Saints Should Pursue DE/DT Calais Campbell (1 Viewer)

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By Ty Anania -- Whodat Dish

Calais Campbell could provide much-needed versatility, experience, and pass-rushing to the New Orleans Saints defense.

The New Orleans Saints are in the market for a pass-rusher along the EDGE. And at first glance, Calais Campbell isn’t the ideal fit. He’s not a traditional EDGE rusher. In 2016 he often lined up as a DT and is better suited for run support than for rushing the passer.

But when you break down the tape, you’ll find a player that is more than capable of playing along the edge, and who can get after the passer better than most men his size. If anyone was getting double teamed along that Cardinals defensive line, 90% of the time it was Campbell. Even when he lined up at DE. And still he got things done.

He’s built on strength rather than speed, which is what sets him apart from the traditional DE. But he’s athletic enough to generate pressure along the edge even without pure speed. And he did score a 53-yard fumble return against the Saints, so he’s got some legs on him still.

Full Story -- Whodat Dish
 
I've been saying this for a month, but some astute Board members shot it down and it sounded like they had some good points. To me, he seems to be the one we need in FA and he brings an attitude. Edit: and he has brute strength and the size to clog passing lanes.
 
That is a great idea. If we can sign Calais Campbell, he would be my choice over Fairley for sure. Better player, better fit, and only a year older than Fairley.

I also agree that if we re-sign Fairley, we should forget about Campbell.
 
I'll predict we re-sign Fairley, pursue a guard in FA, and draft Barnett in round 1.

I agree with all of that. I think we'll also target Andre Branch and a corner in free agency.

But Campbell would be my first choice. Could potentially fill the Kruger and Fairley roles with one player. Assuming we have a pass rush specialist that pushes Campbell inside on passing downs.
 
I agree with all of that. I think we'll also target Andre Branch and a corner in free agency.

But Campbell would be my first choice. Could potentially fill the Kruger and Fairley roles with one player. Assuming we have a pass rush specialist that pushes Campbell inside on passing downs.

Nahhhh...don't agree. Not a fit...we clearly want a DE opposite Cam that presents what we have in Cooks/Thomas(balance). The problem with Kruger was that he didn't provide any base passrush...and neither would Campbell at RDE. We also already have Rankins who can play RDE in sub packages. We were the 11th ranked run defense this year.......We'd just be adding to a strength already.

We also already have a full rotation on the interior(Davison,Fairly,Rankins,Onyemata) at DT including Cam having the ability to reduce inside. Just would be an overload...very likely that the RDE will be an edge guy specifically and will not be the type to reduce inside on passing down...but possibly the type to kick over to LDE and give Cam a break while the 3rd down specialist kicks over to RDE or EDGE OLB(we've run Cam heavy the last few years....imagine how much more productive he can be if he was able to take some breather snaps and us not have to worry about the quality of end that replaces him. He'd be fresh as crap in the 4th)

If not Branch then securing a 3rd down rusher and maybe nabbing Taco Charlton would fit.


Though i hate to be the person who disagrees with everyone....the fit isn't there because of an already deep DT field.....unless you were to swap out Fairley for Campbell....but Campbell isn't the penetrator that Fairley is and you also have to go back to projecting how the guy fits......AND he's older.
 
Nahhhh...don't agree. Not a fit...we clearly want a DE opposite Cam that presents what we have in Cooks/Thomas(balance). The problem with Kruger was that he didn't provide any base passrush...and neither would Campbell at RDE. We also already have Rankins who can play RDE in sub packages. We were the 11th ranked run defense this year.......We'd just be adding to a strength already.

We also already have a full rotation on the interior(Davison,Fairly,Rankins,Onyemata) at DT including Cam having the ability to reduce inside. Just would be an overload...very likely that the RDE will be an edge guy specifically and will not be the type to reduce inside on passing down...but possibly the type to kick over to LDE and give Cam a break while the 3rd down specialist kicks over to RDE or EDGE OLB(we've run Cam heavy the last few years....imagine how much more productive he can be if he was able to take some breather snaps and us not have to worry about the quality of end that replaces him. He'd be fresh as crap in the 4th)

If not Branch then securing a 3rd down rusher and maybe nabbing Taco Charlton would fit.


Though i hate to be the person who disagrees with everyone....the fit isn't there because of an already deep DT field.....unless you were to swap out Fairley for Campbell....but Campbell isn't the penetrator that Fairley is and you also have to go back to projecting how the guy fits......AND he's older.

I just meant Campbell over Fairley would be my first choice, which I figured would negate the need for an Andre Branch. 2nd choice being to re-sign Fairley.

It's kind of like arguing over whether we should pick Leonard Fournette though, because I don't see it happening.

