Am I Alone On This?

by Walter FTW on Mar 10, 2009 12:03 AM CDT Comment 34 comments

Generally speaking, I'm a cautiously pessimistic fan, the "well, looks like rain" type of guy forged in the fires of dismal Saints seasons and refined with heartbreaking playoff loss after heartbreaking playoff loss for the Colts. Despite that, I've really been pleased with the Saints' performance the past few years, at least regarding the offense. Number one two years out of three by traditional and advanced stats isn't bad; it's our defense, and really only our "pass defense," that's keeping us back from a Super Bowl. That said, I think I'm the only guy on this site who doesn't want to see LT in the gold and black.

Like I said, I've been very pleased with our offense. There's a lot of railing against our lack of balance offensively, but I think that we're just the West Coast taken to its zenith, a completely wide-open pass-first offense that actually has a considerably effective, if sparsely utilized, run game. We've got a mobile QB who can extend plays like a Jeff Garcia but with the accuracy and quick release of a Peyton Manning, protected by an o-line whose specialty across the board is pass blocking. This approach has only bitten us in the ass once or twice, when Drew's lost his cool and forced bad passes. The other games we lost (with the exception of the first Carolina game, which was just a perfect storm of terribleness) were the result of terrible special teams and safeties who bowed to the prowess of such luminaries as Kyle Orton and Gus Frerotte.

Reggie hasn't been consistent by any traditional measures, but the way he distracts defenses and opens up the game for the rest of the offense cannot be understated. For instance, 25 was a huge, huge factor in isolating Lance Moore one-on-one in the flats, and if you look at the games where Reggie was out, Moore had to go deep far more often (luckily, he was still quite effective doing that). Payton may try to do too much with Reggie, but no matter overly hyped he is, he's one cog that keeps our offense so potent, possibly even more so than Drew does.

LT on the other hand, regardless of possible wear and tear, would be transitioning to a vastly inferior run-blocking offense. Without Lorenzo Neal, his running was much less consistent, especially around the goal line; only with the ascent of Jacob Hester as a blocker late in the year did LT regain some of his dominance. In addition to that, his usual agility changing direction and his ability to break arm tackles were just gone lost year. He's still the most consistent threat in the NFL as a receiving RB (except, uh, Reggie) and would fit in to our system because of that. Ideally, he'd be used as our feature back, finally allowing Reggie to thrive as a third-down guy. Much more likely, however, is that LT would be as unreliable as anyone else behind crappy run blocking and a center who is just awful in zone blocking.

Beyond that, LT could be one expense too many for us, were Drew not to restructure his contract. Guys like Dave and MtnExile actually know our cap space and I don't, but I just have this unscientific creeping feeling that LT would push us too far toward the cap. And as a guy who knows a pretty good deal about Redskins history as well, I know that buying guys for short-term goals rarely, rarely works out like you expect it to.

In short, the best indicator of future behavior is prior behavior:

1) Running backs do not age well.

2) Free agents have a tendency to be farther up the hill than fans realize.

3) All o-lines are not created equal.

3a) With the exceptions of Marshall Faulk and Barry Sanders, almost no RB can transcend a less equal o-line.

Like always, I hope for the best but anticipate the worst. Feel free to disagree with me, but I just have a really bad feeling about this.

This FanPost was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.

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I agree

Haven’t really been active in the LT threads because i’ve been moping around the Karney threads still. I have to say, bringing LT over just wouldn’t be worth it. Unless he wants to take less money we just dont have the cap room for him. We all know he’s not taking less money, thats what this whole cut/trade hooplah is about in the first place. I dont really see anyone restructuring their own contracts to bring LT over either.

It would be nice to have a real feature back. Who knows, maybe if we give PT the carries he could do it. I still think he could. PT runs HARD. He’s fast, quick feet, runs low, and he hits fools. Grab a goal line running back on the cheap and we’ll be good.

Use the little bit of cap room we have left on defense.

by fruly on Mar 10, 2009 1:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You're not alone, Walter

I tried to analyze what is happening, or not happening, or might happen, with the LT situation…but that doesn’t mean I want it to happen. Drew may be good friends with Tomlinson, but championships are built on an entirely different framework than the buddy network.

