the voice of reason. A fresh Bell is better than a tired Thomas. A fresh Thomas is better than a tired Bell. And Bush, hell y’all, he’s got gold shoes. ’Nuff said!

Seriously, folks, although Bush seems to be the weaker of the three it is still a triple threat that the opposition takes very seriously. With Sean Payton at the helm, any one of them could turn into a receiver at the drop of a hat! With Colston and Co. on the outside don’t you think the linebackers are seeing quadrouple? Instead of the wildcat, I think the Saints could invent the Rabid Dog and start handing off to wide receivers. With this bunch, the sky is the limit!!!!

As I’ve said before, I’m sure a few times during a game Payton sends in a play, turns to the team on the sideline and says, “Y’all watch this shit!”

Haven’t had this much fun since my divorce! Gave you a rec there, thekourt!

SAINTS 42 – falcons 17

I’ve ALWAYS been a fan of Bell. I never cared much for PT. They are two VERY different backs.

Bell – has excellent vision, good pop, strong and aggressive. Plays bigger than he is, but he’s got poor stamina. Relies on initiating contact or making a quick move to break free.

Thomas – has decent vision, decent pop, aggressive to the hole (not necessarily with contact), and very good balance. Relies on strong downhill running and balance to break arm tackles.

In the end, I think Bell is a better runningback. Vision is one of the most important traits for a back to have. He reminds me a lot of Emmitt Smith in his running style, ability to follow blockers, and finishing of the play. Bell kills himself for that last yard every play.

There have been other backs similar to Thomas that were only successful for a short time. Jamal Anderson and Shaun Alexander come to mind right away. These were downhill runners that ran hard through arm tackles and relied on balance to keep their feet for some big gains. Defenses adjusted after 1 or 2 seasons at the most and understood they needed to get solid contact and wrap them up in order to be successful. The result is neither of them being productive anymore. Moreso Jamal than Shaun. I think Shaun’s injury had a lot to do with everything as well.

The point is, Mike Bell will be good consistently each and every week. Thomas will go out one week and rack up 150 yards, then post 50 the following week. It’s all dependent on how the other team tackles.

Bell should get the majority of the carries with Thomas spelling him and Bush getting his change of pace looks. That’s my two cents worth.

that most teams play the 2 back system effectivly including the saints(who happen to play 3)
unless you have a back like adrian peterson thats the smart way to play it and i like the shockey plan also he has great hands and is always pumped up to play

i actually think bell is a better option in the second half. after the D has been on the field for an entire half, thier legs aren’t as fresh. thats when bell can really do his damage.(see chaning crowder)

of course, really cant disagree with bell playing the first half either. i see your point