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Saints short of strong 'Backers'

Quote:

Saints short of strong 'backers
By LARRY HOLDER
lholder@sunherald.com
JACKSON - Scott Fujita blew up Monday morning. The New Orleans Saints linebacker admitted that's not his normal tendency on the practice field.

But his anger and frustration got the best of him.

The linebackers had made two consecutive foul-ups in their formations and had to re-huddle. Normally, animated linebackers coach Joe Vitt would have laid into the unit.

But it was the typically mild-mannered Fujita who roasted his teammates with language suitable only for adult ears.

"We're in the dog days of training camp and frustrations start to build up," Fujita said. "We had kind of a tough individual grade. Anytime you get into position and guys have to keep repeating plays, you start to get fired up a little bit.

"Guys are so exhausted that they don't want to repeat the plays. You want to get off the field, be as efficient as possible and get the hell out of there."

The individual grade Fujita referred to is what has him and the Saints' coaching staff concerned. And one of the main reasons for the low expectations is that he's been the only player consistently on the field.

Fujita, Anthony Simmons and Alfred Fincher began the team's June mini-camp with the first team. Since then, several bodies have been shuffled in and out of the middle and weakside linebacker slots.

Simmons failed to show up at training camp and later announced his retirement. Tommy Polley, who was signed during mini-camp, replaced Simmons on the weak side and immediately looked like he had found a new starting job.

But Polley ended up on the stationary bike not long after nursing a shoulder injury.

Colby Bockwoldt started every game last season on the weak side. That didn't matter to first-year coach Sean Payton. Bockwoldt was relegated to third-team duties in mini-camp and was thought to be in danger of not making the team. The loss of Simmons and the injury to Polley has given the Saints no choice but to move Bockwoldt to the first team.

"(Bockwoldt) is going to have to play better on special teams, which I think he knows that and we'll see," Payton said. "We've got three more weeks. He's had a lot of snaps in the past, so that experience should serve him well."

The lack of faith in Bockwoldt has given former LSU linebacker E.J. Kuale an opportunity to earn the starting nod.

Fincher was given a chance to line up at middle linebacker, but he's had difficulties throughout camp and has fallen back on the depth chart.

Veteran Jay Foreman was brought in on the same day as Polley at mini-camp and now has been the primary middle linebacker with the first unit.

Payton said he hasn't committed to either player.

"Those two guys have been working hard, taking coaching, and it is what it is," Payton said. "We started with the first game, and we'll see how we're going to start this next game with Dallas."

Fujita just wants the best guys the coaching staff can find playing with him on Sept. 10 against the Cleveland Browns - regardless of experience.

"We're just trying to put the defense together and try to find the best fit across the board," Fujita said. "The numbers are down right now so you put guys in and try to keep as fresh as possible. The more guys we can put on the same page, the better off we are going to be."

McPherson's leg gets another look - Quarterback Adrian McPherson was not at practice Thursday as he received a second opinion on his bruised leg in New Orleans.

He was injured when the Tennessee Titans mascot ran into him with a golf cart before the second half on Saturday night.

"Maybe he gets more information (about the injury)," Payton said. "Maybe we get more information."

The NFL will not sanction the Titans for the incident.

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http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunhera...orleans_saints

Fujita is a legitimate starting LB even if not all pro caliber. Polley, maybe on this team and a couple of others, is a starter. It looks bleak beyond that. What I do like is that there is a tone from the coaching staff that seems to recognize this. In the past there was too much faith placed on athletes not players and in those who had not proven themselves on the field. Hopefully Loomis is on the horn trying to wrangle in somebody. A 3rd for Donnie Edwards seems rich but if they get it into the second day it might be prudent. Use some of all the young receivers as bait. McCardell is frickin old as me almost. Henderson and a 5th and I take him.

Anyone have any other LB ideas?

Buffalo cut one of their starters from last year because their new coaching staff has changed schemes. I apologize I don't have his name, but he is a big guy who could really get after it according to what I read. I think we should take Edwards and ship a third for him, and a receiver if needed. It appears that the Linebackers drafted by Haz have met their match in our new coaching staff. We have got to get something. I got to see Fujita play up herte in Dallas last year. He is a fighter/competitor and does not like losing. He will be a great leader for the linebackers and the defense as a whole. Just get Donnie Edwards here. NOW!!!!!!! :gun:

I also say we need an O- lineman...........badly :annoy:

Ok, scratch the ex-Buffalo LB. It was Jeff Posey, but he has since been signed by Washington. But hey, there is a silver lining. Junior Seau wants to come out of retirement, only three days after saying adios (in talks with New England according to Fox Sports). Lets get the old man in here. If nothing else, he can hold his cane out and trip up Warrick Dunn, or wallop Vick over the head with his walker.... :hump:

ditto O-line. I think I posted here somewhere what a fantasy site said about the Settersom injury, along the lines of- The Saints have the thinnest OL in the league so that even losing a backup could be a major setback.

