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If there is one element that New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan have worked on the most this offseason, it's to be a more physical football team.

Numerous times Payton has said that he wants to emphasize the running game this season, and in reading between the lines, he wants 2011 first-round pick halfback Mark Ingram to be the workhorse runner on this team.

In 2011 with Payton in charge of the offense, the Saints ranked sixth in rushing with for 2,127 yards on 431 carries (4.9 yards per carry average).

Those carries balanced the scales on Drew Brees' record-setting season, as he threw 662 passes.

Without Payton in 2012, the Saints resembled a pro version of Brigham Young, rushing for only 1,577 yards on 370 carries (4.3 yards per carry average).

Too much of the Saints offense was put on the shoulders of Brees, as he passed the ball 671 times.

Many will say it was because of the Saints bad defense that caused them to fall behind early in games, but no NFL team rushed the ball less than the Saints in the first half of games. It was not all because they were playing from behind.

The addition of veteran tight end Ben Watson means you will see a lot of two tight-end sets along with Jimmy Graham, and that will cause problems defensively for teams trying to match up downfield coverage wise. But it also means the Saints will have another big body to aid the running game.

The element of being a more physical team will be noted early on, and watch and see the Saints try to become more balanced like in 2011 and a more physical than what we saw in 2012.

Read more: Getting more physical | DailyComet.com

hagan714

offense will get us back into the playoff and the OL needs to step up big time this year.

dizzle88

Physicality was one of our major strong points in 2009, people called us a finesse team but forget about how physical we really were

From the bruising runs of Mike Bell (remember him?)
Darren sharper knocking people on their backs
Vilma being a beast running all over the field

We need to get back to that, Payton will be giving the ball to ingram and PT alot!!

FinSaint

xan

Does that mean (gasp) TACKLING?

Be still my beating heart.

For the last 3 years I thought that we fielded a defense of bubble boys.

halloween 65

I know where you were going with this but Olivia just don't bring out the beast in me!!

Rugby Saint II

Good points dizzle. However in 2008 we were a finesse team. When GW brought his attitude to the defense in 2009 they in turn brought it to the offense. There were quite a few fights at camp and tempers flared.

The offense complained to Payton and he said "suck it up and play harder if you don't want to be bullied at practice". After that the attitude that we were no longer a finesse team was set in stone for the season.

Unfortunately, we don't have the same attitude now......we'll see how Ryan does at setting the tone with this new bunch of players. It would be nice to see that special Swagger back that says "OH NO YOU'RE NOT!"

hagan714

LT J Bushrod
LG C Nicks*
C J Goodwin
RG J Evans*+
RT J Stinchcomb

here is our issue FA losses:

2011 - C J Goodwin
2012 - LG C Nicks*
2013 - LT J Bushrod

Granted some additions are solid and some are still developing and the remaining have yet to see a full season.

it just aint the same

The saints can only roll the dice so many times on the OL before drew pays the price. as far as getting rough and tough on the OL like in 2009? I seriously doubt it. i just do not see it as a group. I pray i am wrong and some players (more than one) steps up and surprises me.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

hagan714

Swagger should not be an issue to get into the upper 20's on defense. a monkey could do it. attack simple and plan. that is what this defense was built to do. we already have the players and yep spags ego made made him dumber than monkey

So do not give Ryan to much credit for a bounce back that is already there so do not go there

SapperSaint

I still have a crush on Olivia Newton John!

But the 70's version of ONJ is the best. (The Xanadu) ONJ. Oh, what I would do to the late 70's ONJ!!!!! (Did I just "date" myself or what?)

She does bring the beast out in me!!!!