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The New Orleans Saints' topsy-turvy 2012 season will end Sunday without a winning record http://www.saintsstoreofficial.com/Jimmy_Graham_Jersey. As disappointing as the yr was, the organization just lately brought a lot of great news to its supporters with a five-year extension for Super Bowl-winning head coach Sean Payton (h/t ESPN).

In between the Bountygate scandal and an -four hole to commence the season, there was also considerably for the staff to conquer. Most notably, although, the stability at head coach previously presented by Payton was not there, and it showed.

Now, with Payton secured for the prolonged term, the Saints have locked in the architect of one of the NFL's most modern offenses and a established winner. He holds a 62-34 record in his tenure with the Saints Thomas Morstead Jersey.

Payton will make a triumphant return in 2013 and guidebook the team to the playoffs as soon as again in a massive bounce-back 12 months in New Orleans.

Once the deal was announced, crew proprietor Tom Benson intimated how eager he was to get the Saints back to their common winning approaches&mdashlargely thanks to Payton's coaching brilliance http://www.saintsstoreofficial.com/Keenan_Lewis_Jersey. The team's official Twitter web page quoted Benson:

Without having the potential to even get in touch with Payton all season, the large-powered offense nonetheless created, but not as consistently. The greatest dilemma the Saints had was on defense, however, the place defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has not been in a position to get his scheme to click, to say the least.

We're 13 weeks into the NFL season&mdashmore than enough time to make a judgment on the best rookies who have risen to the occasion and the rookies who Jay Ratliff Jersey, well, played like rookies.

Some rookies, like Detroit's Ndamukong Suh, Dallas' Dez Bryant's, Tampa Bay's Mike Williams and LeGarrette Blount Jared Allen Jersey, New York's Jason Pierre-Paul, St. Louis' Sam Bradford and Cleveland's Colt McCoy have been instant contributors for their crew who have only appeared to have gotten much better as the season has progressed http://www.storebearsgear.com/Brian_De_La_Puente_Jersey.

But not all teams have been so fortunate with their rookies, some of which have been disappointing so far this season. Their respective teams might be 2nd-guessing some of their draft day decisions http://www.storebearsgear.com/Brock_Vereen_Jersey.

Here are the rookies who could want to price range their money wisely http://www.storebearsgear.com/Stephen_Paea_Jersey...you know...just in case.

The Oakland Raiders signed so many veteran players this offseason that they are now one of the oldest teams in the league. Most of the veterans should still have a couple good years of football left in their bodies, except for maybe running back Maurice Jones-Drew.

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Jones-Drew was an unproductive runner last season for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jones-Drew, 28, averaged 3.4 yards per carry—more than a full yard less than his career average.

For an older running back, Jones-Drew’s production last year is a giant red flag. Older running backs usually hit a wall at some point around age 30 and then cease to be useful players.

If Jones-Drew doesn’t find more running room in Oakland, his career is probably over. The Raiders could also struggle to run the ball effectively if Jones-Drew can’t rebound.

History suggests Jones-Drew is going to have a tough time with the Raiders, but there are other indications that shed a more positive light on the situation. It’s very possible Jones-Drew’s lack of production was due to a combination of factors instead of just one.

If true, Jones-Drew’s 2013 season may not have been the result of hitting the wall that all running backs eventually do at some point around age 30. Even so, it’s still possible Jones-Drew could hit that wall in 2014, so the Raiders are taking a calculated risk.

Hitting the Wall

Running backs start to decline on average at age 26 according to research by Chase Stuart of footballperspective.com. The sharpest declines are from 31 to 32 and 33 to 34, but there is also a sizable drop from 28 to 29.

While this doesn’t prevent a player from rebounding from a bad season, it does suggest that it will be difficult. Only a slight increase in production from age 29 to 30 could buoy hopes that it’s possible.

