Obviously just speculation, but....

TheDeuce · 02-12-2006, 01:36 PM

My ideal draft that I keep getting in my mind goes as follows...

1st round- Matt Leinart, QB, USC
2nd round- Thomas Howard, OLB, UTEP -or- D'Qwell Jackson, MLB, Maryland

Mel Kiper has Thomas Howard slipping through the first round, so he would be available for the Saints at #34. Anyways, I was looking on his chat wrap and I saw this....

Casey (FC, Iowa): Which team will select Abdul Hodge in the second round?

Mel Kiper: It's a possiblity for him in the second round. Maybe the third. He's been productive in college. He's got the build of an MLB. He's good at the run. He has great instincts. His coverage skills still need some work.

If we could somehow get a third-round pick (by trading AB, or as a compensatory pick from the NFL), then we would have the possibility of getting Hodge, who many believe has the talent to be a big-time player in the NFL. That means our draft could possibly look like this....

1st Round- Matt Leinart, QB, USC
2nd Round- Thomas Howard, OLB, UTEP
3rd Round- Abdul Hodge, MLB, Iowa
4th Round- McKinley Boykin, DT, Ole Miss

That'd be pretty sweet. That would fill most of our biggest holes, besides maybe OLine (which I don't think is that much of a problem anyways) and DC (which isn't that bad either).

LivnaLieTimay · 02-12-2006, 02:12 PM

That would be an AMAZING draft... probably won't happen but we can hope. The only change I would make would be taking Jackson in the 2nd round instead of Howard.

TheDeuce · 02-12-2006, 02:25 PM

But if we took Jackson, then we'd end up with 2 MLBs and no OLBs...

papz · 02-12-2006, 02:55 PM

McKinnon, Watson, Colby, Allen, Slaughter, Melton, Hodge, Fincher, Jackson/Carpenter, and Abdul...

I think that's one TOO many linebackers... I think drafting one would be enough. With the way Hodge, Slaughter and McKinnon played last year, I'm pretty sure they'll all be re-signed. It's good to have depth... but not that much.

TheDeuce · 02-12-2006, 03:21 PM

Well they all suck, so most of them should be cut. And that's not that many LBs. Not even 3 deep at each LB position.

hagan714 · 02-12-2006, 04:26 PM

3 or 4 of the group will not be back that is for sure unless they are special team fill in's.
A true Stronge OLB is needed and Howard is not his name. At best he is weak, we got those
McKinnon is the best at controlling the guts of the D but he is not nimble enough on the pass.
So a stronge MLB is also needed.
This draft will show if 3-4 will be the D of the future here. Howard is of that mold but would but a waste of a pick that high.

TheDeuce · 02-12-2006, 06:38 PM

Howard is a 4-3 LB too, not just 3-4.

WhoDatQB · 02-12-2006, 10:03 PM

That would be a thing of beauty, but if Abdul Hodge makes it to the third round I crap myself. Hodge will not make it to the second round IMHO. However there are two very overlooked LB's that we should consider, that we could snage in the third or fourth rounds.

Oliver Hoyte & Stephen Tulloch from NCSU. Having gone to NCSU and having season tkts I have seem both play in person, and they both can tackle. Woo HOO.

TheDeuce · 02-13-2006, 11:15 AM

Hodge will not make it to the second round IMHO

Yes he will. You have to consider how many guys are graded higher than him going into this draft: AJ Hawk, Bobby Carpenter, Chad Greenway, Ernie Sims, Demeco Ryans. Shouldn't be more than 5 LBs taken in the 1st round.

FatiusJeebs · 02-13-2006, 11:53 AM

McKinnon has to stay. He was definitely one of the bright spots in what was a dismal season. I'm sure Vitt will help him out with coverage techniques but he rocks at stopping the run and he's an excellent hitter/tackler. I say as far as the draft.....we need to slowly work toward the 3-4.....get some good LB's. and some good DB's. I think an couple of key additions on offense can make a world of difference.
Check this out...Si's top 10 FA's.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mul...1.exclude.html

