Offseason positions of need (5 Viewers)

[LetsGetWaffles]

I’m gonna start keeping receipts on all these people that want to keep using high draft picks on Linemen. We’ve been doing that for a decade…. The ones we have need to start producing, and we need to draft them in mass in the middle and later rounds…. This team needs blue chip young point scorers first and foremost. And a franchise QB on top of that all costs.

Because if we go into the season with another 1st and 2nd round OL and DL player…. And we score like 18ppg again…. I’m presenting all these receipts and asking you to refund your posting privileges.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

QB isn't near a top need. I mean if we can get a franchise guy, for sure get him. But we are average to above average at QB. I can't say that about most other positions. The idea that we have the worst QB situation in the league or something is pretty crazy. I get the thought of wanting to move on to a cheaper rookie but it's not like we don't have a legit option.

1. DE - Huge hole and our pass rush must improve
2. NT/DT - We have to improve or run D
3. OG - Big hole
4. WR - Need an X and depth for injuries
5. S - I don't trust our second safety and our 1st might be gone very soon
6. CB - Have trouble placing this. Very important position but I like the two that we have. Much lower if Adebo signs.
7. TE - Significant hole unless we resign Johnson
8. RB - Kamara isn't here for long and I don't trust Miller
9. LB - Gotta prepare for DD retirement
10. OT - Hopefully Penning can keep improving. Not against swinging for an upgrade though.
11. QB - If something great presents itself jump on it. Otherwise, there are much bigger needs.
12. C - Need a backup. Hopefully we won't need it again though.

Just going to do a top 5

#1 I’m going to lump DE/DT together and use an old Payton term to identify it. The saints need another “pressure player”. Either inside or outside will do, personal preference is inside because the shortest path to the QB is a str8 line.

#2 RB. I can’t trust Kamara at his age, or Miller in his youth to give you a full 17 game season. I’d operate as if both are part time players w/ potential to surprise.

#3 CB would be 3rd. Adebo is a FA and neither Taylor or McKinstry proved they are above competing for a starting position. Adebo would be a priority resigning. He’s a ballhawk and em would benefit from playing Cover 4/Match zone.

#4 TE. Moreau is coming off an injury, Taysom may or may not be on the roster and is in same camp as Moreau, meanwhile Johnson is a FA. Preference is resign Johnson, he has connection w/Rattler that didn’t seem to get established w/ Carr.

#5 Safety. Personally I’d cut Mathieu and go with Howden and Harris while drafting a guy, Both are relatively young and hungry and both fit the role in that they can be factors in the run game. Mathieu’s complaining at the tail end of the season combined with/ an inordinate amount of missed tackles isn’t worth the paycheck. He’s in it for the turnovers and that’s fine but he can reach that goal on an established team.

WR is in there somewhere as is G but as has been noted by Underhill the average NFL team only has two good OL and then a bunch of serviceable guys. Fuaga and McCoy are the anchors and Penning still has room to improve. Kellen does a lot of combo blocks in his run scheme, this should help them tremendously, talent is there on the oline.

 

[LetsGetWaffles]

I get your point, but it's really an FO issue. Philly's o-line is not filled with all-first-rounders, and one of their starters is a former rugby player. That said, you don't pass on a generation LT like Tent Williams or a DT like Jalen Carter. Our problem has been reaching for a need when the top guy isn't there. That's how we end up with Penning (even though he seems to be improving) and Davenport. We know we need skill positions, but without the big boys, you skill guys can't thrive.

This is a great point. People looking at past draft mistakes on both of the lines as an indication of the future chances of success/failure at picking a lineman early are looking at things without context. This why I said we cannot reach for a position. If the best player on the board at R1.9 is a SS even tho we have huge hole at LG, but the front office doesn’t think the best available LG will be available at R2.40, we should not reach for the LG. That’s exactly how we ended up w Penning instead of someone like CB Trent McDuffie.

The problem is not as simple as drafting OL and DL early. It’s reaching for them instead of taking the better talent at a position of (seemingly) lesser importance. Positions of strength can quickly become positions of need in the NFL, so taking the better player is almost always the best way to go regardless of what position they play.

 

[TalleyHo1]

Yea I really wouldn’t be upset if we drafted 2 DLs, 2 OLs, 2 DBs, and 2 WRs and just called it a day.

Me either. I know it’s not sexy at all but build from the inside out. Build up the trenches…will protect whoever the QB may be and open holes for Kamara and the other rbs.

 

[SaintsSpringBayou]

If the Saints wanna get better - they need fix their O and D line.

 

[bleedit1960]

DT,TE,OL,WR,S,CB, RB

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[renegadewa]

Because of the cap situation none of this really matters.

There's A LOT of dead weight that needs to seek opportunity elsewhere.

This is not going to be a one off season rebuild by any stretch.

I'm not trying to be a downer by any means but it's going to get worse before it gets better with lots of growing pains.

It is what it is folks.

 

[No2DC]

Because of the cap situation none of this really matters.

There's A LOT of dead weight that needs to seek opportunity elsewhere.

This is not going to be a one off season rebuild by any stretch.

I'm not trying to be a downer by any means but it's going to get worse before it gets better with lots of growing pains.

It is what it is folks.

I would rather us be bold and start getting rid of the dead weight or trading certain guys like AK or Cam than play we're the close thing that Mick is so fond of.

