The more I think about it (draft talk) (1 Viewer)

[weightlifter316]

The more I want us to go defense in the draft, especially the first 2 rounds.

When I look at how successful our offense was last season, even in the playoffs against the Seahawks (when we had a pretty bad run game), I think we need to focus on our defense first and here are a few reasons why


1. Gregg Williams loves to throw multiple formations at opposing offenses. Multiple formations means you need versatile players who can do many different things defensively. Having players who are not limited to only one thing (IE Dwight Freeney rushing the passer but sucking against the run) allows your defense to dictate what the offense can and cannot try.


2. We already have some great talent on defense and with a few more pieces we could be one of the most feared defenses in the league. Smith, Jenkins, Ellis, Vilma, Greer, Porter, and hopefully Shaun Rogers will anchor the defense but our linebacking corps still needs a lot of improvement. Jenkins is going to be an all-pro safety but some depth at the position would be nice also


3. This one is very simple, our pass rush is horrendous. Smith does a decent job from the outside and Ellis is one of the best young DT's in the NFL but we need someone that can single handedly get pressure on the QB on a consistent basis without sending 2 or 3 extra blitzers. Getting pressure on the QB also helps with the final reason I think we should go defense


4. Creating turnovers. In 2009 our defense was average but helped us win our first Superbowl because of their ability to create turnovers. In 2010, though our defense improved tremendously, the turnovers were almost non existent. Added depth along with the hunger that younger players can bring to your defense can go a long way in helping to get back to creating multiple turnovers on a consistent basis which is something that every team in the NFL wants


With all that being said here are my top 10 defensive players who I would like to see the Saints draft (I'm being realistic here so no Patrick Peterson or Robert Quinn). Note: this is for the first 2 rounds

1. Justin Houston - love his versatility, start him from day 1 at DE with Smith
2. Ryan Kerrigan - athletic and smart, GW would love to have him
3. Muhammed Wilkerson - another versatile player with skills and smarts
4. Corey Liuget - He and Ellis would be a great tandem for years at DT
5. Rahim Moore - Darren Sharper Jr. He and Jenkins at S would be awesome
6. Brooks Reed - Not the biggest but makes up for it with hustle and quicks
7. Jimmy Smith - Any other year would be number 1 corner in the draft
8. Phil Taylor - Not as high on him as others but he would be a good true NT
9. Akeem Ayers - Plays aggressive and causes havoc. What position is a ?
10. Ras-I Dowling - Can never have enough good corners

 

[ndcc]

The more I want us to go defense in the draft, especially the first 2 rounds.

When I look at how successful our offense was last season, even in the playoffs against the Seahawks (when we had a pretty bad run game), I think we need to focus on our defense first and here are a few reasons why


1. Gregg Williams loves to throw multiple formations at opposing offenses. Multiple formations means you need versatile players who can do many different things defensively. Having players who are not limited to only one thing (IE Dwight Freeney rushing the passer but sucking against the run) allows your defense to dictate what the offense can and cannot try.


2. We already have some great talent on defense and with a few more pieces we could be one of the most feared defenses in the league. Smith, Jenkins, Ellis, Vilma, Greer, Porter, and hopefully Shaun Rogers will anchor the defense but our linebacking corps still needs a lot of improvement. Jenkins is going to be an all-pro safety but some depth at the position would be nice also


3. This one is very simple, our pass rush is horrendous. Smith does a decent job from the outside and Ellis is one of the best young DT's in the NFL but we need someone that can single handedly get pressure on the QB on a consistent basis without sending 2 or 3 extra blitzers. Getting pressure on the QB also helps with the final reason I think we should go defense


4. Creating turnovers. In 2009 our defense was average but helped us win our first Superbowl because of their ability to create turnovers. In 2010, though our defense improved tremendously, the turnovers were almost non existent. Added depth along with the hunger that younger players can bring to your defense can go a long way in helping to get back to creating multiple turnovers on a consistent basis which is something that every team in the NFL wants


With all that being said here are my top 10 defensive players who I would like to see the Saints draft (I'm being realistic here so no Patrick Peterson or Robert Quinn). Note: this is for the first 2 rounds

1. Justin Houston - love his versatility, start him from day 1 at DE with Smith
2. Ryan Kerrigan - athletic and smart, GW would love to have him
3. Muhammed Wilkerson - another versatile player with skills and smarts
4. Corey Liuget - He and Ellis would be a great tandem for years at DT
5. Rahim Moore - Darren Sharper Jr. He and Jenkins at S would be awesome
6. Brooks Reed - Not the biggest but makes up for it with hustle and quicks
7. Jimmy Smith - Any other year would be number 1 corner in the draft
8. Phil Taylor - Not as high on him as others but he would be a good true NT
9. Akeem Ayers - Plays aggressive and causes havoc. What position is a ?
10. Ras-I Dowling - Can never have enough good corners

If you check the threads in the last 3 months, opinions that favor our taking a defensive player in the 1st 2 rounds has been 9 out of 10 (or better) ...over and offensive player.