Running Backs with 243+ Carries & < 3.5 YPC at Age 28 Players YPC at Age 28 YPC at Age 29 Career YPC Edgerrin James 3.4 3.8 4.0 Cedric Benson 3.5 3.9 3.8 Franco Harris 3.5 4.4 4.1 Eddie George 3.0 3.4 3.6 Lewis Tillman 3.3 2.7 3.6 Bill Brown 3.3 3.3 3.5 Maurice Jones Drew 3.4 ? 4.5 Chuck Foreman 3.2 2.6 3.8 Marion Butts 2.9 2.6 3.9

Pro-Football-Reference.com

Only eight other running backs in the history of the league had 234 or more carries and averaged less than 3.5 yards per carry at age 28. Of those running backs, Franco Harris and Cedric Benson were the only two to average more than their career averages the following season.

Harris and Benson also had the highest averages of the eight players on the list at age 28. Neither player was particularly productive on a per carry basis throughout his career, with Harris averaging 4.1 yards per carry and Benson 3.8 yards per carry. Both Harris and Benson’s bad seasons also came in years in which they both had career highs in carries.

The good news is that players liked Edgerrin James and Eddie George turned things around after poor seasons at age 28. Both players were able to improve to within .2 yards per carry of their career averages at age 29.

The Circumstances in Jacksonville

Jones-Drew’s struggles last season coincided with the Jaguars' switch to the zone-blocking scheme. The Raiders are well aware of the pitfalls of converting to the zone-blocking scheme with two failed attempts to do so over the past decade.

Most recently, the zone-blocking scheme gave running back Darren McFadden fits and forced the Raiders to toss it after a disastrous 2012. The offensive line also struggled to learn the scheme, and that may have contributed to McFadden’s struggles.

For the first seven years of his career, Jones-Drew was accustomed to the more traditional man-blocking scheme. Even for a quality player like Jones-Drew, there are going to be growing pains, and the Jaguars temporarily ditched zone-blocking plays at times.

Jones-Drew was also less than a year removed from Lisfranc surgery on his foot, something with which McFadden and the Raiders are also familiar. Last season, Jones-Drew also battled a tendon sprain in his ankle, as well as knee and hamstring injuries.

Injuries are not an excuse for lack of production, but we also can’t pretend they don’t have an impact. The Jaguars had no reason to be cautious with Jones-Drew. If he was more hurt than we knew, it would make sense why his production wasn’t as good as normal.

PFF Team Run-blocking Grade vs. Top RB YPC Tean Year Team Run-Block Grade Top RB YPC Jaguars 2013 -108 3.4 Jets 2013 -81.3 4.6 Bronocs 2011 -78.9 4.7 Rams 2007 -86.5 3.8 Bucanneers 2013 -69.5 3.8

ProFootballFocus.com

The bigger issue was probably the blocking Jones-Drew received last season. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the Jaguars were the worst team blocking for the run in 2013. In addition, the Jaguars were the worst at run blocking of any team the site has graded in the last seven years by a wide margin.

In one of Jones-Drew’s worst games of the year against the Indianapolis Colts, he didn’t have a rush longer than six yards. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean it was Jones-Drew’s fault.

Game Rewind

The Jaguars routinely had problems getting any push in the run game Tyvon Branch Jersey. Here’s one example on a 2nd-and-6 in which only one offensive lineman is able to move beyond the original line of scrimmage. Obviously, Jones-Drew was stuffed for no gain.

If Jones-Drew gets better blocking in a scheme he is more familiar with, he could easily find more running lanes. Although he had just 86 carries in 2012, Jones-Drew was averaging 4.8 yards per carry for a coaching staff that included Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson as assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach.

In Oakland

One of the big focuses for the Raiders this offseason has been rebuilding the offensive line. The Raiders signed Austin Howard to a lucrative contract offer to play offensive guard as well as offensive guard Kevin Boothe and left tackle Donald Penn.

In 2013, the Raiders did a decent job run blocking but also let opposing teams stuff them in the backfield too often with a team Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade that was still one of the worst in the league. Despite the production last season, running back Rashad Jennings was able overcome bad blocking to average 4.5 yards per carry and 2.8 yards per carry after contact according to Pro Football Focus.

