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| Boom Slam! |
The Saints offense last week against Seattle was completely uncharacteristic and flat out abysmal. The running game was shut down which is not a shocker as it has been hit or miss all season. Jimmy Graham played like he had eyes in the back of his head and Lance Moore along with the other Saints receivers have completely vanished. So what's the answer when we play another tough defense like Seattle's, even when they are not in the Superdome? Answer: Jitterbug!
The Jitterbug I'm talking about is Darren Sproles of the Saints (coined by the Saints wife herself). While short in stature, the Jitterburg can do so many things, not just be a pass receiver out of the backfield. He will be Drew Brees security blanket now vacated by Lance Moore. As evident since his return from injury, Moore has been nonexistent and cannot shed receivers when Brees really needs him, especially when he has to scramble. The short pass is a major component of the Saints offense, it is like a run plan. All Saints fan know from watching Ingram, anything more than 2.1 yards a rush is a major improvement in this department. That's why Jitterbug (Sproles) needs to be a focal point of this offense again. Better late than never with Carolina coming up.
Here are the benefits of inserting Jitterbug into the Saints lineup as a full-time starter, immediately:
• he knows the office like the back of his hand as he has been with Brees for years. You can rely on him when Drew calls late audibles.
• as Tim Fletcher says, the most dangerous play the Saints have is when he gets man-to-man with a linebacker and Brees floats a pass to him in open space, easy money
• against an aggressive defense like the Panthers, Jitterbug is a true asset not for the usual screen play the Sains love, but for the sprint draw, which due to his small stature, he can really do some damage when the rush goes quickly past him
• he also recognizes the defense and picks up blocks extremely well for his size
• he can be an even more effective runner if the Saints run him early and often, as the linebackers will have to account for him in the middle which will free up the big plays on the edge
• is skill-set is different from the three other running backs the Saints have on the roster, which is flat out hard to prepare for.
Jitterbug missed some time due to injury but I really think Coach Payton has him in the long-term plans especially for the upcoming Panther match-ups and for final stretch run. Just look in the history book of the Saints (under Payton), when Reggie Bush got more snaps than usual, it presented Bush as more of a threat than just a situational runner/receiver, and he had some big time plays! Coach Payton fed him the ball when it really counted (playoffs-crucial games). The season is on the line this Sunday versus the Panthers so it's time to let it all hang out and I'm telling you, Jitterbug needs the spotlight. The Saints are not a balanced team and I'm sick and tired of them trying to be one, they are a pass first, pass second, and maybe run here & there ball club. So does that make them a finess team? Yeah, but why is that's so freaking bad as look with the 49ers did back in their heyday with Montana? Last time I checked they were a finesse team as well but look at their results, it was Super.
So getting back to my point, the Saints need to be totally aggressive offensively all the time, which they are so good at. So instead of the 3 yards and a cloud of dust with Pierre and Ingram on obvious run situations, get it to JITTERBUG. By utilizing him more, the defenses have to respect this little guy with and then Colston, Moore and of others will reemerge, as you can't cover everybody.
Ed Hardy out!
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