 

[DSnfla]

I get your point, but it's really an FO issue. Philly's o-line is not filled with all-first-rounders, and one of their starters is a former rugby player. That said, you don't pass on a generation LT like Tent Williams or a DT like Jalen Carter. Our problem has been reaching for a need when the top guy isn't there. That's how we end up with Penning (even though he seems to be improving) and Davenport. We know we need skill positions, but without the big boys, you skill guys can't thrive.

I don't think it's as much a FO issue as a DA issue when it comes to the DL issue. DA wanted a certain type
Philly also has the best OL coach in the world, and they have 2 1st rnd guys and 2 2nd rnd guys on their OL. Penning was not a reach, he went where most draft guys said he would. But you're right on Davenport

 

[kennydfresh]

I would have a 2 year plan. I would not expect much this year and I coach next season purely on saving cap space and evaluation. I would take Year 1 and build up just my offense and score as many points as possible.

example: Sign a FA guard, Draft WR T-Mac, RB Skattebo, and TE Fannin Jr..

Year 2 I would focus purely on Defense.

 

[AARPSaint]

This is a great point. People looking at past draft mistakes on both of the lines as an indication of the future chances of success/failure at picking a lineman early are looking at things without context. This why I said we cannot reach for a position. If the best player on the board at R1.9 is a SS even tho we have huge hole at LG, but the front office doesn’t think the best available LG will be available at R2.40, we should not reach for the LG. That’s exactly how we ended up w Penning instead of someone like CB Trent McDuffie.

The problem is not as simple as drafting OL and DL early. It’s reaching for them instead of taking the better talent at a position of (seemingly) lesser importance. Positions of strength can quickly become positions of need in the NFL, so taking the better player is almost always the best way to go regardless of what position they play.

Excellent post,

 

[DSnfla]

I think our Oline issues were in large part due to coaching on two different fronts. One being, they seemed to struggle to coach up talent. But the other is play calling to help put your Oline in position to succeed. Just an example but if your Oline is struggling around the edges, you can call 5 yard routes in the middle. if they're struggling up the middle you can call screens or passes to the flats and so on. If you're hitting the flats and sidelines, then blitzing up the middle tends to stop and edges tend to round their edges at the spot between the QB and the flat which opens up 5 yard passes on the numbers which then forces the linebackers out so slants will be a killer or forces the safety up so you can go over top.

Now, I'm going to be honest with you, I didn't watch many Saints games every since DA was hired. I had way better things to do with my 3 hours then watch a loser turn a competitor into a loser. But in the games I did watch, I couldn't help but notice play calling was forcing what they wanted to see rather then taking what the defense gave them. And I saw it often, which immediately made me happy that we weren't running it back with Kubiak.

C'mon man, You 1st admit that you haven't watched many games in 2 1/2 yrs then you offer an assessment of an offense that was the most decimated by injuries of any in the last 10-15 yrs. Then offer a condemnation of a OC that had to deal with those injuries

 

[boutte]

Surprised to see so many people ranking RB so low. I do agree about the need to build the D Line and the O Line is a tick behind that.

But for the most part I've always believed in taking the best player on the board. Hopefully a TE or LB will fit that bill. But really any position we pick will be addressing a need because we need everything.

 

[DSnfla]

Lots of cheese burgers for breakfast guys in here. All good - you’re wrong. But all good.

Every playoff team had to score 32ppg on average to advance this year. Most had a franchise QB drafted highly and multiple skill players drafted highly or both.

Fat guys are easy to find. Just go out and grab you a McGovern mid season and plug him in…. You’d never know the difference. Just add a doughnut to the Krispy Kreme box.

The SB champs’ QB, three starting WRs, RB, and TE were all day 1 or 2 picks in the top 55 of their respective draft class.

Blocking is great until your QB can’t find an open WR or TE…. Or your RB can’t make a guy miss in the open field…. Or your best player can’t make a contested catch…. Or none of your players can create separation…. Or if no one has run after catch ability…. Or they all can’t stay healthy.

All of which were bigger issues these past few seasons than the already butt ton of fat boy players we have already invested in drafting over the last 5 seasons or more.

Enjoy your super sized 16 points a game with a large shake if this continues…. I’ll keep that receipt and get back to you when the indigestion hits.

#vivalostouchdownsnotfeildgoals

LOL Do you know why the Eagles won the SB??? Because they had the best FAT GUYS on both sides of the ball. THE best OL most of them 1st or 2nd rnd picks. And if not the best one of the best DLs in the league again most of them 1st rnd picks. The DL caused Mahomes to lose his mind because HIS fat guys could not block them or open holes for the RBs or give him enough time to find his WRs.

Give a QB almost any QB enough time and he'll find a open WR , ANY WR
A good OL will open holes for ANY RB to run through

 

[DSnfla]

BPA is a myth, it's always been the BPA at a position of need. If you have 2 guys that are rated close they will always take the position that's needed 1st even if the player that's not a position of need is slightly higher rated than the one that is a position of need.
That said I think the needs are as followed
These 3 position are the most needed and you could debate which is 1st
Big contested catch X WR
Run stuffing push the pile DT
Edge Pass rusher
If you don't get the Big X WR then TE would work.
SS a guy that can drop down and support the run
RB , We don't know what we have in Miller or if he can stay healthy and we need to lighten AK's load
IOL , someone that play LG , either a OT that can move inside or an OG
LB , because DD is not getting any younger