April 27, 2017
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Swimming Coach at Central High
I am trying to stay positive and composed. I want to trust in Payton’s offensive decisions, but I am have having a very difficult time being optimistic about signing Adrian Peterson.
I think he can still be an effective player in the league, but I don’t see Ingram and Peterson blending when both need around 15 carries each in a game to be effective. Adrian Peterson has never been a running back to get a few carriers here and there over the course of a game. Before anyone asks the question, yes it makes a difference.
In fairness, I am going to try and find some scenarios where this makes sense. The first option would be if the Saints are going to trade Mark Ingram. I don’t think they could get much for Ingram. But if the Saints got a quality draft pick or player for Ingram, then they would have a better lead running back for less money. I can then see taking a running back in the draft or trusting our ability to sign a quality undrafted free agent running back who fits our scheme.
The second option is almost too unlikely to type. The Saints could decide to be a balanced offense. If the Saints run the ball a minimum of over 30 times a game, then this could work. There are three huge obstacles, though. The defense would have to be decent enough to where the Saints aren’t always playing from behind. The bigger obstacle would be Payton putting the ball in Ingram and Peterson’s hands as often as his Hall of Fame quarterback. The biggest obstacle would be calling as many or in some cases more running plays when it easy to see that Payton and Carmichael enjoy carving defenses up with the pass. The dream of passing the ball in their dreams, not running.
The only other option I see this working out is when one of them gets injured, the other is ready to carry the load. Otherwise, the Saints still need an elite corner, dominant pass rushing specialist, and someone to replace Cooks’ receptions whether it is a running back, tight end, or receiver.
I was pumped for the draft, but I am really concerned now. The Saints have 5 picks in the first 103 picks, so I can look forward to a player every 20 picks. That is great! But are the Saints going to waste one of those picks on a quarterback that will sit for 2-3 years when they have huge holes to fill and the Brees window is almost closed? I didn’t think so before this week, but I didn’t think the Saints would choose a 32 year old running back over maybe picking a running back in the second or third round that is a receiving threat (Alvin Kamara perhaps).
After all the off season talk about improving the defense, the plan appears to be for the biggest free agent signee to be an offensive lineman (Warford). Meanwhile the biggest free agent defensive signees are a backup linebacker from Carolina (Klein) and Alex Okafor? Do the Saints have so much confidence in the quality of defensive players in the draft that they are going to drastically improve the defense with a rookie corner and a rookie pass rusher?
I guess I am not doing a good job of staying positive. I am a little panicked at this point as you can tell. Normally, I would remind everyone that the process of putting together the 2017 New Orleans Saints roster is a long process that still has many steps. I guess I need to remind myself this time.
Since LSU’s Spring Game was abbreviated, I am sure I can get away with abbreviated takeaways.
• As I said last week in previewing the game, let’s leave the schemes out of the discussion. One thing is clear, though. Matt Canada will make a defense think and in theory that should keep defenses from playing as fast or loading up the box.
• LSU’s defense certainly looked fast Saturday night. LSU is going to lose 3 defensive backs to the draft, and the secondary still looks awesome. The defensive backs looked much more comfortable playing the ball in the air. I love how smooth Delpit looked on the first deep ball. He looked like a veteran.
• No need to panic on the passing game since LSU has not had one in years. There is at least hope for improvement since it is obvious Canada is willing to try anything to make things work.
• Naturally, there was a lot to enjoy when watching the defense. The tackling was magnificent. The team ran to the football well. There weren’t any obvious busted assignments. The depth on the defensive line looks very good considering Lacoutre, Key, and others did not play.
• The only position left to talk about on defense is linebacker and the only concern is depth. Divinity and White looked fabulous. The only question is if any of the incoming freshman can provide depth.
• Back to offense, LSU will have to rely more heavily on Guice than any other running back in recent history. Canada will make it hard for defensive coordinators to just out number us to stop Guice. My guess is we will see Donte Jackson on offense some and that will help in the speed sweep.
Finally, the quarterback issue. I think people should listen to Orgeron and take him literally. The reason the position of quarterback is an open competition is because LSU does not have a quarterback that matches the talent of the team.
Let me explain the situation through my obsolete golf game. Back when I played, I could not hit the ball in the fairway with my driver. So I hit my 3 wood off the tee. I sacrificed distance to get the ball in the fairway, but only because hitting my driver was simply not an option. LSU does not have a quality starting quarterback on their roster (driver). Like me, the Tigers need a quarterback that will at least give them a chance off the tee. The LSU coaches would be perfectly happy with a quarterback that manages the game with accurate short passes or make plays with their feet, which is what I did with my 3 wood. The problem is Orgeron and staff don’t feel like they even have a reliable 3 wood in the bag. As a result, they will keep all options open, including hitting an iron off the tee every once in a while.
