Pierre Thomas again
by MtnExile on Aug 26, 2008 4:03 PM CDT
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PrintThomas got...well, not some love, but a peck on the cheek at least from NFL.com. In a story about preseason performance, Pat Kirwin wrote:
There were some gems to be discovered during Week 3 of the preseason last year...Little-known running backs Pierre Thomas of the Saints and Selvin Young of the Broncos made the best of their opportunities, with Thomas rushing 11 times for 90 yards...
That's an average of 8.2 yards per carry against the Chiefs. He followed that up by gaining a solid 4.8 yards per carry for 2007...including 5.25 yards per carry, for 105 yards, in his only start.
This year, he hit 9.2 against Cincinnati. He's proven, every time he's been given a chance, that he is a legit, starter-quality NFL rusher.
Nothing new here, I know...but sometimes things have to be said over and over before they begin to penetrate. Let Pierre have the damn ball.
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All right, that's enough
That’s an average of 8.2 yards per carry against the Chiefs
The Chefs’ (sic) defense is much worse than the Saints’. Bad. Nothing to brag about here, let’s move on.
He followed that up by gaining a solid 4.8 yards per carry for 2007
He had 52 carries. FOR THE WHOLE YEAR!
including 5.25 yards per carry, for 105 yards, in his only start.
… and the Saints STILL LOST THE GAME. Weren’t those a lot of junk yards he got, after the game was essentially decided and the Bears put the second string in, to save their starters for the playoffs? Which brings us to…
This year, he hit 9.2 against Cincinnati. He’s proven, every time he’s been given a chance, that he is a legit, starter-quality NFL rusher.
The Bengals’ D sucks!!! It’s a preseason game!!! It means nothing!!! I once saw a back named Brown (I think) who really tore it up for the Chiefs in a preaseason game, and I mean he ran over and around everybody. I thought Man, this kid is good. He was 4th string or something and they’ve since cut him. Preseason!! Means nothing!!!
I love Pierre. I want to see him be Deuce’s successor. When the time is right. I don’t know that the time is right, right now. I don’t know. I would HATE to see him thrown out there and fail, and have all of our hopes crushed AGAIN. It’s not time yet. Be patient. Larry Johnson sat on the bench at KC (in his diapers, according to coach Vermeil) for a couple of years while Priest Holmes ran to the end of his career. Watch and learn, son. I think that’s right.
Okay, I guess I better answer
First, my intention in posting this was simply to demonstrate that Saints fans are not the only ones who have taken notice of Thomas.
Now, point by point:
1. Is the preseason really meaningless? I grant that the level of competition is not what it is during the regular season; but at the same time, the intensity is sometimes even higher. There are a lot of players fighting for a spot, and they all know that any play could be their last, best chance to make an impression.
Besides, if preseason really meant nothing, then no decisions could be made based on what happens. Is Pierre Thomas or Lynell Hamilton the better back? How about Sedrick Ellis vs. Orien Harris—which do you choose? If not by performance in actual game situations, then by what criterion?
2. The Chiefs and the Bengals did, and do, indeed have bad defenses. But the Saints’ running game was not uniformly good in either game. Antonio Pittman, who lost his position to Thomas, rushed the same number of times in the Chiefs game for only 36 yards. McAllister rushed 6 times for only 14 yards in that game, and 6 times for only 9 yards against the Bengals. Thomas’ rushing was the only common thread. (To be fair, he rushed 9 times for 9 yards against the Cardinals…another pitiful defense. How to explain that?)
3. Re the Chicago game: yeah, we lost, but because of the performance on special teams…not because of the lack of a running game. And no, the Bears weren’t saving their first string for the playoffs—they were 7-9. In fact, they played for pride. It was the Saints that entered the game with a chance at the playoffs—the Bears had nothing to play for but a win, and they got it by playing hard. If you check the game stats, you’ll see that it was the first team defense on the field. Thomas got most of his rushes and yards in the first half, before the game was out of hand, not in garbage time.
I’m not saying Thomas must start. But Deuce is coming off of double knee surgery, and we have someone on the team who apparently can be used to spell Deuce to the tune of more than 52 carries. Other people have noticed…why not the Saints’ staff? (Of course, maybe they do intend to use him per my suggestions, in which case: you’re welcome. Glad to help.)
Good points, but let me respond
1. Yes, preseason is meaningless in the sense that if a RB has good numbers in preseason, then it stands to reason that he will do well in the regular season. He might. But it’s not a guarantee, not by a long shot.
2. See 1 above.
3. I concede. I’m old and my memory sucks. And I erased the tape of that game. Not one I wanted to watch again.
Let me say again that I own PT in a keeper fantasy league and if he does blow up this year and become a star, I’m going to look like a genius, and I love that. I just don’t think it’s going to happen and I don’t think we should pressure the coaches to try to make it happen. If any pressure should be applied, it’s on the defense and Gibbs.
Man Crush
I have it huge for PT.
I love Deuce! He IS the man.
I have hope for Reggie. He COULD be the other Man.
I love PT! I WANT him to be the Man.
Steck, I guess I like having him around but don’t find anything special there.
4 backs is at least 1 to many, If we count Reggie as a *other back, and put Deuce and PT in as a 2 back committee maybe?
MT
I'll tell you who dat!
Deuce, starter…the beast. the one people are afraid of, even with two new knees (faster, stronger, better knees just like brees’s arm!)
Bush and PT change of pace/spell backs…they are young, versatile, and still have a lot to prove. you really think starting PT is gonna get us anywhere? i agree with the many wise posts that say “give it time” people!
Steck, Mr Steck, is a BACK UP RB…he is the perfect backup. he doesnt complain. he performs when he is called upon.
Lets all listen to the words of Guns ’N Roses…“all we need is just a little patience.”
well, not that much with Bush…he better perform in a big way this year!
My hope is....
Payton knows what he’s got in Pierre, but he’s giving Duece his due, and he is planning on blowing everybody’s mind with another unknown gem when the timing is appropriate.
Having a weapon that defense’s don’t plan for could be pretty awesome too. If everyone worries about, Colston, Shockey, Bush, and Duece, and we keep his name out the media, and he gets over 4-5ypc, he would be like the invisible hand that no one sees.
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