GumboBC

I've felt for the past few years that one of the reasons our CBs have struggled was because of our safties. I'm talking about BOTH of our safties.

Tebucky Jones has been replaced by Dwight Smith. So FS isn't really a concern anymore.

But SS Jay Bellamy worries me. This is Bellamy's 13th season in the NFL. I've never thought Bellamy has been good in coverage since he's been a Saint.

While Bellamy has looked good at times in run-support, I think we really need someone else as the starter.

I'm hoping Mel Mitchell can be the guy who steps up.

Okay ... I said all of that to ask this question:

What do you guys think of Jay Bellamy?

Saint_LB

Wasn\'t Mitchell the starter before he got hurt two seasons ago in preseason?

GumboBC

Yeah .. and I was at that game. It was a pre-season game against the Dolphins.

Mel looked like he was going to be a good player before the injury. At least to me ..

Saint_LB

Was Bellamy brought in to replace Mitchell when he went down? Also, what happened to Mitchell last year...he couldn\'t win his job back or never fully recovered? I missed a lot of last year because I didn\'t have my direct TV.

BlackandBlue

Bellamy was retained because of Mitchell\'s injury. I am also certain that is one of the two big reasons why he wasn\'t able to take the starting position back from Bellamy, because of the long recovery time.

mutineer10

I suppose if the oft-supposed drafting of Thomas Davis acutally occurs, he would play SS, right? I know he swung from safety to OLB in college, but I don\'t know which safety position he\'s accustomed to.

As for Bellamy, alot of the mutterings in interviews at the time seemed to signify that he was resigned as much for veteran leadership as for actual expected production. I think it\'s likely he\'ll be a backup/mentor to his successor, whether Mitchell or someone else.

Zulu--King

I think time and a lot of hitting have taken their toll on Bellamy, but he would be great to show Davis the ropes. Mitchell would probably stuck at reserve S before long, but would be good t ohave around in case of injury

FireVenturi

I would like to see Jay get pushed for the SS position. I do feel comfotable with Jay though; because as a SS he does not have as much responsibilty in coverage as he did when he was a FS.

BRSaintsFan

I agree. Wouldnt mind drafting someone to groom next year behind Bellamy but I would not say that he is a total liability. Yes he struggles in coverage, but he is about the only veteran leadership this team has on defense anymore so I could live with him.