Upgrade Guard and trade Cesar Ruiz (2 Viewers)

[B4YOU]

Upgrade guard, and keep Ruiz. He may not be a solid starter, but he would be solid depth. We cant move him anyway.

Yep. Stuck with his contract for 1 more year. Guard needs to be a top target in the draft on day 2.

 

[srcampbell]

Who the heck would trade for Ruiz? We’re better off keeping him as a reserve center/guard which is what he really is anyway.

 

[handsolow]

If a true left tackle is there in the first round, draft him and move Penning to left guard. Put the rookie at left tackle and move Fuaga back to his natural spot at right tackle. McCoy can help Ruiz for one year, then upgrade that spot. Penning will sink or swim.

There fixed the o-line like the state fixes roads, is it gonna hold? Who knows. Penning will hold, that's for sure.

 

[STEWDADDY34]

I believe you meant "whole field."

I think he really meant "Hole Filled".. what do I know.

 

[St. Widge]

Should of played him at his natural position, stop drafting guys and playing them were you need a hole field.

You realize that both Evans and Nicks were moved to Guard from Tackle after we drafted them, right? Moving a player to a position you think they can/should play isn't the issue. The issue is picking the wrong player.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

You're probably one season away from being able to move on from Ruiz. I also think his biggest issue, and Baldie spoke on it, is that his best position is Center. He aint beating out McCoy though. Ironically, Ruiz despite the time missed, had his best season per PFF. He's an average G in the league, basically our new version of Andrus Peat.

And widge is accurate. Moving guys around leads to success all the time, perhaps it's not always for there betterement but it's not like the league isn't littered w/ success stories.

 

[BayouSAINTJoe]

For what? A months supply of "gooey butter cake" blue bell ice cream

^ love the ice cream but that flavor name is shady af

 

[meily]

You realize that both Evans and Nicks were moved to Guard from Tackle after we drafted them, right? Moving a player to a position you think they can/should play isn't the issue. The issue is picking the wrong player.

Point still remains.

 

[St. Geezy]

I think we are going to have to live with 4 of our 5 offensive line starters for a bit and just hope for improvement. LG should get attention though, along with a stronger emphasis on depth, which ironically should probably involve the starting LG you’d want to replace.

 

[SirLoinSaint64]

How Udoh is in the NFL is beyond me. Hergel should get another shot.

 

[SWJJ]

and he's the most most penalized player on the Saints roster this year. But, hey, he stayed healthy which you are correct is a positive note.

When the other guys all play half as many games as him, of course they will have fewer penalties.

 

[SAINTSFAN]

Would not get much for Ruiz and the way his contract has been restructured, difficult to release him. Loomis has painted the team into a corner.

 

[MatthewV]

Don't think the Saints are in a position to be trading serviceable 20-something starters basically anywhere on this team unless they are intending to tank or already have drafted an elite replacement.

Given everything we know about this team not wanting to rebuild and wanting to stay competitive in wide open NFC South, I think they will be looking for coaches they believe can coach up Fuaga/Penning/Ruiz as opposed to replace Ruiz.

Of course, if an upgrade is available somehow at the right price, sure, but we having glaring needs at the other OG position, DE, CB, DT, TE, possession WR, S, LB, RB etc.

 

[Snakehead]

Upgrade guard, and keep Ruiz. He may not be a solid starter, but he would be solid depth. We cant move him anyway.

This. I'd love to trade him for anything, but that's not happening. Draft 2 OGs, big maulers especially for RG. Let Ruiz be the depth at G and C. He's still super young so he's not even in his prime yet. Maybe some development and strength training could help him. We're stuck with him either way.

 

[St.Dan]

Penning is like when you used to play old school D&D, all strength and you just roll with a herp a derp brute that only understands club to the face.

Ah, yes. You tickle the timbers of this seemingly middle-aged fan who remembers the famous NFL Films shot of Dick Butkus sitting there on the bench with his bloody hands clenched, waiting for another chance to tackle another opposing ball-carrier Penning is a bit like Peter Boyle's character in Young Frankenstein, in need of that social grace-teachin' that will keep him in line with modern-day society.

Dark humor and nostalgia aside, we do need some stud guards on this team. Evans and Nicks were indeed the steady presences that allowed Brees to step up in the pocket so often and deliver downfield strikes. Our guards now are trash by comparison.