tweeky

The Saints have hinted that Monday they plan to sign their back-up RB. (And probably a Safety now).
Who would you pick, and who would you cut?

Carrol will be gone because Rodgers will be back.

RUNNING BACK:
1st choice: Ki-Jana Carter. Played well, familiar with our system. Fits our need skill and price wise.

2nd choice: Robert Edwards. Looks 100%. Could be a stud in short yardage and goal line. That would take a beating off of Deuce. Again, fits our need skill and price wise.


Maybe sign both and cut Fenderson and Harper.

Safety: I have no idea. Has Hawthorne progressed enough to be a decent back-up? Only the coaches really know. The fact that they wanted Milloy so bad makes me think maybe not. But if he truly sucked, wouldn't they already have signed one of the 16 veteran safeties Joesam listed earlier? Hawthorne is a gifted athlete. I just don't know.

JOESAM2002

I think Carter should be given the shot. He looked good in preseason and he\'s somewhat up on our offense. I don\'t have much faith in Fenderson anymore, to me he\'s no better than Keaton was. If he is better it\'s not by much. I say sign Carter and a young back. Find some saftey help out of those I posted earlier.

tweeky

How about Carter and that kid Watson from the \'Skins?
He might become what Keaton was supposed to.

JOESAM2002

I never got to see much of Watson but from what I\'ve heard he\'s tough and smart. He might be the answer.

2monkeys

I\'ve always liked Carter but age and past injuries.... Watson is younger and looked pretty good at time last year for the Redskins. In the long run he\'d make better sence. If we look short term, I\'d say go with Carter and draft a rookie next year.

saint5221

Id love to cut Fenderson and pick up Carter and either Edwards or Watson. I don\'t know enough about each to really tell which is the better choice of the two but they both seem to be better reguarded than what we have.I don\'t see Fenderson being able to carry the load if Duece goes down, Edwards did before his injury and Watson seems to have more potental . I don\'t know if Fenderson will go because of his special teams contributions and knowledge of the system as a whole. This team values that highly and made this point about Fenderson several times.

As to a safety I would like to see Victor Green brought in. He is older but I think he would be an upgrade over Bellmay, who I just can\'t believe is even on this team. Tough to tell about Hawthorn he\'s never on the field and seems to have lots of excuses when he is, young ,new position etc. Physical talent counts for little when the player can not just get the job done.

JOESAM2002

I also believe Green would be a step up from Bellamy. At least in the short term.

BillyCarpenter1

Come monday -- I hope to be head of the Jay Bellamy fan club -- if he performs well. Will it happen? I doubt it. But maybe he will play better at strong safety.

tweeky

Warning: This post contains optimism...

You know, Bellamy did look pretty good at SS in the pre-season, even though we all know the pre-season is a mirage. He made a nice play on the 4th and goal vs the Jets.
His play was the reason they were stuffed for a loss. I noticed he frequently stood out and looked improved, but I thought it was simply because he knew the system better than the other guys. Short term, he may actually be better than Mitchell because of his experience. Long term, Mitchell was gonna be a stud by week 8. I think we\'re more worried about it than Haslet is.

Bellamy may be in the same situation Sammy Knight is in. Now that he\'s surrounded by speed everywhere his average speed doesn\'t make the secondary as exploitable. He may actually play very well.

Whether we agree or disagree; its all for Him.

saint5221

I don\'t know if I\'d go so far as to say I think he\'ll play well. But it is a good point that he should do better at Strong safety than Free. He is better suited there, but God I\'ll never be able to forget two embarasing, face on the turf lame ass grabs at nothing but air ,attempts at tackling aginst the Falcons that went for long scores on what should of been short gains. His bad tackling bit us several times all season but those two cost us games.

I remember that play against the jets, Darren Smith flew through the line shed one block and was aided by Bellamy picking up another block. Smith made the tackle not Bellamy. I don\'t want to say he gets no credit but I would\'nt say he was the reason the play was made either. I hope he plays the best football of his life I just wish we did\'nt have to count on him doing so to be a good defender.

[Edited on 9/4/2003 by saint5221]