The Situation
by GRlZZ on May 9, 2011 2:25 AM CDT
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PrintNo, this is not a post about the Jersey Shore...but rather the Pontchartrain (South) Shore's 'Situation'. We all know it's coming, but we do not know what it is exactly. But the main point of this "situation" is: What are the Saints going to do about our RB's? Who stays? Who goes? Who Starts? Who sits?...you get the picture, right?
Here is a list of the RBs that were on our 2010 roster (at some point and to my knowledge):
Lynell Hamilton
PJ Hill
Chris Taylor
Yes, 10 running backs...I could understand having a couple extra for depth, special teams, etc...but to have 10 different running backs throughout the season is quite ridiculous. Maybe other teams have that many? I picked a couple random teams and did some research:
Chicago Bears - 5
NY Jets - 5
Oakland Raiders - 5
Detroit Lions - 5
...see any pattern? and YES that was 4 totally random teams (2 AFC, 2 NFC) and all 4 teams had exactly half the number of RBs on their rosters than we did last year. I know we had some injury concerns, but 10?? Not to mention we now have Ingram from the draft.
So lets start with who we keep? If we were to go with the "average" 5, the first 4 are pretty easy: Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, Chris Ivory, and Mark Ingram. Who's the 5th? Julius Jones and Ladell Betts got the majority of the work last year (of the backs not mentioned) but both are aging, and well...just not that great. I'd rather take one of the younger guys that could still be used on special teams and also have some room to grow. Lynell Hamilton got some playing time during the 2009 season, including the playoffs. 2010 he suffered a season ending injury before the season even started. Other than him the other backs really do not have much experience.
Next would be who starts? Does it really matter who "starts"? Not really...it's more political or a morale thing to me. I mean in basketball Manu Ginobili didn't start for years...but he is one of the best basketball players. But I guess you still have to name someone the starter at RB. Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory are both coming off injuries. Mark Ingram is a rookie, and might not have enough time to learn the offense (with the possible and probable shortened off-season). The mystery man would probably not have enough experience as well. And that leaves Saint Reginald, who has started 41 (out of 60) games in his career. With everyone coming back from injuries and learning the playbook, I'm sure this will change as the season goes on, but it looks as if the ball will be in Bush's hands to start the season.
As for the rest of the guys we had, I'm sure we'll keep them on speed dial just in case (lets pray we don't need to go there though). The practice squad rules are as follows:
According to league policy, only certain types of players are allowed to sign to the practice squad. Players cannot have played more than nine regular season games or been on the active roster for an entire year, nor can players be allowed to spend more than two seasons on the same team's squad unless that team's active roster never dips below 53 players.
I'm not sure exactly who that would encompass, but I would assume that Joique Bell and maybe PJ Hill could be there. So there you have it folks, will we end up with 10 running backs floating in and out of our roster again this year? Will there even be a "this year" is the real question here, but I'd like not to think about that right now, so let's just hope something gets settled so we can focus on what are RB depth chart will look like instead.
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 had a picture of “the situation” up originally, but thought it might keep people away, so now an awesome gorilla fight takes his place!
Security in this office park is a joke. Last year, I came to work with my spud gun in a duffel bag. I sat at my desk all day, with a rifle that shoots potatoes at 60 pounds per square inch. Can you imagine if I was deranged?
Saint Reginald, who has started 41 (out of 60) games in his career.
In Payton’s backfield, “starting” means nothing. Reggie has appeared in 60 of the 80 games in his 5 year career.
maybe PJ HillI think that experiment has run its course. I’m wondering if PhotoOp’s career is over with. If Joique has anything to offer, it could be him.
Everybody wants the same thing
To see another birthday
“In Payton’s backfield, "starting" means nothing”
Does it really matter who “starts”? Not really…it’s more political or a morale thing to me.
Security in this office park is a joke. Last year, I came to work with my spud gun in a duffel bag. I sat at my desk all day, with a rifle that shoots potatoes at 60 pounds per square inch. Can you imagine if I was deranged?
I think the obvious to start will be the two most expeirienced veterans for the Saints, Thomas and Bush. Of course, There will be plenty of rotation going around which is great because they are all good players and it may cut down on the injuries.
I think they keep 4, but if they decide to keep 5, I think it’s Hamilton they keep.
Chicago – 5
NY Jets – 5
Oakland Raiders – 5
Detroit Lions – 5
Name the five backs from each team, please. I have a feeling you’re including FBs.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Bears:
Kahlil Bell
Matt Forte
Chester Taylor
Harvey Unga
Garrett Wolfe
Jets: (I added one of there rookie RB’s this year on accident)
Shonn Greene
Chris Jennings
Joe McKnight
LaDainian Tomlinson
Raiders:
Michael Bennett
Michael Bush
Rock Cartwright
Darren McFadden
Louis Rankin
Lions:
Jahvid Best
Aaron Brown
Ian Johnson
Maurice Morris
Kevin Smith
Security in this office park is a joke. Last year, I came to work with my spud gun in a duffel bag. I sat at my desk all day, with a rifle that shoots potatoes at 60 pounds per square inch. Can you imagine if I was deranged?
