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Brian Allee-Walsh's impressions of the 2012 Saints so far.
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10 VIEWS FROM THE OBSERVATION DECK
1. There was less contact between the NFC and AFC squads at this year's Pro Bowl than during the Saints' three-day minicamp. That is meant more as an indictment of the shameful effort put forth by the league's all-stars in Hawaii than the lack of contact at OTAs and minicamp in accordance with the new CBA.
2. Of all the league sanctions against the Saints, the loss of Payton, one of the game's most creative play callers and best motivators, is the most damaging. A close second is the loss of their second round pick in the April draft. That pick could have come in handy to bolster several positions, most notably a pedestrian pass rush.
3. While Payton's loss is potentially crippling, there is strength in numbers and the entire football operations is more than capable of filling the breach. In fact, Spagnuolo's arrival is a tremendous upgrade on defense. He arguably has been the team's most important off-season acquisition, bringing a stabilizing influence and rock-solid principles to that side of the ball.
4. My early bubble: WR Adrian Arrington, WR Devery Henderson, OT Charles Brown, K John Kasay and RB Chris Ivory. And my bubble wouldn't be complete without LB Scott Shanle, who would be hurt if I left him off. This probably is Arrington's last opportunity in New Orleans. In fact, undrafted rookie free agent Chris Givens might be gaining on both Arrington and Henderson, who'll be entering his ninth season. Yes, Brown is a second-round pick (in 2010) but he has shown very little when given an opportunity and needs a good training camp. Hartley will beat out Kasay, Ivory needs to stay healthy and Shanle will probably prove me wrong once again.
5. On paper, Ivory is a keeper but his recurring hamstring problems are a potential liability. And while his willingness to run over would-be tacklers is entertaining, his upright and head-butting running style could lower the boom on a very promising career.
6. Keeping two fullbacks on the 53-man roster may be a luxury the Saints can't afford this season. Jed Collins is the incumbent and special teams contributor Korey Hall could be an unwitting victim of the numbers game (a third QB perhaps or extra LB or DL on the final 53?) when all is said and done.
7. If looks were the only criteria, then Sean Canfield and Luke McCown would be ahead of stand-in No. 1 quarterback Chase Daniel on the depth chart. Brees and Daniel essentially are the same "smurfish'' height but for some reason the understudy played smaller on the practice field this offseason without the leading man. I marvel at what the diminutive Brees does playing among the trees, standing tall in a collapsing pocket, finding his moving target under duress, throwing through tight passing lanes and taking vicious hits time and again. He truly plays BIG! He's the Steve Nash of the NFL.
8. I could make a solid case for any one of three assistants to be named interim head coach when acting head coach Joe Vitt serves his six-game suspension to open the season. Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr., O-line coach Aaron Kromer and Spagnuolo would be capable replacements. I think it will go to Carmichael but my choice would be Spagnuolo, who has been THE GUY for the St. Louis Rams. By the time September rolls around, Spags will have been around the team for nearly eight months and should have a good grasp of the big picture.
9. My player to watch in training camp: Converted LB Martez Wilson, the first of two third-round picks in 2011, who is making the switch from linebacker to an edge pass rusher. The big test will come on run downs when he goes head-up against bigger tackles. He has quick feet, good instincts and possesses the ability to drop in pass coverage at 255 pounds.
10. My draft picks to make final 53: DT Akiem Hicks, WR Nick Toon, CB Corey White, OT Marcel Jones.
PREDICTIONS: The Saints will more than double the number of interceptions they had last season (9) and FS Malcolm Jenkins will lead the team with at least 5. He had zero last season as did SS Roman Harper.
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Nice read. The Tez bandwagon is loading up. If his prediction of the interceptions doubling this season do in fact happen, the Saints will get that #1 seed.
There's been a few well done articles lately, including this one, that hopefully shuts those thinking this season will be awful, the frick up.
