Saints could keep most of their unrestricted free agents, including Bushrod

01-04-2013, 09:57 PM

I also think Strief is better than most seem to think he is. Yeah we could upgrade there but I don't think it should be a big priority. He's adequate. Even if we find some one to beat him out he's definitely an asset as I think our biggest problem on the O'line is depth.

FinSaint · 01-05-2013, 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by Boutte

I also think Strief is better than most seem to think he is. Yeah we could upgrade there but I don't think it should be a big priority. He's adequate. Even if we find some one to beat him out he's definitely an asset as I think our biggest problem on the O'line is depth.

Yeah, I'm not saying they should get rid of Strief altogether, just that he isn't starter caliber and it has shown a lot of time during this past season.

Strief is a good depth guy to hold onto since he can play both T and G, but they should try to find a more permanent and more solid solution to that RT posititon.

I'll give him that he was injured this season, and the decimated OT depth meant that he probably was forced to come back before he was 100%, but I was on his case even last season and didn't think that he should be starting.

SloMotion · 01-05-2013, 06:32 AM

Do you know there were only two QBs sacked less this season than Drew Brees? For some odd reason it was Peyton & Eli Manning (conspiracy!),

.

My point is Bushrod, though it may not look like it at times, is getting the job done. He reminds me a lot of Jeff Backus (OT) of the Lions who is constantly maligned by the fans, yet Matthew Stafford is one of the least (#6) sacked QBs in the league also.

If it's only the Jarred Allen's, Julius Pepper's and J.J. Watt's of the league beating these guys, well, they beat every LT out there, regardless. Unless you can replace him with a proven tackle who can block the league's elite defensive ends, you risk the chance of actually downgrading the O/L. Detroit drafted OT Riley Reiff in the first round last season as heir apparent to the LT position, but it's a rare rookie offensive lineman that's going to step in and make an immediate impact. It didn't take long for the Lions to start talking about keeping Backus at LT and have Reiff play RT.

Moral of the story? Don't be the Detroit Lions,

. But really, work on getting some depth in the O/L, but keep Bushrod around if he doesn't want too much, aka Carl Nicks.

FinSaint · 01-05-2013, 06:53 AM

SloMo, it's true that Brees has been protected well in regards to sack figures, but IMO that has less to do with the OTs than with the strength of the interior of that O-line and Brees' ability to step into the pocket to avoid edge pressure and get rid of the ball just in time to avoid the sack.

I'd be fine with Bushrod continuing as the LT of the Saints, but I just don't think he is worth the money he'll be asking and even if he is - the Saints probably can't afford that money and would be better off just replacing Bushrod with a slightly less talented LT who'd have a much lower price-tag. One of the reasons why I think this approach would be feasible is that Kromer has shown that he can work with lesser talent and make them even overachieve, and I'm off course banking on him re-signing with the Saints.

The bottom line is that the Saints need to cut costs, and re-signing a good (not great) LT to a big-money contract isn't the way to do it, and I hope Loomis sees it this way also.

lee909 · 01-05-2013, 06:59 AM

I agree with alot of that.
I'd like to see a OT signed in the draft.If Mathews drops to 15 I'd say take him other than that I'd leave it till the later rounds(4th+).

TheOak · 01-05-2013, 07:10 AM

Ellis: Be gone

Bushrod: If Drew is happy with him who am I to debate. Its not my azz out there.

Henderson: I found this troubling "there’s no one ready to step up for him should he be gone"

Have you been introduced to Morgan yet?

lee909 · 01-05-2013, 07:14 AM

Ellis be gone

Sounds like some cheap TV commercial cleaner.

Be interesting who gets tagged.

SloMotion · 01-05-2013, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by FinSaint

SloMo, it's true that Brees has been protected well in regards to sack figures, but IMO that has less to do with the OTs than with the strength of the interior of that O-line and Brees' ability to step into the pocket to avoid edge pressure and get rid of the ball just in time to avoid the sack.

I'd be fine with Bushrod continuing as the LT of the Saints, but I just don't think he is worth the money he'll be asking and even if he is - the Saints probably can't afford that money and would be better off just replacing Bushrod with a slightly less talented LT who'd have a much lower price-tag. One of the reasons why I think this approach would be feasible is that Kromer has shown that he can work with lesser talent and make them even overachieve, and I'm off course banking on him re-signing with the Saints.

