How To: Get the Saints back to the SB in (1) offseason
Hello again all. I have returned with another roster projection for the 2013-2014 season. If you like long winded thoughtful post then You have come to the right place.
Im going to break right into this so Lets get Started
A. Fire Spags -
Accomplished:worthy:
B. Hire Todd Grantham
+ Preaches Fundamentals
+ Fits talent to system
+ Has NFL experience
+ Good gameplanner
+ Aggressive
+ Has experience with the read option
+ has shutoutability ( Chip kelly coined it)
C. Evaluate the defense
-worst defensive performance in Paytons Tenure
-Tackling is an issue
-cannot produce a pass rush(more on this later)
-hybrid players/scheme versatility
-lack of team speed (especially@ the LB position)
-has not been good against the run in Paytons Tenure
-Need to get bigger/more physical @ Corner. WR's in division are big.
-Need someone to provide inside pressure.
D. Identify Building Blocks (notice the
young talent on every level of D)
+Malcolm Jenkins CB
+-Patrick Robinson CB
+-Akiem Hicks DE
+Curtis Lofton MLB
++Camron Jordan DE
+Isa Abdul Quddus FS/SS
+Junior Gallette DE/OLB
+Martez Wilson MLB
E. Identify Possibe Cap Casualties.
-Smith- Release Free Up money
-Jonathan Vilma - Release Doesn't fit scheme. Free up money
-Sed Ellis- Walks
-Roman Harper- Release Free Up money
-David Hawthorne- Release Free Up money
-Broderick Bunkley - Sticks. No nonsense guy who is capable of playing the nose. Will be kept fresh/effective by having a second Nose Tackle to rotate with.
-Devery Henderson - Walks
-Jabari Greer - Restructure can move to the Nickel
-Bushrood - Walks. Charles Brown is a FA after this season. Its a must that we see what we have so we can know if we need to resign him or not. Having gone to another ProBowl Bushrods asking price went up and i doubt Mickey takes the bait. We will sign a lesser FA to push Brown and keep kicking.
-Resign Chase Daniels
-Shanle Walks
-Casillas Walks
-Tag Brian De La Puente with the highest tender and keep kickin.
-Will Herring - Cut
- Turk McBride - Walks
After a few restructures and nixing of some veterans we are left with a considerable amount of money. We use it to resign Jimmy Graham so we don't have to deal with a holdout. We may also have to extend guys like Malcolm Jenkins, Junya G, De La Puene
F. Trade
Ivory. We tag Ivory with a 1st rounder to ward away unwanted suitors (Falcons). Not knowing if we will get our 2nd rounder back we then trade him to the Dolphins for the Colts 2nd Round Pick. We've done business with them many times b4. Mainly because we don't play them often so our trades don't usually come back to hurt us too often.
G. Free Agency
After restucturing and releasing guys to free up cap space we decide to play it safe in free agency this year. We make a few signings for depth reasons but stay away from any big signings. We decided this is the year we start building thru the draft because on the surface its a deep one.
Paris Lenon MLB- Played in this style of 3-4 in Arizona. Solid veteran presence and can backup Loftons position.
Erik Waldon - OLB - 3rd down rusher. With the emergence of desmond moses Waldon becomes expendable. He finds his way to our team where he can be used to relieve/push Gallete. Similar role to what he played in Greenbay.
Kedrick Gholston DE - Comes in with knowlege of the 3-4 and gives us a solid backup. We don't have to worry about can he make the transition to the scheme (Tom Johnson, Tyrunn Walker) Can back up both end spots while we see what we have with the above gentlemen.
Winston Justice LT - In and out of the lineup with the colts but is a solid blocker when healthy. Will be brought in @ decent price as he will be on the second tier of Tackles signed in FA and will serve as an insurance policy to Charles Brown as well as push him for the starting spot.
H. The Draft
Reworked and rethought. Addressing every need possible and with good reason. Im going to assume this time around that we will indeed have our 2nd round pick back. Goodell said that if the team did what it was told to do then it would be returned. Benson kept his mouth shut and managment did nothing to NOT get out 2nd rounder back. Everyone complied without a
single peep.
