re: Alltime Saints Jersey # Countdown to First Preseason Game

71 is another number vying for the least talent. Kurt Schumacher started a few games. Kendrick Clancy a couple of years. That's about it. Let's move up to the golden age of Saints football. Current Charles Brown still has as much potential as anyone who ever donned 71 before.



This week:
Offensive tackle Charles Brown, a second-round pick in 2010, has been back on the field this offseason after missing the final eight games last season with a hip flexor injury.
Brown started five games at right tackle in place of Zach Strief before being injured against the St. Louis Rams. It appeared he was beginning to get comfortable in the offense before playing the worst game of his career against the Rams, allowing two sacks, then having the season-ending injury.
But on Thursday, he was back, getting reps with the first-team offense at left tackle while Bushrod rested.



Some scouting reports-

Gil Brandt- Brown is a fifth-year player, who came to USC as a tight end. He moved to tackle in 2006 and started at left tackle in 2008. He is a very good athlete with good feet and is well coached at USC by offensive line coach Pat Ruel. Brown needs to add weight and strength, but he can play left tackle in the NFL and has upside.

He is tall and with the frame to get bigger. He is an above-average pass protector, and gets set quickly and maintains good balance; shows adequate lateral movement and can mirror and slide with athletic edge rushers. Brown is fast and agile out of his stand; he is mobile and has better-than-average body control, balance and change-of-direction skills. However, he is not a physical player. He does need to add bulk and strength. He also lacks explosive power and overwhelming mass, struggling to hold his ground against bull rushers when not playing with good leverage. Brown is a solid prospect who excels at pass protection. In time he could become an elite pass blocker. The knock on him is his lack of strength, which downgrades his run blocking skills. Bottom line: he is a fine tackle with upside. With added bulk and more experience, he could start in the NFL within a few years. Brown projects as a middle third, early fourth round selection. 4/1 Update: Brown still lacks the pure strength to be a great left tackle right away, but his showing at the NFL Combine was pretty good and his stock has been slowly moving up. When looking at other tackles like Anthony Davis and Bruce Campbell, Brown is looking like a more experienced and well rounded option than those two and he will get stronger in time. That could make him the fourth overall tackle taken behind Russell Okung, Trent Williams and Bryan Bulaga, and it is looking more and more likely that Brown will not escape the first round.



Before the 2010 draft many had him as a late 1st or early 2nd Rd grade. At #64 he might have been a can't-pass-on pick. Him developing into a starter would be a huge plus towards building a dynasty. Infusion of fresh (and cheaper) talent is a key to contending regularly in the confines of the salary cap.