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Eye ON THE SAINTS |
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June 2008
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April 2007 ArchivesThe Saints have signed a University of Alberta deep snapper for possible competition at training camp this fall. ...Sean Payton comments on: Robert Meachem Overall, we’re excited about how the first day turned out. Our plan with the first pick was having some flexibility and having a pool of players who would be available and a pool of players we might go up and get. Robert was in that list. Then guys get taken that weren’t in that circle so he gets pushed back and we were excited that he got pushed back. We think he... The Saints used their 88th pick overall, their second in the third round, to take 6 foot, 3 1/2 inch, 302 pound Andy Alleman of Akron. Alleman had some prodigious weight-lifting feats, pressing 465 pounds and squatting 595 at a campus workout. ...Usama Young of Kent State wasn't invited to the combine or any all-star games, but his stock apparently rose with some great private workouts. Young said he ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash and he said he realized the pro workout was his 'best shot' after not getting a nod in the other more traditional avenues. He said his best assests were his competitiveness, athletic ability and ability to learn quickly. ...Some of GM Mickey Loomis' comments on Robert Meachem. 'We talked about getting a receiver some time during the draft. Didn't specifically target first or second round. But it’s one of the positions we wanted to acquire a younger player.' 'He was our highest rated player on the board when we picked -- significantly. We worked our selves into a position this past season to be able to take the best player available.' 'I th... Before the draft is done, look for the Saints to gather some depth, especially young depth at cornerback. I also think they'll try to get a quarterback in the mid to late rounds. Even though Brees is only in his late 20s, I think Payton would like to have a young guy to develop. I think developing young qbs is one of his skills. ...Saints take Tennessee wide receiver Robert Meachem. He comes from a school that has produced a lot of wide receivers. He's a speedy guy - a junior who entered the draft early. He can return kicks, so that helps. Not surprised Sean Payton picked an offensive guy, unless there was a defensive guy that was head and shoulders above everyone else. If you looked at a big need in the offseason, receiver was it after ... The Saints should go for Miami TE Greg Olsen, for for all the reasons listed in my Thursday column. ...Now that the Panthers have taken LB John Beason, look for the Saints to go offense with either WR Robert Meachem of Tennessee or TE Greg Olsen of Miami. One of the two - or both - will be there. ...I think the Saints should make a move and trade up a few spots to get the guy they want - Olsen or Meachum. They could trade one of their fourth round picks to go up three or four spots. ...With one top receiver gone, look for the Saints to consider Robert Meachum of Tennessee, Greg Olsen of Miami, Paul Posluszny, the linebacker from Penn State or Chris Houston, the corner from Arkansas. It all depends on what the other teams do. ...
Quinn picked by Browns with trade. Looking at the board now, I think the Saints will get one of the guys they want. K.C. will likely take a receiver, Carolina, a tight end. Philly may go for a wide receiver. ...The last seven picks have been on defense. No run on wide receivers and neither of the top two tight ends have been taken, so I think the Saints could look there. My guess would be the wide receiver area, if they continue to last. ...Darrelle Revis, CB, NY Jets. Possibly the run on secondary has begun. Carolina now at 25th, two spots ahead of the Saints, positioned to take TE Greg Olsen, if he's still there. ...Rams select DE Adam Carriker of Nebraska. This is now the spot where we may see some of the defensive backs and receivers start going. This could make an impact on the Saints pick. TE Greg Olsen, who I think the Saints would love, could go next. ...Buffalo takes RB Marshawn Lynch of Cal. Again, nothing to affect the Saints picks so far. No corners taken yet. Only two receivers. ...Patrick Willis, LB from Ole Miss to SF. He's the only middle linebacker sure to go in the first round. A lot of teams behind SF would want him. The team needs defense. Side note on Brady Quinn. He could fall a long way now unless someone trades up. The next team in real need of a quarterback is Kansas City. ...Texans take 19-year-old Amobi Okoye. Nothing has happened so far that would affect the Saints picks. Everyone taken so far was expected to go 27th or higher. Some surprises on who has been passed up, but no surprise on who has been selected. ...Dolphins pull stunner - select Ted Ginn Jr., receiver from Ohio State and pass on Brady Quinn. Not sure how far he'll drop. He could drop a ways. You could see someone trade up to get him now. ...Falcons take Arkansas def. end Jamaal Anderson. This will put Brady Quinn in Miami. ...Vikings take Adrian Peterson, running back Oklahoma. He could be the only RB taken in the first round, though Lynch from California could go late. This is a thin year at running back. So far, things going pretty close to form. ...LSU's team was really, really good this past season - and not just because JaMarcus Russell was the top pick and Laron Landry number six. They've always produced a lot of skill position players. And, LSU is likely not done with Dwayne Bowe likely to have his name called in the first round. ...No surprise Arizona took offensive tackle Levi Brown of Penn State. They needed an offensive lineman. Matt Leinart needs a top flight right tackle to protect his blind spot. The two top offensive linemen are now gone. ...
