactive. This is why. Now I'm not gonna sit here and say I thought there would be this much of a turnaround, but Ivory runs with speed, power and vision. None of our other backs excel at more than one of those things.

Sproles has great speed, decent vision, and no power. He is extremely effective when used right, particularly as a receiver, but the lack of running game was really making those screen passes to him predictable.

Thomas has great vision, some power, but not much speed. Very effective in the passing game, and a solid runner. No real complaints about him, but just making the point about his overall physical ability.

Ingram was bad at all three phases until just the last two games. He is showing good power and decent vision.

Ivory has great power, very good speed, and great vision. His only fault in the past has been the fumbles. But as I watched the Saints stumble to an 0-4 start, I couldn't help but wonder why such a talented player wouldn't be given at least a shot to provide some kind of spark that this team desperately needed. And frankly, not only has he played well since his return, but I believe he has motivated Ingram.

Just my opinion.

Re: Dear Darren Sproles: Please Don't Come Back
 

I think it has a lot more to do with the offensive line who has some new faces on it over the past couple of years finally getting it together and more importantly Kromer being back in his place focusing solely on the line than it does with Sproles being out.

Re: Dear Darren Sproles: Please Don't Come Back
 

Ivory gives a spark to the O, Ingram has started to run much better, those 2 make a good tandum, PT fits well with both. Hard nose running has given us an edge. I really like what I see out of our O it looks like we are on. You can thank Ivory for this. Ingram might have firured out running Ivory style aint' so bad, it works.

Re: Dear Darren Sproles: Please Don't Come Back
 

I think the real addition is Vitt. Sproles'll be yet another pleasant addition once he recovers.

Re: Dear Darren Sproles: Please Don't Come Back
 

Having Sproles out of the equation makes us less predictable. Ivory, Ingram and Thomas are mor runners than recievers while its the opposite with Sproles. It makes it harder for the defence to just focus in on one thing.