Neither Rankin (signed in January) nor Johnson (signed in November) were a part of the active roster at the beginning of the 2010 season. Meaning you’re down to the Bears.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
And Wolfe is almost exclusively a return specialist, so that’s basically Courtney Roby’s roster spot.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
but to have 10 different running backs throughout the season is quite ridiculous
Security in this office park is a joke. Last year, I came to work with my spud gun in a duffel bag. I sat at my desk all day, with a rifle that shoots potatoes at 60 pounds per square inch. Can you imagine if I was deranged?
It definitely is. Just saying we didn’t go into the season with 10 and I don’t think we ever had more than four active at any given point. Hamilton and Hill both went down in preseason. Wynn, Betts and Jones weren’t picked up until later. Bell at the very end of the season, Taylor after the playoff game, if I’m not mistaken. Unless Roby’s role is inherited by a RB, I really don’t think we’ll exceed four. Even if it is, we may not.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
that’s why i said throughout the season though…and yeah we won’t go into any game with 5 RB’s but I’m sure we’ll end up with that 5th guy at some point, I wonder if we ever had 5 when Fred McAfee was on the roster for all those years
Security in this office park is a joke. Last year, I came to work with my spud gun in a duffel bag. I sat at my desk all day, with a rifle that shoots potatoes at 60 pounds per square inch. Can you imagine if I was deranged?
There won’t be a fifth HB kept. Teams may utilize five over the course of an entire season, but that’s typically due to an injury that occurs somewhere along the way, i.e., a replacement. Generally speaking, no team will go into Week 1 with five HBs on the active roster, nor will they have five active at any given time. At least, not any time after the final roster cutdowns. Even with 10 HBs, we never had more than four active at one time.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Strictly a guess … Ingram, Thomas, Ivory, Bell. Bush gets cut outright prior to training camp, despite everything that’s been said to the contrary. Bell beats out Hamilton for the 4th spot. That’s if Hamilton is even re-signed. He’s not currently under contract. No 5th back, at least at the onset of the season. There’s bound to be one at some point, though. As long as Thomas and Ivory are part of the mix, you can bet the farm on that.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Well, this has to go on the List because if you’re right, you’re going to crow like a banty rooster and no one will believe you and you’ll have to search for it etc etc.
I’d be happy to keep J Bell for the inevitable 5th reserve. I hope he develops.
"We don't spike the football.'' -- President Obama
What about possibly trading one of the “top 4” guys? I mean Ingram could be the only guy that I don’t think we would trade. Do Bush, Thomas, or Ivory have any kinda of “no trade” thing in their contracts? I’m not sure of all the details, but what would we trade for? and what would the value of each back be?
Security in this office park is a joke. Last year, I came to work with my spud gun in a duffel bag. I sat at my desk all day, with a rifle that shoots potatoes at 60 pounds per square inch. Can you imagine if I was deranged?
Bush has kind of a de facto no-trade...
…because no trade would happen without Bush agreeing to a restructured contract with the acquiring team. Therefore, he could effectively veto any potential trade he doesn’t like by simply refusing to negotiate with the potential trade partner. Or, more likely, he could refuse to negotiate with anybody, thereby forcing the Saints to release him.
by Grandmaster Wang on May 10, 2011 6:45 AM CDT up reply actions
That’s why I suggested tricking him into thinking he’s negotiating a long term deal with the Saints. Work out a trade behind the scenes for another contract year player, have that team do the same thing for a salary in the same ballpark, then swap players. When Bush’s agent calls with a counter offer, Loomis could just turn around and relay that information to his fellow GM on the other line. “$14M for 4 years … what do you think? Can you get me _____________ in that range?” Other GM: “Let me see what I can do”. BOOM! Four way negotiations that appear to be two way FTW.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Grizz, I don’t understand why you’d want to trade one of these backs. To you it doesn’t matter which one they trade as long as it’s not Ingram. We haven’t even seen Ingram play a down yet in the NFL, but we sure have seen the others play and I know what they could do. Sure, the Saints could get rid of them, but why should they when they could be of great use here. Get rid of one of these guys and we can’t get them back. If we have running back injuries again and all four of these guys are still here, we may not have to start looking for a Joique Bell or someone of his calliber.
We haven’t even seen Ingram play a down yet in the NFL, but we sure have seen the others play and I know what they could do.
If we have running back injuries again and all four of these guys are still here, we may not have to start looking for a Joique Bell or someone of his calliber.
Have you seen Joique Bell play a down in the NFL? If so, I’d like to know when. If not, perhaps Grizz is basing his “Ingram is better than at least ONE of these backs (Bush/Thomas/Ivory)” presumption on the same unseen factors that you’re basing your “Joique is of a lesser caliber than ALL of these backs (Bush/Thomas/Ivory)” presumption on.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Same goes pizza,
I haven’t seen Bell or Ingram play a down in the NFL, but I know what we have in the other players. Maybe he is basing Ingram being better than the other 3. My point is, why get rid of any of these guys when they could all contribute to this team. If two of these backs get hurt we still have two more good backs. Maybe we don’t have to go in search of a back that we don’t even know if he could hold a water bottle without dropping it.
By the way, I was replying to Grizz.
Put it this way,
If they ever do go to camp this year, that’s when we’ll be able to have a better picture on these backs. Until then, we could talk our heads off all we want, it’s doing no good. They might go to camp and everyone of them gets hurt. Hope to God not, but we won’t know who’s going or staying till then.
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