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Knowshon and Pierre

Now that the Saints have plugged their holes on defense, talk is beginning to concentrate on the "best player available" strategy in the draft--and a lot of that talk centers around drafting a running back, either Chris Wells or Knowshon Moreno.

We'll get into more detail on Moreno as a draft choice later on. But for now, I want to share an insight I had while researching Moreno's career and how he might fit with the Saints:

Knowshon Moreno is Pierre Thomas.

I can't think of anything Moreno would bring to the Saints that Thomas doesn't already provide. Here are Thomas's and Moreno's personal stats:

Pierre Thomas Knowshon Moreno
Height Weight 40 Time Height Weight 40 Time
5' 11" 215 4.66 5' 11" 217 4.60

Physically, Moreno and Thomas are virtually identical. Now, a comparison of their seasonal stats:

  Pierre Thomas Knowshon Moreno
Year Team Carries Yards Average Team Carries Yards Average
2004 Illinois 152 893 5.9        
2005 Illinois 127 664 5.2        
2006 Illinois 131 755 5.8        
2007 Saints 52 252 4.8 Georgia 248 1336 5.4
2008 Saints 129 625 4.8 Georgia 250 1400 5.6

Two things stand out: 1, that Thomas' college average was actually even better than Moreno's; and 2, that Thomas never had the workload that Moreno did. Moreno has proven that he can carry 250 times a season; but in New Orleans, would he? Would he, in fact, bring anything to the team that Thomas doesn't already give us?

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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