 

[Pookie]

Did you seriously just put Justin Houston over Ryan Kerrigan

 

[rich70116]

Same thing everyone else has been saying for a long time. The only thing new is the possibility of a lot of QB's going early, which could cause someone even better than we had hoped for to drop to us.

We won't really know until it happens, though. So much of what we read about the draft is driven by agent PR hype.

However, if Peter King is right and everyone jumps on the QB bandwagon, we're going to be looking at someone good.

 

[60minutes]

I won't object to seeing us go defense the first two rounds, especially if the right guys are there. That said, I don't agree with the statement that our offense was successful last year. There were times when our offense was anemic. And I am not just referencing our running game, though I think the running game woes had a huge impact on our offense's performance. We did not score 40 points in any game last season and struggled moving the ball at times against pedestrian defenses. Against Arizona, we started out strong but later looked to be in early preseason mode against a team whose defense was less than subpar. Cleveland's blitz schemes and 3-4 alignments confused us, and there defense was not as bad as many may think, but you expect an offense like ours to be able to move the ball against them. We struggled in that first game against Carolina. Of course, they are a rival and so that has its bearing. But there were plenty of times in which we looked sloppy and even undisciplined. Is our offense terrible? Far from it. It is still one of the top 5 offenses in the league, these criticisms aside. And it is still capable of being the top offense, though we will have to improve our running game albeit with the guys in the building or someone else we bring in. But our blocking on the right side of the line--specifically with Stinchcomb--has to improve. We also have to be able to generate more big plays down field than we did last year. I think that somewhat goes back to the running game. If you run the ball, defenses have to play you more honest.

I am of the firm belief that you cannot fall in love with improving only one side of the ball. You have to have a broad vision for improving the team. That doesn't mean you cannot go defense back-to-back in round 1 or 2. But I do not think we can ever pretend that we are set on one side of the ball or the other or even on special teams that we overly commit ourselves to fixing one issue. Bottom line is, we have gone defense in the first round the last three drafts. Now, of those picks, only one has been in the front seven, which is where our key needs exist. But I do not ever want to lock in so much so that I am willing to go offense or defense for offense or defense sake. Such an approach might lead to bad decisions, especially if the right guys are not on the board.

Not disagreeing with your contention on using our first two picks on defense, just offering a slightly different perspective on it.

 

[State Of Affairs]

Akeem Ayers... I think he's a natural strong side LB... He's big and tall, much bigger that your standard will in a 4-3.

I would love to be able to drop 8 spaces or so to get him and I'm all about some jabaal Sheard also... That would be my dream draft.

Ok, here's my 1st ever mock.... And i don't need to hear how it will never happen, the Saints just get lucky and every guy they want falls a round into their laps.. lol

Yea, here it is...
2a) Akeem Ayers SLB (move down and pick a 3rd)
2b) Jabaal Sheard DE
3a) Ryan Williams RB
3b) Kendric Ellis DT
3c) Jon Baldwin WR
7a) doesn't matter, I will be to busy hugging everyone since the end of the 3rd.
7b) see above

I said I don't want to hear it but we need something to talk about so let it rip...

 

[CCL36]

You know it is not our backs as much as our poor run blocking that hurt us...to me why invest in a back (that has a high relative probability of injury) when we can get a dominant RT to run all our backs effectively behind.

I really think someone like Orlando Franklin in the 2nd might be a huge impact player, I wouldn't mind Carimi in the First but to take him there we would have to pass on an elite defender....I could see Ayers and Austin being special in our system (in addition maybe Houston and Taylor).

I also wonder if we should give up our first 3rd and trade up with Miami to take Kerrigan. It appears Kerrigan's measuables are being undervalued at least in the media, to me Kerrigan looks like a person that will continue to work on his craft and get better and better.

 

[TruSaint]

getting kerrigan would be a dream come true, but it wont happen

 

[TruSaint]

also jabaal sheard abused franklin, and i think franklin is good, so if kerrigan isnt there in the first we trade down and take sheard in the early 2nd along with bruce carter/mason foster

 

[brianw37]

i would take ayers at 24... i think hes gonna be a special player in this leauge. i hate looking back at past drafts and seeing linebackers that we could have drafted become dominate players in this leauge.

 

[JackDiesel]

I also wonder if we should give up our first 3rd and trade up with Miami to take Kerrigan. It appears Kerrigan's measuables are being undervalued at least in the media, to me Kerrigan looks like a person that will continue to work on his craft and get better and better.

I'm starting to feel we will trade up with Miami as well. I looked at the trade value chart and it'd take our 1st and 2nd round pucks but we'd also get their 5th round pick. They might be desperate enough to trade down that they'd take our first 3rd.

Getting a building block like Kerrigan, Watt, or Jordan would do much more for our defense in the long and short run. All those guys are amazing athletes for their size and are all hard workers with impeccible character and a true love for the game. Something our FO values highly with first round picks.