Go Back   New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com > Main > Saints

Ranking Saints needs: No. 9 Special teams

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; (Triplett) A position-by-position look at where the New Orleans Saints stand heading into the 2014 offseason – ranked from 1-12 in order of the team’s need for upgrades or replacements. Current depth chart: P Thomas Morstead. Age 27, signed through ...

Like Tree3Likes
  • 3 Post By TheOak

Closed Thread
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-30-2014, 12:05 PM   #1
10000 POST CLUB
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cypress Tx.
Posts: 18,978
Ranking Saints needs: No. 9 Special teams

(Triplett)

A position-by-position look at where the New Orleans Saints stand heading into the 2014 offseason – ranked from 1-12 in order of the team’s need for upgrades or replacements.

Current depth chart:

P Thomas Morstead. Age 27, signed through 2018. 2014 salary and bonuses: $2.285 million. 2014 salary-cap number: $3.235 million.

K Shayne Graham. Age 36, unrestricted free agent.

K Derek Dimke. Age 23, exclusive rights to Saints through 2016 if he makes roster. 2014 salary $420,000.

RS Darren Sproles. Age 30, signed through 2014. 2014 salary and bonuses: $3.5 million. 2014 salary-cap number: $4.25 million.

RS Travaris Cadet. Turns 25 on Saturday, scheduled to become restricted free agent in 2015. 2014 salary and bonuses: $570,000. 2014 salary-cap number: $571,668.

Analysis:

Call me crazy, but I think the Saints should bring back veteran kicker Shayne Graham in 2014. Although he missed both of his field goal attempts in the season-ending playoff loss at Seattle, they were both very difficult kicks into heavy wind from 45 and 48 yards. Up until that point, Graham impressed me as a poised veteran. And he proved he was clutch, going 4-for-4 in a playoff victory at Philadelphia.

Every kicker will miss from time to time. The key is trusting that they’ll make 80-plus percent of them, and I think Graham is as trustworthy as any other candidate the Saints could find.

I think it’s possible the Saints feel the same way. As coach Sean Payton said after the season, “I think it is tough to evaluate a certain player such as a kicker, especially, in those kinds of conditions. I thought he came in and really did a great job for us when we signed him. But with regards to that position, it will be like anything else. We will have a chance to discuss and evaluate not only Shayne, but the future and other prospects that might be out there.”

The Saints might prefer to find a younger kicker that they could have in place long-term – like what they tried to create with Garrett Hartley during his turbulent six-year tenure in New Orleans. One possible candidate is Dimke, whom they signed to a futures contract earlier this month. Dimke spent time with the Lions, Jets and Buccaneers during the past two offseasons, making 8 of 9 field goal attempts in the preseason. But he hasn’t cracked an active roster yet.

The Saints are set with Morstead at punter. But they could certainly look to upgrade the kick return spots, which have been average at best in recent years. It might be worth using a draft pick or making a modest investment in free agency on an explosive return man who could create a spark in that department.

Read More
Ranking Saints needs: No. 9 Special teams - New Orleans Saints Blog - ESPN

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. ~ Henry David Thoreau
TheOak is offline  
Old 01-30-2014, 12:25 PM   #2
5000 POSTS! +
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Grand Haven, Michigan by way of a little Mississippi River town in Louisiana
Posts: 5,893
Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 9 Special teams

I would like to get a kicker (Morton Anderson 2.0) Dimke??
Sproles is really nearing the end and would trade for a draft pick while he still has value.
Morestead - well he can punt
Cadet- really suprized he was on the roster. What has he really done??
halloween 65 is offline  
Old 01-30-2014, 12:27 PM   #3
500th Post
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 957
Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 9 Special teams

I wouldn't mind keeping Graham.. hes cheap and he's a Graham lol. Never go wrong with Grambeaux.
dueceloose is offline  
Old 01-31-2014, 04:41 AM   #4
10000 POST CLUB
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,838
Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 9 Special teams

We need a legit punt and kick returner, someone with blazing speed
dizzle88 is offline  
Old 01-31-2014, 07:37 AM   #5
Resident Swede
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Märsta, Sweden
Posts: 7,982
Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 9 Special teams

I miss someone like Beerman or Bush back there returning kicks and punts.
Crusader is offline  
Old 01-31-2014, 07:41 AM   #6
10000 POST CLUB
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cypress Tx.
Posts: 18,978
Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 9 Special teams

Special teams players are fine... We have the right tools.

The mechanic needs to go. McMahon
TheOak is offline  
Old 01-31-2014, 08:33 AM   #7
5000 POSTS! +
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Grand Haven, Michigan by way of a little Mississippi River town in Louisiana
Posts: 5,893
Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 9 Special teams

Originally Posted by TheOak View Post
Special teams players are fine... We have the right tools.

The mechanic needs to go. McMahon
I couldn't hit the like button more than 1 time but I would have!! I don't remember the last time special ed. under McNothing give us a jump start.
halloween 65 is offline  
Old 01-31-2014, 08:59 AM   #8
Site Donor 2014
Truth Addict
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R)
Posts: 24,635
Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 9 Special teams

Originally Posted by TheOak View Post
Special teams players are fine... We have the right tools.

The mechanic needs to go. McMahon
Well said, but an upgrade at KR/PR would be just fine with me.

And Shane Graham is a free agent.
Danno is offline  
Old 01-31-2014, 09:21 AM   #9
10000 POST CLUB
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cypress Tx.
Posts: 18,978
Ranking Saints needs: No. 9 Special teams

Originally Posted by Danno View Post
Well said, but an upgrade at KR/PR would be just fine with me.



And Shane Graham is a free agent.

I said that with the thought that Kenny Stills has Receiver hands ( lowest drop rate on the team) and a 4.32 40yd (fastest 40 on the team). Return guy.

Morgan is 4.44
Henderson 4.36
Beer Man Lewis 4.34

Let kickers kick it out in camp and preseason.
TheOak is offline  
Old 01-31-2014, 01:40 PM   #10
Bounty Money $$$
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA.
Posts: 23,691
Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 9 Special teams

There is nothing special about our special teams.....and it is all McMahons fault. He's really gotta' go, but Payton is loyal to a fault.
Rugby Saint II is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules

LinkBacks (?)
LinkBack to this Thread: https://blackandgold.com/saints/64099-ranking-saints-needs-no-9-special-teams.html
Posted By For Type Date Hits
The Latest Derek Dimke News | SportSpyder This thread Refback 02-09-2014 10:01 PM 1
The Latest Travaris Cadet News | SportSpyder This thread Refback 02-07-2014 08:57 PM 1
The Latest New Orleans Saints News | SportSpyder This thread Refback 01-30-2014 02:18 PM 1
Ranking Saints needs: No. 9 Special teams This thread Refback 01-30-2014 12:23 PM 2


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:37 AM.


Copyright 1997 - 2020 - BlackandGold.com
no new posts