"Blueprint 2006" for Saints in 2015 (1 Viewer)

Dan in Lafayette

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"Blueprint 2006" for Saints in 2015

By Mike Detillier

There are more moves and counter-moves for the New Orleans Saints in the off-season of 2015, but what this team really needs is to find that "lightning in a bottle" moment personnel-wise, just like they did in 2006.

2014 was so disappointing because so much was expected from the New Orleans Saints, but just go back and see how Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis pieced this team together back in 2006.

The Saints were flat on their football backs to start the 2006 off-season. The Saints were coming off a 3-13 season and the greatest local weather related disaster in our lifetime in Hurricane Katrina had shaken this region to the core.

Hiring Sean Payton as head coach was the first major move by the New Orleans Saints, but really this football team needed someone to build around and they found that player in Drew Brees.

Brees was coming off of major shoulder surgery, but he was worth the gamble for a Saints franchise that needed a signature player at the most significant spot on the team. The Brees/Payton combination brought this team to heights that had never been seen in team history.

Brees is still here today and is one of the elite football players in the NFL. He is older, and with age in the NFL, hits and injuries take their toll on every player.

With Brees still in top form, this football team needs is to form a better nucleus around him, just like they did in 2006. And not just on offense, but also on defense.

That off-season the Saints, either through trades or free agent signings, landed outside linebackers Scott Fujita and Scott Shanle, defensive tackle Hollis Thomas, offensive center/guard Jonathan Goodwin, safety Omar Stoutmire and offensive center Jeff Faine.

The Saints also hired one of the top wide receiver coaches around in current Tulane head coach Curtis Johnson. He helped develop two really good players already on the team in wide receivers Lance Moore and Devery Henderson.

All "scuffed" NFL players are looking to prove to the NFL they still have football life. To be honest, the same could be said about Drew Brees after undergoing major shoulder surgery. Just think about the fact that it is rare to get a shot at a top-flight starting quarterback via free agency and the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints were the only ones trying in a major way to sign him.

Then the 2006 draft came along. It was a Powerball strike bringing in the likes of halfback Reggie Bush, safety Roman Harper, offensive guard Jahri Evans, offensive tackle Zach Strief and wide receiver Marques Colston. Throw in outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich, who really never made it with the Saints, but has turned into an outstanding linebacker with the New England Patriots.

For the Saints, they need another signature draft like they got in 2006.

Other than the 2006 draft and the 2013 draft, the Saints have not been big winners come draft time. They are currently averaging 2 players per draft class. That won't keep this team at a high level for very long if that trend continues.

They have done a great job signing undrafted college free agents and you have to give their regional scouts great credit in pointing out players that have traits that would fit this team. Players like Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory, Khiry Robinson, Tim Lelito, Josh Hill and Junior Galette were uncovered by the regional scouts of the Saints., This is where good teams win and win big on draft day. The Saints are in the spot they are today because they haven't been able to get enough good players via the NFL draft.

That 2006 version of the draft and "scuffed" players of the world helped put this team in two NFC Championship games and won them a Super Bowl title.

You have to use free agency to fix certain "need" spots on the team, but nothing gives enthusiasm to a club like a group of five to six draft choices that make it big in one year.

Just think back to 2006. The Saints landed the best football player to ever wear the Black and Gold in quarterback Drew Brees, the best offensive guard to ever wear the Black and Gold in Jahri Evans and the most productive receiver in club history in Marques Colston. All in one off-season.

Brees is already here, now fill in the other need spots with a signature draft.

Already the Saints have landed one of the league's top centers in Max Unger via the Jimmy Graham trade, signed a very good starting cornerback in Brandon Browner and, if he can stay healthy, a player in the same "explosive" zipcode as Reggie Bush in C.J. Spiller.

In Payton's offense the back that can hit the edge and also be a mismatch downfield is a must. Like Reggie Bush and later Darren Sproles, that element is there in C.J. Spiller if he can stay healthy.

The Saints have also acquired a solid starting inside linebacker in Dannell Ellerbe from the Miami Dolphins and a potential cornerback contributor in the free agent signing of Canadian Football League standout and native New Orleanian Delvin Breaux. Breaux could really boost the secondary of this franchise that desperately needs to get more players.

But the Saints still have holes at tight end, wide receiver, pass rushing outside linebacker, offensive line and depth at cornerback.

