Sean Payton Shows Lack Of Confidence in Current Running Backs, Inks Julius Jones

It's hard to place all the blame on any one coach, player, injury or strategy when trying to figure out the problems of the defending Super Bowl champs. All of the players have been given opportunities to prove something on the field, but failed to do so.

There have been turnovers, dropped passes, and just bad play by most of the team this year. I can recall two dropped passes by Devery Henderson alone, a Chris Ivory fumble and another by Ladell Betts.

Drew Brees has also not looked great so far.

Everyone is rushing to place blame on one particular spot or player that is causing the slow start to the 2010-2011 season. The fact of the matter is that there is plenty of blame to go around. Some of that blame lies with the coaching staff, Sean Payton in particular, and here's why.

With Reggie Bush or Pierre Thomas in the game, Payton has the confidence to call his normal game on offense. Payton uses lots of screens to the running backs, and usually hands the ball off around 20-25 times a game.

With Bush and Thomas hurt, gone are the check downs to the tailbacks and screens that usually get dialed up five to six times a game.

It's true that losing Bush and Thomas has hurt the offense tremendously this year, not so much for their talent, but more so for the way it has changed the confidence of Payton, and possibly the team.

Payton lacks so much confidence in Chris Ivory and Ladell Betts that he felt the need to sign another dud in Julius Jones. Jones, recently signed by Payton, has not seen a good year since playing with Dallas.

He was snubbed out there by backfield mate Marion Barber and traded to Seattle, where he never really got going. Seattle was so disappointed in his efforts that they brought in Marshawn Lynch from Buffalo.

I guess desperate times calls for desperate measures.

I questioned why a running back wasn't drafted in a draft class that held the talents of Jonathan Dwyer, Anthony Dixon, and Lagerette Blount. I then questioned why Blount wasn't picked up in free agency. Then, when Marshawn Lynch trade rumors began to surface, I thought we would make an effort to sign him...not so.

I'm not sure what the plans are for Ivory and Betts, but if they're not confident enough in them to use them, then maybe it's time to make some cuts. Payton needs to find some running backs he likes enough to give the rock to and get back to his original play-calling. Maybe Jones is the guy that will help this to happen.

Jones has the same playing style of Reggie Bush. He loves to bounce around like a bunny, avoid contact and take his screen plays near the sidelines.

Maybe that's the kind of player Payton seeks out. I just hope he's signed someone that he's confident enough in to let him touch the ball.

That being said, I would like to leave you with something good to ponder.

Shawne Merriman?