- Banned
- #1
DownWithDisease
Very Banned
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Sean Payton has signed his 5 year extension, and has returned to the Saints with a vengeance. Steve Spagnuolo was fired and the Saints plan to switch to a 3-4 Defense. Who the new DC will be is anyone's guess, but it will be someone who knows the 3-4, and someone Payton can trust.
Current Players Released or not Re-signed
Scott Shanle - Not re-signed following extensive status on INACTIVE list 2nd half of season.
Sedrick Ellis - Under performed and doesn't fit the 3-4.
Jonathan Vilma - Too expensive and not a good fit in the 3-4.
Will Smith - ZERO chance he is a Saint next season.
Will Herring - Released because backups shouldn't make what he will be making.
Devery Henderson - Has all but disappeared; isn't getting any younger.
Re-Structured Contracts
Drew Brees - Will save significant cap room with a re-structured deal.
Jahri Evans - Takes one for the team. Won't effect overall pay.
Brodrick Bunkley - Will be asked to re-structure, or will be released.
Roman Harper - Harper could bounce back in 3-4 scheme. He'll need to fix his high salary though, or he could be released. I think Payton likes him though, and he sticks.
Free-Agency
*The re-structuring of contracts and the release of others will give us a little wiggle room in Free-Agency in my estimation*
OT Jermon Bushrod - I believe we will find a way to keep him a Saint.
QB Chase Daniel - Solid back-up, knows the offense, cheap $$
DT/DE Ricky Jean-Francois -Solid depth guy at 3-4 DE that knows the D.
OLB Victor Butler - Young player with upside and experience playing the 3-4. Flashed some skills when D. Ware was out hurt last season.
TE Jared Cook - Cook has the athleticism and speed to splt the seam of a defense. Adding him would bring another dimension to the offense.
CB Greg Toler - Toler is a solid reserve cornerback who can start occasionally without killing a team. He played well at the end of the 2012 season.
WR Brian Hartline - Good size at 6'2 200lbs, runs great routes, reliable hands, and has enough speed to stretch the defense. Entering his prime, and still has upside.
2013 Draft
*Everyone "assumes" we will get our 2nd rounder back... I think the chances of that are slim-to-none. I do, however, predict we will be awarded 1 compensatory pick, probably in the 4th round.
1.) Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State - I think Sheldon Richardson will rise and be taken ahead of Hankins in April, but I prefer Hankins as a prospect. Hankins is much like Hicks in that he can play either NT or DE in the 3-4. Hankins ceiling is higher than Hicks' however.
3.) Chase Thomas, OLB, Stanford - We all have high hopes for Galette and Tez Wilson moving to OLB in the 3-4, but the fact is, it will be brand new to both of them. We need players that know the scheme and how to play it. Thomas is a good one.
4.) Phillip Thomas, S, Fresno St. - A coverage safety will real ball-skills! the Saints need one badly, and even though he may not start immediately, Thomas could be a steal in this spot.
4.) (compensatory) Kwame Geathers, NT, Georgia - That's right, another NT. With Hankins ability to play either DT or DE in the 3-4 (and the fact he's a rookie) it's always good to have insurance and depth at a key spot. Geathers is a pure NT.
5.) Marcus Davis, WR, VaTech - Big explosive WR that has the speed to burn defenses long. Still a pretty raw and unfinished product though.
7.) Tanner Hawkinson, OT, Kansas - Developmental OT prospect with some nice tools and potential.
2013 Depth Chart
QB – Drew Brees, Chase Daniel
RB – Mark Ingram, Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory
FB – Jed Collins
TE – Jimmy Graham, Jared Cook, David Thomas
WR – Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Brian Hartline, Joseph Morgan, Nick Toon, M. Davis
LT – Jermon Bushrod, Will Robinson
LG – Ben Grubbs, Eric Olsen
C – Brian De La Puente, Eric Olsen
RG – Jahri Evans, Ricky Henry
RT – Zach Streif, Charles Brown, Marcel Jones
---------------------------------------------------------------
DE – Akiem Hicks, Tom Johnson, Tyrunn Walker
NT – Jonathan Hankins, Kwame Geathers, Broderick Bunkley
DE – Cam Jordan, Ricky Jean-Francois
ROLB – Junior Galette, Martez Wilson, Braylon Broughton
ILB – David Hawthorne, Chris Chamberlain
MLB – Curtis Lofton, Ramon Humber
LOLB – Chase Thomas, Victor Butler, Braylon Broughton
SS – Roman Harper, Rafael Bush, Jericho Nelson
FS – Malcolm Jenkins, Isa Quddus, Phillip Thomas
CB – Jabari Greer, Patrick Robinson, Greg Toler, Elbert Mack, Cory White
Current Players Released or not Re-signed
Scott Shanle - Not re-signed following extensive status on INACTIVE list 2nd half of season.
