re: 10 things we learned from Saints' preseason finale vs. Ravens

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Bighill may get caught up in the numbers game.

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This is what I don't get. Dude has done everything he possibly could to make the roster. Is it because of poteintial because so far he has literally outplayed every LB on the field not named Klein this preseason.

That said you know what you have in Robertson and Anzalone has shown he can be good. But based on what I've seen so far I would take Bighill over everyone else besides those three. But they don't pay me to be a coach so we'll see.

Every draft pick should make the team, and that is incredible

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Every draft pick should make the team, and that is incredible

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It really is. Even the very best drafts usually have at least 1 huge bust out of 7 picks in the 1st year. So far so good. I thought we would have a good draft, but I didn't see this coming.

I think Bighill has a good shot to make it, but you do have to keep in mind he went against 2nd and 3rd stringers.

But like Muhammad, he shone bright enough that he should still make it.

I don't think Mauti is a safe bet to make it. I think Bighill has shown more on defense and special teams to take his spot.

Also Payton said some things about Anthony the makes me think he's a lock (basically he was hurt and didn't get a chance, and with the first round investment they'll ride it out).

We usually keep 7 LBs (sometimes 6 or 8, but usually 7).

We have:
Klein
Robertson
Te'o
Anzalone
Stupar

Who are locks. Anthony, based on Payton's comments, seems like a safe bet.

That leaves one more spot, with only Mauti, Bighill, and Braman to choose from. Braman disappeared last night after a good week last week. Mauti disappeared the who preseason. Bighill has been showing up every week.

I think Bighill is easily our 7th over Mauti and Braman.

And I don't think we'll pull a LB from outside the team. Maybe a spot on the Oline or WR, but I doubt a clearly better LB will be cut (and a slightly better LB would still have to learn the playbook and not be worth the time he's behind).

Wil Lutz was pretty close on that last 59 yard attempt. Was really hoping he would sneak that one through.

Just to rerespond to Fun's post a bit, the "norm" for what we keep would be:

2-3 QBs (2 this year imo)
4-5 HBs (Cadet may sneak on as the 5th; Victor and/or Edmunds to the PS)
1 FB
5-6 WRs (didn't see a 6th so unless we get someone from the outside 5 it is)
3-4 TEs (unless from another team, only 3 this year)
7-9 Oline (usually 4 interior and 4 tackles)

4-5 DEs (could be 6 as we have a lot of swing DEs/DTs this year)
3-4 DTs
6-8 LBs (I see at least 7 this year)
5-6 CBs (don't think we keep a 6th over other spots this year)
4-6 Ss (5 seems to be it this year)

1 each of the specialists.

Yeah the Armstead thing is something to consider, but as long as the rest stay healthy I think 7 is deep enough to get us through the first few games. Kelemete can back up the inside and LT, Peat can play LT or LG, and Ram can play either tackle. Then we'll keep another guy like Harris or Barnes as an emergency tackle.

That's 8 and I don't see the need to keep a 5th tackle with both Peat and Kelemete being able to swing out.

Also I'm curious as to who your 6 CBs are. Breaux wouldn't count as he's going on IR. Then you have:

Lattimore
Williams
Moore
Crawley
Maulet or Harris but not both

Plus Vaccaro, Bell, and Marcus Willaims can all play nickel. We definitely don't need 6 CBs and I don't see us keeping 2 for special teams.

So in my mind that opens two spots, 1 for a LB and another for a DE or DT (or swing DE/DT).