WhoDatElite
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- Jan 21, 2012
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Defensive Line
RDE - Akiem Hicks
NT - Brodrick Bunkley
LDE - Cam Jordan
There shouldn't be any debate about this. they're are people that keep pushing this idea that a NT is a big need. Bunkley was excellent in Denver's 3-4 and wasn't resigned because Del Rio was moving the defense back to a 4-3. When Payton announced that the team had already been preparing for the 3-4 transition, Bunkley was one of the players he was referring too.
Will Smith and Sedrick Ellis will be released. they don't fit into the scheme, have underperformed and contracts are too big.
Linebackers
Sam - David Hawthorne
Mike - Curtis Lofton
Will - Anthony Spencer
Rush - Jarvis Jones or Junior Gallette/Martez Wilson
Hawthorne and Lofton should be obvious. The big arguments are about the OLBs. Everyone's been talking about a pass rush, but no one has said anything about a linebacker who can drop back in coverage. The saints desperately need one. A big reason the defense gave up big plays over the top was due to our Safeties moving up to cover TE's and only having 1 safety to cover the deep ball. Spencer was more of a coverage linebacker than an edge rusher. If Loomis can clear up enough cap (which is possible) and Sign Spencer this will change the entire draft strategy.
New Draft Strategy. If spencer is signed, more focus will go into an elite edge rusher. Now this is a big deal, because most of the natural OLB's in the draft are better suited for 4-3. Jarvis Jones is really the only true 3-4 edge rusher with 1st round talent. Ansah and Jordan are 4-3 D ends that can convert to OLB. But with Gallette and Wilson, the Saints already have that type of player. If Jarvis Jones drops to us in the draft, he will be the starting rush linebacker. If he doesn't, I believe they go for an OT or Safety and plan on letting Gallette and Wilson battle for the starting job.
Defensive Backs
RCB - Jabari Greer
LCB -Patrick Robinson
FS - Malcolm Jenkins
SS - Roman Harper
Cornerbacks are one of the most overvalued positions in the league. As much as some of us would like to see a change, it is going to cost way too much to sign a CB better than Greer. His 4 million salary is a bargain even if he was the #2 CB. PRob will get one more year to prove himself. He's a 1st round draft pick that had his first full year as a starter under a brand new D coordinator and no head coach.
This is the point where everyones going to get angry. Just hear me out. Even know I said it earlier, I just don't see the Saints going after a Safety. If they don't go after a pass rusher in the draft, the next will be a tackle. Even if Bushrod is signed, we still need depth. When Strief went down last year, there was no one to turn to.
With IAQ, there is a solid choice to take over at FS if Ryan doesn't want to stick with Jenkins. As for Harper, a restructure won't happen. If he's released or traded, the cap hit would cripple any FA pick ups the Saints would want to make. If Ryan doesn't want Harper, Loomis will over rule him. Plus I think any player who really only underperformed under Spags, will get a fresh evaluation. Remember, Jenkins and Harper were considered an up and coming young tandem under Williams.
The Draft will focus on OLB and OT. With the front office looking to grab depth at Safety and Dline in the late rounds.
RDE - Akiem Hicks
NT - Brodrick Bunkley
LDE - Cam Jordan
There shouldn't be any debate about this. they're are people that keep pushing this idea that a NT is a big need. Bunkley was excellent in Denver's 3-4 and wasn't resigned because Del Rio was moving the defense back to a 4-3. When Payton announced that the team had already been preparing for the 3-4 transition, Bunkley was one of the players he was referring too.
Will Smith and Sedrick Ellis will be released. they don't fit into the scheme, have underperformed and contracts are too big.
Linebackers
Sam - David Hawthorne
Mike - Curtis Lofton
Will - Anthony Spencer
Rush - Jarvis Jones or Junior Gallette/Martez Wilson
Hawthorne and Lofton should be obvious. The big arguments are about the OLBs. Everyone's been talking about a pass rush, but no one has said anything about a linebacker who can drop back in coverage. The saints desperately need one. A big reason the defense gave up big plays over the top was due to our Safeties moving up to cover TE's and only having 1 safety to cover the deep ball. Spencer was more of a coverage linebacker than an edge rusher. If Loomis can clear up enough cap (which is possible) and Sign Spencer this will change the entire draft strategy.
New Draft Strategy. If spencer is signed, more focus will go into an elite edge rusher. Now this is a big deal, because most of the natural OLB's in the draft are better suited for 4-3. Jarvis Jones is really the only true 3-4 edge rusher with 1st round talent. Ansah and Jordan are 4-3 D ends that can convert to OLB. But with Gallette and Wilson, the Saints already have that type of player. If Jarvis Jones drops to us in the draft, he will be the starting rush linebacker. If he doesn't, I believe they go for an OT or Safety and plan on letting Gallette and Wilson battle for the starting job.
Defensive Backs
RCB - Jabari Greer
LCB -Patrick Robinson
FS - Malcolm Jenkins
SS - Roman Harper
Cornerbacks are one of the most overvalued positions in the league. As much as some of us would like to see a change, it is going to cost way too much to sign a CB better than Greer. His 4 million salary is a bargain even if he was the #2 CB. PRob will get one more year to prove himself. He's a 1st round draft pick that had his first full year as a starter under a brand new D coordinator and no head coach.
This is the point where everyones going to get angry. Just hear me out. Even know I said it earlier, I just don't see the Saints going after a Safety. If they don't go after a pass rusher in the draft, the next will be a tackle. Even if Bushrod is signed, we still need depth. When Strief went down last year, there was no one to turn to.
With IAQ, there is a solid choice to take over at FS if Ryan doesn't want to stick with Jenkins. As for Harper, a restructure won't happen. If he's released or traded, the cap hit would cripple any FA pick ups the Saints would want to make. If Ryan doesn't want Harper, Loomis will over rule him. Plus I think any player who really only underperformed under Spags, will get a fresh evaluation. Remember, Jenkins and Harper were considered an up and coming young tandem under Williams.
The Draft will focus on OLB and OT. With the front office looking to grab depth at Safety and Dline in the late rounds.