re: Pre-season Position Battles

quote:

---

Ellis is a lock if he's in 2019 shape.

Nice competition on the front 7 this year!

---

Going to be really interesting to see how the linebacker group shakes out this year. Craig Robertson could be on the chopping block if Ellis shines on special teams. He has the athleticism.

Nichols, Ortiz and Hogan cut

quote:

---

Nichols, Ortiz and Hogan cut

---

I guess that was a bad pick I made for #4 CB

quote:

---

I think Granderson makes it over Hunt. With a short offseason to train, I think familiarity of a player will win out. Besides, I’m not sure Hunt is that much better than Granderson anyway.

---

I think Granderson and Hunt could both make the team if Hunt shows that he can still play. He is little up there in age but had some good seasons with the colts. Hunt is one of those versatile guys that can play end or tackle. We typically carry More defensive lineman. They are also kind of two different skill sets. Hunt is more of a run stuffer and Granderson is more of a pass rusher. It is also important to remember that cook ate us alive in the playoffs with Davenport hurt.

RB Washington (3)

WR Trequan, Carr (5)

OL Easton, Tom, Hurst, Throckmorton (9)

DE Hendrickson, Granderson (4)

DT Tuttle, Stallworth (5)

LB Anzalone, Robertson, Bradham, Chickillo (6)

CB Robinson, Ellis (6)

S Swearinger (5)


Hardest cuts are at DL & WR

NOLA.com

More cuts incoming.

quote:

---

By the day's end, nine players were cut including wide receiver Krishawn Hogan, wide receiver Tommylee Lewis, cornerback Deatrick Nichols, safety Chris Johnson, defensive end Gus Cumberlander, guard Adrian Magee, running back Taquan Mizzell, running back Ricky Ortiz and wide receiver Maurice Harris.

---

I’m guessing my I was wrong in Hogan.

LINK So far, the released players are a mix of veterans who already have some game film to refer to and rookies who didn’t have much of a chance of making the team. Check back often for updates as the Saints continue to winnow down their roster:

WR Krishawn Hogan, via Amie Just of The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate. Hogan logged 83 snaps in eight games with the Saints last year after starting out on the practice squad, doing most of his work as a blocker. He caught his lone target to gain four yards before ending the season on injured reserve. He’s more of a known quantity than many of the receivers on the roster, so this could be a way for the Saints to give others a shot in practice.

CB Deatrick Nichols, via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. Nichols signed with the Saints after the XFL dissolved earlier this year; he led the upstart professional football league with three interceptions as a member of the Houston Roughnecks, and seemed ready to compete for a roster spot as a contributor on special teams and in slot coverage. The Saints may feel his XFL game tape is enough to help them decide whether to bring him back later this year.

FB Ricky Ortiz, via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. Ortiz was a late addition to the Saints practice squad in 2019, suiting up for the regular season finale and their playoffs loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He ultimately played just 20 snaps on offense between those two appearances, catching one pass to gain eight yards. His release is a clear sign that veteran fullback Michael Burton won’t be challenged to start for the Saints.

DL Gus Cumberlander, via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. The big undrafted rookie out of Oregon fits the same height-weight profile as free agent pickup Margus Hunt, making him somewhat redundant with a cuts deadline on the horizon. A long shot to catch on with the Saints, Cumberlander should get an opportunity with another team as players around the league continue to opt out of the 2020 season.

WR Maurice Harris, via Field Yates of ESPN. Harris signed with the Saints after missing most of the 2019 season with an injury as a member of the New England Patriots; he played well previously for the Washington Football Team, and there was some optimism that he could help round out a Saints receiving corps in need of more help after Michael Thomas outplayed them as a group by himself last year.

WR Tommylee Lewis, via Field Yates of ESPN. Lewis passed on an opportunity with the XFL’s Dallas Renegades to return to New Orleans, where he had previously found work as a role player on offense and return man on special teams. The Saints know him well, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he re-signs with them in the future should injuries hit the unit.

OL Adrian Magee, via NFL transactions wire. Signed as an undrafted rookie out of LSU, Magee had a rough road between him and a roster spot at one of the most competitive position groups in training camp.

S Chris Johnson, via NFL transactions wire. Johnson joined the Saints practice squad late last season and signed a reserve/futures contract. He would have had to outplay veterans like D.J. Swearinger and Saquan Hampton for a roster spot as a backup on special teams.

RB Taquan Mizzell, via NFL transactions wire. Mizzell spent the 2019 season on the Saints practice squad, and was the nominal backup to Alvin Kamara as a passing-down specialist. Now that he’s released, Ty Montgomery should be the favorite to win that job.

They just cut DT Taylor Stallworth

Agreed. Elliss was playing really well prior to his injury last year. The whole team seemed high on him too. I’d expect him to push for playing time this year.

Solid thread.

quote:

---

Davis, Baun, Bradham, Anzalone, Robertson are locks.

---

I don’t think Robertson is a lock this year. He is 32 and has shown signs of digression. He also has a higher cap hit for a strict special teams player. Elliss is more athletic and if he outplays Robertson on special teams in practice then he will beat out Robertson. I don’t think Elliss makes much of a push for defensive reps unless it is due to injuries but I think he makes this team and I think Robertson’s time may be coming to an end. I don’t think Bradham is a lock either. He is getting up there in age Too and needs to come into camp in shape and healthy and perform. He had a down year last year and an injury.

I think the only true locks at linebacker are Anzalone, Davis, and Baun. Anything outside of that wouldn’t shock me.