Outbackjack
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Great stuff TCU.
Couldn’t agree more.
Couldn’t agree more.
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Ok I admit I feel a lot better about this pick.I just wanted to post real quick regarding this pick and offer a little perspective as a lot of people run around with their hair on fire.
In my last article, I made a point of saying that I see mock drafts as kind of pointless because we aren't in the war room (I still am not calling what I did a mock draft ). But when I was considering what I think the Saints should do in round 2, before slotting in Jalen Pitre, I actually went and looked at a few scouting reports to try and ID a CB prospect who was 1) a freak athlete and 2) had S potential. The only one I kind of landed on who I was familiar with was Kyler Gordon, but I don't think he has the football IQ/instincts to make the move.
But I really felt like, if this type of player was there--a versatile CB with all the tools to move to safety (and more athleticism than Pitre and the other S candidates available)--that was the direction the Saints would go. Pitre was the closest fit in terms of fitting that poor man's Honey Badger/CGJG mold, where he can play on top of the tree, in the box, or in that slot role.
The Saints, however, seem to have found the guy I couldn't in Alontae Taylor. I've only scanned a little bit of film on him and the athleticism and football instincts are ABSOLUTELY there. As a CB, he is a little raw/inconsistent in his technique, but he's over 6 feet, runs a 4.3, has very loose hips (something the other S prospects including Pitre lacked), is very aggressive (both on the ball and in the run game) and plays with instinct!
Dennis Allen (who I will absolutely give the benefit of the doubt on drafting DBs, given his track record these last few years) and his staff seem to have a vision for Taylor, either in that slot role of CGJG (which would mean moving CJGJ to a more traditional SS role) or as a more traditional safety. Either way, the hsyteria over this pick is a little unwarranted, because when you watch film on this guy you love him. Yes, he may not stack up with some of the other CBs in terms of being ready to hit the field day 1 b/c he gets high is backpedal and stuff like that... but the dude covers the field, plays the run and the ball like an NFL player.
I don't know if he'll be a starter right out the gate, but he'll definitely be hitting the field somewhere. Honestly, I love this pick, and THIS is exactly why scouts get paid. They have a vision for a guy every fan under the sun overlooked (including myself). It is literally their job to do more than the draft pundits and find guys like this.
If drafting Olave and Penning was an A+, I would give this pick a solid A/A-.
No way no howMakes me wonder if the Saints think they’ll lose CJGJ next year.
0% chance, he is the Symbol of this team and city now that Drew is goneMakes me wonder if the Saints think they’ll lose CJGJ next year.
Good players cost money. I’m sure they wanted to keep Hendrickson, Armstead, and Williams too. Frankly, that’s the only vision that makes sense that allows the rookie to play meaningful snaps in the next few years, aside from special teams.0% chance, he is the Symbol of this team and city now that Drew is gone
Makes me wonder if the Saints think they’ll lose CJGJ next year.
I get what you are saying, but those named are not on the same level of importance to this team’s future imo. Saying Ceedee could walk is like saying we let Lattimore or Ram walk more so, then the names mentioned above.Good players cost money. I’m sure they wanted to keep Hendrickson, Armstead, and Williams too. Frankly, that’s the only vision that makes sense that allows the rookie to play meaningful snaps in the next few years, aside from special teams.