Sean Payton dropped a nugget of information at his press conference today stating:
Our preparation has to be with the idea that, as Erik is rehabbing, we’ve got to be ready to have a fullback Week 1, with the chance it’s not going to be Erik.
That to means suggests pretty strongly that Erik Lorig will not be ready for the Falcons game, and maybe beyond. The big question becomes, does Lorig go on IR or do the Saints keep two fullbacks (with Lorik inactive) until he can come back healthy? Traditionally the Saints have always kept one fullback.
I suspected Lorig’s injury might be a problem and I suggested as much when we learned of the Greg Jones signing. It’s too bad because the Saints loved Lorig’s physicality and were excited by his signing based on how they saw Tampa run the ball behind Lorig on tape in the second half of the 2013 season. But now the battle is squarely between youngster converted linebacker Austin Johnson and the veteran Jones. Johnson is more of a Jed Collins type versatile player that can do a little bit of everything, in fact he’s probably not quite the blocker but more of a dynamic player with a broader skillset, whereas Jones is more of a Mike Karney or Terrelle Smith type punisher that is one dimensional. Johnson brings a pretty good special teams component to the table, another reason the Saints may opt for him.
I’m not ruling out the possibility of a Lorig return at some point, but the latest suggests it’s in question at best. So will the Saints opt for the young replacement that knows the complicated offensive system better, has a variety of skills and continues to improve, or the old one trick pony veteran that knows how to bring the pain? The power run game needs Jones, the team’s multiplicity calls for Johnson. The Saints can only keep one on a 53 man roster.
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