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Originally Posted by LKelley67

We knew this already, now the rest of the league knows, damn..lol

Also good to see someone on this defense fired up about a lack of competent execution. I never mind hearing a player get in the face of his teammates for lack of focus.

its never a good sign when an undrafted rookie free agent has a chance to start. even if he is from LSU.

thats why so many are under one year deals.

Shoot, the guy can play...He didn't get a chance to really play much because their were alot of talent their, too...He has a very good chance to play for a while here, he can hit, too...

Fujita is a very good player, I've read that Edwards may more than likely be on his way to NO, that'll be one fine LBing corp

ugh.... you guys just don't get it... our problems is not with the LB's.... did anyone here, besides me, watch the freaking game??!! the defensive line is the problem..... that's where, if we're going to get anyone, we should concentrate on improving.... our LB's are more than adequate.... say we do get edwards.... what's he gonna do? all of a sudden, our defensive line is going to be able to stiffen up vs. the run? get with the program.... most of you are looking for star power or something to that nature..... so what if we have a guy that made hundreds of tackles the past 2 seasons? he won't be able to do it here.... guaranteed..... not with our line in front of him....

no reply? thought for sure someone was going to speak up and flame me for that last post....

I agree with you chRxis.

I'd like to see someone like Brenston Buckner join the line. Then our LB's wouldn't have to shed so many blocks.

D. Edwards back problems worry me.

Yeah youre right, sike!

The line is fine, we just need to get consistent and get more push...The reason of slck was b/c Holis wasn't in that much and Young didn't really play

We had Virraell and Verdon in, they were looking at those guys...Minucci did very well, and Whitehead could've played...

Maybe an addition from the draft next yr won't be bad, like a 2nd rounder and 6th

yeah they did do good d24... vs. the 2nd/3rd string..... newsflash, the 3rd string doesn't play regular season games.... our first team d-line got blown out the water.... they had problems vs. the run all night.... and that was with their starters, you can't play the blame game like you can with the 1st string o-line (mayberry and holland not being there).... we have serious problems at defensive tackle and i'm worried about charles grant....

Bockwalt is crap at LB........ I dont wanna see him starting this season........ special teams is were he is at his best........

Well after the Titans game and polley being out for 3 to 4 weeks. You are going to wish you took those air sickness bag from your last flight. I still got a few left from last year.

The current LBs I wouldn't even call adequate at best. More like kinda makeshift make do until a high profile FA or draftee can be attained. If Fujita, Fincher, Bock or Kuale open the season it still has to be one of the bottom 4 units in the league.

That said, the first unit did look bad between the DEs against the Titans. I didn't get a good guage of how much Thomas was in there though. He has been getting rave reviews, so let's see what the Dallas game looks like. I have never seen the results for what we paid Young, non-stop motor or not. Another body in the rotation would certainly help, even if at the end of the line Buckner or Grady Jackson.

...makes me think about the draft next year. Maybe an offensive lineman with a pick or two but the rest look like they will be all D at this point.

i guess that's why why we traded two first-rounders to move up and take sullivan, to shore up the defensive line. man, i am still way too bitter about that pick. excuse me while i go kick a puppy.

Don't worry Colby, I'm still rooting for you. I hope you get that starting MLB position and run with it. You can do it!

Give that puppy another big kick for me too!

F-ing Sullivan!

:bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:

Quote:

Originally Posted by papz

Don't worry Colby, I'm still rooting for you. I hope you get that starting MLB position and run with it. You can do it!

dont understand .....

agreed papz
allsaints we discussed this a while ago and there are afew of us who think he can do well at MLB. Most want to give the guy the boot. But what limits him on the outside is enough for him to get by with in the middle. there are a few here that know football. trust us. we are right on this one. :shock:

I like Colby, he is the only consistent LB we had before Polley and Fujita...He can play very well, I'm not th rounder he looks like a sure at MLB, though but at WLB, he can put up good #'s...He has gotten better every yr, for a 7th rounder, he looks like a 3rd