Im expecting Alex Okafur to slide in the draft because of other pass rushers with more potential being available. This proves well for us. We can trade back with the St Louis Rams for an extra 3rd rounder and a future 2nd rounder(sticking to building thru draft)
Round 1 - Alex Okafur DE Texas - 6'4 260
Comes in and immediately holds down the LOLB. Will serve as a bookend for Junyah. Not the best athlete but hes polished and can own RT's with his speed rush alone right from the Very start. U guys called for someone who can come in and make an impact. This is the guy
Alex Okafor 2012 Senior Highlights - YouTube
Round 2(a) - Christine Michael RB Texas A&M 5'10 220
He replaces the departed Chris Ivory. More of a complete runner than ivory as he can passblock. Reminds me of Deuce a little bit. He changes direction well, is elusive, and has top end speed. With that being said...hes a power back. If Ingram doesn't step up next year. This guy will be the insurance policy.
Ultimate Christine Michael Texas A&M Highlights - YouTube
Round 2(b) - Robert Alford Southeast La 5'10 186 CB/KR
He goes this high because of his ability to return kicks and potential be a shutdown corner. He doesn't have to come in and start immediately but could push for the Nickel spot. At worst he ends up being our 4th CB and provides tremendous depth. Provides competition and if Pat Robinson doesn't step up we have a replacement already on the roster.
#13 Robert Alford, 5-11, 188, CB, Southeastern Louisiana Highlights 2012 (some 2011) - YouTube
Round 3(a) Brandon Williams - Missouri Southern 6'2 241 NT
We are going to need another NT to pair with Bunkley. We we interviewed him@ the senior bowl so it makes a little sense. Stout guy that can 2gap but also has a little pass rush about him.
http://youtu.be/WGSMeSZXQdM
Round 3(b) Bacarri Rambo - Georgia FS/SS 6'1 215
He was in charge of getting the D lined up for at least 2 years in this system. We need a ballhawk in the secondary and he comes in with knowledge of the system. Has soft hands for the Int. Generally takes good angles and is also known for stripping the ball. Should start day 1.
http://youtu.be/9nUk0pfieLg
Round 4 Tavarres King - Georgia 6'0 192 WR
We were seen chatting with this guy@ the Senior Bowl. Hes got the size we like out of our burners and we have an inside track on him since Grantham saw him in practice for a few years.
Round 5 Nick Kasa - Colorado 6'6 272 TE
Former DE. Brings Toughness to the offense. He can play special teams and develop for a year under David Thomas. Is already pretty good @ blocking. They got Gronk...we got Kasa.
Round 6 Denard Robinson - Michigan 6'0 196 QB/WR
Surprise Surprise. We need this guy on our scout team. He will go a long way to helping us understand how to stop the read option. Could also implement some packages for him to keep defenses off balance. Makes sense right>>>
Heck of a Draft Right? Now lets piece this all together.
QB - Brees/ Daniels/Robinson
RB - Ingram/ Sproles/Thomas/Michael
WR- Colston/Moore/ Morgan/Toon/King/ Cadet
TE - Graham/Thomas/Kasa
LT - Brown/Justice/William Robinson
LG - Ben Grubbs/Andrew Tiller
C - Brian De La Puente
RG - Jahri Evans/Andrew Tiller
RT- Zach Strief/Marcel Jones
RDE Akiem Hicks/Kedrick Gholton
NT Broderick Bunkley/Brandon Williams
LDE Cameron Jordan/Kedrick Gholston/Tyrunn Walker
ROLB - Junya G/Eric Walden/Greg Romeus
WILB - Martez Wilson/Chris Chamberlain
SILB - Curtis Lofton/Paris Lenon
LOLB - Alex Okafor/Erik Walden/Braylon Broughton
CB(Field) Patrick Robinson/Jabari Greer/Robert Alford
CB(Boundary) Malcolm Jenkins/Johnny Patrick
FS Isa Abdul Quddus/Malcolm Jenkins/Rafael Bush
SS Bacarri Rambo/Rafael Bush
Junyah has a breakout year. I think we ask him to drop weight and he becomes a MONSTER@ olb. Just incase we forgot here is some of Gallettes college tape.
http://youtu.be/tK_Vpfd-KDs
Quite the athlete isn't he??
Malcolm is moved back to CB. He gives us that size@ boundary corner that can come up and stop the run. Having Quddus over the top makes me feel better about this move.
Martez gets moved back to MLB. He is one of the most sure tacklers we have on the team. Some of his best attributes go to waste when hes rushing the passer full time. Sideline to sideline persuit, tackling ability, speed, terrific A gap blitzer, can patrol short middle zones/clog up passing lanes with his height, and be one hell of a QB spy (hello Cam Newton)
Sean takes everyone to Millsaps and we get this team back cooking. SB or bust.
Critique and enjoy