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Saints: 3 position battles to watch through the first preseason game

brianpavek
Aug 22, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick meet at the end of their game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Patriots won, 26-24.Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 22, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick meet at the end of their game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Patriots won, 26-24.Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Travaris Cadet (38) runs against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (23) during the first half at the Georgia Dome. The Saints defeated the Falcons 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Travaris Cadet (38) runs against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (23) during the first half at the Georgia Dome. The Saints defeated the Falcons 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Battle No. 1: 4th Running Back

I fully expect this to be the most entertaining of the camp battles largely in part because the three players involved bring their own traits and advantages. I believe the Saints will only keep one player out of Travaris Cadet, Marcus Murphy, and Daniel Lasco. Each brings something different to the table, but they aren’t equal.

Marcus Murphy is (at least today) the best returner of the three by a significant margin. However, Murphy brings practically zero value to the offense and he had significant issues holding on to the ball last year, which is a great way to get yourself in Sean Payton’s dog house. Reggie Bush got away with it because he was electric, and also because he was multi-faceted in his benefits to the offense.

Travaris Cadet is an excellent receiving back, and the Saints offense suddenly exploding when he was re-signed wasn’t a coincidence. Cadet brought an element they were certainly missing. Cadet is almost useless as a running back, and his ability as a returner has been less than impressive throughout his career. This is, of course, balanced by the fact that he is a legitimate threat coming out of the backfield as a receiver.

Daniel Lasco is the wild card and my personal pick to make the roster, as his ceiling is the highest of all of them. Lasco is the total package as a running back, and he is a couple of explosive plays away from winning himself a roster spot. Why? Because he possesses the power to run up the gut, the explosiveness to take it to the house (SPARQ score of 140.7), and most importantly the willingness and desire to play special teams. Lasco has every tool, but as a rookie he must PROVE more than the others that he belongs here.

Next: Cornered

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