The New Orleans Saints are in second place in the NFL South but that does not mean they have a winning record or looked impressive at all this season. The Saints are 2-4 on the year and not looking like their usual self through seven weeks of the season. Things have simply been off on both sides of the ball as the team looks for answers. In need of playmakers to step up on offense, getting Mark Ingram back and healthy is critical, but losing Pierre Thomas certainly hurts.
Thomas is expected to miss the next two to three weeks due to a shoulder injury suffered in the loss to the Detroit Lions. This injury certainly comes at a bad time for the Saints who are struggling enough on offense as it is. Now they are left trying to sort out their running back rotation without Thomas who also played a critical role in the passing game.
Ingram returns from a fractured hand as the starting running back. He was having a career season through two games, looking revitalized in a contract season. However, he failed to do much against the Lions, but so did the rest of the offense. With Ingram as the contact running back, Khiry Robinson will be bumped up to second string in the wake of Thomas' absence.
Robinson has enjoyed a breakout year while replacing Ingram during his recovery. The second-year running back has 330 yards to his name while averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Robinson does not have the versatility of Thomas. He is not a pass-catching running back. His style is similar to that of Ingram's where he thrives off contact from running inbetween the tackles. He and Ingram will likely work together, setting up screens on the offense. Travaris Cadet is somewhat similar to Thomas. He can be expected to see the field more times than not in the coming two weeks on passing downs. The Green Bay Packers rank 31st in run defense which means both Ingram and Robinson should have big games.
The run game will be relied upon heavily as players like Jimmy Graham remain limited. The tight end continues to deal with a lingering shoulder injury. HE did not make a single catch against the Detroit Lions. When healthy, Graham is more than elite, but the fact is, he is not healthy and Drew Brees is being forced to throw the ball elsewhere. Wide receivers like Brandin Cooks and Kenny Stills will take over.
