N/S Zack Baun: Top Graded LB / DPOTW [Why Baun Isn’t Still a Saint Thread] (12 Viewers)

[longtime lurker]

We can’t ask Loomis this but surely someone from the Saints media pool will ask him these questions. Let’s see what he has to say.

 

[jesusfish]

Hendrickson, Elliss, and Baun are 30, 29, and 27.

 

[Mamba]

This is the worst part of being a fan of a crappy team. All of these hindsight posts. Do we all wish things had gone down differently? Of course. But these choices were not made in a vacuum.

 

[NUSaintsfan]

Compounding this mismanagement with extending old, declining players as well as poor drafts and you have the current organizational plight.

ML doesn't want a boat rocker and the reason why he let Campbell walk. He wanted a compliant yes man and the reason why DA was groomed over Campbell.

The decision making atop needs a new 'brain' because the one making decisions is decrepit.

 

[SonOfNOLA]

Hendrickson, Elliss, and Baun are 30, 29, and 27.

Had they been re-signed, everyone would be complaining again that “Loomis keeps destroying the cap by re-signing declining, aging, past their prime players to ridiculous contracts!!” by year 2 or 3 of their contracts.

Not re-signing Hendrickson was a legitimate error. Elliss and Baun were not going to start in New Orleans based on several good starting LBs playing in front of them. Their window of being successful LBs may also be very small based on their ages.

 

[new city champ]

Had they been re-signed, everyone would be complaining again that “Loomis keeps destroying the cap by re-signing declining, aging, past their prime players to ridiculous contracts!!” by year 2 or 3 of their contracts.

Not re-signing Hendrickson was a legitimate error. Elliss and Baun were not starting in New Orleans based on several starting LBs in front of them. Their window of being successful LBs may also be very small based on their ages.

Why weren’t they starting or playing bigger roles? Baun was a great pass rusher in college but the Saints hardly used him in that capacity. Ellis was also primarily a special teamer who showed dynamic pass rushing when finally given a chance. Hendrickson was already a good pass rusher when they let him walk. Why? Because none of them fit the Saints “prototype” for players at their position. So others are kept, they all walk, and the Saints can’t mount a pass rush, arguably the most important capability of a modern NFL. Who is accountable?

 

[SonOfNOLA]

Why weren’t they starting or playing bigger roles? Baun was a great pass rusher in college but the Saints hardly used him in that capacity. Ellis was also primarily a special teamer who showed dynamic pass rushing when finally given a chance. Hendrickson was already a good pass rusher when they let him walk. Why? Because none of them fit the Saints “prototype” for players at their position. So others are kept, they all walk, and the Saints can’t mount a pass rush, arguably the most important capability of a modern NFL. Who is accountable?

Elliss and Baun deserved better than to be limited role players. They weren’t going to be shelved until Demario retires like a fantasy team or Madden. There isn’t significant snaps available for 3 or 4 starting caliber LBs when the Saints only require 2 which they already had for a while now. Werner-type salaries (8M+) potentially tied to 4 LBs doesn’t happen. Demario and Werner established themselves as the Saints’ best LBs (league best in Demario’s case) well before Elliss and Baun emerged in their 4th seasons.

In the bigger picture, the Saints aren’t a losing team because of the LBs or because Baun and Elliss aren’t on the team anymore. There’s huge holes at positions that are relied on to win games and put points on the board.

 

[St. Geezy]

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

Elliss and Baun deserved better than to be limited role players. They weren’t going to be shelved until Demario retires like a fantasy team or Madden. There isn’t significant snaps available for 3 or 4 starting caliber LBs when the Saints only require 2 which they already had for a while now. Werner-type salaries (8M+) potentially tied to 4 LBs doesn’t happen. Demario and Werner established themselves as the Saints’ best LBs (league best in Demario’s case) well before Elliss and Baun emerged in their 4th seasons.

In the bigger picture, the Saints aren’t a losing team because of the LBs or because Baun and Elliss aren’t on the team anymore. There’s huge holes at positions that are relied on to win games and put points on the board.

Well said

 

[MikeyF]

Nick Bolton, of the Kansas City Chiefs could replace Demario Davis in 2025

Saints already connected to another Chiefs LB in 2025 free agency

The New Orleans Saints have already been connected to another Chiefs linebacker in 2025 free agency. Maybe Nick Bolton could be a worthy successor to Demario Davis:

saintswire.usatoday.com

 

[Saint KayBee]

Compounding this mismanagement with extending old, declining players as well as poor drafts and you have the current organizational plight.

ML doesn't want a boat rocker and the reason why he let Campbell walk. He wanted a compliant yes man and the reason why DA was groomed over Campbell.

The decision making atop needs a new 'brain' because the one making decisions is decrepit.

Dan Campbell left before Sean Payton did. What are you on about