Oh, and
:fap:
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Good read. 
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My player to watch in training camp: Converted LB Martez Wilson, the first of two third-round picks in 2011, who is making the switch from linebacker to an edge pass rusher. The big test will come on run downs when he goes head-up against bigger tackles. He has quick feet, good instincts and possesses the ability to drop in pass coverage at 255 pounds.
I'm excited to see him in action. I think he's gonna dominate in this position.
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On paper, Ivory is a keeper but his recurring hamstring problems are a potential liability. And while his willingness to run over would-be tacklers is entertaining, his upright and head-butting running style could lower the boom on a very promising career.
I wish Ivory could stay healthy. I like the way he runs. He makes a huge difference on the field. Sucks to see a talent plagued by injuries.
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I could make a solid case for any one of three assistants to be named interim head coach when acting head coach Joe Vitt serves his six-game suspension to open the season. Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr., O-line coach Aaron Kromer and Spagnuolo would be capable replacements. I think it will go to Carmichael but my choice would be Spagnuolo, who has been THE GUY for the St. Louis Rams. By the time September rolls around, Spags will have been around the team for nearly eight months and should have a good grasp of the big picture.
I would go with Spags but the others have been around the Saints much more so I think it's fine either way.
Looking forward to this season.
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Thanks for posting this, Patrick 
I agree with him about Spags being our most important acquisition.
Disagree with him that Shanle is on the bubble.
Interesting to hear that Daniels was struggling in OTA's.
This post was edited on 6/15 at 11:41 am
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I actually want Kromer to be the stand in while Vitt is out. I'd like to see Spags and Carmichael focusing on what they know best, running the offense/running the defense.
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I would go with Spags but the others have been around the Saints much more so I think it's fine either way.
I would most like Carmichael to make the decisions like timeouts, when to go for it on 4th down v's punt/field goal, etc. I think he would be the closest facsimile to Payton.
This post was edited on 6/15 at 11:44 am
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player to watch in training camp: Converted LB Martez Wilson
I thought it was going to be situational. It makes it sound like a permenant move. What does that mean for Cam?
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My early bubble: WR Adrian Arrington, WR Devery Henderson, OT Charles Brown, K John Kasay and RB Chris Ivory. And my bubble wouldn't be complete without LB Scott Shanle
I don't see Henderson going anywhere this year. I think Morgan is more on the bubble than him.
Brown will be interesting. It just looks like he isn't getting it for whatever reason.
SHAAAAAAAAAANLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
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Who is that #62?
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I actually want Kromer to be the stand in while Vitt is out. I'd like to see Spags and Carmichael focusing on what they know best, running the offense/running the defense.
Good point
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Braylon Broughton, DE from TCU
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Brees and Daniel essentially are the same "smurfish'' height
To Daniel 
To Brees 
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a pedestrian pass rush.
this little half a sentence worries me more than anything.. this was our defense's downfall last year.. a good pass rush can make a decent secondary look all pro..
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a good pass rush can make a decent secondary look all pro..
Only QB pressure we gave was from Blitz. Spags was supposed to be able to do it with little blitzing. So if our front 4 suck, then how's that going to work exactly?
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But I think he was talking about last year's pass rush when he called it pedestrian.
As in, that's what we have to start with.
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the putting your bet where your mouth is-
PREDICTIONS: The Saints will more than double the number of interceptions they had last season (9) and FS Malcolm Jenkins will lead the team with at least 5. He had zero last season as did SS Roman Harper.
that happening would guarantee playoffs again IMO
Getting pretty anxious to see some contact plays in camp and the preseason head to head action. We'll prolly be able to see the difference in defensive style/scheme quickly.
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What does that mean for Cam?
It means he stays at DE when the opposition has a "Big" package in the game and probably slides to DT on passing downs.
Spags has been known to switch around the DT/DEs. Smith and CJ are biggest to play inside so it allows for some creativity in alignments.
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