How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

What would you do if you could rebuild the Saints to get us back to a championship team?

Some of you guys who are more knowledgable than me might be able to give me some insight and have some fun doing it. Maybe make a current roster and post changes, like players you would bring in, or just the type of players you would bring in to replace them.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

The first thing I'd do is head down to Bourbon Street and find myself 4 homeless guys lookin' to make a buck and willin to play on the defensive line.

Edit:
I'm not kidding.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

Very good question, although it is a little early to say at this point. I would probably say if the Saints can finish somewhere around the 8-8 mark, then probably minimal rebuilding. If the bottom falls out, like the way it's looking now, probably a serious roster shake up would be in order.

Based on what I've seen so far this season, it is obvious to say the Saints need major help on defense. I get that Spags has a new system and stuff, but seriously, it shouldn't be this bad. It's very possible the Saints already have some of the right guys on that side of the ball, maybe just not ready to start yet. Who knows...

Offensive line needs some serious help, and Drew Brees needs to seriously get that 100 million dollar contract out of his mind and just play sound football. He is probably pressing a little bit, trying to justify his big payday. The decision making has not been overall good, he will snap out of it and should have another great season.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

If I were to "rebuild" The team there'd be a few things I'd do:

1. Fire Steve Spagnuolo, I know it's only 3 games, but terrible play by our defense, hire the most trusted guy in our organization.

2. Replace Roman Harper via Free Agency. I've always been a fan of Harper, but his liability in coverage kills us, and it'd be better to pair a younger, more coverage type Safety to pair up with Jenkins to give us a nasty safety duo.

3. Sign a Nickel CB. This game is turning more and more into a passing league, we need to reward our strong D-line with good coverage and get some coverage sacks. Pay attention to Dolphins Sean Smith this off-season in free agency 6-3 214 pounds, he's not going to tackle anybody but he has very good coverage skills.

4. Trade Drew Brees for a **** load of picks. If we were to ever be in rebuilding, what would the point be keeping a 33 year old QB? Elite or not? Look at the Colts in their rebuilding phase, getting rid of possibly the best QB of our past decade and drafting Andrew Luck. That's how you rebuild.

5. Draft Matt Barkley. we'll either be at a good spot to take him or trade up if we have to since we won't have Drew Brees anymore.


I know a lot of you are going to give me **** for saying to trade Drew Brees and replace him with Matt Barkley, but the point is we're never going to go into rebuilding mode as long as Drew Brees is here. We are NOT that bad right now, we're pretty bad but not rebuilding mode bad. But If we were to somehow decide to rebuild those would be my steps.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

I get what you are saying, if a total rebuild is in order trade Brees. But seriously, I would not go after a USC quarterback... lol

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

One option would have been to not resign Drew Brees and to re-build from there instead of spending all our money on Drew.

However, that would never happen, and was never going to happen. I fully expect to be bashed for expressing this thought, given how much we all love Drew Brees. On the other hand, the Saints D has been weak for some years now, and, it should have been realized that once we lost all of our FAs and hired a new DC, that our Defense would take a step backwards.

Now we have to rebuild the Offense and Defense, all during a time when we are going to lose two 2nd Round draft picks . . . and Drew Brees is 33 years old right now?

Naw, man . . . somebody should have considered letting Drew go and re building from here. The window for winning more SBs with Drew is probably closed.

:bng:

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

There are quite a few things I would do to rebuild this team:

1. I wouldn't trade Brees just yet, but I would definitely bring in someone to groom as his future replacement. A legitimate replacement, I mean. I'd be looking at someone who fits the system and can learn it quickly. If this year continues to be a bust, give Brees another year after Payton comes back. If the struggles continue, then I'd be looking to make that change after another season or two until the replacement is ready to take the reigns.

