Rizzi is 3-1 now (1 Viewer)

[St. Widge]

Penning is a top 5 RT in run blocking in his 1st full yr starting and has made great strides in pass pro. I leave him right where he is and watch him develop. He's better than Ruiz is now. Making the @14 pick in a great OL yr a LG is a waste to me.

That's why I'd move Fuaga to RT if we get a better LT in the draft. I know Penning has developed, but he's still suspect as a pass blocker and needs a lot of help in pass protection which limits what you can do on offense. I think he's fine, but if you want a great OL, you need to upgrade Penning, Ruiz, and the LG spot. At the same point, if Ruiz is your weakest link they you still have a very good OL compared to the rest of the NFL.

And, if we change scheme, Penning's run blocking might not be as important as his liability in pass protection especially when put on an island one on one. And, if we change coaching staffs, I'm not sure how Penning will react without Benton and Dennison. I think a lot of his issues are mental and I think he's pretty fragile in that regard given how concerned they are about his confidence all the time. Which is also why I would find it hard to give him the big deal it could take the keep him past the next couple years.

Anyway, Will Campbell is likely the best LT in this draft and given how he played this year at LSU I'm not sure he's going to be good value where the Saints are likely to pick so it may all be moot anyway.

 

[schrowa]

Saints played an awful game that they deserved to lose - and somehow won. Too many basics still breaking down. Poor tackling. Awful OL play. This team needs a new coach to fix them. There are some good players on this team but Rizzi isn’t the answer.

 

[sfidc3]

Anyway, Will Campbell is likely the best LT in this draft and given how he played this year at LSU I'm not sure he's going to be good value where the Saints are likely to pick so it may all be moot anyway.

I don't think he has played himself out of the 1st round but unless he has an outstanding combine I think he has played himself out of the top 10......

 

[RadsRock]

I think a lot of his issues are mental and I think he's pretty fragile in that regard given how concerned they are about his confidence all the time.

"All the time"?

This was last year's rumor.

 

[St. Widge]

I don't think he has played himself out of the 1st round but unless he has an outstanding combine I think he has played himself out of the top 10......

Of course he will go in the first, but usually the top LT in the draft is going top 5 or top 10. I think he's likely going to be graded in the 15 to 20 range which I think is likely below where the Saints will pick. With the Carr injury I see no way they don't pick around #10 or lower.

 

[St. Widge]

"All the time"?

This was last year's rumor.

And it was talked about this year too during camp, preseason and early in the season. As he has gotten better it is less talked about, and we have much more to be depressed about, but I think it's still a legitimate concern with him. Obviously I don't literally mean that it is discussed every single moment.

 

[AARPSaint]

Yeah, we are pot committed to Ruiz. Not only did we pay him but he's already been restructured once and they will most likely have to restructure him again this year.

But we might want to upgrade Patrick. Little confidence in Saldiveri, and having depth is good, If the quality is there in the draft in the interior line, take one,

 

[rodthy]

I agree Rizzi has earned a spot in the conversation. With the lack of any offensive talent and a DL that has questions talent wise also, he has gotten 3 wins and very close to 4. Not sure what some are expecting when you look at what we have at WR and TE, but the man deserves to opportunity to present himself

Think about this...How many Head coaching Offers will Rizzi get besides us???

 

[DSnfla]

That's why I'd move Fuaga to RT if we get a better LT in the draft. I know Penning has developed, but he's still suspect as a pass blocker and needs a lot of help in pass protection which limits what you can do on offense. I think he's fine, but if you want a great OL, you need to upgrade Penning, Ruiz, and the LG spot. At the same point, if Ruiz is your weakest link they you still have a very good OL compared to the rest of the NFL.

And, if we change scheme, Penning's run blocking might not be as important as his liability in pass protection especially when put on an island one on one. And, if we change coaching staffs, I'm not sure how Penning will react without Benton and Dennison. I think a lot of his issues are mental and I think he's pretty fragile in that regard given how concerned they are about his confidence all the time. Which is also why I would find it hard to give him the big deal it could take the keep him past the next couple years.

Anyway, Will Campbell is likely the best LT in this draft and given how he played this year at LSU I'm not sure he's going to be good value where the Saints are likely to pick so it may all be moot anyway.

After watching Campbell all yr I don't think he'll be better than TF @ LT. If the next HC that we bring in does not run a wide zone run blocking scheme in the Shanny/Kubiak/McVay system then I'd pass. OL in that system do not need to be the greatest and to use anymore 1st rd picks on the OL in that system is a waste when the DL is in WAY worse shape than the OL.

Penning and TF are pretty much even right about now and I expect both of them to get better next yr. Penning's issues were due to injury and an awful OL coach. As long as he has a good OL coach he'll be fine

In the last 7 yrs we have invested 4 #1 picks on the OL more than the top 10 best OL in the league. Good OL for this kind of system can be found in the 3rd round. DT and WR are bigger needs

 

[bobad]

If Rizzi wins 2 or more games and doesn't throw any more hissy fits, may as well keep him instead of gambling on an unknown.