Five Things Saints in Peter King’s FMIA column; mentions potential Lutz trade to Denver before cutdown (1 Viewer)

[SuperSaint]

It's clear from his kickoffs in Preseason that Lutz has lost some of his leg strength, Grupy is younger and cheaper, roll the dice...

 

[Saint Taysom]

Pick a kicker! I don’t care… until they miss a big kick, and then I’ll call for their head. Lutz has already done so… and Grupe will…

Is what it is..

Peter King is a tool.

 

[J.T.]

Lutz and TQS for a 4th. Or both for a 5th and 7th.

I think Lutz probably still has it, but I like the new kid.

I know it has been pointed out by others, but these "reporters" are so lazy and ill informed. They never do their homework, Denver doesn't have a 6th round pick. I knew this two weeks ago when I thought that TQS might be moved. I looked up the Denver picks for 2024. They have a 1st, a 3rd (our pick), a 4th, two 5th rounders and two 7th rounders.

 

[Trey W.]

I feel better trying to stash Grupe on the PS than Shaq Davis.

 

[SuperSaint]

I feel better trying to stash Grupe on the PS than Shaq Davis.

No chance Grupe would pass through waivers

 

[Optimistic Ozzy]

I’d rather have Grupe. He’s accurate and has a cannon of a leg for his size.

 

[big screen D]

I'll stick with the known commodity in Lutz. Don't want another kicker carrousel like we had in 2021. Lutz missed the whole 2021 season with a core injury, which he had to have surgery. I don't believe he was fully healthy last season. Core injuries can linger. Last night against the Chargers he was 3-3. He was 2-2 from 30-39 and 1-1 from 50+. His FG% so far this preseason is100%. There were a couple of reports from camp that he was nailing 60 & 61 yarders.
This is what his career has looked like for the Saints.
2016- 28-34- 82.4%
2017- 31-36- 86.1%
2018- 28-30- 93.3%
2019- 32-36- 88.9%
2020- 23-28- 82.1%
2121- Injured, did not play
2022- 23-31- 74.2%
Career Avg.- 84.6%
Lutz has had one really bad year and he was coming back from injury last season. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and see how he does this season before I make any comments about wanting another kicker. I'd prefer to stick with what we have in Lutz. But ultimately it's up the DA and Loomis to make that decision.

It's easy to forget that prior to 2022, Lutz had excellent stats.

I know this may sound silly, but Lutz, even in his best years makes me hold my breath on every kick since his kicks, even PATs rarely seem to go right down the middle like we see from most NFL kickers. And, how he hasn't had more kicks blocked is amazing since almost all of his kicks, even PATs come out low. I sometimes wonder if 2022 was more of a case of his luck running out rather than rust post-injury.

I'd be less than enthused about trading Lutz to KC for a draft pick. Now, a serviceable backup O lineman would be a sweet deal.

 

[SAINTSFAN]

It's clear from his kickoffs in Preseason that Lutz has lost some of his leg strength, Grupy is younger and cheaper, roll the dice...

Many times in preseason, kickers are asked to kick it shorter to work on special teams. There is nothing to take from that.

 

[Complex Kid]

Pick a kicker! I don’t care… until they miss a big kick, and then I’ll call for their head. Lutz has already done so… and Grupe will…

This strategy cost us a few games in 2021 when we finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs by a game.

 

[CowtownSaint]

I'd like to see Grupe try some longer kicks. He showed pretty good leg strength on kickoffs, and if he can make the long ones, I'm ok with trading Lutz. He makes me nervous.

Totally. Would be good to let him take all the kicks against the Texans, really see
What he has. As a poster said above, Lutz has been pretty inconsistent, but he’s had injuries. But if his contract is coming up, maybe it’s something we decide to do as we look to the future.

 

[Clintonrebel]

A Denver 6th is as good as a regular 5th. How about trade a kicker and a punter for a 4th?

 

[Clintonrebel]

Lutz doesn’t suck. It takes time after an injury like that. I’m fine if we trade him, but he has the leg strength to last a long time in this league. It would be a very Saints thing to do to carry him during rehab and then trade him and watch him be the old Lutz for ten more years.

 

[Nolan]

I've been torn on this. Part of me wants to play it safe and stick with Lutz, but there's the reality of him being in a contract year and we seem to have a young promising kicker in the building.

If we stick with Lutz and watch Grupe become a top tier kicker in this league wearing another uniform, everyone will be sick. (That is unless Lutz bounces back to form)

I may lean toward sticking with Lutz because we know his range. I'm not sure what Grupe's reported long kick is in TC, anyone know?

I also wonder if making this a real competition was to light a little fire under Lutz. I don't know, I'm glad I don't have to make this decision

 

[BelowZero]

Is there any chance Grupe see's IR this season? If Lutz eats the figurative brown stuff, we have a backup plan on the ready.

 

[sfidc3]

He has some terrible takes at times, like having us take the 1 seed in the NFC last year. As for SP to Jerry’s lap, it’s just been there all along. I do think Sean dreams of being the one to take that team over the hump, and according to rumours it was scheduled happen after the No-Call. Just feels like there’s something there.

He is a terrible take, god awful biased writing, he is hardly ever right. CSP to the Cowgirls was never, ever going to happen. CSP is a Parcells disciple, I can guarantee you his former boss warned him plenty about the perils of that job......no way CSP and JJ could co-exist.....There was never anything there....just speculation and rumor....