Year Left Tackle Left Guard Center Right Guard Right Tackle 2013 Khalif Barnes Lucas Nix Stefen Wisniewski Mike Brisiel Tony Pashos PFF Run Block Grade -24.4 -20.9 +5.2 -2.5 -8.9 2014 (Projected) Donald Penn Kevin Boothe Stefen Wisniewski Austin Howard Menelik Watson PFF Run Block Grade (2013) +4.4 -12.5 +5.2 -10.2 -3.9 Difference +28.8 +8.4 0 -7.7 +5.0

ProFootballFocus.com

Jennings averaged just 2.8 yards per carry and 1.9 yards per carry after contact for the Jaguars in 2012, so a running back coming to Oakland from Jacksonville to perform is not unheard of. The difference with Jones-Drew is that he is much older, but he should still be able to find more holes behind a revamped offensive line using a man-blocking system.

Maybe it won’t work for the Raiders or for Jones-Drew, but there’s legitimate reason to think he could have a productive season in 2013. Jones-Drew may lack game-breaking speed at this stage of his career, but he can also share the work with McFadden or Latavius Murray.

The Raiders are taking a calculated risk with Jones-Drew. Based on general manager Reggie McKenzie’s ability to find productive backs other than McFadden over the last couple of years, signing Jones-Drew is a move that bears watching closely.

Cost-free company has officially begun and it will not be prolonged till the initial wave of gamers come off the board. A single of these names will be Karlos Dansby the prime linebacker option obtainable this yr.

Dansby confirmed on NFL Reside early Friday morning that he would be traveling to South Florida later in the day to meet with the Dolphins brass Johnny Manziel Jersey.

Dansby and his representatives are believed to be in the approach of functioning out a lucrative, multi-year contract with the Dolphins.

The deal is expected to make him a single of the highest paid linebackers in the NFL. Dansby is seeking a contract in the same neighborhood as Bart Scott's five-year, $forty million deal with the New York Jets from a year ago. What ever the final variety may possibly be, expect Dansby's cost-free agent splash to trump Scott's.

The Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, and Washington Redskins are all reported to be producing the strongest push for the for former Arizona Cardinal.

The Redskins have also displayed interest in defensive finish Julius Peppers of the Carolina Panthers.

With Peppers believed to be Washigton's top priority, assume the Dolphins and Falcons to attempt closing out a deal with Dansby ahead of the Skins can get in on the action. The New York Giants have also been linked to the Dansby sweepstakes, but their level of curiosity stays unknown.

The Giants are in critical talks with representatives of Antrel Rolle about a deal for the former Cardinals safety. Rolle is searching for a deal someplace in the vicinity of $8 million a year so looks unlikely the Giants would be willing to invest large funds to indicator the two Rolle and Dansby.

That fundamentally puts the Dolphins in a one-on-one particular race with the Falcons for the prized linebacker's companies.

If signed, Dansby would be a major improve to Miami's within linebacker unit. Incumbent starters Channing Crowder and Akin Ayodele combined for just 122 tackles in 2009 http://www.brownsstoreonline.com/Nate_Burleson_Jersey, and have been hampered by nagging injuries for lengthy stretches of the season. Dansby on the other hand, has had back-to-back one hundred tackle seasons, and is regarded as a single of the greatest in the organization when it comes to wrapping opponents up.

It truly is most likely the Dolphins would release or trade Ayodele to escape the $three.25 million owed to the thirty-12 months-old veteran next season if terms had been agreed upon with Dansby. Depending on the deal, Dolphins reserve Reggie Torbor may also find his head on the chopping block.

With the uncapped yr underway, now is the time team's will commence shedding undesired contracts with out the chance of cap penalties for doing so Karlos Dansby Jersey. That predicament does not bode nicely for Miami's current backers.

Whatever the end result, it will not be extended before this year's leading cost-free agent linebacker has a new property http://www.brownsstoreonline.com/Travis_Benjamin_Jersey. The Dolphins are at the head of the charge to land his services, but a whole lot of funds is being tossed close to and it stays to be observed which way Dansby will sway http://www.brownsstoreonline.com/Phil_Taylor_Jersey.

The good news is for Miami, most of his suitors are also after Peppers. They may possibly finish up regretting the move if the Dolphins sneak off with Dansby while the bidding wars heat up.