2. I would strengthen the trenches. The only players on the offensive line that are safe in my mind are Evans and Grubbs. Our tackles right now are pure crap. Bushrod and Strief are going to get Brees killed this year. Charles Brown doesn't look like he's going to be starting material, so I would look in free agency and the draft for solid starting offensive tackles to replace those guys. I would even look to bolster the center position. On the defensive side, Smith and Ellis would be gone. Bunkley has looked no better than the other two chumps we had last year. Use Cam Jordan as a tweener between DE and DT. Cut your losses with Ellis and let the kid Hicks start from here on out. Play Martez Wilson and Junior Gallette at defensive end on a lot more plays to get some speed on the ends. I would look for more depth from younger, quicker guys who play with a little more heat and something to prove on the D-line.

3. I would start looking to revamp our safeties. There needs to be at least one ball hawk out there, because this team definitely doesn't have one right now. Jenkins hasn't panned out like I hoped he would. I won't even get started on Harper.

4. I would focus on using only PT and Sproles as our options at runningback with PT being the feature back. Only keep Ingram, Ivory or Cadet around for depth and to spell one of those guys occasionally.

5. I would look for more depth at the corner position. With Greer's injury history and Pat Rob's inability to show that he can be a #1 corner yet, I would look for someone that can come in ag the nickel slot or spell either of these guys as a #1 or #2 corner when needed. I don't have much confidence in any of our corners behind them.

Anyone have any idea were we stand with the cap if we cut the likes of Smith,Ellis,Bushrod etc.
The Brees contract is going to be a massive issues when trying to rebuild.Im not even sure we can do it in his remaining years.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

What happened to johnny Patrick? He never even played a snap, corey white was out there getting abused as usual

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

If we had Sean Payton noone here would be talking rebuilding or even thinking trading Drew Brees.... Some people keep referring to him being 33 years old... Make it sound like he's done next year. Wow he's only 33!

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

We do not need to rebuild just yet. We need to play the players that we have.... Here is a list of my 'where are they' players.

Ivory - Has not dressed out for at least two games
Cadet - has not dressed out for at least two games.
Some of our starters need to be flipped to the non starting position in favor of their back up. They are not getting it done, and leaving them in to not get it done only make sure that the person behind them in the depth chart is not getting the experience he needs. If Smith is not going to get it done then Wilson needs to start getting experience and learn how to get it done.


I saw someone ask about cap space:

Two fold answer.

8.7 Mil when Smith/Vilma are suspended.
1.7 Mil when they are not

Yes... funky

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

Ask Brees to give back $20 million so that we can get more quality players.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

Start by cutting - sed Ellis, will smith, Turk mcbride, Scott Shanle,

Free up some cap room, if Ingram can't get it done in our offense, is there really any point in him being here? Trade him and get a good draft pick

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

Salary cap - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"In transitions, if a player retires, is traded, or is cut before June 1, all remaining bonus is applied to the salary cap for the current season. If the payroll change occurs after June 1, the current season's bonus proration is unchanged, and the next year's cap must absorb the entire remaining bonus."

You can get around salary but not the bonuses as I read that.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

Trade Brees.......really are some of u guys really Cowboys fans??????? This is how u rebuild the Saints:

1. Get Sean Payton back.
2. Get some talent on D-line for Spags defense. He needs more talent to work with.
3. Let some of the older guys who have been here awhile on D geaux. Yall can argue who.
4. Bring in another CB
5. Get another WR in the draft. Someone with some speed.

All and all when we get back number one off my list. We are back in the superbowl hunt.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

Rebuilding is a knee jerk hasty move is you ask me. We need to ride this year out, let Payton come back, and at that point we judge how much of this is due to a lack of him.. If we preform the same way next year, then we start a rebuild season.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

Necessary upgrades
RT-Strief looks pathetic
LT-Bushrod looks almost as bad
RDE-Will Smith, he's now journeyman talent
DT-Sedrick Ellis is officially mediocre at best, BUST comes to mind
OLB-Hawthorne reminds me of Sedrick Hodge
OLB-Shanle reminds me of Scott Shanle

And I'm starting to worry about Colston and Jimmy Drop Graham

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

True Dat. We re-tool not rebuild. Might of used the wrong term, but trading Brees is crazy talk to me.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

See Danno's post above... Trades and cuts do need to happen, however those are players that were identified weaknesses before this season...

