New Starters in 2004
 

I think we'll see 8 new starters on opening day next year, with 4 being new Saints
Offense-
FB-Free Agent (true WestCoast type). T-rex is an awesome blocker but he's a one-dimensional fullback and they're a dime a dozen. We need a true west coast type fullback that can catch and run with the ball. I think they let him go.

C-Jacox moves to center to replace an aging Fontenot.

LG-Holland steps in, improves his pass blocking and provides the pancakes on running plays.

Defense-
NT-Free agent Acquisition to man the middle. Cornelius Griffin looks like a good performance/value FA.

MLB-Cie Grant, unless we land an Al Wilson type free agent, then Cie moves outside

ROLB-Free Agent, Rogers did very well for us, I just think he's the odd man out when we sign or draft a stud. He'll still be a very productive and active back-up.

CB1-Free Agent, I have a feeling we'll see a Fernando Bryant 2nd tier type in a Saints jersey next year. He's a good value/performance FA to play while our 2nd round CB develops to replaces him or Thomas

SS-Mel Mitchell, Regains starting role from Bellamy, but he'll have to earn it.




[Edited on 31/12/2003 by Danno]

New Starters in 2004
 

No way Smith is going anywhere. Go back and look - every year the Saints have had a 1,000 yard rusher in the last however many yearsit\'s been behind Smith. He\'s highly underrated in my opinion and I don\'t think he\'s going anywhere.

LG - isn\'t that where Bentley plays? I seriously doubt he\'s going enywhere.

NT - DT sure, but didn\'t we draft Sullivan to play the \"3 technique\"?

We may get a new OLB but I doubt Rodgers is going anywhere. Smith, Allen, and Hodge combined to be totally non-existant. Rodgers was the best LB we had this year, and furthermore, with the right support, he\'s a good LB. He certainly was in Miami. I don\'t see him going anywhere.

New Starters in 2004
 

Bentley has always played RG.

Sullivan was originally supposed to play the nose, but they moved him to the 3 tek where Kenny Smith was supposed to play. They were impressed at his burst and he\'s a better 3-tek than a 2-gap. But I\'m still confused, when Grady was cut I thought they should have moved Sully inside and put Kenny at the 3. Maybe they didn\'t want to yank Sully around too much.

Anyway, I can see them draft a nose type DT if a stud is there.

I agreed with your take on Rodgers. He\'ll stay around as an active back-up IF we sign a stud LB. I think he\'ll be here a while.

[Edited on 2/1/2004 by Danno]

New Starters in 2004
 

Another option depending on what happens with Fontenot, Bentley could end up being moved back to center with Jacox and Holland as our guards.