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Saints Team Report


Reserve OL Jamar Nesbit has been a pleasant surprise. He can play center or guard, and that versatility might vault him past veteran C Jerry Fontenot on the depth chart, especially for games in which the club figures to activate only seven linemen.

Seldom-used WR Kerwin Cook has looked good in the offseason program. He lacks size and speed but he runs precise routes and has the best hands on the team. Cook, who missed last season because of a knee injury, is competing for one of the four reserve receiver spots.


RUNNING BACKS ANALYSIS


Deuce McAllister has emerged as one of the league's most complete backs. He has the rare combination of breakaway speed and a power back's body. McAllister will work mostly out of one-back sets this season, so he'll need to be more elusive without a lead blocker. That's why coaches want his weight in the low 230s, down from 238 last season. The team needs to use backups Aaron Stecker and Lamar Smith more to lighten McAllister's load. Stecker isn't big enough to play every down, but he's versatile and can make plays in the passing game. Losing free-agent

FB Terrelle Smith was the biggest blow of the offseason. Rookie Mike Karney has the inside track on the starting job, but he's not very agile and needs to finish blocks better. Veteran Sam Gash underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and is a long shot to make the roster.

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i will say this.....if we need to rely on duece\'s running alone, we are but one dimensional and need to stay in the basement until we change.......
new england proved you don\'t need a superstar running back to win the sb.
you need a mix that you practice over and over til it works.
i believe we are working on that mix. if sliming duece down gives him the extra step to get by that guy someone shoulda blocked, power to us.
give me the blockers around the qb for the extra second he needs to shred the defense.
swamee........