New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

Three Thoughts
1.) The Saints drafted defensive tackle Akiem Hicks as a little bit of a gamble. He was recruited by LSU, so he had SEC talent. But after getting embroiled in an NCAA investigation, he never played for the Tigers and ended up at a Direct TV call center before college at the University of Regina in Canada. In other words, there was question as to not just how quickly he would adapt to the NFL, but if he would adapt.

Thursday night, Hicks impressed. He was active up front and caused havoc up in the middle. On cornerback Marquis Johnson’s interception, Hicks pushed his blocker far enough back that Mallett couldn’t step into his throw. That made it easy for Johnson to pick up the interception.

“I was coming across to the B gap and then I saw him starting to set soft,” Hicks said as he described the play. “I turned speed into power and took him back to Mallett and put him down. It was a good feeling.”

If he continues with what he showed Thursday night, he could become a key contributor for the Saints’ defense. And that doesn’t bode well for Tom Johnson, who mysteriously wasn’t with the Saints in Boston this week. Hicks has earned more playing time and trust and his arrow could be pointing way up.

Vitt wouldn’t comment specifically on Thursday night’s game, but he did say it was “fun to watch.”

But Vitt paid him the ultimate compliment.

“I know what we have in the player,” Vitt said. “We have a big, athletic, passionate player who wants to get better every day. Guys like that, to a degree, are rare. I don’t know that this player knows how good he can be.”

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Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

Very Cool! :bng:

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

Good to hear... it's not like we don't need guys like him.

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

Great read!

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

The fact that he thought his way through the play is a big plus. We need more thinking players and less reactionary players.

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

This guy here, Tyrunn Walker, looks the part too although probably PS bound.

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

Man, it would be nice if he caught on quickly.

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

Maybe we're finally having some of the luck (or whatever it is) finding defenders that we've had finding offensive gems.

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

a bull is what i saw

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

That's great news

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

I've been watching Hicks at the U of R for the past couple seasons, and I've got to say i was very impressed with his play on Thursday. I've known for a long time that he possesses the raw athletic ability, but you can never be sure that a player can put it all together at the highest level. Seeing Hicks do the things he did this week gave me confidence that he'll be a contributor on this defense by the end of the year. Here's hoping I'm right.

On a bit of a side note, I'm just curious if you guys had heard this. As a Regina guy, I've heard that Hicks was actually a more sought after recruit than Michael Brockers by LSU (they were the same recruiting class). Hicks ended up in Canada, Brockers ended up a first round pick. Just goes to show you what the ceiling for this kid might be.

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

Any player that can force his blocker backwards into the QB and force a bad throw is cool with me

Hicks may be a raw talent, but there's no denying his natural strength and effort

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

This guys is going to be a beast he remind me of Perrie Paul in New York

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

They're not remotely the same.

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

It was a good quote.

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

Agreed, if I had to pick one player from that Giants' roster and from the time Spags was there... I'd say Hicks reminds Chris Canty the most.

In fact, that was the reason why I wanted the Saints to pick tall DTs from the past draft because Spags had that in Canty in NY, and my favorites were because of that Derek Wolfe and Akiem Hicks, in that order.



Yeah, I think most of us here knew that, and it was something that was discussed quite a lot after the Saints picked Hicks in this past draft. Mike Mayock said during the draft that he wasn't at all certain that if Hicks would've been able to play for LSU that we'd be talking about Brockers as the #1 DT coming out from LSU - meaning that Hicks has the talent to be at least on the same level as Brockers, and with the benefit of that program, his potential would've been higher with the right coaching.

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

Not sure. Walker can play in the middle, and also at DE (think of Cam Jordan, only with DT being Walker's natural position, and DE being Cam Jordan's). This team likes players who can play more than one position.

Walker could be PS bound, but Tom Johnson and Remi Ayodele are not locks, so Walker could actually make it as a backup DT, who could be switched to DE. I actually like Tyrunn Walker's chances, assuming he continues to apply pressure in the next three preseason games.

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

Spagnuolo loves guys that can play more than one position.

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

Keep it up in the regular season

Re: New Orleans Saints might have found gem in Akiem Hicks
 

What player on the Giants.roster under Spags does he remind you of the most?