The bottom line is that the Saints need to cut costs, and re-signing a good (not great) LT to a big-money contract isn't the way to do it, and I hope Loomis sees it this way also.

And I agree with you for the most part, which is why I finished my post with, "keep Bushrod around if he doesn't want too much, aka Carl Nicks". I just think with offensive lineman, it takes you a few years to develop a rookie and the F/A market is bust, with the exception of a few, as by the time those guys reach free agency, they're pretty well beat up as per the job description, so if you got a guy doing the job, hold onto him ... price tag considered, of course.

44Champs · 01-05-2013, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II

There is not one player on that list that I feel like we have to have.

Yep, but unless we can replace Bushrod w someone better, we need to keep him. Drew feels comfortable w what JB can and can't do and knows how to navigate in the pocket w him blocking.

FinSaint · 01-05-2013, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by 44Champs

Yep, but unless we can replace Bushrod w someone better, we need to keep him. Drew feels comfortable w what JB can and can't do and knows how to navigate in the pocket w him blocking.

But it was Mr. #9 himself who wanted to become the highest paid player in the league history, so he can't have the cake and eat it too.

And I'm not sold on the notion that Bushrod's replacement should necessarily be an improvement over him, an equally or a slightly less talented guy would be totally acceptable if it means that they can save a couple of million dollars per year in the cap. They already have a lot invested in the interior of that line - meaning of course the guards - and that is where they should continue to invest the money because it is the most important part of that O-line when we're considering Brees' playing style of rather stepping up on the pocket than sidestepping away from pressure.

01-04-2013, 09:57 PM	#11
Threaded by Boutte Site Donor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belle Chasse Posts: 1,701 Rating: (0 votes - average) I also think Strief is better than most seem to think he is. Yeah we could upgrade there but I don't think it should be a big priority. He's adequate. Even if we find some one to beat him out he's definitely an asset as I think our biggest problem on the O'line is depth. Utah_Saint likes this.
Views: 3977

01-05-2013, 12:17 AM	#12
FinSaint Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Finland... formerly Southern Virginia Posts: 4,955	Re: Saints could keep most of their unrestricted free agents, including Bushrod Originally Posted by Boutte I also think Strief is better than most seem to think he is. Yeah we could upgrade there but I don't think it should be a big priority. He's adequate. Even if we find some one to beat him out he's definitely an asset as I think our biggest problem on the O'line is depth. Yeah, I'm not saying they should get rid of Strief altogether, just that he isn't starter caliber and it has shown a lot of time during this past season. Strief is a good depth guy to hold onto since he can play both T and G, but they should try to find a more permanent and more solid solution to that RT posititon. I'll give him that he was injured this season, and the decimated OT depth meant that he probably was forced to come back before he was 100%, but I was on his case even last season and didn't think that he should be starting.
	"I'm not bashing people, I'm bashing their opinions because in my opinion their opinion is wrong" - Danno

01-05-2013, 06:32 AM	#13
SloMotion 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 6,776 Blog Entries: 15	Re: Saints could keep most of their unrestricted free agents, including Bushrod Do you know there were only two QBs sacked less this season than Drew Brees? For some odd reason it was Peyton & Eli Manning (conspiracy!), . My point is Bushrod, though it may not look like it at times, is getting the job done. He reminds me a lot of Jeff Backus (OT) of the Lions who is constantly maligned by the fans, yet Matthew Stafford is one of the least (#6) sacked QBs in the league also. If it's only the Jarred Allen's, Julius Pepper's and J.J. Watt's of the league beating these guys, well, they beat every LT out there, regardless. Unless you can replace him with a proven tackle who can block the league's elite defensive ends, you risk the chance of actually downgrading the O/L. Detroit drafted OT Riley Reiff in the first round last season as heir apparent to the LT position, but it's a rare rookie offensive lineman that's going to step in and make an immediate impact. It didn't take long for the Lions to start talking about keeping Backus at LT and have Reiff play RT. Moral of the story? Don't be the Detroit Lions, . But really, work on getting some depth in the O/L, but keep Bushrod around if he doesn't want too much, aka Carl Nicks.

