Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

The New Orleans Saints obviously are happy with what they have seen so far out of rookie defensive tackle Akiem Hicks.

That became evident Monday as the team announced it has released veteran defensive tackle Remi Ayodele. It’s pretty obvious the Saints plan to use Hicks and Tom Johnson as the backups in the rotation behind starters Sedrick Ellis and Brodrick Bunkley. The Saints initially had brought Ayodele back to New Orleans as insurance in case Hicks, who played his college football in Canada, did not develop quickly.

Ayodele joined the Saints in 2008 and started 29 games over three seasons. He left for Minnesota as a free agent last year, but was re-signed by New Orleans in free agency.

Ayodele was the biggest name on the list of transactions made by the Saints to get down to the 75-player limit. The only other veteran released Monday was quarterback Luke McCown. He had been signed during the offseason before the Saints and starter Drew Brees were able to work out a new contract. The Saints are set with Brees and Chase Daniel as their top two quarterbacks. Sean Canfield remains on the roster for now, but the Saints often have carried only two quarterbacks on the roster in recent seasons.

The Saints also waived linebacker Aaron Tevis, center Brian Folkerts, tight end Jake Byrne, safety Johnny Thomas, receiver Derek Moye, guard Paul Fenaroli, tackle Hutch Eckerson, defensive end Donovan Robinson, receiver Kevin Hardy, cornerback Kamaal McIlwain, defensive tackle Swanson Miller, cornerback Cord Parks and receiver Marques Clark.

NFC South Blog - ESPN

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

I've been really impressed with what I have seen of Hicks. Granted he's mostly played against back ups, but he's been noticeably good which is all you can ask of a rookie in pre-season.

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

Give this a couple of years he could be like Perrie Paul for the Gaints.

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

More like Canty with the body type and skill-set he has...


I just hope that even if the Saints win the SB this year, Spags won't be tempted away to become a HC for some team, because Hicks needs Spags around for more than one year in order to develop into a real playmaker.

We've all seen the possible negative effects of having multiple DCs - coaching different schemes to a young D-lineman and how it can backfire or at least contribute to less than stellar performances - with Sedrick Ellis.

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

The giants have probably the best pass rushers in the league the past 4 years so if hicks plays like any of them I'll be happy

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

Agreed. It's just that I've seen that comparison between Hicks and Pierre-Paul made in numerous places by many people and I just don't agree with it at all. The only things that really connects the two is that they have similar physical characteristics on paper - Pierre-Paul 6-5, 278 & Hicks 6-5, 324 - and they're both D-linemen - DE & DT.

But, that's about it. If you look at the two players play, they are very different in the things they do well or excel at, and Hicks couldn't be a DE in the NFL even if he slimmed down to Pierre-Paul's weight, because he simply doesn't have the attributes needed to be that kind of a player. Pierre-Paul can pretty much do it all when it comes to pass rushing DEs, but Hicks, on the other hand, is far more 1-dimensional in that he is great at direct pass rush, but suffers a lot when it comes to quick changes in direction and lateral movement.

That being said, I don't think Pierre-Paul could become as good of a DT as I think Hicks is going to develop into, even if Pierre-Paul modified his body to fit the role, so I'm very happy to have the player Hicks is at the moment and even more happier with the player I know he is going to become in the future - BUT he is no Pierre-Paul and never will be.

If Hicks makes the breakthrough this season it leaves the Saints with a impressive pair of tackles.
6'2 300lb+ monster in Bunkley and
6'5 320 Hicks.
They should take a few double teams to stop them and Hicks height on the line hopefully will results in a few batted passes.

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

And maybe Sedrick Ellis will finally become the player we drafted...

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

Yeah I was just thinging about that. How have old Ellis looked during preseason?

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

I think Hicks got lucky to come in the same year as Spags. If anyone can help Hicks hit the top tier, i'm bettin' it'll be Spags. In fact I'm thinkin' he could coach that whole crew up a couple levels. I'm not sure Spags is really head coach material though. Him leaving at the end of the year to do that isn't the given I'm hearing so often from the talking heads.

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

Spags himself said in an earlier interview that his ultimate career goal for the future hasn't changed and it's to get another shot at being a HC, so I think that if the right opportunity would present itself he'd be more than intrigued.

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

He looked really good in the HOF game and almost made a tackle for a safety, but he did take Kolb out of the game with a clean tackle.

That HOF game was a good one, but unfortunately the games following it haven't been as impressing, pretty much more of the same old with a little more penetration, but zero run defense.

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

And maybe even more so than Bunkley, TJ is 6-3 and 288 and the Walker kid is 6-3 and 294 - at least as far as height goes anyway.

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

Can you believe it? Our first draft pick seems to be working out.

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

Exactly. Early on in camp, one of the d-linemen (think it was Big Sed but I'm not sure) said that for the last couple years, they've felt like the forgotten unit but that's changed in Spags defense and he likes the emphasis on the d-line. I'm paraphrasing of course.

When you think of the first round draft picks that're on that line, Smith, Ellis and Jordan, you gotta imagine that with good coaching and all that talent, there's the potential for some serious improvement overall.

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

I guess I'm more thinking the other end of the hiring spectrum. He'd be about the last of the Saint coaches I'd put in as HC. Of course if I owned the Falclowns.....

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

True, but lets say the Saints went to the SB where they faced f.e. the Patriots, and Spags was able to once again totally suffocate their offense - that would be a big thing from a defense that has been less than stellar in both the regular and post seasons during the last couple of years, and Spags would have another ring to boot.

In that scenario, I wouldn't find it at all surprising that a team looking for a defensively inclined HC would make Spags their primary offseason target.

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

Yes, but...it wasn't in the first round.

Re: Saints show confidence in rookie DT Hicks
 

Oh I hear you. Jeez, I mean Norv Turner's still a head coach and if he can stick around anyone has a chance. JJ'd probably give him a try. I just don't think he's really cut out to be HC.