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In defense of N.O. draft strategy

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Let the second-guessing continue. Surely, fans have been shrugging their shoulders about issues with the New Orleans Saints' 2004 draft class. Now's just the first time to step back and take a look at what they did, with some explanation ...

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Old 04-27-2004, 01:42 PM   #1
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In defense of N.O. draft strategy

Let the second-guessing continue.

Surely, fans have been shrugging their shoulders about issues with the New Orleans Saints' 2004 draft class. Now's just the first time to step back and take a look at what they did, with some explanation from them about why they did it.

So, let's take a look at some doubts:

Another defensive end? - Yep, for the second time in three years, the Saints took a defensive end with a first-round selection. Ohio State's Will Smith joined Charles Grant, which wouldn't be curious except for another guy in the picture - Darren Howard.

Why did the Saints make this selection? There are a couple of reasons.



want to see those reasons? click here:


http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunh...ts/8527816.htm
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Old 04-27-2004, 03:02 PM   #2
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In defense of N.O. draft strategy

The draft gods that smiled on the Saints in recent years frowned on them this weekend.

The fortuitous falls that allowed the club to acquire prize talents like Darren Howard, Deuce McAllister and LeCharles Bentley never materialized this year, at least not at the positions where the Saints needed the most help.


When the Saints began the draft their biggest need was a playmaker on the back end of the defense, a \"focal point\" player as General Manager Mickey Loomis suggested.

The four players they believed best fit that description -- cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Dunta Robinson and Miami linebackers Jonathan Vilma and D.J. Williams -- all went in the top 17 picks. The Saints hoped at least one of the group would somehow fall their way at No. 18. It didn\'t happen.

A series of bad breaks converged to undermine the plan.

First, the last-minute legal maneuver to bar Mike Williams from the draft removed a top 15-level player from the mix and created a costly domino effect on defensive talent. Atlanta, at No. 8, and Jacksonville, at No. 9, wanted Williams. The Falcons instead picked Hall, who otherwise might have slipped to Houston or the New York Jets and allowed Vilma to topple down the board.

Second, a possible trade with Pittsburgh at No. 11 fell through when Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers\' most wanted, dropped to their spot. That prevented the Saints from moving into position ahead of the Jets to acquire Vilma.

Denver delivered the final blow by snagging Williams at No. 17. The pick was somewhat of a surprise, given Denver\'s need for a running back.

Saints officials tried to put their best spin on matters. But there was no denying the disappointment. That\'s why head coach Jim Haslett at his press briefing looked like a toddler on Christmas who wanted a new PlayStation and instead got a new suit.

http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...7911281480.xml

The summation reads the same in English and Chineese .

Saints officials tried to put their best spin on matters. But there was no denying the disappointment. Hindsight is 20/20 and the staff took a chance and lost and failed to address the glaring needs ....

\"Americans play to win at all times. I wouldn\'t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed.\" - George S. Patton
On another note, I\'ll take a bite of that crow 08. - Saintfan
Brooks is a moron!! - Halo
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Old 04-27-2004, 03:56 PM   #3
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In defense of N.O. draft strategy

Hindsight is 20/20 and the staff took a chance and lost and failed to address the glaring needs ....
Failed to address glaring needs? Plural?
Let me see.
MLB-Signed a top 3 (at worst) guy
FB-Signed a top 3 (at worst) guy
DT-Signed a very good run stuffer
WR-Signed one as good as any available
CB-Failed to address

DEFENSE- Signed the number one D-line prospect in the draft.


Even using your fuzzy logic I see only one need not addressed.
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Old 04-27-2004, 08:59 PM   #4
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In defense of N.O. draft strategy

I agree Danno, also I believe we drafted 4 starters. Maybe not 4 this year, but we will have 4 of these guys starting next year. Smith, Henderson, Watson, and Karney.

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Old 04-27-2004, 11:47 PM   #5
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In defense of N.O. draft strategy

Even using your fuzzy logic I see only one need not addressed.
Meet the top 10 tacklers for the 2003 season .

Player Team Total

Micheal Barrow NYG 148
Keith Brooking ATL 144
Chris Draft ATL 124
Dhani Jones NYG 120
Dat Nguyen DAL 119
Brian Urlacher CHI 116
Derek M. Smith SF 114
Jeremiah Trotter WAS 113
Nick Barnett GB 112
Ronald McKinnon ARI 105

Meet the Saints

Jay Bellamy NO 94

I am sure even you Danno can see one totally obvious point . These top tacklers are in the first and second lines of a defense .

