RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall?
 

I've said it more than once, what the Saints need most is a replacement for Deuce and it looks like Payton agrees....
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According to this poster on NOLA.com forums, we are.
Please take with a grain of salt...

"Mendenhall is one of the three first round choices the Saints are targeting. The other two are Sedrick Ellis (if he drops to #10) and Keith Rivers. Both are USC guys recruited by Ed Orgeron. Some think Mendenhall is the guy that Payton wants. He moves the chains."

He then responded with his source stating: "Source was from Jags coaching staff. After Jax game Payton told him he wants a player like Maurice Jones-Drew to compliment Reggie and Payton likes Mendenhall."

Remember, Muller (in the Sportswrap interview) said that "we like to add another RB to the mix"...
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Rashard Mendenhall Scouting Report - 2008 NFL Draft Prospect

Height: 5-105/8 | Weight: 225 | 40-Time: 4.45
Strengths:
Terrific size and bulk...Excellent timed speed...A natural runner with great instincts and vision....Strong and powerful...Keeps his legs moving on contact and picks up extra yards...Has pretty good hands and can be a weapon catching the ball out of the backfield..More than holds his own as a blocker...Does not have much mileage on his tires...Tough and durable...Smooth and a very good athlete...A hard worker and team player with top-notch intangibles....Still improving and has some upside.

Weaknesses:
Only carried the load for one season...Has some issues with ball security...Is not overly elusive...More quick than fast...Doesn't always play to his timed speed....A between-the-tackles-type who could have trouble turning the corner in the pros.

Notes:
Older brother Walter is also a running back for the Illini...National Top 100 recruit coming out of high school...Backed up Pierre Thomas, who made the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent, the first two years of his college career....One year wonder who took a while to fulfill his potential but really came on as a junior and emerged as a top pro prospect..Has a rare blend of size and speed with all of the physical tools you look for..A workhorse runner and terrific all-around weapon

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Please no, please. Seriously, the guy is a very good running back, but we need to go after Rivers or Ellis.

I almost forgot to mention... look at how many running backs we have on the roster. We are paying Deuce and Reggie starting RB money, which is a lot of freaking money!!!! We can't be paying three running backs starting money, that's just absurd.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

smokescreen, u can get good backs in later rounds. Jones drew was in the 2nd!

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

You're assuming that Deuce will still be on the team in two weeks.

If they do this, they better trade down a few spots first. I could live with the pick if it means an extra second rounder. This is, after all, a good draft class for both linebacker and cornerback.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

That better not happen if it does I can see the signs now all mover the dome FIRE PAYTON.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Hagan, how far back would the Saints have to trade to pick up another second rounder?

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Forte is every bit as good as Mendenhall and he will be there in the second,along with some other really good backs. I say D-tackle first pick. Pierre Thomas and Stecker can get the job done at RB.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Yeah, Payton announced a week or so ago that they were keeping Deuce. He might have been lying, but I don't think you say that about somebody who means so much to the franchise like Deuce. I think they'll give him another shot.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Did he definitely say that, or did he say that they would like to keep him? You have to pay attention to how coaches and GM's word things. They are like politicians in a way.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

i dont get this either, sure mendenhall is a talent, but we can get a defensive starter and then someone like forte or ray rice in the later rounds.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Calm down everybody, noway Payton picks a RB in the first round.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Well don't be suprised if Dorsey or Ellis isn't there that this is the pick. Don't be suprised if we trade out of 10 and this is the pick. Personally, I love to draft Mendenhall and get another 1st or 2nd to draft defense. I wouldn't mind drafting a Dorsey or Ellis and taking a RB in round 2.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

First off,

I have no idea on the credibility on the post whether the Saints want to draft this guy or want.

Secondly,

I would be stoked if this thing happened. Deuce is done and even before he got hurt, he wasn't running well this year. Reggie is a swiss army satellite player. Pierre... come on guys, get real. Mendenhall is a STUD. I'll say again, a STUD! I'm not sure I can say that about any other guys that we could possibly draft at 10. Saints have shown they go BPA regardless of what us fans think are there needs.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

I am looking at the vikings as the most likely team to trade up and we get a second out of them.

15 through 17 would require a pick from us to make a 2nd possible

At 18 (Houston) it is the break even point were we get a two straight up.

From there on out add picks.

To get an additional first I am guessing at 26 ( Jacksonville) it is hard to tell because there is a penalty charge for dropping that far and it is hard to estimate the amount a team is willing to pay to get up that far in the draft. Usually a player is involved. Teams hate giving up picks a boat load of picks, except Ditka.

As for choicing another RB at 10 I am not totally against the idea but remeber that would signal the end of Duce in B&G probably. It would make sense but at 10? I am not sold on him that high.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

speaking of ditka, i'll bet a lot of you did'nt know what the saints were willing to give to get williams in the 99 draft......
you'll be shocked................read on..................

CNN/SI - Inside Game - Peter King - SI's King: Sorting out the draft - Monday April 19, 1999 09:47 AM

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

It's been confirmed... Chad has a man crush.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

isn't it cute lol

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Mendenhall was a stud in college, this isnt college. pierre has done plenty when given a chance, its unfair to say anything negative about the guy. besides didnt they go to school together and didnt pierre start over mendenhall?

