Stinchcomb Eager, Injury Report, White Jerseys at Home, Etc.

TallySaint · 09-08-2006, 08:52 AM

Stinchcomb eager to get started
After four years, second-round pick gets chance to play

Friday, September 08, 2006
By Mike Triplett

As many as six Saints players are expected to make starting debuts Sunday at Cleveland.

Five are rookies. The other is fourth-year offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb, a former second-round pick from Georgia who finally has the chance to realize his potential.

"Obviously, I'm excited. It's been a long road to get to this point," said Stinchcomb, who missed all of last season after rupturing the patellar tendon in his right knee during training camp. "That said, you can't really celebrate now. I've got to keep putting in the work and prove I deserve the opportunity I've been given."

Before the injury, Stinchcomb, 27, spent his first two NFL seasons behind Wayne Gandy at left tackle. He appeared in only 10 games, primarily on special teams.

Then a month ago, Stinchcomb's future with the Saints appeared shaky. His knee flared up during the first few days of training camp, and he missed seven practice sessions while it healed.

He lost ground in his battle with Jamar Nesbit for the starting right tackle job and even fell behind rookie Zach Strief on the depth chart for a while.

But then Nesbit moved to left guard to replace another injured player, and Stinchcomb moved back into the starting lineup. He has stayed healthy ever since.

"I think he's a lot further along," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "In the early part of camp, there was a setback. And it was scary that all of a sudden this was going to be something where it was going to affect him and how much he played. But then that cleared up.

"So I think he's further along from a stamina standpoint, from a strength standpoint. All those things that you just can't simulate if you're just in meetings or just on the bike, just being in football shape."

TOUGH ROAD AHEAD: The Saints have the third-most difficult schedule in the NFL this season, based on their opponents' 2005 winning percentages. According to Stats LLC, the Saints' opponents combined for a record of 138-118 last season (a .539 winning percentage).

Story continues...
http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...l=1&thispage=2

8)

LKelley67 · 09-08-2006, 09:03 AM

It still has to be proven but the O-Line made dramatic improvement since the beginning of camp IMO. They were dreadful-scary to start off with. It may not be an All Pro group now but journeyman average would get the job done this year with our talented skill players.

TheDeuce · 09-08-2006, 10:31 AM

Good point LKelley. There was a lot to be scared of at the beginning of training camp, but this group really seems to have come together and I don't think is as bad as the national media says it is. Brown I think will be a stud. I really don't think Faine is going to be that much worse than Bentley. If he stays healthy, I don't think I'm going to miss LeCharles, his bum knee, and his mega contract. I think Jahri Evans is going to be a total dominator, maybe not this year, but in the near future. He played like D-II or D-III, so you know he's raw techincally, but in terms of just pure athleticism he's already earned a starting spot. Impressive.

I don't like the white at home. I want all black

09-08-2006, 08:52 AM	#1
TallySaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,367	Stinchcomb Eager, Injury Report, White Jerseys at Home, Etc. Stinchcomb eager to get started After four years, second-round pick gets chance to play Friday, September 08, 2006 By Mike Triplett As many as six Saints players are expected to make starting debuts Sunday at Cleveland. Five are rookies. The other is fourth-year offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb, a former second-round pick from Georgia who finally has the chance to realize his potential. "Obviously, I'm excited. It's been a long road to get to this point," said Stinchcomb, who missed all of last season after rupturing the patellar tendon in his right knee during training camp. "That said, you can't really celebrate now. I've got to keep putting in the work and prove I deserve the opportunity I've been given." Before the injury, Stinchcomb, 27, spent his first two NFL seasons behind Wayne Gandy at left tackle. He appeared in only 10 games, primarily on special teams. Then a month ago, Stinchcomb's future with the Saints appeared shaky. His knee flared up during the first few days of training camp, and he missed seven practice sessions while it healed. He lost ground in his battle with Jamar Nesbit for the starting right tackle job and even fell behind rookie Zach Strief on the depth chart for a while. But then Nesbit moved to left guard to replace another injured player, and Stinchcomb moved back into the starting lineup. He has stayed healthy ever since. "I think he's a lot further along," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "In the early part of camp, there was a setback. And it was scary that all of a sudden this was going to be something where it was going to affect him and how much he played. But then that cleared up. "So I think he's further along from a stamina standpoint, from a strength standpoint. All those things that you just can't simulate if you're just in meetings or just on the bike, just being in football shape." TOUGH ROAD AHEAD: The Saints have the third-most difficult schedule in the NFL this season, based on their opponents' 2005 winning percentages. According to Stats LLC, the Saints' opponents combined for a record of 138-118 last season (a .539 winning percentage). Story continues... http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...l=1&thispage=2 8)
	My Guardian Angel wears a hard hat.

09-08-2006, 10:31 AM	#3
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928	Good point LKelley. There was a lot to be scared of at the beginning of training camp, but this group really seems to have come together and I don't think is as bad as the national media says it is. Brown I think will be a stud. I really don't think Faine is going to be that much worse than Bentley. If he stays healthy, I don't think I'm going to miss LeCharles, his bum knee, and his mega contract. I think Jahri Evans is going to be a total dominator, maybe not this year, but in the near future. He played like D-II or D-III, so you know he's raw techincally, but in terms of just pure athleticism he's already earned a starting spot. Impressive. I don't like the white at home. I want all black
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928

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09-08-2006, 09:03 AM	#2
LKelley67 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: baton rouge Posts: 2,540	It still has to be proven but the O-Line made dramatic improvement since the beginning of camp IMO. They were dreadful-scary to start off with. It may not be an All Pro group now but journeyman average would get the job done this year with our talented skill players.