re: Let's Talk Cutdown to Final 53 Roster , LOOMIS DECLARES BACKUP QB

quote:

---

you realize that they've all returned a ton for the saints, right?

---

Meachem has 7 career KO returns

Henderson has ZERO

Reggie Bush has ZERO


talk about a "ton"

pretty close with yours too Lester

I go 2 QBs, that spot goes to Arrington. IF he has another big game next week his performance will demand keeping.

I said Wynn over Betts for ST and being younger but either could go or stay

Leckey over Metcalf but not a biggie diff

Charleston over McCray, I base it on pure results and JC as a bigger ST contributor

If he isn't dinged up I go Prioleau over Vaughn. GW's boy and Vaughn is PS stashable.

David Thomas got added to the team after Billy Miller went down in the last preseason game.

So there is the chance that there could be a couple of people on the final 53 who aren't even on the team right now.

quote:

---

Reis may very well be the new ST captain,

---

Possibly, tough call if it gets down to Reis/Young decision on who stays...

Reggie was back for two attempts in 2008...but he was never kicked to.

by listing

QUARTERBACKS (2): Drew Brees, Chase Daniel.
Payton has been known to keep just two, but Ramsey and Daniel have both looked good, and Daniel may not get through waivers. Ramsey had no interest as a FA that anyone could have had. he could stay fresh and available on an UFL roster

RUNNING BACKS (5): Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory, Deshawn Wynn, Heath Evans.
Ivory, a free agent, has earned his spot in the three-headed monster RBC. Wynn is still young and if healthy has shown some spark. he's already shown some ST use.

WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Lance Moore, Courtney Roby, Adrian Arrington. One of the final roster decisions goes to having 6 here IF Arrington shows one more game of solid production.

TIGHT ENDS (4): Jeremy Shockey, David Thomas, Jimmy Graham, Tory Humphrey. Payton has kept 4 more often than 3. Graham dinged is the deciding factor.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Jermon Bushrod, Carl Nicks, Jonathan Goodwin, Jahri Evans, Jon Stinchcomb, Zach Strief, Nick Leckey, Charles Brown, Matt Tennant. Leckey and Tennant's versatility wins out.

DEFENSIVE LINE (8): Alex Brown, Sedrick Ellis, Remi Ayodele, Will Smith, Anthony Hargrove, Jeff Charleston, Jimmy Wilkerson, DeMario Pressley. The chance to slide young guys like Woods or Galette to the PS might be key factors. You can see why McCray was cut earlier when examined next to competition.

LINEBACKERS (7): Scott Shanle, Jonathan Vilma, Jonathan Casillas, Marvin Mitchell, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Clint Ingram, K.C. Asidou. Ingram may be PUP. Looks like a ripe spot for a ST stud to replace Evans (could be Arnoux or Waters just as easy).

DEFENSIVE BACKS (9): Jabari Greer, Roman Harper, Malcolm Jenkins, Tracy Porter, Randall Gay, Patrick Robinson, Chip Vaughn, Pearson Prioleau, Darren Sharper. Another PUP possibility with Sharper. Regardless the last two spots are really up for grabs. Usama, Torrence or Reis could be written in just as easily. A factor is who can be PS eligible.

SPECIALISTS (3): Garrett Hartley, Thomas Morstead, Jason Kyle.

you're right, I get that cuz he's listed at LB at nfl.com which I use for listing. Still applies tho, I think one guy will win a spot on nothing but ST performance and role. That's pretty much how I categorize Reis or Evans before cut.

quote:

---

Bush, Moore, Meach, and Henderson can and have returned a ton of punts. Are you saying that there's that big of a difference in skill sets?

---

are you asking me if there is different skill sets than returning punts and kicks?

of course there is.

Reggie Bush is our punt returner. I'm not talking about punt returning.

you were talking KO return, and said all those guys have had a ton of return opportunities, and they obviously havent.

quote:

---

In 2007 Lance Moore and Pierre Thomas were our primary return men.

In 2008 PT was our primary return man.

In 2009 Meach was #2 on the team in KO returns.

---

They are all important cogs in our offense now, which is why you wont see them return kicks exclusively at this point in their careers.

James Varney's 53 is now up at nola.com:

LINK

He thinks that the Saints only keep Ramsey behind Brees and try to put Daniel back on the practice squad. He doesn't put Zak Keasey on the 53, but had him as the last player he cut, saying that Keasey has played well on special teams and could make the 53 based on his performance there. Arrington makes his team, as does Tory Humphrey as a 4th TE. Bobby McCray makes his squad, as he thinks the Saints will try to get Galette on the practice squad. He only keeps six LBs, and Arnoux is one of them and Waters isn't, but Varney admits that Waters might be a better bet than one of the DEs. Among the DBs, Varney cuts Torrence and Vaughn but keeps Reis and Prioleau.

A lot of Varney's picks seem to go against the consensus here on this board. It will be interesting to see if he's right or if we are.

Varney-

I'm in the one backup QB camp

I think one player will make the team as a ST player regardless of position. I could see Keasey. I picked Asidou for that kinda role.

I'm going 75% yes on Arrington now. The final game will count for him.

I'm willing to bet on 4 TE's with Humphrey unless Graham has some spectacular recovery from his ankle

As much as we like Galette he is one dimensional and still raw. A risk but they might try to PS him

McCray could stay, I just haven't seen it in head to head competition.

The last few DB spots will be a free for all. The edge for Reis is ST, Prioleau gets GW's boy status.