TheOak

With the departure of Sproles, there seems to be more questions than answers about our running game. I think there are more answers than most people are aware of, if you look a little deeper, at the bigger picture.

Mark Ingram - Not wanting to dig into this dead horse because everything has been said over and over. He will either be here or not and it will be what it will be.

Pierre Thomas - We lost our scat back.. or did we?
Definition of Scat back ~ A slang term in football that refers to a running back that is valued for speed and athletic ability over size and brute strength.

Pierre Thomas's 77 receptions in 2013 plus his ability to screen tells me he is a Scat Back. Traditional cookie cutter scat back? No, but Sean Payton ignored traditional definitions when he developed Jimmy Graham.

PT has never had a season with over 50 receptions until 2013... In 2013 he had 77.. That is a whopping 54% increase in receptions.
Which just so happened to also be the most receptions by a RB in the NFL last year. NFL - Statistics by Position - Yahoo Sports

Khiry Robinson - Many people are not "sold" or they have concerns. I will only use a small window of stats to make my case, this small window is very relevant to 2014.

When Sean Payton puts the ball in your hands 21 times in two playoff games and gives you the ball TWICE with in the 5 against Seattle in the 4th quarter, Sean Payton is sold and trusts you. If Sean Payton has that sort of trust it may be less worrisome to accept that he is a trusted back at this point.

Can he get it done when it counts? 5.63 yards per carry against the Eagles and 4.38 yards per carry against Seattle plus a TD n the 4th qtr is what I consider getting it done.

Travaris Cadet - Special Teams and 4th RB to fill in for injury if needed.

My interpretation of 2013 was Sean Payton preparing for the departure of Sproles and I see us as set for Running Backs. If we pick up a 5th it will be low in the draft or an undrafted player will earn his way on.

Pierre Thomas has become our Scat back and Robinson/Ingram will share a back field. Where is the gap?

lee909

The only concern with tbe RB core are due to declining contracts and injuries.
Ingram hasn't proven he can last a season and Robinson has much to prove (though we all are impressed). Ingram out of contract the end of the year and Robinson/Thomas the year after.
It wouldn't surprise me if a late pick went on a future RB who learns the ropes/scheme this year and slots in next.
I was reading about Jerick McKinnon who looks interesting. He is moving from QB to RB. 5'9 209lb,4.41-40 and and the most reps from a RB in the combine. Being likend to Zac Stacey, Alfred Morris

"Two receivers to the left, Garcon to the right. Manning in the shotgun, puts Collie in motion. Looks in his direction...it's picked off! It's picked off! It's Tracy Porter again! He's runnin' free! He's gonna go all the way!

Danno

I'm convinced this draft is for Sean Payton and it will be heavy offense. I can see an early/mid round pick used on a traditional scat-back or "wildcard" type runner.

I think a WR/RB/OC/OT and maybe even a K will be picked in this draft.

exile

Michael Bush is available. He may be an interesting piece to put in place. As long as I'm speculating and all.

TheOak

I keep reading that Robinson has much to prove... I am not understanding the context of that. Is it he need to do better? Arguably he did just as good if not better in many circumstances than the rest of our RBs. Or is it he needs to do what he has done for a longer period of time before he has proven he can do it? I would argue he has proven he can do it, and he is proven until he shows that he cant. Unlike some players, he hasn't taken more than one season to prove he can stay healthy or get it done.

So does it boil down to Robinson having weakness that he need to improve on or is it some people apprehension to believe what they have seen? Does he need to prove or improve?

I have yet to see anyone point out a list of Robinsons weaknesses with the exception of the continuous reference to a fumbling problem he had in preseason when he fumbled once. If that is the problem, then he has the same problem all of our backs have and Drew having fumbled 7 times in 2013 makes his problem worse. It also means that in 2009 Drew had huge problems because he had 10 fumbles that season.

lee909

He has shown he can do the job but its a small sample and the question is can he do it over a season.

It not really a fair way to judge as you are questioning things he didn't get the opportunity to show but as Omar would say " It's all in the game though".

Yeah im rewatching The Wire

nycsaintfan

I think Robinson is extremly talented, and when he played last season I thought he made the most of all of his carries. During the playoff run, when he received most of his carries in game situations where we were not running the clock out, I thought he ran hard and showed some explosiveness. He's also very physical at the point of contact. Two playoff games are more than just a sample size because of the magnitude of the game. I would guess that most might be wondering how Robinson would do in the marathon of a 16 game schedule. That's the big unknown at this point.

TheOak

Ahhhh! I get it now, its all about sample size.

I appreciate everyone's patience and assistance in helping me understand the logical process. (I am severely left brained). Now, I will take that logic and apply it to the 2014 draft.

We will not be drafting any starters.

Lee - The Wire rocks, I watched all 5 seasons over 3 days of flu then had with drawls for a week after.

lee909

Not seen season 5 yet.
I watched up to it and got caught up with ither things so just started at the beginning again.
Love it, reading David Simon book 'Homicide' now that it was based on.Very good

Rugby Saint II

Robinson and PT will end up splitting the majority of the carries.