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Around SBN: Full Coverage of 2012 Coke 600

Mea Culpa

Long ago--so long ago that I didn't even bother searching for it, but Stu could tell you if Dave would let him back in--I predicted that the Saints would have a top-5 rushing attack in 2011. Well, the last game is in the books now, and it looks like I blew it.

They're ranked #6.

Going by rushing yards per game--which is the default setting on the stats page on NFL.com--the Saints trail Denver, Houston, Carolina, Minnesota, and Philadelphia. Going by total yards, they trail the same teams, in the same order.

But if you go by average per rush, the Saints jump over Denver into a tie for 4th place (at 4.9 yards a pop). So, in a sense, I was right after all. Oh, what the hell, one must stick up for oneself, must one not? So I'm calling this a win. Deal with it.

But there's something more interesting (even to me) than being proved right: the teams that stand above the Saints in per-carry average are Carolina, Minnesota, and Philadelphia, with Buffalo tied. And all those teams are sitting at home this offseason, watching along with us fans.

What that means is the Saints are the best rushing team in the playoffs. They're in a better position than anyone to win on the road, on grass, in bad weather, etc.

And pretty soon, by the only measure that really matters, they're going to be ranked #1 overall.

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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What that means is the Saints are the best rushing team in the playoffs. They’re in a better position than anyone to win on the road, on grass, in bad weather, etc.

That’s the way I see it.

On another note, just because Stujo has been banned from commenting doesn’t mean he can’t read along, right?

In Breesus' name we play

by Breesus Christ Superstar on Jan 2, 2012 10:55 AM CST reply actions  

Yeah he can still read. For that matter, if he just gets a new email address, he could probably get away with sneaking back in through the back door. He’d have to completely change his personality to not be a @)(*$# all the time, but if he did he could probably get away with it.

by FriarBob on Jan 2, 2012 12:26 PM CST up reply actions  

Ha HA he tried that a little while ago

He posted his acct. index under a different name
It wasn’t up long so I dont think he fooled anyone
I guess he’s reading what your writing lol

by mississippisaintsfan on Jan 2, 2012 10:26 PM CST up reply actions  

I saw. He wasn’t even remotely close to subtle enough about that one.

by FriarBob on Jan 3, 2012 12:26 AM CST up reply actions  

ya know

i was JUST looking at the rushing stats on espn.com and didn’t put this together. all i cared about was seeing where detroit, san fran, and green bay stacked up rushing wise. it’s a comforting fact to be the best rushing team in the post season, and i feel, like you said, it will only serve to our benefit if/when we are met with varying conditions.
Ivory is coming on strong and it’s been overdue for a few weeks now, which makes me happy to no end. add in thomas and sproles, and again just like you said, extreme conditions stand no chance versus our line and stable of backs.

The Pirates of Poydras will rule this day

by Nola5712 on Jan 2, 2012 10:56 AM CST reply actions  

just don’t look at defensive stats.

49ers only allowed 77.2 YPG…. #2 is Baltimore @ 92.6

SF and BAL are tied for #1 in YPC against @ 3.5.

by Dan Kelly on Jan 2, 2012 11:35 AM CST up reply actions  

And if Ivory can stay healthy it will be huge for us

The guy is a frigging beast!

I spent 8 years trying to reach him...and then another 7 trying to keep him locked up because I realized what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply...Evil.

Dr. Sam Loomis Aka (Donald Pleasence)

by Jricky70 on Jan 2, 2012 11:23 AM CST reply actions  

Ivory stay healthy?

Are you kidding?

"So I'll leave you with this. And I say this with all sincerity, right from the bottom of my heart, and with all due respect: Lick my balls." Grandmaster Wang

by DrWhoDat on Jan 2, 2012 1:26 PM CST up reply actions  

Last year, obviously not.

This year? Well he has so far. And while he’s only played a bit under 2/3rds as much for the year, we haven’t heard ONE thing about him being injured since the Rams game.

Maybe he’s just getting lucky. It’s possible.

But we also know that every NFL player is going to be at least a little bit injured at this point in the season. It’s just simply the name of the game. He might just have learned how to handle the minor bumps and bruises this year that he couldn’t handle last year.

by FriarBob on Jan 2, 2012 3:59 PM CST up reply actions  

Or, if you look at it another way...

Having a top YPC rushing game (at least this season) didn’t help those 4 teams get into the playoffs.

And, YPG didn’t help 3 of those teams get in either.

DREW BREEEEEEEEEEEES!!!

by Dan Kelly on Jan 2, 2012 11:32 AM CST reply actions  

DREW BREEEEEEEEEEEES!!!

“The Greatest Show On Earth”

I spent 8 years trying to reach him...and then another 7 trying to keep him locked up because I realized what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply...Evil.