02-12-2006, 01:36 PM	#1
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928	Obviously just speculation, but.... My ideal draft that I keep getting in my mind goes as follows... 1st round- Matt Leinart, QB, USC 2nd round- Thomas Howard, OLB, UTEP -or- D'Qwell Jackson, MLB, Maryland Mel Kiper has Thomas Howard slipping through the first round, so he would be available for the Saints at #34. Anyways, I was looking on his chat wrap and I saw this.... Casey (FC, Iowa): Which team will select Abdul Hodge in the second round? Mel Kiper: It's a possiblity for him in the second round. Maybe the third. He's been productive in college. He's got the build of an MLB. He's good at the run. He has great instincts. His coverage skills still need some work. If we could somehow get a third-round pick (by trading AB, or as a compensatory pick from the NFL), then we would have the possibility of getting Hodge, who many believe has the talent to be a big-time player in the NFL. That means our draft could possibly look like this.... 1st Round- Matt Leinart, QB, USC 2nd Round- Thomas Howard, OLB, UTEP 3rd Round- Abdul Hodge, MLB, Iowa 4th Round- McKinley Boykin, DT, Ole Miss That'd be pretty sweet. That would fill most of our biggest holes, besides maybe OLine (which I don't think is that much of a problem anyways) and DC (which isn't that bad either).
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928

02-12-2006, 02:12 PM	#2
LivnaLieTimay 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York Posts: 1,498	RE: Obviously just speculation, but.... That would be an AMAZING draft... probably won't happen but we can hope. The only change I would make would be taking Jackson in the 2nd round instead of Howard.

02-12-2006, 02:25 PM	#3
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928	RE: Obviously just speculation, but.... But if we took Jackson, then we'd end up with 2 MLBs and no OLBs...
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928

02-12-2006, 02:55 PM	#4
papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,744	RE: Obviously just speculation, but.... McKinnon, Watson, Colby, Allen, Slaughter, Melton, Hodge, Fincher, Jackson/Carpenter, and Abdul... I think that's one TOO many linebackers... I think drafting one would be enough. With the way Hodge, Slaughter and McKinnon played last year, I'm pretty sure they'll all be re-signed. It's good to have depth... but not that much.

02-12-2006, 03:21 PM	#5
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928	RE: Obviously just speculation, but.... Well they all suck, so most of them should be cut. And that's not that many LBs. Not even 3 deep at each LB position.
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02-12-2006, 04:26 PM	#6
hagan714 LB Mentallity Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15,870 Blog Entries: 68	RE: Obviously just speculation, but.... 3 or 4 of the group will not be back that is for sure unless they are special team fill in's. A true Stronge OLB is needed and Howard is not his name. At best he is weak, we got those McKinnon is the best at controlling the guts of the D but he is not nimble enough on the pass. So a stronge MLB is also needed. This draft will show if 3-4 will be the D of the future here. Howard is of that mold but would but a waste of a pick that high.

02-12-2006, 06:38 PM	#7
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928	RE: Obviously just speculation, but.... Howard is a 4-3 LB too, not just 3-4.
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928

02-12-2006, 10:03 PM	#8
WhoDatQB Boondock Saint Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: F***ing Atlanta Posts: 322	That would be a thing of beauty, but if Abdul Hodge makes it to the third round I crap myself. Hodge will not make it to the second round IMHO. However there are two very overlooked LB's that we should consider, that we could snage in the third or fourth rounds. Oliver Hoyte & Stephen Tulloch from NCSU. Having gone to NCSU and having season tkts I have seem both play in person, and they both can tackle. Woo HOO.

02-13-2006, 11:15 AM	#9
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928	Hodge will not make it to the second round IMHO Yes he will. You have to consider how many guys are graded higher than him going into this draft: AJ Hawk, Bobby Carpenter, Chad Greenway, Ernie Sims, Demeco Ryans. Shouldn't be more than 5 LBs taken in the 1st round.
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928

02-13-2006, 11:53 AM	#10
FatiusJeebs 500th Post Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 973	McKinnon has to stay. He was definitely one of the bright spots in what was a dismal season. I'm sure Vitt will help him out with coverage techniques but he rocks at stopping the run and he's an excellent hitter/tackler. I say as far as the draft.....we need to slowly work toward the 3-4.....get some good LB's. and some good DB's. I think an couple of key additions on offense can make a world of difference. Check this out...Si's top 10 FA's. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mul...1.exclude.html
FatiusJeebs 500th Post Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 973	BINGO!!