C.J. Spiller's explosive plays, not 2014 stat line, intrigue New Orleans Saints
 

The statistics produced by running back C.J. Spiller last season may sour the New Orleans Saints' acquisition on the surface.

He only played nine games last season for Buffalo. He only averaged 3.8 yards per carry. He only caught 19 passes. He only compiled one offensive touchdown.

You might wonder if Saints coach Sean Payton was more enamored by the Spiller he watched in 2012 and 2013. Kind of like the logic he used in signing cornerback Champ Bailey last offseason in that the tape from the most recent season didn't hold as much weight.

Then he said this at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix a couple of weeks ago:

"His cutup is unbelievable. And I'm not talking about last season because I think it became challenging, but you go back a couple of years and start looking at his screen reel, a sweep reel, a return reel."

http://imgick.nola.com/home/nola-med...069-mmmain.jpg

Welp, another free agent duped Payton and the Saints again. Or maybe not.

Payton continued.

"So when you watch his film you think of a lot of things he can do," Payton said. "He's physical, he's the most explosive player on the field a lot of times when you're watching him."

This is 100 percent accurate. Even in 2014.

The sample size of Spiller's work wasn't nearly as plentiful with the Bills last season. Yet Spiller displayed his explosiveness and versatility despite a Bills team badly hampered by erratic quarterback play.

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Re: C.J. Spiller's explosive plays, not 2014 stat line, intrigue New Orleans Saints
 

I'm especially excited about this signing

Spiller has the potential to be a bigger contributor than sproles was for us in 2011.

Re: C.J. Spiller's explosive plays, not 2014 stat line, intrigue New Orleans Saints
 

Agreed.

Re: C.J. Spiller's explosive plays, not 2014 stat line, intrigue New Orleans Saints
 

Can't wait to see Spiller and Cooks on the field at the same time. Only concern is size and increased risk to injury. I kinda see it as two fine sports cars on a bumpy dirt rally track.

Re: C.J. Spiller's explosive plays, not 2014 stat line, intrigue New Orleans Saints
 

^THIS^

I loved me some Sproles, but this cat can do more, and do it way faster.

Re: C.J. Spiller's explosive plays, not 2014 stat line, intrigue New Orleans Saints
 

Sorta like a Spider 918, you're saying....

Re: C.J. Spiller's explosive plays, not 2014 stat line, intrigue New Orleans Saints
 

it should be interesting. especially if the saints can get the running game going and suck up a safety into the box.

Re: C.J. Spiller's explosive plays, not 2014 stat line, intrigue New Orleans Saints
 

And he is bigger so hopefully it takes more than a finger to bring him down.

Re: C.J. Spiller's explosive plays, not 2014 stat line, intrigue New Orleans Saints
 

I want a team that has guys with the big play ability or potential.

Give me the fastest of the fast guys and the biggest of the big guys to create some balance

Re: C.J. Spiller's explosive plays, not 2014 stat line, intrigue New Orleans Saints
 

Spiller is coach Payton's X-factor. Game planning is going to be much more fun now.