Dr. Sam Loomis Aka (Donald Pleasence)

by Jricky70 on Jan 2, 2012 11:47 AM CST reply actions   1 recs

I am sad that Ingram will be unavailable, but...

I have to admit that if he weren’t injured, IN SPITE OF THE LAST 4 WEEKS, Payton would probably play him and sit Ivory since there is so much invested in Ingram. But, we are much better with a 3-headed monster of Sproles, PT, and Ivory. The contrast of Sproles being the extreme different runner as compared to Ivory and PT kind of in the middle is good. If you take Ivory out, Ingram is a lot like PT so there is less contrast, IMO.

"We've established the run; we've established the pass. Now all we have to establish is another championship!"

by Philinwood on Jan 2, 2012 11:57 AM CST reply actions  

But, we are much better with a 3-headed monster of Sproles, PT, and Ivory.

This remark gets the BRSaintsFan Seal of Approval.©

"Move over Marino, there's a new Brees coming through town!"-Jim Henderson

by BRSaintsFan on Jan 2, 2012 12:03 PM CST up reply actions  

BRSaintsFan Seal of Approval.©

That, and 25 cents, will get you a 25 cent cup of coffee. Or should I say that and $6.75 will get you a Starbucks over priced something or other that contains 25 cents worth of coffee.

"Move over Marino, there's a new Brees coming through town!"-Jim Henderson

by BRSaintsFan on Jan 2, 2012 12:06 PM CST up reply actions  

and Ivory has earned it and is quite impressive.

It must be quite a headache for defenses trying to keep track of which of the three RBs is in the game, and then doing the receiver inventiry- "is Graham in? Colston? Henderson – deep threat- Meachem- hey who is #17 ?, and then the RBs turn out to be PT AND Sproles, and then the next play it starts all over gain, except on that play Brees throws to Collins. Whoa, how do you not get unnerved if you are an opposing LB ( or safety) ? You probably don’t even know your assignment until like 1.5 seconds pre snap. And if we throw a third down pass to Gilmore or Higgins that just must make them want to commit Hari Kari.

Now I understand why we see so much zone. There is too much changeover for defenses to do man and not be running around unprepared right before the snap.

"We've established the run; we've established the pass. Now all we have to establish is another championship!"

by Philinwood on Jan 2, 2012 12:03 PM CST reply actions  

Shame about Ingram, we might have been top 5

with him getting more touches, but the way Ivory runs( an his injury bug may behind him) with such violence, Sproles speed, and PT’s straight ahead yards, dragging defenders with him, just wow. Big Mo on ourside. Who Dat!

You think you know, and you don't know, and you never, ever, will.-Jim Mora Sr.
I understand ....nothing.-Michael Scott
The Future is Unwritten.-Joe Strummer
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."-Mahatma Gandhi

by metryman on Jan 2, 2012 12:04 PM CST reply actions  

Meachem has been coming alive again

And when he does, look out!

I spent 8 years trying to reach him...and then another 7 trying to keep him locked up because I realized what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply...Evil.

Dr. Sam Loomis Aka (Donald Pleasence)

by Jricky70 on Jan 2, 2012 12:05 PM CST reply actions  

Even Devery showed up again.

Don’t be surprised to see him get some touches in the playoffs; he’s the forgotten receiver.

And maybe Marlon Brando will be there by the fire,
We'll sit and talk of Hollywood, and the good things there for hire...

by Doc Boudin on Jan 2, 2012 1:56 PM CST up reply actions  

Will he be running more end arounds?

Jeez, even that worked yesterday…although it should have gone for a score.

"Sinn Féin, motherf*****s!"

by MtnExile on Jan 2, 2012 4:05 PM CST up reply actions  

Ingram has the lowest ypc stat of the 4 rbs so I don' think he would have pushed our running game upward

Ivory is averaging almost 1 yard extra per carry , PT 1.5 and Sproles 2.5 exyra yds per carry.

"We've established the run; we've established the pass. Now all we have to establish is another championship!"

by Philinwood on Jan 2, 2012 12:06 PM CST reply actions  

plus, it's nice to have one RB that can actuallt puniush defenders.

"We've established the run; we've established the pass. Now all we have to establish is another championship!"

by Philinwood on Jan 2, 2012 12:07 PM CST reply actions  

Did Stu get banned again??

I get sick a few days, and Bam—another one bites the dust. Maybe we need a "The Stu is : In, Out, Banned sign.

by Ship on Jan 3, 2012 2:41 PM CST reply actions  

is there another color besides green?? If we get enough recs for that pic can it go into some sort of hall of fame for pics????

by Saintsfan75 on Jan 6, 2012 4:03 AM CST reply actions  

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