Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go?
 

Well playing the Jack position essentially is the same as what he's been doing... Just standing up instead of with his hand in the dirt. He won't be asked to cover. Besides, we'll probably be playing Nickel more often than base 3-4 and one of our younger pass-rushers like Junior Galette will be on the field.

Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go?
 

i think he will do ok overall in run support unlike Jr.
Blitz he should be ok like Jr
What he shares with JR is my concerns in pass coverage.

OLB that is more well rounded will be high on the 2014 draft list.
as will the DL like i said in another thread
Right now i can see 4 picks in the first 5 rounds going defense

Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go?
 

enlighten me? what positions for the first 4 picks?

Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go?
 

back end picks in each round

Round 1 - multi facet weapon that can play ILB and OLB

C.J. Mosley, OLB/ILB, Alabama
Height: 6-2. Weight: 234.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65

Round 2 - True depth for the DL to develope

DeAndre Coleman, DE/DT, California
Height: 6-5. Weight: 320.
Projected 40 Time: 5.34.

Round 3 - True depth for the DL to develope

Ra'Shede Hageman, DE/DT, Minnesota
Height: 6-6. Weight: 311.
Projected 40 Time: 5.37

Round 4 - add another OLB to the mix to develope at OLB

Christian Jones, OLB, Florida State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 232.
Projected 40 Time: 4.62

Its early yet but this is my wish list so far for the defense and I am sure it will change a bit. i think some of the players will play there way out of reach in the draft. I am going to be watching stanford closely this year. they will have a bunch of talent in this years draft.

it would allow us to let some mid range cap numbers walk next year. cap is going to be a bigger head ache next year than it was this year.

if we had the money i woild love to se the saints go after Geno Atkins CIN. i can not se the bungles letting him walk. but i can dream

Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go?
 

Besides Drew's cap number jump and resigning Graham, those are the only two I can think of. Aren't most players under cap friendly contracts now?

Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go?
 

Top New Orleans Saints salary cap figures for 2014 season
Larry Holder, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune By Larry Holder, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
April 10, 2013 at 11:13 AM, updated April 10, 2013 at 11:19 AM

The latest look at the New Orleans Saints' salary cap situation for 2014 paints a troubling future. The Saints, as of now, would enter the next league year with $139 million in committed money, according to ESPN.

New Orleans would rank only below Dallas as the Cowboys would have $146 million committed to next season. The salary cap will likely jump next season, but how high from this year's $123.9 million is always an inexact science.

Here's a look at the Saints' top 10 salary cap figures for the 2014 season:

Drew Brees -- $18.4 million

Will Smith -- $13.9 million

Jahri Evans -- $11.01 million

Ben Grubbs -- $9.1 million

Marques Colston -- $8.3 million

Roman Harper -- $7.9 million

Jabari Greer -- $6.825 million

Brodrick Bunkley -- $6.1 million

Curtis Lofton -- $5.2 million

Lance Moore -- $5.07 million

Of those names, five players restructred their contracts this offseason (Evans, Grubbs, Colston, Bunkley and Lofton) making their 2014 figures slightly higher than maybe anticipated. Restructuring wouldn't be completely out of the question for some of them, but the Saints would face the same issues in later years.

Yet the Saints have options to quickly fix much of the potential salary cap problems.

Smith took a massive paycut in 2013, so it's very unlikely Smith's cap number, if he's still on the team, would be anywhere near that figure. The Saints would save $11.55 million in 2014 by releasing Smith.

The Saints could also cut back at their massive 2014 cap figure by shedding Harper's cap figure. The team would save about $6.2 million in 2014 by releasing Harper.

Top New Orleans Saints salary cap figures for 2014 season | NOLA.com

While not completed updated and completely updated the issue remains the same.

Here are the players as FA in 2014 i think i have them all

Ramon Humber at Linebacker
Jerico Nelson at Safety
Eric Olsen at Guard
Preston Parker at Wide Receiver
Jay Richardson at Defensive End
Brian De La Puente at Center
Courtney Roby at Wide Receiver
Jason Smith at Tackle
Rafael Bush at Safety
Malcolm Jenkins at Safety
Kenyon Coleman at Defensive End
Jed Collins at Fullback
Zach Strief at Tackle
Tom Johnson at Defensive End
Bryce Harris at Tackle
Charles Brown at Tackle
Jim Leonhard at Safety
Isa Abdul-Quddus at Safety
Ricky Henry at Guard
Jonathan Vilma at Linebacker
Jimmy Graham at Tight End
Seneca Wallace at Quarterback
Jeremiah Warren at Guard
Luke McCown at Quarterback
Michael Higgins at Tight End
Joseph Morgan at Wide Receiver

Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go?
 

sorry this is turning into a thread high jack

Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go?
 

His transition will go smoothly....................straight to the bench. :wink:

Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go?
 

I'd say I don't see this working out but usually when I think that it absolutely does work out so that's what I'm going with. There is some value in having basically a quasi DE back there and I think they will do enough to keep him from getting exposed over the top which is the only negative.

Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go?
 

I see him struggling and the Saints regret not cutting him and saving a lot of money.