As far as for Colston and Graham... Flip the starting line up and use the people that we have as their back ups as starters to send a message.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

2013 NFL Draft:
1. T DJ Fluker
3. S Robert Lester
4. WR Quinten Patton
5. TE Joseph Fauria
6. C Stephen Warner
7. Oscar Johnson

Get the head coach back.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

wow I wonder if this is what the Colts were saying last year at 0-3. Anyway.. The offense isn't what we're used of seeing but even with the same guys next year SP will make it work. I don't blame sprags one bit for this, and I'd hate to see him fired because of crappy defensive players. We simply need defensive talent..and Sean Payton..

However.... You never know... these guys could start beating the pants off people. Green Bay would be a good start.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

We need DL and LB's. We could have Revis back there and if the front 7 can't get pressure no one can cover.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

I'm not to sure how Sprags scheme works so please correct me if I'm wrong.

Yes the DL is allowing alot of rushing yardage but inorder to be able to generate pressure with 4 rushers you need alot of man to man coverage which allows the 4 to get to the quarterback. Am I right on this?
I know the DL needs upgrading but we can't forget about the DB.

I'd start there 1st leaving LB's last

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

No, spags employs a scheme that depends on the front 4 getting pressure while playing mostly zone coverage in the secondary. Its the opposite of what we've done for the last 3 years.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

I've been harping on this for weeks. If you noticed towards the end of the game you saw Ellis on the bench in favor for Hicks. Hicks/Bunkley/Johnson need to be our main DTs because Ellis is a bust plain & simple. Soon as Hicks came in the game you saw a lot more stops at the line and past the line of scrimmage. I understand he's raw but this dude has too much god given talent and strenghth for him to be behind a overpaid bust from a powerhouse school that has a kid from Canada playing much better than he EVER has. There is a reason Les Miles wanted him at LSU. I think Isa Abdul needs to start for one of the safties (honestly either or cuz both have no ball skills and Isa has proved he is more than able to cover and make plays on the ball all through preseason).

I know people are down on Morgan but IMHO....both he and Roby (with Henderson) need to be our outside WRs right now. If I'm the OC my game plan for them when they are in the game. Run straight up the field. These guys are burners...even if one of em cant catch...you still stretch that defense and make them respect the deep pass opens up the middle.

And for the love of all that is Holy....please realize that right now...we can't throw the ball effectivly down the field. It really truly might be time (especailly when your main offensive play caller is out for the yr) to change the game plan for the season. We're 0-3 with absolutly nothing to lose....you have five........FIVE RB's. Run the damn ball and pass of playaction. Look at Houston....they don't as Schuab to do to much because they have 2 workhorses in the backfield. Passing 50 times a game has become predicatible...its NOT working. Out WRs can't get seperation and have the drops. Literally your best pass catchers are your 3 of your 5 RBs. Use that to your advantage. I mean I didn't see Sproles catching passes and exploiting the middle of the field at all which is one of his best and most effective traits. PT is a beast and can do it all...no if and or buts about that. I really wish they would just let him loose. He's healthier and stronger than he's ever been but they continue to be overprotective. Cadet can do what Sproles does but is a little stronger when running. Ivory is your violent runner and Ingram is your goaline TD speacialist.

Defense to me can do well but they have to let the young talent we have play. F*** Ellis, move Smith to the the pass rushing DT position (cuz he's big enough for it and his best move is the bull rush anyway), Put Gallete in his spot and rotate Wilson and Jordan (who to me is the only bright spot of the starting line) at the LDE position with Jordan occasionally going inside to DT too. AND PLAY HICKS FULL TIME!!!

The secondary to me played well against the Chiefs. You see the difference when Greer is on the field. But you can only cover for so long when your line cant get to the qb.

Its frustrating to go from a SB contending type team to bottom feeder....but I can't sit here and say I didn't see this coming eventually. We've been weak on D since the SB and nothing has been done about it really. They keep feeding us this spiel about "character players" in the locker room but they can't expect character to turn into talent. Shanle, Ellis, Smith....these guys might be nice guys, and good teammates but they just don't have the talent to cut it anymore. I just wish they would see that....

