Top 10 under-the-radar FAs
 

Chris Ivory, running back

2012 team: New Orleans Saints
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Ivory
With Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles, Mark Ingram and Travaris Cadet on the roster, Ivory was limited to 68 snaps this year, down from the 156 he managed in 2011 and 195 as a rookie. He's clearly not a big part of what the Saints do, yet that doesn't mean he couldn't (or wouldn't) contribute in a big way for someone else.
For his career, Ivory is averaging an astonishing 5.1 yards per carry (compared to the 3.9 of Ingram) despite the fact that when he's in the game it's a telltale sign the Saints are running (74.9 percent of his snaps were on running plays), letting the offense key in on him. This is because he's incredibly hard to bring down. Ivory has forced 57 missed tackles from a running position since entering the league, or one every 4.9 touches. This season, Adrian Peterson forced one every 5.4 touches.



2013 NFL free agency - Chris Ivory, Brad Jones among under-the-radar FAs - ESPN

Who else is on the list? Any 3-4 OLBs?

Re: Top 10 under-the-radar FAs
 

ESPN Insider only grrrr

Re: Top 10 under-the-radar FAs
 

How many games has he missed or been forced to leave due to injury. You can't talk about Ivory with out talking about injuries.

Re: Top 10 under-the-radar FAs
 

He's a stud, when healthy.

I'm beginning to think "when healthy" is actually his last name.

Re: Top 10 under-the-radar FAs
 

It was'nt only his injuries in 2012, his fumbling in practice that sprung cadet 's activity

Re: Top 10 under-the-radar FAs
 

When he played we won, when he sat we lost. Teams have to play a lot tighter when he is in the game and he still gets yds. He should be very health this season from sitting, I would use him as our feature back every game, trade Sproles for some really good picks.

I really like Ivory... I like the violence he runs with, and that he has the speed to break a long one to the house at any given time. BUT, he's a limited RB. He's below average as a receiver out of the backfield, he's considered a liability in pass protection and blitz pick-up, and then there's his laundry list of injuries...

I really think we'll tender him at the lowest level, and if someone else signs him to an offer sheet, he's gone.

Re: Top 10 under-the-radar FAs
 

Well said, I really like Ivory. I have ever since his first training camp when he was out-producing every one of our RB's. But even then he was putting the ball on the carpet way too often. Only the homerist homer would deny he's injured way too frequently.

If he could stay healthy for 16 games and get about 20-25 carries per game, I think he'd put up Adrian Peterson type numbers. He'd also end up being the best RB we've ever had.

Our best option is probably the ROFR Tender. We wouldn't get any compensation but we'd at least get a chance to match the offer.

I just can't see us tendering him at a 2nd rounder. No one will bite and we'd just add another 2 million to our cap on the side of the ball where we need no help.

BTW: Welcome aboard DWD. Hope you stay a while.

Agreed, but in the Saints offense, Ivory (or any other RB) will never see 20-25 carries a game... It's just not what we do. We run "packages" on offense, and just about every package requires a different RB.

I think if Chris Ivory went to a zone-blocking/1-cut running scheme, he'd be AWESOME (health permitting of course).

I could also see a team like Denver signing him, and him becoming a 1,200 yd RB next year.