Even with Keenan Lewis and Browner on board and a good looking prospect in Delvin Breaux coming in from the Canadian Football League, the Saints need another cornerback somewhere in the draft because there is still so much uncertainty surrounding 2014 second round pick cornerback Stanley Jean Baptiste.

The Saints also have to look strongly at defensive end with Cameron Jordan and Akiem Hicks both in the final year of their contracts.

For all the talk about bundling picks to make a run at one player, I would pass on that idea. This football team is not one player away, but multiple players away and they have to smartly hit on draft day like they did in 2006.

It is a must for this franchise.

The Saints have the ammunition to make it work with two first round selections, a second round pick, two third round choices and two fifth round selections. But I see the Saints maneuvering around more knowing that with that late first round pick someone will coming a calling looking to draft a quarterback .

Bank on the Saints leaking out to as many national and local media sources they can that they have an interest in Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty. Petty is clearly the third best quarterback in the 2015 draft and with Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota off the board within the top 7 selections, watch the attention Petty will get as it gets later in the draft process. A number of teams are looking to upgrade their starting quarterback. Petty carries a second round pick grade, but this also is a league of supply and demand.

There are just not enough quality quarterbacks to go around for almost half the teams in the league looking to upgrade that crucial position. Winston and Mariota will help do that for two teams. But with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans looking to land a starter at quarterback, the Saints are in a very good spot to dangle, that with a 36-year old quarterback, they will take Petty if he is available at 31.

If I were Loomis and Payton, I would sing that song loud and proud to anyone that will listen and look for a team desperate to trade up in Round One to land the Baylor gunslinger. The value of that pick might just be a little bit more than most folks would think it is worth.

For the New Orleans Saints, they need players at this stage and in more than a couple of spots. If you hit on draft choices it is a win on the field, but also in the salary cap part of the game. These young talented players can come for a relatively cheap price for a few seasons.

That is what winning on draft day does to your franchise. It opens up the checkbook to secure your own current players and also to go out and address other needs.

No doubt, there will be teams interested in Petty. The Saints are one of those teams that many will call to get a hold of that coveted late first-round spot. A few teams sitting early in Round 2 have to be convinced that the Saints may indeed select Petty.

The bottom line now is to surround an aging, but still very talented quarterback in Drew Brees, with great protection and also adding some weapons to throw to downfield at wide receiver and tight end. And defensively, add a coveted pass rusher and help at both inside and outside linebacker.

The Saints need a football version of the movie "Groundhog Day" to occur in late April and early May.

The New Orleans Saints were in a lot worse shape in 2006 at this stage than they are in today, but a signature draft in 2015 is a MUST, if this football team hopes to get back into the playoff picture.

Sean Payton has raised the bar high for this organization and the Saints fan base. The 2015 NFL draft is shaping up as the most critical point for him to turn around this aging football team.


Mike D’s Look at the Early Picks in Round 1 and a little more


1. Tampa Bay Bucs, Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State


2. Tennessee Titans, Leonard Williams, DT, USC


3. Jacksonville Jaguars, Dante Fowler, Jr., OLB, Florida


4. Oakland Raiders, Kevin White, WR, West Virginia


5. Washington Redskins, Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska


6. New York Jets, Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon


7. Chicago Bears, Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama


8. Atlanta Falcons, Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson


9. New York Giants, Shane Ray, OLB/DE, Missouri


10. St. Louis Rams, Brandon Scherff, OT/OG, Iowa


11. Minnesota Vikings, Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State


12. Cleveland Browns, Danny Shelton, DT, Washington


13. New Orleans Saints, La’el Collins, OT/OG, LSU

...

31. New Orleans Saints, Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn

...

44. New Orleans Saints, Stephone Anthony, ILB., Clemson


Keep an Eye Out For...

A couple of players for New Orleans Saints fans to keep a close eye out for are Clemson inside linebacker Stephone Anthony and Rutgers tight end Tyler Kroft.

The Saints scouting department has spent quite a bit of time evaluating Stephone Anthony, the 6-3, 245 pound inside linebacker from Clemson. The 2 1/2-year starter for Clemson totaled 330 tackles and 34 1/2 tackles for losses throughout his college career, but he was overshadowed in college by the pass rush exploits of Tiger defensive end Vic Beasley.

This huge body inside backer comes to play in a bad mood, he is smart, explosive up the field, and he is very effective making plays from sideline to sideline. I have Stephone rated as an early second round choice in the 2015 NFL draft.

