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During a recent radio interview, C.J. Spiller was asked how he envisions his life changing with Drew Brees serving as his quarterback.

“I won’t see eight guys in the box anymore,” the running back replied.

That was often an issue for Spiller in Buffalo. The Bills lacked an elite quarterback and the kind of weapons that force defenses to stay honest.

Life won’t be like that in New Orleans. The offense might not feature the same number of weapons it did a year ago, with tight end Jimmy Graham and wide receiver Kenny Stills being dealt away, but the presence of Brees ensures defenses will be kept honest and won’t be able to sell out against the run.

But that much is obvious. Spiller will get yards playing in New Orleans, and many of them will come easier than they once did in Buffalo. The question Spiller should have been asked is how he will help Brees and the offense.

A quick glance at Spiller’s numbers paint a murky picture. Those numbers suggest Spiller peaked in 2012 after accumulating 1,703 yards from scrimmage, and that he has been on a downward trajectory since. He finished with 1,118 yards from scrimmage in 2013 and logged just 425 over nine games last year.

Without context, those numbers say the Saints took a big risk by agreeing to terms with Spiller on a four-year, $16 million deal. But those numbers lack context and fail to explain how and why Spiller’s production dropped over the past two seasons.

After reviewing all of Spiller’s offensive plays from the last seasons, it became clear that his drop in production was the result of being trapped in an offensive system that did not utilize his unique skill set. It was almost as if coach Doug Marrone had an exotic sports car but only drove it inside school zones.

Instead of moving Spiller around the offense and creating ways to get him the ball in space, Marrone kept him caged up and used him in traditional, vanilla ways. Spiller’s offensive package in the passing game contained screen passes and little else.




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billyt81

I believe Spiller could possibly beat out Ingram as the feature back and lead the team in rushing. Keep in mind I said possibly. I do not think he can be the type of matchup nightmare Reggie was. Reggie caught 90 passes as a rookie. He had arguably the best hands on the team and was/is a polished route runner. Spiller may become deadly on screens and swing passes but it's a reach to think he'll ever run routes from the slot or other receiver spots like Reggie. Please prove me wrong C.J.

foreverfan

Should be exactly what we are missing.

Audiotom

It touch Reggie 4 years to realize a 10 yard run sideways didn't gain a yard

I loved Sproules

I'm excited about Spiller - a guy who is hungry and wants to come here and lay it out there


Mazarati in a school zone. Lol

|Mitch|

Wrong; that's the same exact thing Marrone tried to do with him in Buffalo... CJ Spiller is and never will be a between the tackles feature back. He is a change of pace/open space back just like Sproles and Bush were, only better...

blackangold

Yup..
If we try to make Spiller the every-down-back he'll end up getting hurt.

He needs to be used exactly like Bush was. Maybe 10 rushes a game but he should have 5-10 receptions every game as well. Motion the guy out to the slot and let a LB try to cover him... I really like this pickup, the options are endless and we are finally going to be unpredictable on offense again.

nola_swammi

It's simple. If he can run crisp route & catch the ball to beat linebackers, he
will be golden. Running the ball will be Ingram & Robinson. Every now and then he should run the ball to keep the defense honest

hagan714

plug the hole we created at LG this off season and upgrade a spot or two and i can see both him and drew having a great year. Drew could use a solid route runner with a set of hands that play Drews style. adjust to being thrown open despite being covered. ie Jaelen Strong Arizona State at 31? probably the best WR in the draft at catching a back shoulder pass. add a slot guy for good measure too

all the defense will need to do is bend but do not break.

papz

During a recent radio interview, C.J. Spiller was asked how he envisions his life changing with Drew Brees serving as his quarterback.

“I won’t see eight guys in the box anymore,” the running back replied.

That was often an issue for Spiller in Buffalo. The Bills lacked an elite quarterback and the kind of weapons that force defenses to stay honest.

Life won’t be like that in New Orleans. The offense might not feature the same number of weapons it did a year ago, with tight end Jimmy Graham and wide receiver Kenny Stills being dealt away, but the presence of Brees ensures defenses will be kept honest and won’t be able to sell out against the run.

But that much is obvious. Spiller will get yards playing in New Orleans, and many of them will come easier than they once did in Buffalo. The question Spiller should have been asked is how he will help Brees and the offense.


Read more: Nick Underhill: New Saints running back C.J. Spiller could be better than Reggie Bush, is prime for big season in New Orleans | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

All little common sense goes a long way.

Mardigras9

Wait I thought Brees was being traded (LOL). I expect Spiller will become a big weapon. With him and Cooks out there at the same time, the opposing LB's are gonna have nightmares.