Bushrod making a name for himself
 

Losing a Pro Bowl left tackle for the season should be a devastating blow to an offense.

The Rams weren't the same when Orlando Pace would get hurt, and the Seahawks offense has struggled to recover from Walter Jones' recent injury problems. So when the Saints lost Jamaal Brown before the 2009 season even started, there was legitimate worry throughout Who Dat nation.

Enter Jermon Bushrod.

The massive 6'5, 315-pound third-year player has ably filled Brown's shoes. According to SI's Peter King, Bushrod didn't allow a single pressure from Osi Umenyiora in New Orleans' win over the Giants Sunday. The guys at FootballOutsiders think Bushrod is arguably playing better than Brown did.

Bushrod, his unheralded teammates, and Drew Brees' quick release have all helped keep the Saints MVP candidate upright all season. Brees has been sacked only four times.

"The offensive line has been awesome," Brees said. "Look at what they've done protecting me the last few years, and now you throw in the balance of the running game. It's a direct correlation how that front five is playing for us."

Bushrod is playing so well, perhaps he'll keep the job. Brown is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Linkback: Bushrod making a name for himself | ProFootballTalk.com

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

AWESOME JOB against the Giants thats for sure!!!

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

I think Bushrod has made the decision to re-sign or not re-sign Brown after the season easier. He has been outstanding. Brown could have found his way out of New Orleans.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

Or to the RT position. But there we have Stinchcomb performing well so... But I'd rather see us resigning Brown and trading him down the line.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

How long is Brown signed for? He'd make good trade bait.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

Brown is in the last year of his contract, probably won't be back.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

Before the server crashed, there was a thread or two on this...... many of you were skeptical on how well he would perform. While Brown was good, I, for one, do not miss all of the holding calls we used to get when Brown was in there. Can Brown play center when he returns? Perhaps he can backup our entire OLine. Or trade him for a star DT or LB.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

It's a simple choice. Let Brown go. He's not a great player who now has serious injury concerns and is looking for a big payday. Bushrod has more than proven he can do the job. The Saints seem beter in the run game without Brown. Plus, Strief can handle the job as well. And for of the ones who say "Bushrod always gets help." Yes, he gets help. As do all LT's against the better LE's in the league. And percentage wise, yes, he may get more help than an established veteran. Partly due to his inexperience and partly because of how opposing defensive coordinators may try to attack him as the possible weak link on the line. But, to me, he has shown no reason why he can't handle the job so far.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

I was wondering when someone was going to address this guy's play. Bottom line: without protection, Brees can't be Brees and he's been a WALL on the left side.

And has anyone noticed the holes our RB's are getting on rushing? Outstanding thus far.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

No need to jump the gun on both Brown and Bushrod. What we know is that Brown has been a multiple ProBowler at LT and that Bushrod has filled in nicely in his absence. No need to throw Brown under the bus and we've only had a handful of games to evaluate Bushrod. The amount of Brown's so called holding call are also overblown. Though his performance has been very encouraging, I'm not ready to call him our LT of the future.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

Yeah, I saw it last year...

Last 8 games 2008 = 4.6 yards per carry

First 5 games 2009 = 4.6 yards per carry

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

Quite honestly in our passing system the Tackles are a lot less important than our guards. I could get into the nuts and bolts of it, but because of Brees and his height the goal for our tackles is to push their defenders out wide and allow brees to step up because of his great peripheral vision.

It is far more important that our outstanding guard tandem win their battles to spread out the DT's and blitzing LB's to keep the passing lanes, vision lanes, and open front pocket for Brees to step up into.

With Brees as a QB our team will need two great guards(which we have) and a above average Center. We can do just fine with good not great tackles. This is why Brown who on another team would not be great, Bushrod, Stinchcomb, and Strief have all done better here than they would anywhere else.

This is also why we were abused by the Titans with Haynesworth. He collapsed the pocket. Any team that can win the interior battle against our guards with their DT's will always be a harder win for us than a great pass rushing DE.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

Hip surgery is not a good thing for Brown to have to deal with along with knee surgery if I am correct and may lessen his valve. I think he has been a good player for the Saints but is somewhat overrated.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

Freddy Krueger has never looked that good in his life! DAMN!

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

hes struggled against the lesser competition like the lions

i didnt get to see or hear the giants game but from many accounts he played surprisingly well

brown should still be here next season but if bushrod is progressing that means he is finally starting to learn how to pass block

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

J, you'd be proud of how Bushrod handled his position. I'd say he's improved with every game and has earned Brees' trust as one of the most important positions on the O line.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

thats great news.....you can never have too many good linemen

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

Bushrod does get help BUT he was one on one with OSI majority of the time and did a excellent job, I don't think OSI got close to Brees. If Brown is not traded he should move back to his natural position - right tackle. With Stinch and Strief as back up than the line will be pro bowlers for sure

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

lol i remember a thread kind of like this one but it ended with papz standing over a bloody cantonlegend

:lightsabres::chainsaw:

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

Doesn't the new CBA or lack thereof affect Brown's contract next season? IIRC, if a new CBA doesn't get implemented and we have an uncapped season, Brown would be an RFA. Otherwise he's a UFA.

