Question for the Forum: Who was the worst Saints player during your lifetime?

[leilung]

Jason David
Was supposed to be the 'Shut Down' CB we were missing on D. Ended up being a waste of a salary. Close second: Janoris (The Jack Rabbit) Jenkins- Couldn't run like one, but pumped out kids like one!

[K Major]

According to Greg Cosell, the 2024 draft class is full of quality tackles with good grades. Saints would be silly not target another o-lineman.

I wouldn't wait for the light to come on with Penning.

If the Saints want to truly compete (deep post season runs) with the big boys, you have to start hitting on your draft selections.

Cam Jordan, Demario, Maye, Mathieu, Ramz, MT etc ... aging (30+) players on a old roster.

[iceshack149]

I'm not ready to call Penning a bust yet. It took Peat, Stinchcomb, and Strief some time if I recall. The entire O-line seemed to regress last year so maybe Marrone needs to change his teaching style or philosophy.

[AsylumGuido]

Originally Posted by iceshack149

I'm not ready to call Penning a bust yet. It took Peat, Stinchcomb, and Strief some time if I recall. The entire O-line seemed to regress last year so maybe Marrone needs to change his teaching style or philosophy.

Exactly. Offensive line has conventionally taken longer to develop than most every other position group in the game. I think they are well worth the extra investment in time and money given their importance, scarcity, and longevity. It's become fairly common to see good offensive linemen perform into their late 30's and even early 40's.

[Crusader]

All y'all are making some good points and I might have been okay with Penning taking time to develop if he was drafted in the 4th round or later. But we spent a first rounde on him that so far seems like a complete waste. He needs to get better quick.

[AsylumGuido]

Originally Posted by Crusader

All y'all are making some good points and I might have been okay with Penning taking time to develop if he was drafted in the 4th round or later. But we spent a first rounde on him that so far seems like a complete waste. He needs to get better quick.

I get where you're coming from, but offensive linemen, as you know, are very hard come by and like it or not things are what they are. You don't want to throw out the baby with the bath water. Penning is by no means the first offensive lineman drafted in the first round in this league that wasn't ready to earn the starting gig day one and I'll guarantee you he won't be the last. I think that's just the nature of the beast. To keep the clichés going, you can't hit a homerun if you don't swing the bat and nobody bats 1.000.

[BakoSaint]

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

I get where you're coming from, but offensive linemen, as you know, are very hard come by and like it or not things are what they are. You don't want to throw out the baby with the bath water. Penning is by no means the first offensive lineman drafted in the first round in this league that wasn't ready to earn the starting gig day one and I'll guarantee you he won't be the last. I think that's just the nature of the beast. To keep the clichés going, you can't hit a homerun if you don't swing the bat and nobody bats 1.000.

Yeah but so far Penning's performance has not merely been high and outside, its been a pick off to 1st base. Take a swing all you want. It's not that he is not ready to start, its that when asked to fill in as a competent backup he can't hold Landon Young's jock and is like a well lubed turnstile on the field. He is not rookie Ruiz bad, he is rookie Baptiste bad.

Good offensive linemen are hard to come by. Just any offensive lineman are not. Most offensive linemen from Tulane go undrafted every year. Many offensive lineman are cut from every roster at the end of training camp. What Trevor Penning has not shown in 2 years is that he is one of the best 9-10 offensive lineman we could keep on our roster if not for his fully guaranteed contract. At this point it is more likely Landon Young blossoms into a pro bowler than Penning.

Since offensive lineman are so scarce, I do feel we should draft that position in the 1st, 2nd, and 5th rounds. We need a lot more talent. Penning is likely not it. If some dumb team would trade a 3rd or 4th for Penning, which I doubt, we could perhaps find the next Armstead or Evans.