What I favor is giving Pierre Thomas the chance that he’s earned, and giving Reggie one more season to find the form he had at USC. Tomlinson probably still has some gas left in the tank; but if we really need another back, we should find him in the draft.

RE-SIGN LANCE MOORE!!!!

by MtnExile on Mar 10, 2009 6:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm torn......

I know LT has some wear and tear but there hasn’t been anything major……right? No knee surgeries or scopes. If this were to happen, what would be the possibility of a one year deal? Just something like a Vilma deal to see how he holds up.

Am I alone by saying that I am curious to see what would happen? To see if he could rush for 1,100 yards in our offense? Just think about our offense with a running back that may be able to put up those kind of yards. I’m going to have to say that I’m for it. Only for a one year deal though.

Besides, if he becomes available and Drew wants him, I believe he will find himself in black and gold. Or maybe in the famous words of Carrie Underwood, " It’s Just A Dream"

by dmcgoey on Mar 10, 2009 8:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"...a running back that may be able to put up those kind of yards."

You mean like Pierre Thomas?

Last year, Pierre Thomas had 625 yards on 129 attempts. If he’d gotten the same number of carries as Tomlinson—and 2008 was LT’s worst year in number of carries—Thomas could have had a 1,400-yard season. Those are All-Pro numbers.

Thomas has been remarkably consistent. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry last year. He average 4.8 yards per carry in his rookie year. There’s no reason to believe he couldn’t average near that amount if his carries increased. I say give him a chance. LT is a Charger; PT is a Saint. Let’s support him.

RE-SIGN LANCE MOORE!!!!

by MtnExile on Mar 10, 2009 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I love hearing everyone's faith in PT

I like LT, but I love PT. I agree with Walter and John Lennon. Let lT be. (that’s a lowercase "L")

Walter pretty muched nailed it as to why it would be a bad idea. If LT was in the backfield, it would draw more attention, and open things up a bit more for Drew. Honestly, I’d rather have them plan for Drew and let PT run, and run, and run. I think this year Payton will finally let PT run on 1st down and give us better down and distance, which will naturally open up a lot of options, and make us more potent than before. Throwing LT in th mix would derail the whole learning process Payton has gone through over the past couple of years.

Not to mention our mindset should be…..Defense Defense Defense.

looking forward to 2010

by asaint on Mar 10, 2009 9:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree

Let PT roll, he’s the next Dalton Hilliard, who also can catch a pass out the backfield. We need Def., and Def depth, Def. schemes, Not LT…..If he’s a singleback and it’s 3 and 1 the whole stadium knows whos getting the ball..

You think you know, and you don't know, and you never, ever will know..Jim Mora Sr.

by metryman on Mar 10, 2009 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i agree with everything you said EXCEPT the part about Reggie possibly being more important than Brees to our offense. I don’t care how much attention he demands from the defense, we can do without him. We can’t do without Brees. i.e. Vikings

Dud has spoken.

by Super Dud on Mar 10, 2009 9:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Rec'd it.

The ONLY way I would feel good about LT coming here, would be if Reggie stays. Reggie has too much potential.

This might be heresy on this site, but I wouldn’t mind the Saints trading Pierre Thomas and a first round pick next year for LT. I think that would be a fair trade. Then trade our first round pick this year, for a first rounder next year, with say, oh, a team in the top five this year. That way, we get our first rounder back for next year, and draft Taylor Mays! Brilliant!!!

Thanks Deuce!

by Hollywoo! on Mar 10, 2009 11:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Heresy! Heresy!

Burn him! Or build a bridge out of him.

RE-SIGN LANCE MOORE!!!!

by MtnExile on Mar 10, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

HAHA!

Thanks Deuce!

by Hollywoo! on Mar 10, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

no

not even funny……seriously

looking forward to 2010

by asaint on Mar 10, 2009 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We tell the Lions this year...

You go ahead and draft the Tackle from Baylor with the first pick. If/when Sanches or Stafford fall to us, we’ll trade you our 14th pick and one of our 4th rounders, we get your second round pick this year, and your first round pick next year. You get your franchise O-Lineman, franchise QB, all in one draft. Brilliant!!!

Thanks Deuce!

by Hollywoo! on Mar 10, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Lions also have the 20th pick

Brilliant!