And though I believe Spags system can work its obvious that at this point and time he doesn't have the players that are either talented enough, or smart enough to execute the game plan. So until he can get to the draft/offseason and get the guys he needs for his scheme....he might have to use incorporate more blitzes into his scheme to get pressure.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

you guys kill me. sign Drew oh Bushrod is a probowler and so on so on. i heard it from most of the people saying cut players. rflmao

lets see whats out there for FA LT in 2013? nothing

Like it or not the Bush is here to stay and yesterday he did not play bad well that bad. look to the draft. Luke Joeckel*, OT, Texas A&M ?

Question is this, Would Bushrod be an upgrade at RT? answer is yes. But good news there are a few players at RT in FA and the draft is RT tackle heavy. option abound.

oppps i broke out the OT drum stick and proceeded to beat that dead horse yet again

as for the defense i think we need to see as spags starts to shake things up there.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

1) Get some leadership on the coaching side. Drew is my favorite player but he needs to be reeled in. No one on the sideline seems to be able to grab him by the collar and say "look, you don't need to do EVERYTHING. Hand the effing ball off." I'm really interested to see what our balance on Offense looks like when Vitt is back; he seems like the type that will lay a smackdown on anyone, even Drew.

2) Draft a Tackle and sign a FA D-End or vice versa.

3) Draft a WR and sign a FA Safety or vice versa.

4) Make sure we keep Morstead and Graham (I think they're both FAs after this year).

5) Start preparing for the future by looking for a QB in the later rounds of the draft to sit and learn behind Drew.

I think we've got the rest of the pieces in place. I think we were going to have a bit of a rough year this year even without the suspensions. Our o-line is weak and people were bound to realize it. We have talent at DB but they're young. Our Defense is trying to install a scheme that is 180* different from our old scheme and it's not like we have a super abundance of talent on that side of the ball.

The effects of all that are only amplified by having Sean gone, Vilma (our on-field general on defense) gone, and our receivers being infected with a completely inexplicable case of the dropsies.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

Talk of rebuilding is a little over-the-top. Actually it's a lot over the top. We just need to reload at a couple of key defensive positions (ie pass rush), get our coaches back to coaching, maybe another look at the tackle position at the end of the season - I want to see what the line looks like after Kromer gets back to coaching O-line in a few games, instead of him pulling double duty trying to do too much. We need to get out from under the shadow of these bull**** punishments.

We do those things, and we are absolutely back in business again. We went 13-3 last year with this core group. There's no reason to drastically blow anything up right now. You don't "suck for Luck" and tank games for a defensive player, it's just absurd.

There were Denver fans who proclaimed that Elway's "window" was closed after losing to the Niners in the Super Bowl, some of them were saying "we're done" and "he's getting old, time to move on" and they were ready to crap on the head of their QB, and look how that turned out in the end. 2 back to back rings at age 38 and 39. Bet those fans in Denver who wanted him gone in 1990 are not taken very seriously by the majority of Broncos fans today. They look like fools. You people who want to talk about getting rid of Drew or trading him are just one taco short of a fiesta platter, if you ask me.

We "rebuild" the Saints when Payton and Drew leaves. End of story. I personally think Payton comes back, and when he decides to leave the Saints in a few years down the road and Drew is ready to retire, I think Payton will leave them in good shape when he goes. Because that's the kind of guy he is.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

I am so freaking tired of seeing post about "DRAFT MATT BARKLEY!!!1!1!!"

Have you not watched him play?

THE KID IS NOT THAT GOOD. He's got two all-American wideouts and a great O-line. I'll take Chase Daniel anyday; better numbers in college accomplished with less tools, and he has the ability to run.

This whole "Fire Drew Brees" is just nonsense. C'mon people.