I think Tampa is really disappointed they couldn't get Calvin Johnson. Gruden is an offensive coach, but that defense really needs help. They've not been the same since they traded Booger McFarland. This team has a lot of needs. Saints fans have to be happy, because the two teams that really wanted Calvin Johnson, barring a trade, won't get him and the Saints won't have to face him twice a year. ...Cleveland taking left tackle Joe Thomas instead of local favorite Brady Quinn is a bit of a surprise. There's been talk that Quinn could now fall all the way to Miami at nine. If Washington doesn't take him at six, he could fall to nine. ...I think Detroit will trade Calvin Johnson. I think they'll look to deal him to Atlanta or Tampa, playing the two teams off of each other and taking the best deal. Lions just need more at other positions and additional picks. Tampa and Atlanta both want him. This gives them more time to work a trade. ...From Jim Henderson: No surpise with Russell. I think they just milked it because it's the Raiders. I think it's the most attention they've gotten in a year. This is six of the past seven years that a QB has gone number one - except for last year with Mario Williams. Not a great year for QB. Brady Quinn is the only other guy that will go in the first round. From Jim Henderson: I love the NFL Draft. It feels like the start of the football season. You get your mind plugged back in to the team. I like the intrigue, seeing who falls down the board, who moves up, etc. I really love this day. ...Tom Brady, taken in the sixth round in 2000; Terrell Davis, taken in the sixth round in 1995; Rodney Harrison, fifth round in 1994; Steve Smith, third round of 2001...and the list goes on and on. But add Saints wide receiver Marques Colston to that elite pack. The Hofstra dynamo was one of the last players picked in the entire draft and went on to have a phenomenal rookie season. >> Continue reading: SI: Colston one of the 20 best draft day bargins From the Associated Press: Saints running back Reggie Bush is donating $20,000 to New York City public schools and helmets, shoulder pads and jerseys to public school teams in New Orleans. (Continued...) ...ESPN.com is reporting that the Saints have reached an agreement with defensive end Charles Grant on a 7-year deal worth potentially $63 million, with $20 million in guarantees. ...
NFL.com is reporting that the Colts have declined to match a $15.7 million, four-year deal for cornerback Jason David, meaning that he is now a Saint. And, it means that cornerback, while still a position they'd like to improve, is now no longer the most glaring need. ESPN is also reporting that David is now a Saint.... Clark Judge of CBS Sportsline says that there were several very good picks in the NFL's first round, but that the saga of Houston passing on Bush and the Saints good fortune overshadowed them. ...A column in the Biloxi Sun Herald suggests the Saints will follow their old form and take the best athlete available, regardless of position and need. ...Don Banks of Sports Illustrated writes about ten draft day moves that MUST be made. He mentions JaMarcus Russell and Dwayne Bowe, a couple of LSU boys, but does shine a spotlight on a player he feels the Saints should absolutely pick up: Oklahoma quarterback Paul Thompson. Read more. (Note: It's Don Banks' tenth and final draft day "lay-up") ...The Saints GM, named Executive of the Year by the Sporting News, said the higher pick, the greater the magnitude of criticism will be if that player turns out to be a bust. Read more. ...Yes, Reggie Bush ended up being all people thought he would be, but what made the draft really special was the pick of Marques Colston near the bottom. ...Saints new linebacker Anthony Simmons says he is willing to work very hard to fit in with the Saints, taking nothing for granted. ...The Saints are the model of success for the two-feature-back system. ...The Saints have apparently |