NFL.com: "Saints following the 2014 Cowboys blueprint that catapulted Tony Romo into the MVP race"

[gettlemanjack]

NFL.com getting a little too excited, no? NFL.com:

"The Saints are not an organization in rebuilding mode. ... This is a team altering its identity for another run at a wide-open NFC South title.

...

Another way to look at the Saints ' moves this week is that they are following the 2014 Cowboys ' blueprint that catapulted Tony Romo into the MVP race.

...

After nine years with Drew Brees ' high-flying aerial attack as the face of the franchise, the New Orleans Saints are retooling their offense around the ground game.

...

Within the past week, the Saints have added CJ Spiller, re-signed tackle-breaking Mark Ingram and traded [poor run-blocking] tight end Jimmy Graham for one of the league's premier run-blockers in center Max Unger.

...

New Orleans is a dream landing spot for Spiller ... Coach Sean Payton has gotten the best out of Reggie Bush , Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas , who offer similar skill sets.

Of all the "satellite" backs Payton has had, Spiller is the most talented. When Chan Gailey schemed to get him the ball in space during a 1,703-yard 2012 season, Spiller's explosive playmaking ability jumped off the game film as much as any tailback in the league.

...

Payton discovered last season that his offense worked best when he leaned on Ingram to open up the passing game for Brees. Now he can play matchups with the trio of Ingram, Spiller and Khiry Robinson behind a better run-blocking offensive line, forcing defenses to respect the ground attack while allowing Brees to be a more efficient passer.

It's similar to Payton's 2006 offense, with Ingram playing the role of Deuce McAllister between the tackles and Spiller mirroring Bush's role on the edges and in the passing game.

...

The Saints also boast five of the top 78 picks in the 2015 NFL Draft."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000478805/article/cj-spiller-leaves-buffalo-bills-for-new-orleans-saints

[joeyxfresco]

Makes sense

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

the sun rises, the bees buzz, the birds chirp, and the saints are paper champions

[DanTheMan]

They will win it too. If we just stand pat. We are in trouble.

[Captain Obvious]

Wait, I thought you couldn't win running the ball in a passing league. That's what I've been told around here.

[Jhyler12]

Ingram = Overrated

[X-Clown]

The Cowboys drafted offensive linemen three years in a row in the first round.....and didn't dump Dez Bryant and Jason Witten the last time I checked. How is that similar to what the Saints have done??

[PanthersUnited]

This is excellent news for us!! We specialize in stopping the run and are much better at it as opposed to stopping the pass. Give me a ground and pound, Jimmy Grahamless Saints any day over the high flying offense of the past. Plays right into our strength

[Mr. Scot]

the sun rises, the bees buzz, the birds chirp, and the saints are paper champions

How many times last year did you hear some analyst predict the Saints would eventually win the NFC South because they were the best or most dangerous team?

[gettlemanjack]

How many times last year did you hear some analyst predict the Saints would eventually win the NFC South because they were the best or most dangerous team?

last year, with the addition of FS Jarius Byrd, it was all "OMG the Saints are following the Seahawks blueprint." Yeah, that worked out so well...

[Nick_81]

So... it's called "retooling" now?  Got it.

[KSpan]

Yawn. Fug the Aints.

[emhoward]

Smart I guess because they were done as a high flying offensive juggernaut.

[ecu88]

*reads Saints blueprint plan*.............bwhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

To win back Saints fans, NO Saints are going to copy NO fans childhood idol the Cowgirls.