And fire Spags? Really? Yes, so far it looks like not getting Nolan hurt us more than we thought, but Spags still deserves time to make his thing work and to actually be able to draft the players that fit his scheme. I saw someone post that in NY he drafted JPP, and down here he's the reason we drafted Hicks, White, and Johnson, so lay off and give the dude some time to work. Its terrible right now, I'm not gonna polish the piece of **** showing we had, but his reputation has earned him more than three games before the talk of firing begins. Jeez.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

Better off just to fold the team. Talking of trading or not re-signing the best player we have or have ever had is just lunacy. I guess the ship has really sunk for some. Time to get off then.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

Wait. This team doesn't need rebuilding. If they would only pull there heads out of their asses (this includes the coaching staff) they could have won both home games. What I see is a mental & emotional colapse. They need someone to call them out & kick their asses..aka...Payton. he will be harder on them than ever come next season.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

If I were re-tooling this team, and I say re-tooling because we have a fairly large nucleus of talent on this team, I would first try to correct some recent mistakes.

1.Trade Ingram get a bonified LT
2. With our probable record, I could trade Ingram and or draft choices to move up in the first round to get a franchise QB. I'm not saying that Drew is done or to get rid of him, but we need to be on the lookout for his replacement and Daniel is not the guy.
3. We already have enough talent on the offensive side of the ball so I would concentrate the draft on defensive talent. Not to exclusion but if the guy I need and want isn't there don't reach.
4. Our cap space can be remedied by replacing certain players such as Ellis, Harper, Robinson, Jenkins, Shanle, Bushrod and Strief at least. Those positions must be upgraded. Will Smith is marginally safe next year only or until anyone beats him out. There's a lot more but I'm just winging this right now without a lot of research.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

Get a stick and put it in front of Brees. Hopefully a d player will trip on it and do a better job than our O line.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

Just to kind of clear up my comment, I am in NO WAY in support of trading Brees or drafting Barkley. Really the whole point of the post was to say that there's no way we are close to being in rebuilding mode. We are not the Browns here.

My steps were saying in the off chance we were rebuilding this how it would be. I added Brees being traded because I know there's no way we'd be in rebuilding mode if we still had Brees, so we would've either traded him or released him.

And I know Barkley is not as good as his draft position will show, but if we were to rebuild and we were in position to grab him, I believe we would.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

The idea of trading Brees for 3 bad games which wasn't all his fault would be the worst thing this organization has ever done.... Won't happen

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

1. Trade Mark Ingram for a second Rd pick
2. Try and move Cedric Ellis (Dump Salary)
3. Restructure Will Smiths contract & Vilma
4. Try and sign free agent Cliff Avril
5. Sign Free agent Mike Wallace, takes the top off of defenses and protect Jimmy. He can't continue to take the abuse from over the top safeties.
6. Draft young LB & DE to go with the veterans

Use younger players currently on the roster to fill the holes on defense. Look for a veteran right tackle through free agency.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

You shore up both the D Line and O Line. You control the line of scrimmage, you typically win more often than not, I learned that in Football 101. You trade to get more value where needed, not so much the captain of the ship (brees), but maybe Colston, PT or Moore, (not necessarily any of these three, but some with actual value, thats my point) The key components on Offense w/ exception of o line is solid. Spag's will have to make some difficult decisions soon, otherwise he may be looking for work in a year or so, but he needs the commitment from the organization to make these decisions financially, which will probably come at the expense of the offense.

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

I'm gonna quote myself because no one commented on or quoted MY POST!

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

Trade Ingram, a bag of Zapp's, and some Best Stop boudin for the best OT/DL we can get.

I think the kids great, but how many times do you have to run into the backs of your own linemen to realize the hole isn't opening? He's got a cutback that never seems to want to use

Re: How would you rebuild the Saints?
 

Apparently they used him on screens at Alabama a good bit - not sure why Carmichael insists on running that one Ingram play over and over, and doesn't try a screen or a toss just to change it up a little bit.

It really is a moronic looking play at this point. Ingram comes in the huddle, they line up, he runs up the middle, smacks into Bushrod, he either falls forward for 2 or gets pushed back for no gain or minus one. When they line up for the Ingram play, it looks like a completely different team out there than us. It's like he's not being incorporated into the existing offense at all.