Black and Gold X's and O's | Why Pierre Thomas Could Make The Pro Bowl

Pierre Thomas at the five, and he muscles his way into the endzone, TOOOOUUUUCCCCHHHHDOOOOWWNNN SAAAAAIINNTSSSS!

The crowd goes wild as the team is about to win the NFC South division for the second time in four years.

To be honest, this is pretty much how I expect the home game on December 27th to go versus Tampa Bay. It will be a belated Christmas present for all.

I think Pierre's winning touchdown run will only be an exclamation mark on a Pro Bowl-caliber season.

You see, aside from Drew Brees and overrated left tackle Jamaal Brown, the Saints haven't been awarded with a Pro Bowl selections on the offensive side of the ball the past few years, despite having such a dynamic and explosive offense.

You could blame this on media biases, or you could take it the way I see it, the Saints have so many playmakers none are able to put up Pro Bowl-caliber numbers.

At the receiver spot, they have Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, and Adrian Arrington. That's five capable receivers, and guys who will make plays.

They have Jeremy Shockey and Billy Miller, both of whom are capable burning defenses down the seams, and require touches.

Then of course there is Thomas, along with Reggie Bush. Both of them require at least 15 touches per game. The good thing with those two is that each can be used in return situations to get those touches.

My point is this; it's going to be hard for any Saints skill guy to put up Pro Bowl numbers this season. They are just such a deep offensive team, with so much talent, and have a quarterback willing to literally utilize any and all of these weapons.

Yet, if the Saints are going to be the team they want to be, their offensive MVP must be Pierre Thomas. Given the other talented players on this side of the ball, this probably sounds like a crazy statement, but hear me out.

Sean Payton has said he intends to use the ground game more often in 2009. This means more carries for Reggie Bush, or so I would think. But it also means more carries for the Saints most effective running back the past two seasons; Pierre Thomas.

In his brief career Thomas has had 229 total offensive touches and he has scored a touchdown on 14 of those. His touchdown-per-touch rate is 16.36. Reason has it then, that if the Saints can find a way to give him 250 or so touches in 2009, Thomas would likely score about 15 touchdowns.

15 touchdowns is nothing to sneeze about, when viewing all running backs in the NFL for Pro Bowl consideration, especially considering he'll probably also be allowed to return kicks in key situations.

If you look at his per touch yardage ratio it is also pretty impressive. In 229 touches, he has gained 1,312 total yards. Per touch, that equals out to 5.73 yards per.

Once again, assuming 250 touches, we're assuming Thomas will gain somewhere around
1,420 yards. I don't know about you, but 1,420 yards and 15 touchdowns sounds like a pretty good season, and one that could gain a man a Pro Bowl berth.

When you add in the possibility of some long kick returns, and the fact he could easily gain more than 250 touches, the numbers look to be even more impressive.

I feel good about projecting Pierre Thomas as the starting tailback in 2009 and I feel he can come close to equaling his two-year totals in 2009. He looks to be the guy and will get the bulk of the carries. Everyone else will still get theirs.

This is the Saints after all. Sean Payton will throw vertically, which will help keep defenses honest.

In the same way, Thomas' effectiveness helps Brees and the passing offense not be so predictable. It seems like a great marriage—Thomas and Bush; running and passing. The Saints offense should be more balanced this year, but remain just as explosive.

That may be the formula to take the team deep in the playoffs.

Geaux Saints!