I think our offseason will look like this:

Free Agency:
Nick Fairley, DT
Andre Branch, DE
Larry Warford, G
Morris Claiborne, CB
AJ Klein, LB

Draft:
1. Solomon Thomas, EDGE, Stanford
2. Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
3. Tyus Bowser, EDGE, Houston
4. Jeremy McNichols, RB, Boise State
 
I just meant Campbell over Fairley would be my first choice, which I figured would negate the need for an Andre Branch. 2nd choice bring to re-sign Fairley.

It's kind of like arguing over whether we should pick Leonard Fournette though, because I don't see it happening.

I think our offseason will like this:

Free Agency:
Nick Fairley, DT
Andre Branch, DE
Larry Warford, G
Morris Claiborne, CB
AJ Klein, LB

Draft:
1. Solomon Thomas, EDGE, Stanford
2. Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
3. Tyus Bowser, EDGE, Houston
4. Jeremy McNichols, RB, Boise State

I could see that. I'm not sure they add another LB FA due to us signing 3 last year in FA. Drafting one late or as a UDFA seems more likely. I like the Larry Warford at G because he was there when Joe Lombardi was the Lions Ocoordinator. That means that Lombardi has insight on him and those connections usually mean something around this time. He wont break the bank and Roushar has proven he can coach guys up with the entire Oline last year progressing and being a strength for the team.

Solomon Thomas is too close to Cam Jordan as a prospect for my liking as is more of a base DE that reduces to DT on passing downs. If we land Branch I'd like to think we'd pair him with an undersized rusher like Tim Williams who would likely take snaps in place of Kikaha until he gets healthy.
 
I could see that. I'm not sure they add another LB FA due to us signing 3 last year in FA. Drafting one late or as a UDFA seems more likely. I like the Larry Warford at G because he was there when Joe Lombardi was the Lions Ocoordinator. That means that Lombardi has insight on him and those connections usually mean something around this time. He wont break the bank and Roushar has proven he can coach guys up with the entire Oline last year progressing and being a strength for the team.

Solomon Thomas is too close to Cam Jordan as a prospect for my liking as is more of a base DE that reduces to DT on passing downs. I think we'd like a 3rd down rusher that is more of an edge specialist to pair with the Branch signing who would probably play RDE on base downs and then swap out with an edge guy on 3rd or move over to LDE and give Cam a Breather while the 3rd down edge guy takes over at RDE.

I just really want Thomas, but he's another one that I think will be gone before we pick. I should have put Barnett for our first pick, but I still have a sliver of hope we get Thomas. I just think he's the type of talent you draft regardless of fit, similar to Fournette.

Same with AJ Klein, just a guy I like. Don't know how likely it is though.
 
I don't think he fits scheme wise. He is a 3/4 3 tech. He is a play making 3 tech in a 3/4 and those guys get paid but he generates pressure by splitting the gap between the tackle and the guard. He would be a edge player in our scheme and he really don't have the speed and Bend at his age. He would be 3 tech DT. And a run stopping end. We already have two 3 tech DTs.
 
I don't think he fits scheme wise. He is a 3/4 3 tech. He is a play making 3 tech in a 3/4 and those guys get paid but he generates pressure by splitting the gap between the tackle and the guard. He would be a edge player in our scheme and he really don't have the speed and Bend at his age. He would be 3 tech DT. And a run stopping end. We already have two 3 tech DTs.

Yeah I feel like wanting him to play DE is the same thing we had with Hicks playing DE in this scheme and we moved on from him because he wasn't a fit.
 
I don't think he fits scheme wise. He is a 3/4 3 tech. He is a play making 3 tech in a 3/4 and those guys get paid but he generates pressure by splitting the gap between the tackle and the guard. He would be a edge player in our scheme and he really don't have the speed and Bend at his age. He would be 3 tech DT. And a run stopping end. We already have two 3 tech DTs.

Run stopping ends: Jordan w/Onyemata in training
Nice 3techs: Rankins w/Fairley resigning as an option

The two positions that he would be asked to play, the team already has a starter and another option in house. He's a really good player, but not a great scheme fit, he's a bit on the old side, AND he'll cost a pretty penny.

Spend the cash on a first rate CB or WDE, IMHO.
 
Run stopping ends: Jordan w/Onyemata in training
Nice 3techs: Rankins w/Fairley resigning as an option

The two positions that he would be asked to play, the team already has a starter and another option in house. He's a really good player, but not a great scheme fit, he's a bit on the old side, AND he'll cost a pretty penny.

Spend the cash on a first rate CB or WDE, IMHO.

Onyemata is not a DE. That was a common consensus when he drafted everyone thought he would play base DE similar to how we had a big DE the year before with Bobby Richardson. Onyemata is a DT specifically a 3Tech...thats why he backed up Fairley this year. He's got a similar build to Kawaan Short. The only reason we had a big end the year b4 was because Jordan was playing the Jack role....so Richardson was basically the strong side DE.

With Jordan moving back to SDE there was no need for a bigger base end any longer.

Rankins subbed in for Davison last year...not Fairley
 

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