Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

The gang brought up a good topic on the show below. (Thanks for the post, Smash) Who would you select as your dark horse after OTA's and minicamp? That is, what player that hasn't really received much hype do you think makes the initial cut to 53?

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

I'll go first. I've heard lots of talk around here about a supposed lack of depth at LB and the desire for the Saints to hit the free agent market to add to that depth. I've mentioned this before, but I think the front office is cautiously optimistic that they already have the needed depth on the current 90 man roster at LB. While D'Marco Jackson is one possibility of quality depth, I really think that it's UDFA Anfernee Orji who's got them excited. I really think he's going to be making that cut and and making a move for one of the aging vets at LB unnecessary.

We all know that Dennis Allen believes in the 4-2 and using the nickel extensively. Any LB behind Davis and Werner are basically either backups to those two positions or special teams regulars.

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

Not sure how much of a dark horse he is, but I'm looking for Kendre Miller to make the final cut.

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

Frye.

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

Ugo Amadi and Nick Anderson are my two favorites for dark horse. I think they mentioned both of them in their podcast and they make good sense for a dark horse candidate. Nick Anderson, from Tulane, is a local favorite but the way Brooke described his game he has a non stop motor, he's a great tackler, and he covers well. He might be too small for the NFL though.

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

I'd like to see Smoke Monday make the roster because he's a hitter and his name is cool. And of course this:

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

On the bright side, if he doesn't make the roster in New Orleans then the Failcons will want to sign him to start for them. lol I hope he does make it though, we need valuable depth at safety. I'm sure that he'll make the practice squad because he missed out on some good coaching last year.

Besides, he's got the tools necessary to be good in the NFL and our scouts liked him enough to draft him.

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

Well, they liked him enough to sign him as an undrafted free agent, Rugs. ;)

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

Right! Thanks. Yep. And they paid him well to make sure that he came to New Orleans.

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

Unfortunately, the dark horse to make the final 53 will probably be 3Q Smith fighting for the last receiver spot on the roster because he's a good blocker. I'll give the front office credit, they have brought in some serious competition this year throughout the roster. There will be some good depth battles at camp as well as for the few starter spots that are available up and down the roster.

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

He's also probably a better receiver than most #4 & #5 WR's in the league. Just saying.

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

Maybe so, but we still don't know if he is a better receiver because he drops a lot of balls, runs the wrong routes, and is injured most of the time. He's been here long enough that we should know if he's better than the rest of the #5 receivers in the league, but we don't because he has never proven a thing except that he is unreliable.

There is enough competition in camp this year to force him off the roster. If he sticks around then maybe he's earned it, even though a lot of fans think he's just wasting a roster spot. I'm one of them who think he's been a major disappointment. Yes, he was only a third round draft pick, but those picks need to contribute and 3Q hasn't done that yet on a consistent basis.

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

Not sure where you get the dropped ball impression. He was among the top catch percentage guys on the team last year. Even better than Olave. For his career his catch percentage has been better than the league average.

I'll give you that he doesn't get as open as others, but then again he's usually being asked to set up the play for others with his blocking.

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

I thought that a receiver needs to get open if he's not a possession receiver like Michael Thomas. 3Q doesn't get separation nor does he make the contested catches. I'm just being honest here. He doesn't get much separation and his best attribute is his blocking. Come on mow, surely there are better UDFA's who could do better. I'm tired of the 3Q saga! Obviously, you aren't, but most of the board agrees that he has been a disappointment. Let that sink in for a moment. Sometimes we have to step back and see what other people think. He has to prove himself in training camp and if he doesn't....then good riddance!

Edit: He may not have a high drop ratio but he's flat out unreliable!

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

The problem is because of injuries he was asked, along with Callaway, to assume the role of a #1 or #2 WR. He certainly isn't that nor should we have had to put him in that situation. We really won't be asking much more than what Tre'Quan is good at from any of the WR's past Thomas, Olave, or Shaheem. Personally I don't care whether or not we replace Tre'Quan. I just want to make sure who we keep can do what he does do at a high level.

I'm basically just relaying what I expect the Saints to do. They know what he is better than any of us. It simply wouldn't surprise me if he makes the squad again. It does no good to have a #5 WR that can run good routes, get open, and can't block worth a crap. ;)

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

Well. He can block. He runs the wrong routes though, and creates no separation to get open. We can do better. If we are able to replace him then I'm sure that we would have upgraded the position. I'm glad that you don't care if we lose him because he aggravates the snot out of me. Lol

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

I'll give you that he's not great at creating separation, but that's why he's a WR4 or WR5 and not a top 3. But, when has he had issues runs wrong routes? It's impossible to tell that just by watching. I heard that before from coaches and players. Only his own coach or players could point that out and I don't recall anything like that from any of them. I could be wrong, but you know I read everything ever written about the Saints and have a pretty good memory. Being retired I spend probably six hours a day sitting at my computer wasting time doing nothing but searching the web about any news Saints related. Been doing that for years.

:doh:

Re: Who is your dark horse for the 53 man roster?
 

If my memory serves me correctly Drew would go to him after a play and have to tell him how to run it properly. Drew was always showing him what to do after a busted play even though he looked frustrated having to do it. jmho

There are better #5 depth players out there that can do more than just block. It's been quite awhile since we poached a practice squad player. Anyways, it shouldn't be that hard or expensive to upgrade the position. The Saints certainly brought in stiff competition for him this year. I guess if he sticks around then he's earned it.