After five seasons of mixed results, the Saints turned the page on the Reggie Bush-era and signed dynamic all-purpose back Darren Sproles in free agency.
Because he’s a threat running, receiving and returning kickoffs and punts, he’ll be the X-factor in Sunday’s game.
Sproles, at 5-foot-6, is the only player in the NFL with touchdowns rushing, receiving and on a return this season. He handles both kickoff and punt returns for the Saints.
“He’s involved in our offense in a lot of ways,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “He’s involved from just a pure running back standpoint. We try to get him out in space with screens and also in the passing game. He’s also a guy that we feel like he gives us a great opportunity every time the ball is in his hands as a returner.”
Bush became predictable because he did not run between the tackles with any toughness or enthusiasm. That’s certainly not the case with Sproles, who leads the Saints in rushing with 347 yards on 49 carries for a whopping 7.1 average per carry.
“I think the guy that’s making a big difference for them is Darren Sproles,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “When they put Darren in the ballgame, he can run between the tackles. They can split him out and get into a no-back set, and he’s like a wide receiver. It creates mismatches.”
Sproles, a seven-year veteran from Kansas State, also leads the Saints in receiving with 56 catches.
“He’s a dynamic player,” Payton said. “He’s very tough in space. He’s got exceptional feet. He’s explosive. He’s got good hands out of the backfield. He can block, and I think he’s a better runner than maybe I gave him credit for when we signed him.”
Falcons middle linebacker Curtis Lofton leads the team in tackles with 90, according to the coaches’ stats. Lofton, along with linebackers Sean Weatherspoon and Stephen Nicholas will primarily track Sproles.
“We just want to know where he’s at because as soon as he’s out on the field, they want to get the ball into his hands,” Lofton said. “Good things happen when they get the ball to him.”
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