Saints Team Report
 

Saints Team Report

Jeff Duncan

Sporting news

The team is optimistic Mel Mitchell can push Jay Bellamy for the starting strong safety job. Mitchell, who is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation from a season-ending knee injury, has better size and speed than Bellamy and could team with Tebucky Jones and form the club's most athletic safety combination in years.

The Saints filled one of their last needs by signing free-agent OL Jamar Nesbit, who will bolster the depth inside and give the team

an experienced backup in case starting Gs Montrae Holland or Kendyl Jacox get hurt. Nesbit's addition also frees up OL Spencer Folau to return to his normal position, tackle.

OFFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS: Look for the Saints to return to the wide-open, big-play attack that lit up the league in the first half of the 2002 season. The limited availability of WR Donte' Stallworth and injuries on defense forced the offense to be more conservative last season. When he's available, Stallworth causes matchup problems for defenses that roll their coverages to WR Joe Horn's side. If Stallworth is healthy, the best personnel group likely will be a three-receiver or two-tight end alignment with RB Deuce McAllister as the only back. Either set would give QB Aaron Brooks five bona fide receiving threats and speed at each skill position. The interior line--new C LeCharles Bentley, Holland and Jacox--should be more powerful at the point of attack, allowing the ground game to use more traps and pulling plays.

Saints Team Report
 

we definitely have one of the most potent offensive attacks in the nfl today. consistency is our problem. too many drops by the wr\'s last year, including the usually dependable hollywood horn. and then there\'s that whole brooks \"holding on to the ball thing\".......

Saints Team Report
 

I still don\'t get why we are moving Bentley to center. A dominate Guard are harder to find than a Center and we could just as easily move Jacox over to center.

Saints Team Report
 

Bently isn\'t a starting guard. He is 3rd string... your theory is correct in my opinion though.

Saints Team Report
 

WTF? Bentley has been a starter from day one.

Saints Team Report
 

lololololololololol

Saints Team Report
 

Add one more lol because the OFFICIAL Saints site lists Bentley as a 3rd stringer:
http://www.neworleanssaints.com/depthchart.cfm
Rrrrrrrrrrrrright ...

Saints Team Report
 

I don\'t care if the OFFICIAL Saints website has him listed on the practice squad, this is common sense. Surely you don\'t believe everything you read....

Saints Team Report
 

Just pointing out where Euphoria might have gotten that crazy idea from. The site could also begin to stop listing players that are no longer with the Saints (like Terrelle Smith), even if it\'s off-season. I\'m fine with Bentley\'s move to center. He, Jacox and Holland should be a force in the middle indeed. And when Stinchcomb is finally healthy they\'ll be unbeatable :)
Although I think installing an explosive kind of offense is the natural way to go with the players on the team I am a little worried about Deuce and possible meetings with mammoth DTs when he is the only back and gets the call. Just saying ...

Saints Team Report
 

LoL. If Bentley is 3rd string then I think we have one of the only NFL players who made the Pro Bowl and didn\'t start. :D

I think what they are thinking in moving Bentley to center is that as good an OL he is that he WILL ask for a demanding contract, and OG\'s are very replaceable (Jacox, Holland, Nesbit). Great Centers usually get paid a TON more b/c teams know how rare an All-Pro Center is. I think it\'d be a good move b/c he IS our best OL, and it would be fitting that he\'s right in the middle of the line and leading it. ;)
No OG is worth Pro Bowl money b/c you can sign a good replacement for just over the vet minimum.