OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

In the team’s first week of organized team activities, Keenan Lewis started with the first team and made a case for a starting position at defensive back. If veteran Jabari Greer doesn’t step up in training camp, he’ll lose his starting job.

Last season, fans were livid with a Saints pass defense that allowed nearly 300 yards passing per game last year. The names to blame? Defensive backs Patrick Robinson and Jabari Greer.

Greer and Robinson both stand at 5-foot-11 and both struggled mightily last year in pass coverage. They both managed to get three interceptions last year, but Robinson posted 18 passes defended to Greer’s 13 passes defended.

Greer is 31 years old, losing a couple of steps in terms of his speed, and coming off a season where the entire defense is being scrutinized. The Saints acquired Keenan Lewis in the off-season as well and he definitely has the ability to take away one of those top corner spots.

Lewis is four years younger and about 20 pounds heavier than Greer. That’s important against strong receivers in the NFC South like Atlanta’s Roddy White and Carolina’s Steve Smith. He wasn’t a starter in Pittsburgh but that didn’t stop him from defending 23 passes last year for the Steelers.

He isn’t significantly taller than Greer but displays better leaping ability to attack the ball while it is in the air than Greer did last year. Every inch helps against NFC South receivers like Atlanta’s Julio Jones and Tampa Bay’s Vincent Jackson.

In the first day of OTA’s, Lewis started with the first team and displayed his ability to break up passes and even came away with an interception. While head coach Sean Payton will be the first to tell you not to put any stock in Lewis starting with the first team, you’d be crazy to think that Lewis’ performance didn’t catch his eye.

It’s still May and nobody (outside of quarterback Drew Brees) has won their position yet. After this first OTA session however, the stock for Keenan Lewis is on the rise.

OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer - Who Dat Dish

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

Can Greer beat out P-Rob?

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

Don't discredit Greer. He's still a starting caliber CB and at some point this season, we'll need him to be such.

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

sure is nice to see some loyalty from a fan.

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

P-Rob is going have to man-up or we may have a weak side, my question is if he doesn't do it who will?

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

I think Greer did as good as could be expected with the overall horrible defense we had last year. He is a starter in this league and either one of those two guys will make strong depth even if they don't start.

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

Why take Greer out? Take P-Rob out! Greer is better and I trust him a lot more than Robinson.

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

Look, Robinson is like Jenkins, we've seen Robinson make some spectacular plays - unfortunately the spectacularly bad more often than spectacularly good...

But he's had three defensive coordinators/philosophies in his short career?!?

Now he's a pro and a first round selection so he's expected to adjust and get-r-done...

But I'd be a little open-minded and allow this "competition mentality" for each job that Coach Payton and staff have begun with this offseason to shake the rust off and get the best players into the best position for the best possible "fits" for the 2013 season...

It will make everyone better and accountable...

And should Greer evolve to become a third, rotational cornerback then we'll have the best in the league at that position and we will not love Jabari any less than we hold him now...

Competition is a good thing...

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

Greer playing hurt last year was still better than Robinson even spotted the 5-6 yrs of youth.

I think Robinson will find himself lucky to be on the roster when the season starts. Who knows, maybe Coach Ryan schools him in some miraculous way and he learns to cover a WR (but I doubt it). He's just so out of position to often, an occasional INT doesn't make up for the other blunders in a game.

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

That'd actually be more McGriff and he's being talked up to be one of the best in the biz. Gotta be better than the DB coach we didn't have last year.

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

We need to help these guys out and rush the QB. They had their share of faults but it surely wasnt just bad DB play.

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

+1 and so true. You can't expect corners to be able to hang with those WR's forever HOWEVER P Robinson has to play much better. Last year was last year and its time for him to find his MOJO.

If Greer can stay healthy, I think he will be just fine.

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

why are people still hung up on rating the starting cb 1 or 2? the pass happy offense the nfl has created makes ranking the that way as stupid SS vs FS debate. all of them are the same for the most part.

the real question who will be the starting pair.

Lewis and Greer will be our starting CB baring a miracle arising from the turf at camp.

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

Greer is still our best CB........period.

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

I hope not and that's a good thing.

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

Here's an idea - put the best players on the field

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

Im with those of you who say Jabari still has it. He's still talented, but cant
chase down the receivers all day, while the QB stands there comfortably.

Its the pass rush.

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

I think Greer starts opposite Lewis, but he's not the best CB we have...

Keenan showed he has better coverage skills last year in Pittsburgh

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

Ill take a consistent 6 any day over an 8 one week and a 4 the next. The remaining 10 players on defense feel the same way, they know what to cover.


If you want loyalty buy a dog. I want what these guys are paid handsomely to produce... Championships!


Ill bet if you asked Greer he would say the same thing. Going to the Super Bowl on the bench is better than losing and starting because of seniority or loyalty.

We started the best 22 in 2009 because we had not won a SB, the only way to get back there is to once again start the best 22.

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

I won't call it a miracle, how about I call it.... Calling my shot which is Jabari Greer won't be starting this season. Corey White will beat out both Jabari and Patrick Robinson....

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

There's this little girl in 1st grade over here that can beat out Patrick Robinson, just sayin.:D

Re: OTA Position Spotlight: Lewis can beat out Greer
 

Hahaha!

Seriously though, we have us a defensive backfield coach this year. I'm willing to give Patrick another go, see what he really has.