If that's the case, we may be in a very advantageous position here. Give Brown a high tender and hope that someone bites. If they don't you have a probowl LT, if they do, you have a high draft pick.

Ultimately, I'm with papz on this one. Let's no crown Bushrod the second coming of Willie Roaf 5 games into the season.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

Good call, but I'd chalk that up to "first pro start jitters". I think he's gotten the feel of working with the first team now. I've been greatly surprised and equally impressed by Bushrod.

On a different note, I like Jamaal Brown, but as long as Bushrod continues playing well, the team could use this to their advantage next season. With Brown's injury concerns, they may be able to offer a lesser contract if they want to bring him back. If they decide that Bushrod is better suited for LT and don't bring him back, do as WhoDat205 stated on here and give him a high tender and hope someone bites. If they don't, then that is just more offensive line depth. With Stinchcomb just signing a contract extension before the season, I don't see him playing as a back up next year unless he is just completely outplayed. I could easily see Brown out of New Orleans next year.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

I opened a thread in preseason asking how comfortable we were with Bushrod protecting Drews blind side. It looks as though he has stepped up to the challenge. Whodat205 makes a good point about the CBA and how it will affect how we deal with Brown after this season. If Bushrod continues doing the job well then lets move Brown and draft another developmental lineman with the draft pick. I have been impressed so far but I am not ready to crown him either.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

Ok this Is my input. We need a center. If we can try out bushrod or brown on center or Someone on the starting o line whose quick and strong enough to play center then we are ice. Thats what we need to work on because it will save us on draft picks. Or like some one else stated trade him for draft picks. But idk if we could since it's his last year on his contract.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

I'm still trying to figure out why we really need a new center. Johnathan Goodwin is better than he is getting credit for. He may not be completely overpowering in run blocking, but he is pretty darn good in pass blocking. Also, let's not forget about the exchange on the snap. He and Drew have developed a good relationship there since Goodwin became the starter and snaps are pretty much flawless. It's one thing for we as fans to nitpick and see weaknesses, but I can almost guarantee you that the person who has the least problem with Goodwin is the person whose opinion matters the most....and that is Drew Brees.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

if you asked drew what he thinks of goodwin.....he wouldnt tell you he thinks we need a new center....but a good leader shouldnt criticize the other players

this year i have seen an improvement in goodwins blocking but that may be because my eyes are drawn to the tackles getting beat nearly every play......it may also have to do with the emergence of carl nicks combined with jahri evans

i would say center is still our biggest weakness on both sides of the ball.....but when we are winning its hard to point out flaws in our game at all

if we were going to get rid of brown i would recommend going after a top tackle prospect in the draft because even tho bushrod may have been impressive against the giants, i have not seen him play very well yet and im a tad worried about drews health as the season goes on

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

True canton.. We need a versatile player like Joe Thomas who can just about play any position. That would be awesome.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

I guess I'm just a stickler for the cliche' "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". I have seen very little this season to think we need to add new starters at any offensive line position. Guard is a no-brainer, because I've been saying since Nicks was inserted as a starter that the Saints have possibly the best guard tandem in the NFL. I think the entire line is feeding off of their aggressiveness, as well, and making them step up their game. Bushrod, Stinchcomb, and Goodwin may very well be playing over their heads, but as long as they are doing their jobs well, then roll with what works.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

There were numerous articles last off season stating how solid of a right tackle Stinchcomb has been for us. With that being said, he may just be playing up to his abilities... after all he was a promising 2nd round pick coming out of college. He wouldn't have gave him that contract last off season if we didn't feel he was doing a good job protect Drew's right side.

As for Bushrod, I've always felt if he moved inside he would be a solid player for us... lucky enough, he's doing it on the outside in the absence of a very good LT in Brown. He's proving Mel Kiper right that he could possibly be a tremendous steal for us when we drafted him. So playing over his head for some that wasn't high on him in the first place can certainly be said... but like I said with Stinchcomb, maybe he's just playing up to his ability.

While we continue to give Nicks and Evans much of the credit for the success of our interior line, Goodwin has been a force with us this year and the tail end of last year when holes up the middle were increasing. He may never be that special talent, but he's doing a great job making the calls on the line (I'm assuming as the center usually does that) and we done a fantastic job pass and run blocking this year. It a cohesive unit out there... they all deserve a lot of credit.

Re: Bushrod making a name for himself
 

Bushrod ... the best name in football! Enough said.