Bellamy is a safety and the last hope for a defense .

When the leading tackler is a safety , no one is above speculation in the linebacking core and that needs to be addressed .

Mel Mitchell is unproven and coming off IR , Bellamy is getting long in the tooth for the position .Grant is a tweener at the MLB position and originally projected as a Safety .Smith could be a cap casualty . Now add in Sullivan the immature DT who Hasbeen is afraid will learn bad habits is showing up to mini camp 35 pounds over weight and Craver is showing up 20 pounds over weight .

Defense


SLB 52 Hodge, Sedrick 50 Allen, James 54 Smith, Darrin
MLB 56 Ruff, Orlando 54 Smith, Darrin 58 Grant, Cie
WLB 59 Rodgers, Derrick 53 Knight, Roger
RCB 22 Thomas, Fred 35 Brown, Fahkir 29 Craver, Keyuo
SS 20 Bellamy, Jay 23 Green, Victor 28 Harper, Deveron
FS 34 Jones, Tebucky 37 Gleason, Steve
LCB 33 Ambrose, Ashley 29 Craver, Keyuo

So glad you only see one glaring need ....

\"Americans play to win at all times. I wouldn\'t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed.\" - George S. Patton
On another note, I\'ll take a bite of that crow 08. - Saintfan
Brooks is a moron!! - Halo
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Old 04-28-2004, 06:34 AM   #6
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In defense of N.O. draft strategy

So glad you only see one glaring need ....
Can you even read?
I knew I shouldn\'t have reponded to your post.
But I\'ll type slow so you\'ll understand...
YOU said we failed to address NEEDS (plural)
I said we didn\'t address ONE of those needs.
I listed 5 NEEDS (including LB), in which 4 were addressed.

I think a moderator should at least READ someones post before commenting on it.

But maybe reading it isn\'t the problem...

Whats you wonderlick?
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Old 04-28-2004, 09:21 AM   #7
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In defense of N.O. draft strategy

Whats you wonderlick?
Dangit Danno. I just spit coffee all over my keyboard...again...thanks to you. Welcome back to my signature! :P

[Edited on 28/4/2004 by saintfan]
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Old 04-28-2004, 10:21 AM   #8
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In defense of N.O. draft strategy

We had a draft strategy? :P
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Old 04-28-2004, 11:27 AM   #9
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In defense of N.O. draft strategy

I listed 5 NEEDS (including LB), in which 4 were addressed.

I think a moderator should at least READ someones post before commenting on it.

But maybe reading it isn\'t the problem...

Whats you wonderlick?
I read just fine .

You listed 1 linebacker addressed .

I showed you :

SLB 52 Hodge, Sedrick 50 Allen, James 54 Smith, Darrin
MLB 56 Ruff, Orlando 54 Smith, Darrin 58 Grant, Cie
WLB 59 Rodgers, Derrick 53 Knight, Roger

That makes 3 total ...

I will reprint the following , hopefully you do not miss it again ...

When the leading tackler is a safety , no one is above speculation in the linebacking core and that needs to be addressed .
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Old 04-28-2004, 12:02 PM   #10
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In defense of N.O. draft strategy

I listed 5 NEEDS (including LB), in which 4 were addressed.
I think a moderator should at least READ someones post before commenting on it.
But maybe reading it isn\'t the problem...
Whats you wonderlick?
I read just fine .
You listed 1 linebacker addressed .
I showed you :
SLB 52 Hodge, Sedrick 50 Allen, James 54 Smith, Darrin
MLB 56 Ruff, Orlando 54 Smith, Darrin 58 Grant, Cie
WLB 59 Rodgers, Derrick 53 Knight, Roger
That makes 3 total ...
I will reprint the following , hopefully you do not miss it again ...
When the leading tackler is a safety , no one is above speculation in the linebacking core and that needs to be addressed .
And we draft 2 LB\'s and a D-lineman.
What did you want 7 LB\'s?
\" When the leading tackler is a safety\" means your front seven is not working, it doesn\'t mean draft 7 LB\'s.

Back to your post. You said we didn\'t address our glaring needs?

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