Sedrick Ellis - Under performed and doesn't fit the 3-4.
Jonathan Vilma - Too expensive and not a good fit in the 3-4.
Will Smith - ZERO chance he is a Saint next season.
Will Herring - Released because backups shouldn't make what he will be making.
Devery Henderson - Has all but disappeared; isn't getting any younger.
Re-Structured Contracts
Drew Brees - Will save significant cap room with a re-structured deal.
Jahri Evans - Takes one for the team. Won't effect overall pay.
Brodrick Bunkley - Will be asked to re-structure, or will be released.
Roman Harper - Harper could bounce back in 3-4 scheme. He'll need to fix his high salary though, or he could be released. I think Payton likes him though, and he sticks.
Free-Agency
*The re-structuring of contracts and the release of others will give us a little wiggle room in Free-Agency in my estimation*
OT Jermon Bushrod - I believe we will find a way to keep him a Saint.
QB Chase Daniel - Solid back-up, knows the offense, cheap $$
DT/DE Ricky Jean-Francois -Solid depth guy at 3-4 DE that knows the D.
OLB Victor Butler - Young player with upside and experience playing the 3-4. Flashed some skills when D. Ware was out hurt last season.
TE Jared Cook - Cook has the athleticism and speed to splt the seam of a defense. Adding him would bring another dimension to the offense.
CB Greg Toler - Toler is a solid reserve cornerback who can start occasionally without killing a team. He played well at the end of the 2012 season.
WR Brian Hartline - Good size at 6'2 200lbs, runs great routes, reliable hands, and has enough speed to stretch the defense. Entering his prime, and still has upside.
2013 Draft
*Everyone "assumes" we will get our 2nd rounder back... I think the chances of that are slim-to-none. I do, however, predict we will be awarded 1 compensatory pick, probably in the 4th round.
1.) Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State - I think Sheldon Richardson will rise and be taken ahead of Hankins in April, but I prefer Hankins as a prospect. Hankins is much like Hicks in that he can play either NT or DE in the 3-4. Hankins ceiling is higher than Hicks' however.
3.) Chase Thomas, OLB, Stanford - We all have high hopes for Galette and Tez Wilson moving to OLB in the 3-4, but the fact is, it will be brand new to both of them. We need players that know the scheme and how to play it. Thomas is a good one.
4.) Phillip Thomas, S, Fresno St. - A coverage safety will real ball-skills! the Saints need one badly, and even though he may not start immediately, Thomas could be a steal in this spot.
4.) (compensatory) Kwame Geathers, NT, Georgia - That's right, another NT. With Hankins ability to play either DT or DE in the 3-4 (and the fact he's a rookie) it's always good to have insurance and depth at a key spot. Geathers is a pure NT.
5.) Marcus Davis, WR, VaTech - Big explosive WR that has the speed to burn defenses long. Still a pretty raw and unfinished product though.
7.) Tanner Hawkinson, OT, Kansas - Developmental OT prospect with some nice tools and potential.
2013 Depth Chart
QB – Drew Brees, Chase Daniel
RB – Mark Ingram, Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory
FB – Jed Collins
TE – Jimmy Graham, Jared Cook, David Thomas
WR – Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Brian Hartline, Joseph Morgan, Nick Toon, M. Davis
LT – Jermon Bushrod, Will Robinson
LG – Ben Grubbs, Eric Olsen
C – Brian De La Puente, Eric Olsen
RG – Jahri Evans, Ricky Henry
RT – Zach Streif, Charles Brown, Marcel Jones
---------------------------------------------------------------
DE – Akiem Hicks, Tom Johnson, Tyrunn Walker
NT – Jonathan Hankins, Kwame Geathers, Broderick Bunkley
DE – Cam Jordan, Ricky Jean-Francois
ROLB – Junior Galette, Martez Wilson, Braylon Broughton
ILB – David Hawthorne, Chris Chamberlain
MLB – Curtis Lofton, Ramon Humber
LOLB – Chase Thomas, Victor Butler, Braylon Broughton
SS – Roman Harper, Rafael Bush, Jericho Nelson
FS – Malcolm Jenkins, Isa Quddus, Phillip Thomas
CB – Jabari Greer, Patrick Robinson, Greg Toler, Elbert Mack, Cory White