Started By
Message
locked post

Spinoff: Saints talent/depth analysis

Posted on 12/27/13 at 12:31 pm
Posted by csorre1
Member since Apr 2010
6569 posts
Posted on 12/27/13 at 12:31 pm
This is taken from the Score Board thread. It deserves its own topic. I think the Saints have several areas of strength, and several areas of weakness. IMO they do have several areas that need improvement. This is only my opinion, so feel free to disagree and give your own suggestions. I am bored at work so this is pretty long.

***Warning, Long*** Here is my take on our talent/depth ***Warning, Long***

TLDR version: OL needs serious work, WR needs work, DB needs work, KR/PR need serious improvement. Other positions could use some depth, but are lower on the totem pole.

Offense:
QB: Brees(nuff said)
RB: None are great, but they would look better with better OL play.
TE: Plenty of depth and talent.
WR: Colston continues to be solid. Everyone else is replaceable, and we could use some upgrades to talent/depth. Not as bad as people make them seem.
C: I don't like DLP, but he is adequate.
G: IMO we are fine at guard. Evans has been off but has all the talent in the world. We knew Grubbs would be a downgrade to Nicks, but now Nicks is constantly hurt so it is a wash.
T: Ugh. Gross. Serious issues here. I think Strief would be serviceable if Evans were healthy but the LT problems are glaring.

Summary: We can stand to upgrade WR and RB but it may not be necessary if we are healthy and have guys like Morgan available. I think Colston has a few years left and stills has a bright future. I haven't given up on Pierre, Sproles, Ingram or Robinson. We absolutely need to figure out the OT problems. We can win with Strief but Brown and Armstead need to improve or become backups. I am hoping Armstead can improve and be the LT of the future but we need to draft and/or sign someone as well. If we changed Centers I for one would be ok with it. DLP is serviceable but not great.


Defense:
DL: We could use another pass rusher but I think we are fine as is. DTs have been good, DEs have been very good.
OLB: We could stand to upgrade the OLBs though we haven't seen everyone play yet due to preseason/off-season injuries so it necessarily a dire situation.
ILB: I am content with our ILBs. Maybe need 1 or 2 guys for depth, but not a must in the off-season.
CB: With Greer and Lewis I think our 1-2 punch is good - great. We need some depth. I wouldn't mind replacing the number 3/4/5 CBs.
FS/SS: I don't like Harper/Jenkins on the back end. I think KV is great. Harper can be good, but not when he has to cover people. Bush has been good depth, Quddus has not been good this year. We should probably look for a good center fielder type FS to sign and let KV play SS. That would be ideal.

Summary: I think we are on the right track at safety with KV, but Jenkins has been up and down his whole career. Harper is usually a sure tackler who is great against the run, but not a coverage guy. Bush and Quddus are ok, but I wouldn't be upset with letting either or both go. I like the Greer/Lewis combo, but think we need to address the 3/4/5 CB positions. OLB could use a look but will be hard to asses until everyone is healthy. DL is young and talented we could sign a guy or two, but I think we would be fine moving forward with the current DL and letting guys like Jordan, Jenkins, and Hicks develop.

Special Teams:
Kicker: ?
Punter: Good here
LS: Good here
PR: Needs serious improvement
KR: Joe Morgan?

Summary: Kicker is a question mark. Punter is good to go. Long snapper is fine. Coverage units could improve. We could stand to sign a few special team studs and we need to address the kick and punt return groups. Either more special team specialists, or more starers on the special team units.
Posted by blueslover
deeper than deep south
Member since Sep 2007
22792 posts
Posted on 12/27/13 at 12:44 pm to
some fair enough points but I see no reference to contracts and cap analysis. THAT is just as, or maybe even more vital, than the skills and player performances when looking forward.
Posted by LSUZombie
A Cemetery Near You
Member since Apr 2008
28918 posts
Posted on 12/27/13 at 1:05 pm to
quote:

QB: Brees(nuff said)


He's at the bottom of the great QB's in the league. His stuggles on the road have been frustrating and he doesn't even look like the same QB when he isn't at home. He's holding on to the ball too long at times, and taking sacks when he should throw the ball away.

quote:

RB: None are great, but they would look better with better OL play

Would love to see Ingram get more carries. He is running hard. I'm done with Sproles. He's too small and not as fast as when he came aboard. Need a younger player here.

quote:

WR: Colston continues to be solid. Everyone else is replaceable, and we could use some upgrades to talent/depth. Not as bad as people make them seem.

Would keep Colston and Stills, and that's it. They need some major talent upgrades here.

quote:

C: I don't like DLP, but he is adequate

DLP is awful and I pray he is gone.

quote:

G: IMO we are fine at guard. Evans has been off but has all the talent in the world. We knew Grubbs would be a downgrade to Nicks, but now Nicks is constantly hurt so it is a wash

Agree

quote:

T: Ugh. Gross. Serious issues here. I think Strief would be serviceable if Evans were healthy but the LT problems are glaring.

This postition is so bad it is inexcusable. Loomis and Payton did a poor job settling for players they hoped would pan out, and it's costing us the health of our franchise QB

quote:

Defense

Pretty content here. Just need some more CB depth, another big body upfront, and depth at DE and linebacker. Another safety as well when Jenkins and Harper finally leave this team.

quote:

PR: Needs serious improvement
KR: Joe Morgan?

We need a decent return man so badly. Sproles isn't good at it - lacks the size to break tackles. Moore is too slow. Maybe draft a speedy wr/rb this year who can take punts and kicks to the house on occasion.
Posted by BayouFann
CenLa
Member since Jun 2012
6874 posts
Posted on 12/27/13 at 1:42 pm to
play calling and periodic "drew brees head up his arse"
Posted by Champagne
Already Conquered USA.
Member since Oct 2007
48582 posts
Posted on 12/27/13 at 6:46 pm to
quote:

It deserves its own topic.




thanks
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 1Next pagelast page
refresh

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram