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Message
I'm Looking Forward to Position Battles
Posted on 2/20/13 at 6:02 pm
Posted on 2/20/13 at 6:02 pm
The past few off-seasons, the Saints have been very active in free agency, and in the process have retained or brought in veteran players. The past couple of years though, the team has gotten a little ahead of themselves and thus are in a very tight cap situation. I understand the reasoning for splurging though. Drew Brees's window is closing and instead of rebuilding entirely, the Saints chose to reload. There's nothing wrong with that, but if you reload, you can't afford to fire any blanks. This off-season should be pretty different. I don't envision the team going for multiple high-end free agents this year. They may aim for Anthony Spencer, but I don't think they'll be in the Paul Kruger, Danell Ellerbe, Ed Reed, etc. Sweepstakes. I would love to see a strong draft and just open up competition at almost all positions, something I fully expect Payton to do based off of what he saw this past season. I'll touch on a few of the potential battles.
Left Tackle- Bushrod, if he returns, is the favorite to win, but his performance the past two seasons has been very average. Charles Brown and even second year player Marcel Jones could at the very least spark a fire under Bushrod, and if one of them should supplant him, then it means the team got some return on a former draft pick.
Right Tackle- Zach Strief was pretty rough, especially when he returned from injury. He's a mauler, but he just does not have the footspeed to combat even a mediocre speed rush. Charles Brown was doing a very good job filling in until he (inevitably) went down for the season. Bryce Harris looked like an undrafted rookie for the handful of plays he was in for. Will Robinson, the bouncer, actually looked pretty good though. He needed help at times, but he did not embarrass himself at all. All of these guys should be on a level playing field, and may the best man win.
Free Safety- Jenkins was truly awful in almost every facet of the game: missing tackles, blowing coverages, and just not really knowing what to do. The defense actually got better when he was shut down for the year and Isa Abdul-Quddus had his chance to step in. Surprisingly Quddus played very well, and if it were up to me, I would move with him as the starter, but there's little chance Payton does that. Jenkins is a locker room leader and has a lot of respect in the locker room. The only problem is that he's just not a great football player. If his football IQ ever caught up with his athletic ability, we wouldn't be having this discussion, but now he's going in his fourth season and he actually took a step back. The least the staff can do is open his job up to competition.
Cornerback- the Saints have a problem at this position. Jabari Greer is in decline, Patrick Robinson is still lost, and then there's not much else behind them. Corey White started out poorly, but really came on as the season progressed. I think he has the size and tenacity to start in the NFL, and especially on our team. Elbert Mack needs to be back as the nickel corner. This position needs to be addressed without a doubt.
So with that I leave it to you guys. What position battles do you most look forward to? Feel free to assume a certain player will join the mix via draft or free agency. It's a slow news time, so let's have some fun! Cheers!
P.S. I'm a longtime lurker and this is my first topic, glad to finally join the gang.
Left Tackle- Bushrod, if he returns, is the favorite to win, but his performance the past two seasons has been very average. Charles Brown and even second year player Marcel Jones could at the very least spark a fire under Bushrod, and if one of them should supplant him, then it means the team got some return on a former draft pick.
Right Tackle- Zach Strief was pretty rough, especially when he returned from injury. He's a mauler, but he just does not have the footspeed to combat even a mediocre speed rush. Charles Brown was doing a very good job filling in until he (inevitably) went down for the season. Bryce Harris looked like an undrafted rookie for the handful of plays he was in for. Will Robinson, the bouncer, actually looked pretty good though. He needed help at times, but he did not embarrass himself at all. All of these guys should be on a level playing field, and may the best man win.
Free Safety- Jenkins was truly awful in almost every facet of the game: missing tackles, blowing coverages, and just not really knowing what to do. The defense actually got better when he was shut down for the year and Isa Abdul-Quddus had his chance to step in. Surprisingly Quddus played very well, and if it were up to me, I would move with him as the starter, but there's little chance Payton does that. Jenkins is a locker room leader and has a lot of respect in the locker room. The only problem is that he's just not a great football player. If his football IQ ever caught up with his athletic ability, we wouldn't be having this discussion, but now he's going in his fourth season and he actually took a step back. The least the staff can do is open his job up to competition.
Cornerback- the Saints have a problem at this position. Jabari Greer is in decline, Patrick Robinson is still lost, and then there's not much else behind them. Corey White started out poorly, but really came on as the season progressed. I think he has the size and tenacity to start in the NFL, and especially on our team. Elbert Mack needs to be back as the nickel corner. This position needs to be addressed without a doubt.
So with that I leave it to you guys. What position battles do you most look forward to? Feel free to assume a certain player will join the mix via draft or free agency. It's a slow news time, so let's have some fun! Cheers!
P.S. I'm a longtime lurker and this is my first topic, glad to finally join the gang.
Posted on 2/20/13 at 6:11 pm to Zoombop
I don't think there will be competition here.
At CB the only competition will for nickel and dime spots IMO
Now with:
I do look forward to seeing Quddus more.
I'm pretty stoked to see how the front 7 shapes up. I think the front 3: Hicks, Bunkley, and Jordan are just about a lock along with Lofton in the middle, but everything else is up for grabs.
I'm really interested in how the guys Payton decides to keep will fit into the new scheme. If they get Vilma and Smith down low enough to where they feel comfortable keeping them, where do they fit in?
What about guys like Chamberlain, Casillas, Humbar, etc.
quote:
Left Tackle
quote:
Right Tackle
quote:
Cornerback
At CB the only competition will for nickel and dime spots IMO
Now with:
quote:
Free Safety
I do look forward to seeing Quddus more.
I'm pretty stoked to see how the front 7 shapes up. I think the front 3: Hicks, Bunkley, and Jordan are just about a lock along with Lofton in the middle, but everything else is up for grabs.
I'm really interested in how the guys Payton decides to keep will fit into the new scheme. If they get Vilma and Smith down low enough to where they feel comfortable keeping them, where do they fit in?
What about guys like Chamberlain, Casillas, Humbar, etc.
Posted on 2/20/13 at 6:22 pm to Brettesaurus Rex
quote:
I don't think there will be competition here.
Usually there wouldn't be, but considering CSP is an offensive minded guy, he could not have liked the pressure Drew dealt with all season long. RT may not be much of a battle, but if Bushrod leaves, then LT is definitely up for grabs.
Posted on 2/20/13 at 6:24 pm to Zoombop
It's hard to project position battles before FA and the draft.
Posted on 2/20/13 at 6:58 pm to Patrick O Rly
wr?
who will emerge as our #3? nick toon was red shirted pretty much and joe morgan developed into a deep threat. With henderson most likely gone, can nick toon play catchup and leap frog joe morgan and become a dependable go-to guy? Can he maybe even leapfrog to #2?
rushing OLB
who will win? the new draftee (assuming we get mingo, jones, or jordan) or tez/galette?
LB positions
if vilma stays, will he be supplanted as a starter?
who will emerge as our #3? nick toon was red shirted pretty much and joe morgan developed into a deep threat. With henderson most likely gone, can nick toon play catchup and leap frog joe morgan and become a dependable go-to guy? Can he maybe even leapfrog to #2?
rushing OLB
who will win? the new draftee (assuming we get mingo, jones, or jordan) or tez/galette?
LB positions
if vilma stays, will he be supplanted as a starter?
Posted on 2/20/13 at 7:08 pm to Zoombop
With a 4th post like this was going to ask you if you were a alter or lurker but you answered at the end.
LT is not a battle if Bushrod returns. Period.
RT is wide open this year.
FS will come down to MJ, IAQ and Ryan during ota's and camp.
I don't see a battle for 1 and 2 corners this year only due to cap issues. PRob and Greer SEEM to have those locked down at this point.
I would add the biggest battles with be at nose and OLB.
Welcome to the madhouse
LT is not a battle if Bushrod returns. Period.
RT is wide open this year.
FS will come down to MJ, IAQ and Ryan during ota's and camp.
I don't see a battle for 1 and 2 corners this year only due to cap issues. PRob and Greer SEEM to have those locked down at this point.
I would add the biggest battles with be at nose and OLB.
Welcome to the madhouse
Posted on 2/20/13 at 7:10 pm to htran90
At ILB I would like to see Lofton and Hawthorne as 2 big loads who can stuff the run. Vilma (restructured) could be a wildcard reserve at ILB and wsOLB occasionally. In clear cut passing situations/drives I would love to see Vilma in over Lofton no doubt :)
Posted on 2/20/13 at 7:14 pm to Patrick O Rly
quote:
It's hard to project position battles before FA and the draft.
What have we all been talking about(you too Paddy)
for the the last two months?
Feeling threatened?
Posted on 2/20/13 at 8:20 pm to Zoombop
Quddus seemed to always be around the ball. Wouldn't mind giving him a shot at the safety spot and putting Jenkins back in the slot cb spot. Jenkins just doesn't have the instincts to play FS.
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