2022 New Orleans Saints: Training Camp

saintsfan1976 · 08-23-2022, 06:18 AM

Truth is, this team is far from rosy.

I look at past performance and to what degree things have to change, if enough change is possible.

Not concerned about the defense. Not concerned about special teams (actually impressed).

My biggest concern is the O line. Yeah, I know we have better coaches this season but the fact remains half of our o line is a big fat question mark and if they can't protect Jameis it won't matter how good our receivers are.

AsylumGuido · 08-23-2022, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by saintsfan1976

Truth is, this team is far from rosy.

I look at past performance and to what degree things have to change, if enough change is possible.

Not concerned about the defense. Not concerned about special teams (actually impressed).

My biggest concern is the O line. Yeah, I know we have better coaches this season but the fact remains half of our o line is a big fat question mark and if they can't protect Jameis it won't matter how good our receivers are.

I agree the offensive line is the question mark. However, the improvement to the receiving corps (that includes TE) is colossal. We all know that pressure on the QB comes in two ways, the rush and coverage. Having targets that are actually capable of getting open AND catching the ball should take a lot of pressure off the line. Hopefully, if they can stay healthy and play enough games together, they will further gel as the season progresses.

Not to mention, I see us depending more upon the run game than we did last season. Penning is already showing he can be an absolute beast in run blocking and that was a strength of Ruiz, as well, while he did struggle with the passing game. Ramczyk and McCoy can hang with any other center and RT in the entire league. Peat ... just needs to stay healthy.

SmashMouth · 08-23-2022, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by saintsfan1976

Truth is, this team is far from rosy.

I look at past performance and to what degree things have to change, if enough change is possible.

Not concerned about the defense. Not concerned about special teams (actually impressed).

My biggest concern is the O line. Yeah, I know we have better coaches this season but the fact remains half of our o line is a big fat question mark and if they can't protect Jameis it won't matter how good our receivers are.

Originally Posted by K Major

Sounds like coach's really likes the skill set (versatility) of Kirk Merritt.

I had him as my dark horse at the beginning of t/c.

Well, let's see if he makes the squad ...

That's where Brees' quick reads and release helped a ton... Jameis needs to do his reads fast too. It's a fair point that we now have more capable talent in the short game. Focusing more on the run game where our new LT seems to already dominate should help some as well. They are trying out Merritt as a RB, who has as it turns out much experience as a RB. Thery must see something a bit elusive about his speed. Merritt seemed surprisingly confident when questioned at the presser about this move. Maybe we get to see some of that in the last preseason game.

AsylumGuido · 08-23-2022, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

That's where Brees' quick reads and release helped a ton... Jameis needs to do his reads fast too. It's a fair point that we now have more capable talent in the short game. Focusing more on the run game where our new LT seems to already dominate should help some as well. They are trying out Merritt as a RB, who has as it turns out much experience as a RB. Thery must see something a bit elusive about his speed. Merritt seemed surprisingly confident when questioned at the presser about this move. Maybe we get to see some of that in the last preseason game.

Exactly!

08-23-2022, 06:18 AM	#1
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 11,068 Blog Entries: 3	Re: 2022 New Orleans Saints: Training Camp Truth is, this team is far from rosy. I look at past performance and to what degree things have to change, if enough change is possible. Not concerned about the defense. Not concerned about special teams (actually impressed). My biggest concern is the O line. Yeah, I know we have better coaches this season but the fact remains half of our o line is a big fat question mark and if they can't protect Jameis it won't matter how good our receivers are.

08-23-2022, 08:03 AM	#2
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,803	Re: 2022 New Orleans Saints: Training Camp Originally Posted by saintsfan1976 Truth is, this team is far from rosy. I look at past performance and to what degree things have to change, if enough change is possible. Not concerned about the defense. Not concerned about special teams (actually impressed). My biggest concern is the O line. Yeah, I know we have better coaches this season but the fact remains half of our o line is a big fat question mark and if they can't protect Jameis it won't matter how good our receivers are. I agree the offensive line is the question mark. However, the improvement to the receiving corps (that includes TE) is colossal. We all know that pressure on the QB comes in two ways, the rush and coverage. Having targets that are actually capable of getting open AND catching the ball should take a lot of pressure off the line. Hopefully, if they can stay healthy and play enough games together, they will further gel as the season progresses. Not to mention, I see us depending more upon the run game than we did last season. Penning is already showing he can be an absolute beast in run blocking and that was a strength of Ruiz, as well, while he did struggle with the passing game. Ramczyk and McCoy can hang with any other center and RT in the entire league. Peat ... just needs to stay healthy.
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

08-23-2022, 08:48 AM	#3
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 39,063 Blog Entries: 29	Re: 2022 New Orleans Saints: Training Camp Originally Posted by saintsfan1976 Truth is, this team is far from rosy. I look at past performance and to what degree things have to change, if enough change is possible. Not concerned about the defense. Not concerned about special teams (actually impressed). My biggest concern is the O line. Yeah, I know we have better coaches this season but the fact remains half of our o line is a big fat question mark and if they can't protect Jameis it won't matter how good our receivers are. Originally Posted by K Major Sounds like coach's really likes the skill set (versatility) of Kirk Merritt. I had him as my dark horse at the beginning of t/c. Well, let's see if he makes the squad ... That's where Brees' quick reads and release helped a ton... Jameis needs to do his reads fast too. It's a fair point that we now have more capable talent in the short game. Focusing more on the run game where our new LT seems to already dominate should help some as well. They are trying out Merritt as a RB, who has as it turns out much experience as a RB. Thery must see something a bit elusive about his speed. Merritt seemed surprisingly confident when questioned at the presser about this move. Maybe we get to see some of that in the last preseason game.

08-23-2022, 09:29 AM	#4
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,803	Re: 2022 New Orleans Saints: Training Camp Originally Posted by SmashMouth That's where Brees' quick reads and release helped a ton... Jameis needs to do his reads fast too. It's a fair point that we now have more capable talent in the short game. Focusing more on the run game where our new LT seems to already dominate should help some as well. They are trying out Merritt as a RB, who has as it turns out much experience as a RB. Thery must see something a bit elusive about his speed. Merritt seemed surprisingly confident when questioned at the presser about this move. Maybe we get to see some of that in the last preseason game. Exactly!