RE-SIGN LANCE MOORE!!!!

by MtnExile on Mar 10, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I forgot about that…I wonder if any team has ever had three picks in the first round?

That would be too tempting for them to pass up, I’d think. We might be able to squeeze a little more out of them…

I’m telling yall, the more I’m thinking about this, the more I’m liking it. Watch out for a trade with the Lions…

Thanks Deuce!

by Hollywoo! on Mar 10, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

NYJETS had four first rounders in 2000 or 2001

without looking it up, I think they took: chad pennington, shaun ellis, jon abraham, and maybe a te..becht?

The Detroit Lions are on the clock!

by HansDat on Mar 10, 2009 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

where is the burn button?

PT is the man!

I have asked this before but here goes again.

What has PT not done to earn the job?

by MT_always on Mar 10, 2009 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Get drafted

In fact, he failed to be drafted second overall. Major sin, there.

RE-SIGN LANCE MOORE!!!!

by MtnExile on Mar 10, 2009 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Put the pitch forks and torches away!...step away from the gate!!

Wow! haha…got a rise there.

I like PT too, but I think that LT is an upgrade over him. He’s freaking LT, for cripe’s sake!. He played with an injury last year. PT has is GOOD, he has value , which the Chargers would require in any trade. That’s why I threw him out there.

The thought of Reggie and LT in the same backfield makes me….let me think….you know how your little puppy gets when he is excited to see you after you get home, and he pees all over himself. That’s what I just did…

Thanks Deuce!

by Hollywoo! on Mar 10, 2009 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

right..

so.. lets trade away a young stud that has gotten better every year.. for a old stud that is on the decline.

so.. lets trade away a young stud that has gotten better every year.. for a old stud that is on the decline.Did I not see that if you gave PT the same amount of carries as LT he would have dwarfed his yardage?Now that’s not a prefect science but … We don’t let PT carry the ball often yet he still does the job, and brings in respectable numbers.
We don’t need a overpriced RB.. we have one of those already.
Now if Brees says he will pay LT with his own money to play for us.. I might reconsider. I am not knocking LT I am just knocking the idea we pay a monster salary for another back when we have a back in PT.

by MT_always on Mar 10, 2009 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

arrrrrg

the stutter got me!

by MT_always on Mar 10, 2009 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s really bizarre.

88!

by stujo4 on Mar 10, 2009 10:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yah

now it happens at home too.
Not sure what the cause is, but it must be something I am doing not the computer.

by MT_always on Mar 10, 2009 10:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

probably stress related

All that commuting. Road rage coming out on the keyboard somehow.

88!

by stujo4 on Mar 10, 2009 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

what the heck happened? LOL

Thanks Deuce!

by Hollywoo! on Mar 11, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not thinking long term here

I’m thinking Super Bowl NOW!!!

With our QB, we need to make moves that make us better now. The future is now. That is a hard concept for us Saints fans to grasp, I realize…

It’s a moot point anyway…LT signed with the Chargers. Believe it or not, I’m glad. Now Brees has some ‘spainin’ to do to Reggie…

Thanks Deuce!

by Hollywoo! on Mar 11, 2009 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Alright...

LT gives us no better chance for a superbowl than PT. Just because he is LT doesn’t mean he is an upgrade.

There I said it….

looking forward to 2010

by asaint on Mar 12, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

and PT too.

by MT_always on Mar 11, 2009 11:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Keep in mind

the fact that we have one of … correction… the most productive offense in the NFL. Conversely, we have glaring needs on the defensive side of the ball. Throw in our salary cap woes and it begs the question of why spend an absurd amount of moolah on offense when it could more wisely spent on a defensive player. If we can afford to pay LT why can’t we afford to pay a stud on defense?

Hot Boudin, Cold Cous Cous, Comon Tigers Poosh Poosh Poosh!

by Barrylsu5 on Mar 12, 2009 4:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

boy I can't wait till the season starts...

this season is it! This is the settling season. Injuries and all, it doesn’t matter. Let’s see what happens guys. Let’s see what happens…because you guys know what I feel about this. I don’t even have to say it!

Don't worry I got your back cuz...

by TAYDIGGA on Mar 12, 2009 7:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs