Running game
 

Anyone else a little worried about it? We need it to be a big part of our game plan this year more than ever. Brees needs a break and can’t be asked to carry the entire offense anymore. Kamara will be Kamara and will continue to elude defenses but he will always need another strong back to split carries with. Can’t see him doing it on his own or with very little help. Can Murray fill Ingram’s shoes? We need him to.
Wouldn’t surprise me if we hit gold on a rookie RB this year. We’ve always been able to find Ivory, Thomas type players. Would go a long way toward depth we will need later in the season.
2 main question marks for me is Oline and RB. I think Smith steps up this year and our WR play will work itself out.

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I'll show a hold that needs to be hit.

https://cdn.pbh2.com/wordpress/wp-co...ifs-blonde.gif

https://i.imgur.com/CWLcqjI.gif

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There are maybe 4-5 MVP caliber RB's. We have one. I admit, I didn't like the Murray pickup but he'll do. Main thing is the OL. Kamara and Ingram were great but watch all those great blocks that set most of it up. Just incredible blocking downfield, even by OL.

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Don't sleep on Ozigbo.

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I hated to see MI walk and lose the 1-2 punch that was working great for us in the run game. But then I take a deep breath & look at all the other weapons on offense; the Taysom Hill show has just begun, we've got a TE now with tremendous potential to bring that position back to being a huge factor, we've got reliable #13, along with a more matured WR corp, and whatever RB surfaces to trade time with Kamara doesn't have to be a Mark Ingram.. he just needs to be good enough. And I think we got that covered.

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My main concern with the o-Line is the loss of Unger.

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I seriously doubt the line misses a beat with McCoy at center. Unger retired because his body couldn't take it any longer. He had played hurt for pretty much his entire career ... albeit at a very solid level. McCoy is more than capable of filling his shoes and may even be a stronger option. He has been with the ones from basically day one of OTA's and should be ready for day one of the regular season.

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Valid concern but I can't remember the last time Brees didn't have a good center in New Orleans? A slight "fall off" from a vet/Pro bowler is expected at center but how much though? Saints brass has done an excellent job of having a good center in front of #9.

Don't sleep on Erik Mckoy ... he's young but legit + having a backup in Easton (can play guard as well) is a plus.

Coach Dan Roushar will have the O line ready by week #1 vs Texas.

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And no, I'm not worried about the run game.

Folks are simply sleeping on Latavius Murray.

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https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/p...fj8ddcf2se.jpg


His jersey number is 32.

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I'm not sleeping on Devine either. I think he'll battle for a roster spot.

Remember the last time we had a UDFA (value) come into camp and blow the doors off? ... Mr. Pierre Thomas.

Can't wait to see what Ozigbo can do at camp :bng:.

Edit ** what are the chances we keep 4 RB's? If so, I think we'll definitely find a spot for Devine.

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Very good... he signed a three year contract.

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Shouldn't that be Loomis?

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Hopefully Kamara will continue to be the versatile weapon he is, Murray is a more imposing physical RB we probably haven't had in a long time (Ivory) and Ozigbo and is a bit of balance between the two.

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I like Murray from his game film. But I'm not in love with the dude. May the best man win the starting job!

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I would not be marginally surprised if Murray gets beat out. It will be a three headed attack just like with Peterson. Murray will slowly fade away. He's almost 30 and does not know the playbook or have any chemistry with Brees. 30 is pretty much a death sentence for a RB. Only a small % have any real success at that age. It does happen now and then but he has a steep hill to climb. We have some real rookie studs that will be able to close the gap.

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So, who is the RB on the roster with more chemistry with Brees and greater knowledge of the playbook than Murray? Kamara, for sure. Certainly not Ozigbo. Allen, Washington, Dayes? Really doubt it. Murray is a vet that knows how to pick up new systems. And, he just turned 28 earlier this year ... not the "almost 30" that you claim. In fact, he's a year and two months YOUNGER than Ingram. Plus, the Saints signed him to a four year deal worth $14.4 million with half of that fully guaranteed. They knew exactly what they were getting in him or they wouldn't have commited that much to the cause.

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https://www.vikings.com/video/latavi...or-a-touchdown

Do you not remember Murray gashing us just last year before they pretty much abandoned the run game ? For whatever reason, you're selling a proven vet short. He isn't "fading away" after being very productive on a below avg Vikes O line. Maybe your discernment changes on those 3rd and 2, 4th & short goal line situations in actual games.

Maybe I'm missing something here?

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I must be the only one here who thinks Ingram was a disappointment here.

Consider this; where was he in our last two playoff trips? He did nothing in the 2017 playoffs. It was Kamara having all the big plays against Carolina and Minnesota. Then this year, he had his chance to step up and be the man, and could not do it.

Ingram was an inconsistent running back all his time here. He didn't start really breaking out until he had competition - Tim Hightower in 2016, then Kamara the last two years. And even then, Kamara beat him out as a playmaker.

Go back to 2015. Before that year, we thought he was a disappointment cause he had yet to really have a breakout season. When he finally does have his breakout season, he was still inconsistent. Ingram would run all over bad teams, then the next week completely disappear. Remember when he ran all over the 49ers that year? The next week, he was no where to be found vs Denver.

Kamara completely stole the spotlight last year when Ingram was suspended, proving he could be our #1 back. Kamara has done things that we used to wish Reggie Bush and Ingram could do.

RBs are inter-changeable and I don't think we'll really miss Ingram. I'm feeling confident about Murray and think he's an upgrade to be honest.

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Murray is almost 30. 29 1/2 but sure whatever you say.

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That's weird, Ourlads had his birthdate in 1991, but still, why the hate? Have you stopped to consider that Sean Payton may be better at evaluating offensive talent than yourself?

;)

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I think the Ingram suspension showed that Kamara isn’t our #1 back. Number 1 on the depth chart sure but I don’t think he would hold up later in the season and playoffs without another legitimate threat to share carries with. By game 4 last year he was getting winded and just didn’t look like he was having fun anymore. He also tweaked his ankle a bit if I’m not mistaken.
It’s no knock on Kamara, he’s a rare talent in this league but there needs to be another back on the team that defenses are forced to respect.

As for MaCoy I’m sure he will be fine and will be legit from day 1 but to say he is going to step in and take the place of a Pro Bowl center without a drop off is a bit much. He will have his struggles. Struggle could lead to Qb injury. That cannot happen.

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Did you mean game 4 against the Giants? When he had 134 yards rushing on 19 carries for over 7 yards per attempt and 3 touchdowns?

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I really doubt McCoy will struggle. He allowed ONE sack in over 1500 pass attempts in 39 games started at center for Texas A&M against top SEC defensive talent. He has been battle tested more than most centers that come into the league. He'll also have two veteran guards on either side and one of the smartest QB's in the game behind him. He'll be fine ... at the very least. I wouldn't be shocked if he gets Pro Bowl mentions in year one.

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McCoy in the Pro Bowl!!! Done!!! You're welcome!!!!

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I don't hate him. I do however live in reality and know the odds are extremely low of an almost 30 yr old RB having success. Odds are much better of a younger RB beating him out. I'm optimistic our young RB's will have success.

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Often times I wonder which games some posters are watching on a week to week basis.

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I've watched about all of Murray's games the last few years. He was pretty good but it's the age. Ingram pulled it off but he knew the playbook like the back of his hand.

Murray will have to compete with younger RB's with more horsepower and endurance. No way around the hands of time. It will be a three headed monster with Murray being phased out as the season progresses. Happens all the time. Only a small amount of older RB's stay viable in that situation. Best thing would be if one our rookies emerges and we have the ability to trade Murray mid season for maybe a 6th or 7th or a swap of those picks. Worse case would be if the rookies do not emerge then we would have a couple of dust collectors and only an older RB with no legit 3rd RB.

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No. The best thing would be if Murray produces at the level Payton (and most of us here) is expecting and we aren't forced to depend on an inexperienced rookie who would be prone to costly mistakes. Besides, your premise of Murray being over the hill is faulty on so many levels. This "age thirty" barrier that you keep quoting is meaningless. Even more so given that Murray won't turn 30 until AFTER the regular season. Show me the hard evidence that RB's magically stop producing once they hit that evil age. Especially one that has only averaged 180 carries per season over his five year career. Murray is in his prime. He hasn't taken the punishment that RB's used to have to endure 20 years ago (the time period from which you are likely pulling the 30 year old death sentence).

Using your logic Brady and Brees should have both hung up their cleats six or seven years ago since QB's rarely played past their mid 30's. But then again, that was a different era, as well. There was no year round training back then. There was no nutritional experts and advanced medical procedures to lengthen the player's careers. RB's would routinely carry the ball 350 times per season and hardly ever shared the load.

But then again, the rest of us do not have access to the crystal ball that you must be using. :D

https://6lli539m39y3hpkelqsm3c2fg-wp...32-675x380.jpg

Re: Running game
 

RB's are not QB's. Short shelf life. I'm not even making a prediction. The odds that Murray will have limited playing time as the season progresses is very high due to age. If Kamara and the rookie RB's remain healthy and produce he will be phased out.

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And where are you getting these "odds" that are "very high"? And from where are you pulling these facts that he will be "phased out"? They must both be coming from the same location. And I would think that Payton and Loomis would have access to these "very high odds" of yours. Perhaps your "wiseguys" run in different circles than theirs. I guess it was pretty damned stupid of them the sign Murray to a $14.4M contract with $7.2M guaranteed if they had known what you claim to know.

That said, my "very high odds" tell me that Murray will get pretty much the same number of touches that Ingram had been receiving while Kamara continues to share the load.

Oh, and short shelf lives go hand in hand with wear and tear. Most 30 year old RB's have played eight or more seasons. Murray is 29 and has only played FIVE seasons and has shared the load throughout. Apples and oranges.

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The stats come from every stat analysis on NFL RB's and production by age. If you believe he's going to be a great addition that's fine. Nothing wrong with having a different opinion but my opinion is based off of stats on what happens when RB's hit 29 plus years of age. Top that off with he has rushed for 1,000 yards one time in his career. He never was a great RB even in his prime.

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That's the point. He's just hitting his prime. Longevity is based upon wear and tear, not simply age. You are so hung up on the fact that he's 29 that you are ignoring the fact that most 29 year old NFL RB's have carried the ball twice as many times. He sat out his first full year after college. And he's always been in a shared backfield, just like Ingram.

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I've book marked this page.

Enjoy training camp :bng:

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I bookmarked all the ones on Meredith but it's pointless. I was right on that one but the "he's not well yet" timeout was called. The same will happen. An excuse will be made for Murray if he fails to deliver....meh. I will also eat crow if he does well unlike others regarding Meredith. I feel confident however because his age and stats on RB's close to 30 as it gets are on my side to the point it's damn near laughable he's going to do well.

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It is amazing that you know so much more about player evaluation than the so called professionals. You could have saved the Saints $7.2 million in fully guaranteed money if they would have only had your cell number.

And by the way, Meredith put up very good numbers when he was able to hit the field. You basically said he would suck even if healthy.

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This.

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^
This.

Re: Running game
 

I wasn’t aware we played 4 consecutive games against the Giants?