re: THOMAS MORSTEAD Scouting Reports, Notes, Updates

Dont you dumb fricks realize there are 3 parts to the game. Offense, defense AND SPECIAL TEAMS. If this guy can stick teams inside the 20 with most of his kicks, then he is helping out our defense tremendously. To criticize our front office on this pick b/c they didnt pick some slow LB or overweight OT is crazy. I like this pick, I'm not to crazy about the LB. I thought there was better value out there on that pick than him, but you never know(tom Brady) Thats why they play the game!

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Field position is vital in the NFL and the Saints must have felt uncomfortable with journeyman punter Glenn Pakulak, despite what he provided to the team late last season.

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That is what had me scratching my head. We had a very good performance from Pakulak in his first year with us. I understand the importance of field position, but I don't understand addressing the punter situation two years in a row.

AW/Triplett chat:

ALLEE-WALSH: I give Mickey Loomis & Associates a "B." They selected three defensive players with sound credentials at need positions, thus meeting their pre-draft criteria.
Now, I'm not so sure about their decision to trade up and take the punter and not a running back, outside linebacker, defensive back, offensive lineman or defensive tackle. Time will tell on this one.
Let's hope the 2009 draft will be remembered for Jenkins and not for Morstead.

TRIPLETT: Maybe the sting will wear off in time, but there was no doubt from the fan reaction that the Morstead pick overshadowed the Jenkins pick.
It's like the Saints somehow ruined their entire draft by trading a 2010 fifth-round pick for a punter. Hey, I was as stunned as everyone else, but I kept seeing the phrase "mortgaged their future." That's a little overkill, and if this guy pans out, he'll finally end the punter anguish that has plagued Coach Sean Payton since he got here.
Those first three picks are the big ones, though. Obviously, we all loved the Jenkins pick, and it's hard to argue with a safety and outside linebacker with a combination of size and speed in Round 4. You certainly can't accuse the Saints of ignoring their defensive woes this offseason.

Damn, that's pretty impressive.....

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Might be a better kickoff guy too.

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Actually, the reports of him that I've seen have suggested that this is the weakest part of his game.

Hopefully, we'll be better in that area anyway, since Hartley has been working on his kickoff technique. (Interesting note: Colt David and Brady Dalfrey also worked with this coach this spring.)

fun thread to bump at this time

I know it was only the preseason, but just wanted to give a few people the opportunity to recant.

SNAPPERHEAD: blueslover, I know you are a die hard Saints fan, as am I, but please don't defend this pick. We have far greater needs with good talent left on the board. Jesus! I feel like an Oakland Raiders fan.

philly444: I would love to defend this pick but frick man come on a punter when we can actually get an athlete. Jesus Christ I don't care how good he is any kind of draft pick used on a kicker or punter is a wasted pick IMO

RelocatedPelican: Its a punter...not a LB, not an OL, but a p-u-n-t-e-r. Some folks have their mouths wrapped around SP's dick so hard that their homerism won't let them see past the fact this move sucked.

Duncan T-P: Wow! I've seen a lot of crazy picks by the Saints over the years but this one ranks right up there. I guess I can understand taking the kid. He was the second-rated punter in the draft. But trading up for him seems a little much, especially one day after General Manager Mickey Loomis said the club's goal was to keep all of its 2010 picks protected for next year. Supposedly the Saints wanted to jump in fron to the Indianapolis Colts, who had Mostead targeted in the lower rounds. But still, we're not exactly talking about the second coming of Shane Lechler here. Morstead was only honorable mention in Conference USA, for goodness sakes. So either CUSA is the cradle of college punters or the Saints reached for Morstead. I'm going with the latter. Besides, I thought Glenn Pakulak did a solid job last season and should only improve with a full offseason under his belt so I'm not sure the need for more punting compeition justified the decision to trade up for Morstead. Grade: F.

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Morestead wasn't too impressive the first 3 games, but yesterday he had one of the best punting performances since Ray Guy

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I chatted with him at camp at autograph time (not a big crowd). One guy sez, "Here's the next Ray Guy". Another tells him, "You probably don't even know who Ray Guy is, huh?" Morstead looks up and sez "Southern Miss, right?"



He's a legit 6'4" too

got a nice unofficial stat for him...

preseason total-

14 punts, 3 returned for 6 yds. THAT is a weapon.

He seemed to improve each game. When he was in a boom it location the hang times were incredible.