Brandon Saine might see more playing time

[HarveyWallbangers]

I liked this guy in the preseason.

The coach did hint at one possible tweak, however. With Grant stuck in neutral, maybe rookie Brandon Saine gets his chance soon.

"It's important to have a tandem of running backs," McCarthy said. "It's a long year, that's a very physically demanding position, and even adding to that, you have Ryan and James, but I really like the way Brandon's come on. I mean, he's been very impressive in practice and we're going to start using him some, hopefully as we move forward. So it's important to have all those guys ready."

[Brandon494]

I believe the guy ran a 4.3 40 time at the combine.

[Bretsky]

Not too many in the Grant is a top 10 RB group anymore

[RashanGary]

4.32 and 4.53. They call him 4.40.


5'11"
220 lbs


Pretty good agility and explosiveness. . . . Athletically, there's a very high ceiling. Then there's the whole matter of playing football. . . .

Alex Green is a similar athlete, and is nifty as all hell on the field. He sets up his blocks, breaks tackles and makes guys miss. Saine might not be able to do all that, but if he can hit the right seam, he's big and fast . . . . Who knows. His football skills are really a complete unknown at this point. MM likes him. That's a good sign in my book.

[pbmax]

I am still enjoying the buzz from Starks running Monday.

[RashanGary]

I am still enjoying the buzz from Starks running Monday.

He does look like the perfect fit. . . . He gets those extra 2 yards Grant doesn't. Since the really bad week he had earlier in the season he's had a good balance of patience and decisiveness. With Grant pretty much done, Starks looks like just what the GM ordered.

It would be nice if Saine could get going. I like the 2 headed attack. Starks looks so strong out there. Would he be that strong with another 80 carries? It helps.

[gbgary]

mm showing confidence in saine.

[SaladFinger]

I would like to see him get a shot.... Let him take Grants place for a week and see what happens, maybe he wont fall down as soon as someone touches him.

[gbgary]

I would like to see him get a shot.... Let him take Grants place for a week and see what happens, maybe he wont fall down as soon as someone touches him.

he hasn't been that bad. last week definitly wasn't good though. as i said minn strung out those lateral runs until there was nothing there. but yes it would be cool to see saine given some touches. hell, he may turn out to be our demarco murray.

[SaladFinger]

I get the feeling they are trying to phase Grant out.. I really was hoping Alex Green would be turning it on by this time and everyone would forget about Grant.

[MJZiggy]

I would like to see him get a shot.... Let him take Grants place for a week and see what happens, maybe he wont fall down as soon as someone touches him.

I don't think he needs to take Grant's place outright, just give him a few carries in a game and see how he does. McCarthy's been pretty good of late going with the hot hand. If the kid can get hot when he gets his shot, he'll get more carries.

[channtheman]

Wait a second, Grant isn't an all pro? Someone tried to convince me in the "Alex Green on IR" thread that if we also lost Grant we would be screwed. Maybe not.

[King Friday]

I'd love to see some speed come out of our backfield. Seine looked reasonable enough for a rook in preseason...and Grant looks like JAG at this point.

[Pugger]

Let's see how Saine looks in the coming weeks before we all call for Grant's head. Grant had a couple of nice catches out the backfield the past couple of weeks...

[Harlan Huckleby]

Wait a second, Grant isn't an all pro? Someone tried to convince me in the "Alex Green on IR" thread that if we also lost Grant we would be screwed. Maybe not.

i was more worried about Starks going down.

What do you suppose dropoff is from Green to Saine? I'm guessing quite a bit, but we don't know.