Even more to the point, with Canada’s flexibility, LSU will be willing to play a quarterback that is able to run a lot and throw a little or manage the game efficiently. To this point, LSU does not have either. It is clear that Orgeron is saying that nobody has shown the consistent ability to provide either option. As a result, Orgeron is going to keep all options available as long as possible, including praying the Myles Brennan shows up in August and can somehow provide quality quarterback play.
HEY REF
The opening bell will ring in Philly tonight signaling the start of the annual NFL draft of collegiate players. But before the first player is taken the New Orleans Saints made some headlines somewhere around 48 hrs ago by signing former Minnesota Viking great Adrian Peterson. Finally some sense is coming out of New Orleans after acting like a thief in the night when it began to do what the mayor has threatened to do and has begun taking down some Civil War Memorial Monuments. That action is of course for another day and time.
I was wondering if the Saints’ management had the balls to pull the strings and bring the best running back that’s been on the open market in decades down to the Big Easy. All the press I’ve seen and read has Peterson’s signing to be a backup to Mark Ingram. But hold on for a second since the experts at “Hey Ref” considering the possibility that Peterson could in fact come in and be given a shot at starting. I know many will think I’m crazy and you’d be right since I worked the sidelines for some 25 years in Louisiana’s high school ranks and should’ve walked away much sooner than what I did. That subject is also for another day and time.
I did a little research into Ingram’s professional history and his stats are far from being stellar. In fact they are close to being considered a washout in my thinking. Ingram came to N. O. seven years ago as the 28th pick after playing for fan favorite Nick Saban’s Alabama Tide. Career stats are as follows; 953 attempts for 4,238 yards and 32 touchdowns. I did the math and his averages are 136 running attempts a year for 605 yards for a total of 4.5 touchdowns.
Does anyone see in those numbers a future hall of famer? If you do then you’ll no doubt think we should raise more and more taxes to help these sorry politicians in the Bayou State live better than 90% of the rest of us. I know Peterson has been having injury problems the last couple of years but I’d be willing to put my money on him before even considering Mark Ingram. If at the end of the day Peterson isn’t given a chance to win the starting job then all of the money and effort to bring him down south will be for naught.
The “ice” Coach Payton is standing on isn’t too thick since he hasn’t produced a Super Bowl caliber team since the ONE, LONE victory in Super Bowl 44. We’re now getting ready to begin the run for Super Bowl 52 on Feb. 14, 2018 in of all places the dome in Minneapolis. And yes; Virginia this is the very same city where Adrian Peterson made his mark in the league. Anyone that knows anything about professional football will say without hesitation Peterson is a sure bet to enter Canton’s NFL Hall of Fame. So, this castoff has a chance to show not only the city that didn’t think he could play and/or produce on an NFL field but to the entire football world that a huge mistake was made in letting him go.
With that I’ll finish my “insider” view of the Peterson deal. My next “insider” deal to go along with Peterson is the deal New Orleans must make. That is of course signing the best raw talent for a position that the Saints have ignored for too long now. The Tony Romo/Rayne “Dak” Prescott ordeal in Dallas last year was an all too familiar thing in that the modern game requires a player that can come off the bench and run the team as if nothing is a miss. New Orleans has not signed an NFL caliber player at the quarterback position since Drew Brees made his way here from Sunny California. He’s just 6 foot tall and that’s on the small side for an NFL starting QB that’s starting the season at a young 38 and will turn 39 on Jan. 15 next year.
So, does Brees have enough in the tank to make another sixteen game season plus any extra playoff games? I’d be a fool to bet against him at the start of the year but as we all know Father Time doesn’t creep up athletes so when his playing days are over they’ll end at the drop of a hat. With the 11th pick in this year’s draft the Saints must not mess around with a “maybe” pick. If the club has plans of making a run at being a contender this year and the next few down the road then pulling Clemson’s six foot three inch (6’3”) QB Deshaun Watson out of South Carolina and putting him in Black ‘N Gold should be a priority.
He’s got the raw talent clubs are constantly on the lookout for. He’s got the size (6’3”) and his ability to win games is almost unmatched in today’s NCAA stadiums. But the club could keep Brees on the filed in a wheelchair and his adoring fans won’t mind at all. After all the Saints and their fans are very used to losing and why should this year be any different? I’m not one of those that love to say “I told you so” but if this kid turns out to be the next Terry Bradshaw or Peyton Manning you won’t have “Hey Ref” to blame!!!!
Till next week…
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