Another player gathering a lot of attention is Rutgers tight end Tyler Kroft. The Saints, and a host of other teams, have played very close attention to the gametape of the very talented 6-6, 245 pound Kroft.

As a sophomore in 2013, Kroft caught 43 passes for 573 yards and 4 scores. As a junior, with a poor quarterback group, his totals dropped to 24 grabs for 269 yards. But now the huge target tight end is gaining draft momentum each day. While many point out his pass catching skills and his ability to get separation downfield, what also jumps out on tape is that Kroft is also a very good inline blocker.

Look for Kroft to come off the draft boards early in Round 3. Just saying, watch out for these two young men.


O-Line Has to be a Strength for 2015 LSU Tigers

Most of the attention this spring in football drills has been directed at the quarterback battle between Brandon Harris and Anthony Jennings and also the play of the Tiger defensive line, now being coached by Ed "BeBe" Orgeron. But one area this football team needs to have as a strength again in 2015 is the offensive line. No matter who wins the quarterback derby, and Harris is the favorite, LSU has to run the battle effectively early on while Harris grows into the position and with Leonard Fournette, Darrel Williams, Derrius Guice, Nic Brossette and David Ducre in the backfield, just play to your strength and also give Les Miles what he wants and that is a "power" running game.

Left tackle Jerald Hawkins, right tackle Vadal Alexander and center Ethan Pocic are entrenched in their spots on the team. But I am interested in that battle for the starting offensive guard spots between redshirt freshman William Clapp, KJ Malone and redshirt freshman Garrette Brumfield holding off the challenge of Josh Boutte.

The practice sessions have resulted in top reviews for both Clapp and Brumfield. Both are young and inexperienced and are facing daily a strong dose of the top defensive tackle talent accumulated by the Tigers. Orgeron is pushing this unit like no one else since Pete Jenkins did years ago. The youngsters upfront are catching a heavy dose of friendly "football fire" from Coach O's defensive tackles.

Developing a consistent and accurate starting quarterback is crucial for the 2015 version of the LSU Tigers. I am a big believer that you win championships with a steady and accurate quarterback, great interior defensive play and a very strong offensive line. Hawkins, Alexander and Pocic, we know plenty about, but those two guard spots are of keen interest for the Tigers to get back to the top of the ladder in the SEC.


Media Buzz…

With ESPN, CBS Sports and Fox Sports nationally grabbing most of the top sports headlines, the local television coverage has changed throughout the years. The Saints, Pelicans, LSU and Tulane still get a lot of coverage, but a recent swing has been to cover the prep ranks more.

In one of the richest areas in the country for prep talent in football, baseball, basketball and other sports more and more local coverage has swung in that direction.

WWL-TV Sports Director Doug Mouton says that prep sports are a huge part of what Channel 4 sports is about and will continue in the future.

“One of my first priorities when I took over as the Sports Director for Channel 4 was to get Fourth Down Friday on to Channel 4. At the time, it ran on our sister station, WUPL at 10:35pm, and had a relatively small weekly audience. In 2013 we figured out a way to make it a 20-minute show from 10:15to 10:35 on Channel 4. The show immediately found a huge audience.”

“For me, there is nothing better than covering prep sports. The emotion and the fun of prep sports is just so much fun to cover. It’s the best. And I believe the quality of coaching and the caliber of athletes is much better than virtually anywhere.”

“I believe our audience likes seeing our young athletes locally do so well. It’s so much fun to be on the ground floor to know a player like Leonard Fournette years before they make their mark on the national scene. That will continue and we will continue to expand our coverage in that area.”

Fox Sports New Orleans is known because they are the station to carry New Orleans Pelicans basketball locally and to the nation, but the programming on the station has been limited.

Recently Fox Sports New Orleans has launched a new, 30-minute magazine show called “Pelicans Insider”. The show is hosted by Fox Sports football sideline and Pelicans sideline reporter Jen Hale.

Hale’s inside information on the team and daily injury reports, which have been in depth, have been noted not only locally, but nationally.

“The show airs several times a week one-hour before tip-off,” said Hale. “This show is so much fun to do I’m honored to host it. We break down all the important plays on the court, but we also give the folks watching the most court access into who these players are and the coaches from a personal basis. Certainly with the emergence of Anthony Davis as one of the best players in the game and the Pelicans push to get into the playoffs
the interest in the team continues to grow and we want to give people a little different look into the club.”


Follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeDetillier
 

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