01-05-2013, 06:53 AM	#14
FinSaint Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Finland... formerly Southern Virginia Posts: 4,955	Re: Saints could keep most of their unrestricted free agents, including Bushrod SloMo, it's true that Brees has been protected well in regards to sack figures, but IMO that has less to do with the OTs than with the strength of the interior of that O-line and Brees' ability to step into the pocket to avoid edge pressure and get rid of the ball just in time to avoid the sack. I'd be fine with Bushrod continuing as the LT of the Saints, but I just don't think he is worth the money he'll be asking and even if he is - the Saints probably can't afford that money and would be better off just replacing Bushrod with a slightly less talented LT who'd have a much lower price-tag. One of the reasons why I think this approach would be feasible is that Kromer has shown that he can work with lesser talent and make them even overachieve, and I'm off course banking on him re-signing with the Saints. The bottom line is that the Saints need to cut costs, and re-signing a good (not great) LT to a big-money contract isn't the way to do it, and I hope Loomis sees it this way also.
	"I'm not bashing people, I'm bashing their opinions because in my opinion their opinion is wrong" - Danno

01-05-2013, 07:10 AM	#16
TheOak 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cypress Tx. Posts: 18,978	Re: Saints could keep most of their unrestricted free agents, including Bushrod Ellis: Be gone Bushrod: If Drew is happy with him who am I to debate. Its not my azz out there. Henderson: I found this troubling "there’s no one ready to step up for him should he be gone" Have you been introduced to Morgan yet?

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01-05-2013, 06:59 AM	#15
lee909 Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Watford England Posts: 8,716 Blog Entries: 1	I agree with alot of that. I'd like to see a OT signed in the draft.If Mathews drops to 15 I'd say take him other than that I'd leave it till the later rounds(4th+).

01-05-2013, 07:14 AM	#17
lee909 Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Watford England Posts: 8,716 Blog Entries: 1	Ellis be gone Sounds like some cheap TV commercial cleaner. Be interesting who gets tagged.

01-05-2013, 07:26 AM	#18
SloMotion 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 6,776 Blog Entries: 15	Re: Saints could keep most of their unrestricted free agents, including Bushrod Originally Posted by FinSaint SloMo, it's true that Brees has been protected well in regards to sack figures, but IMO that has less to do with the OTs than with the strength of the interior of that O-line and Brees' ability to step into the pocket to avoid edge pressure and get rid of the ball just in time to avoid the sack. I'd be fine with Bushrod continuing as the LT of the Saints, but I just don't think he is worth the money he'll be asking and even if he is - the Saints probably can't afford that money and would be better off just replacing Bushrod with a slightly less talented LT who'd have a much lower price-tag. One of the reasons why I think this approach would be feasible is that Kromer has shown that he can work with lesser talent and make them even overachieve, and I'm off course banking on him re-signing with the Saints. The bottom line is that the Saints need to cut costs, and re-signing a good (not great) LT to a big-money contract isn't the way to do it, and I hope Loomis sees it this way also. And I agree with you for the most part, which is why I finished my post with, "keep Bushrod around if he doesn't want too much, aka Carl Nicks". I just think with offensive lineman, it takes you a few years to develop a rookie and the F/A market is bust, with the exception of a few, as by the time those guys reach free agency, they're pretty well beat up as per the job description, so if you got a guy doing the job, hold onto him ... price tag considered, of course.

01-05-2013, 08:19 AM	#19
44Champs Site Donor Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,589	Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II There is not one player on that list that I feel like we have to have. Yep, but unless we can replace Bushrod w someone better, we need to keep him. Drew feels comfortable w what JB can and can't do and knows how to navigate in the pocket w him blocking.
44Champs Site Donor Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,589

01-05-2013, 09:11 AM	#20
FinSaint Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Finland... formerly Southern Virginia Posts: 4,955	Re: Saints could keep most of their unrestricted free agents, including Bushrod Originally Posted by 44Champs Yep, but unless we can replace Bushrod w someone better, we need to keep him. Drew feels comfortable w what JB can and can't do and knows how to navigate in the pocket w him blocking. But it was Mr. #9 himself who wanted to become the highest paid player in the league history, so he can't have the cake and eat it too. And I'm not sold on the notion that Bushrod's replacement should necessarily be an improvement over him, an equally or a slightly less talented guy would be totally acceptable if it means that they can save a couple of million dollars per year in the cap. They already have a lot invested in the interior of that line - meaning of course the guards - and that is where they should continue to invest the money because it is the most important part of that O-line when we're considering Brees' playing style of rather stepping up on the pocket than sidestepping away from pressure.
	"I'm not bashing people, I'm bashing their opinions because in my opinion their opinion is wrong" - Danno