Roster Weaknesses?
 

Here's how I see the Saints Roster:

OFFENSE

QB - We're in good shape.
RB - Good depth
FB - Karney - Good

TE - So many unremarkable tight ends. They must have big plans for the tight end position next season and are hoping one of 'em is lightning in a bottle. I got a feeling... Hilton's it, and there's not going to be much behind him.

OL - Need another marquee player besides Brown. Faine's not it. We just got sloppy seconds from Cleveland. The O-line is the white elephant on this team. The coaches have got to know it's going to be a problem, they're just not talking about it.

WR - Behind Joe Horn, there's not much proven talent. Stallworth should be traded for O-Line depth. They have an entire stable of young receivers behind him; there's bound to be one capable of stretching the field. I've read that Brees is high on Henderson. He's a streaker.

DEFENSE

DL - Good depth at end positions. Veterans at Tackle, but would like to see one more quality player added for depth. Unloading Sullivan was an awesome move, and long overdue.

LB - It feels like they're just stockpiling at this position, similar to the TE's. Polley will be good. Simmons, who knows? Fujita, probably ok. Fincher and Bockwoldt, steady but unspectacular. This position worries me... How did they not draft a stud linebacker in the 2nd?

CB - McKenzie, and???? Jason Craft and Fred Thomas still on the team? Oh that's comforting... Uh... who else.... Fakhir Brown went to St. Louis? That's too bad... Hmm... What's that? SEVEN safeties on the roster, and nobody to flank the sides of the field. Well, i'm sure they have a plan.

SS / FS - That's right seven safeties on this roster. How many of them are you confident in starting? I get the feeling the coaching staff feels the same way... One of them has got to step up. How about Bullocks and Stoutmire?

Overall, we'll win some games (i hope). But, that defense looks scary bad (outside of the DL).

Thoughts?

RE: Roster Weaknesses?
 

The O line is my big concern also, and your right..Faine is not enough. The way I see it our line was so bad last year, and its worst this year, I fear for Brees shoulder .... sure hope it holds up

RE: Roster Weaknesses?
 

FB - Karney - Good but back up is needed
TE - not in as bad shape as you would think. need a TE that can block and catch
DL - can not wait to see Hazs doghouse play
CB - makes me want to throw up. I see safties on the field in the nickle and dime
Ol - Another year of a new mix.
WR - Behind Joe Horn, there's not much proven talent. Stallworth should be traded for O-Line depth. They have an entire stable of young receivers behind him; there's bound to be one capable of stretching the field. I've read that Brees is high on Henderson. He's a streaker

Watch out Whodi is going to beat you with the limp noodle. I agree with you

RE: Roster Weaknesses?
 

I think our two biggest areas of need are safety & WR. :wink:

I think I am no longer gonna argue with folks who are clearly delusional. :P

RE: Roster Weaknesses?
 

My biggest concern is the coaching staff. I know coaches have to start somewhere to get the experience but to have 5 coaches with their 1st experince as a coach at their respected position and 4 of them 1st year experience in the league:

Curtis Johnson Receiver coach (1st) NFL yr (1st)yr w/ team
Terry Malone Tight ends coach (1st)NFL yr (1st) yr w/ team
Marion Hobby Defensive Line coach (1st) NFL yr (1st) yr w/ team
Tom Hayes Secondary coach (1st) NFL yr (1st) yr w/ team

My view is this...as far as the O line goes, i am comfortable with Brown, Holland, and Faine. That leaves us with Mayberry, Goodwin, Nesbit and Stinchcomb to man the right side. I have to think that we can hit on two of them...Nesbit and Mayberry are veterans. They know what they are doing , albeit they may be on the downside of their careers. Stinch and Goodwin are both young guys chomping at the bit to get on the field and prove themselves so i am not as worried about the o-line as i am about the CB's...but first, the rest of the offense, we dont need a backup fullback. Whoever said that is crazy. Very few teams in the NFL carry more than one fullback. I think Hilton will be OK, Campbell is a blocking specialist and we will see what we can get out of Miller and Euhus.

I do worry about the DT rotation. Thomas, Young, Whitehead, Woodard, and Leisle...that is what worries me. That and the fact that we have to count on either Fred Thomas, Jason Craft, or Joey Thomas to be on the field 80% of the time...that is concern number 1.

Corner and defensive tackle would be our biggest concerns. Every other position looks pretty decent. If Brown can hold his own on the left side, I think our line is better than a lot of people think.

Fullback is the last of our concerns. I think JimBone pretty much covered that.

While I agree with most of your analysis I have to disagree about Faine -- he is a very solid center -- probably better at center the Bentley -- they should never have moved Bentley to center -- he would have been an anchor on our line where he was

No way he is a better center than Faine...Bentley is the strong, mauler type who can handle any DT in the league simply by muscling with them, Faine is more of a finesse center who will often need help...so i will give you something by saying they are two different types of centers, but Bentley is bordering on being the best interior lineman in the NFL...Faine cant even sniff that.

If the Saints really do have a problem at OL, I think the coaches will do a decent job of masking it. Basically to mask the problem is to keep defenses from blitzing. This can be done with a smart QB, and fast playmakers. The Saints have that going for them. Just think, a defense sends a blitz, Brees takes a three step drop and throws a quick pass to Bush, he then turns it into an easy 8 to 10 yard gain. Draw play to McAllister up the middle for another easy 8 to 10 yards. Do this type of stuff enough and the defenses stop sending the blitz. Another method is to use some spread formations. If a defense decides to blitz, then hitting Henderson, Stallworth, or Horn on a quick hitch will gain some very nice yards.

I would say my biggest concern is going to be injuries at almost any position. The Saints are loaded in a couple areas, but lets face it, if a guy like Brees, Will Smith, Charles Grant, or Mike McKenzie goes down, it may be another top 3 draft pick coming to the Saints next year.

Well that is pretty much the case for 28 out of the 32 teams in the NFL...every team has depth at some positions, but no one has depth at all positions...and every team has that one guy they cant afford to lose...If peyton manning goes down, if Carson Palmer isnt healthy, Shaun Alexander cant be replaced...even the best teams have those issues. Injuries are a part of the game and you just have to hope that you dont lose your go-to guy and the guys you do lose better be the ones you can replace.

What???????? :lol:

Wasn't for you bud. :wink:

Whodi ??? Your very amusing and informative, but why so combative all the time? Does everything have to be drama ?lol lol J/K

Gotcha'. :wink:

Delusional is a Saints fan who still cares after 30+ years of mediocrity sprinkled w/ some incredible moments of joy.

Which part of my previous posting do you find to be delusional?

Our biggest weakness is the right tackle. I don't trust Stinch to stay healthy, and I don't like moving Nesbit to tackle. Strief, IMO, may be the starter this year. He may turn out to be a steal, but he's only a rookie.

:P that was for me :P

ah, i was wondering what that was all about? Thanks.

Biggest weaknesses are the right side of the OL and CB. But we'll see for sure after a few preseason games.

agreed.

I'd no more trust the OL with protecting Brees then I'd trust the freaking Industrial Canal to hold back the of wake from my canoe! I can see it now... Duce runs right, Duce runs up the middle, Bush tries the left. Punt... :bang:

WoW Boo Bird... That's pretty harsh.

Already predicting 3 and outs! Hilarious...