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Have I mentioned Mendenhall is a stud yet?

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

I confess, I'm a Mendenhall fan. I'm a Mendenhall to the Saints at pick 10 fan. Drew threw for a ton of yards last year because we couldn't run the ball. Mendenhall would allow us to move the chains.

I have two sets of questions about Mendenhall:
1. Is Mendenhall more valuable than Ellis, Rivers, Dorsey, Jenkins or Gholston if those guys were available? I don't know.
But Mendenhall would almost certainly be an impact rookie in year 1 at an area of need for us.

2. Is Mendenhall so valuable that we should take him in round 1 instead of waiting for round 3 for guys like: Ray Rice, Matt Forte, Tim Hightower, or Ryan Torain, who should all be formidable running between the tackles?

I don't know, I wouldn't be angry if the Saints took Mendenhall. I would be angry if the Saints took a safety in round 1 though.

On balance, I would prefer Ellis, Dorsey or Jenkins in round 1, but I wouldn't be mad about Mendenhall. There is good CB talent in round 2 and probably 3. After Rivers, the LBs drop off quickly.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

No you have not stepped out of the closet and declared your love till now. LOL

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Glenn Dorsey only started one game as a sophmore as well. I guess those DT's are better than him too. Nothing against Pierre but Mendenhall is a stud. Seniority goes a long ways in college.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Damn I was going to call this my surprise pick, just before the draft!

I think there could very well be truth to it. BPA theory should always be considered based on oppitunites, you should take advantage of and drafting at 10 you best go by BPA. I don't anyone should kid themselves, don't look for the obvious pick. The Saints will make the surprise one! The not so obvious, look at last year -surprised EVERYONE. So thats why I am considering RB's and or a QB.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Have you guys seen this kid's calves?

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Gives a whole new meaning to the words Manhore.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Dude, you maybe getting a little too involved in the scouting of Mendenhall, with that statement.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Another reason to pick him is because most mock drafts have him going to Carolina. On the flip side of this, Carolina picks on offense as well as we pick on defense.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Mendenhall would be inducted into the HOF his rookie year if he's rafted by Denver.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

So let Denver draft him. If anyone here thinks a fifth RB is what we need to get over the hump, you're crazy.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

He would be our 1a RB, not 5th. And NO one player selected at 10 alone would "get us over your hump" theory. Saints struggle in bad weather conditions and struggle at moving the ball consistently. Mendenhall would be a steady force in our offense.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

I won't be surprised if he's good. But what good will that do us?

A) our very good offense gets a touch better - and we score an extra ten points per game
B) our positively rotten defense takes the field again, and gives up a touchdown everytime the other team throws a pass

Looks like we still lose in that scenario to me. I say use that pick on defensive talent.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Err... if the Saints score another 10 points per game... look out. Don't forget that we picked up 3 players on defense and we still have the draft. Everything wasn't perfect with the offense in 2007 and anybody that thinks we should just stay pat, doesn't know our coach very well.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Still, the last time I checked, you have to kick off to the other team after you score. So we score ten more points - and they score 14.

I'm telling you, I don't think improving our offense will have as much of an effect as improving our defense will.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

I don't think that draft pick will score equates to 10 more points a game. But we do have to keep that offense going. Every year someone gets older, slower and fatter so you need to constantly tweak every unit.

You also have to look at oppitunities that you face in the draft as well.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

it's not a stupid pick. we can draft defense in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. if you're one of those people who would blow a gasket if we used the 10th pick on offense, learn football. our defense isn't terrible to the point where we need to spend _every_ early draft pick on it. also, a RB would come in and play well for us right off the bat. most defensive players wouldn't be able to do that.

but now, I would prefer we just use Pierre Thomas xD.

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

No joke, what good is scoring over 21 points a game if your opponent scores 35? Its like a bunch of Fred Thomas clones out there. If we can hold teams between 14 - 24 we will win every time. Our offense is just that freakin good.
:handguns:

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

Well, I really do think it would be stupid to take this RBy at 10, when we've got Shanle and Bullocks on the field. Would you pass up the chance to get Ellis or Rivers at 10 in favor of this guy? Would you pass up the chance to trade down and get that safety out of Miami along iwth an extra 2nd? Would you take this guy at 10 when we've got PT, Reggie Bush, Aaron Stecker, John Karney, and maybe even Deuce all sitting there together on the bench? Personally, I think that would be stupid, though you may say I don't know football all you want.


Neither do I Euph, was just making a point (though the new guy says I don't know football anyway). ;)

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

The 10th pick is based solely on need vs best available

DT - Ellis, Dorsey
LB - Rivers
CB - DRC
FS - Phillips (Playmaker, Big / Physical defender who can play CB if necessary)

I'd be happy with any one of these guys

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

eh sorry if it came out like that, I don't mean to be so hostile xD

Re: RUMOR: Saints Targeting Illinois RB Rashard Mendenh
 

No worries peanut. I've been on this board since 2003 - if I took things too personally, I'd have committed suicide long long ago.

PS - good way to start on this board, that showed class. Sounds like you'll do alright here. Now if we could just get the old regulars to be half as decent.... lol

-LoE