Someone please point to me where I'm being dumb
 

At wideout, we have an up and coming superstar (Colston), a solid veteran (Patten), a speedy slot guy (Henderson), plus decent depth that can start in a pinch (Copper and Jones). We also picked up one of the better pass-catching tight ends (Johnson), and, of course, The Most Dynamic Player To Ever Play Ever (Bush). What does everyone see that I don't that indicates our need to spend the first pick on a receiver? This draft is pretty deep at the position, and I didn't think we had many problems in the passing game last year, and if everyone stays healthy, there won't be near enough passes to go around. What am I missing here?

You're not being dumb, you're just a bit optimistic. We don't necessarily need to spend our first round pick on a WR, it just depends on who's there. If Bowe is there (or my Steve Smith), and that's the BPA, why not take a WR there? I do think we need to address WR within the first three rounds. I think we pretty much covered all of this in the other thread we were talking in.

I don't think anyone said we ABSOLUTELY need to take a WR in the first round. If I had my pick, it would be a DE named Spencer then a WR or OL.

i dont think that we need to spend our first round pick on a wideout. look at the lions on that deal. i could see it later though. i would like to see a dt or cb

I saw a kid last year at training camp that was pretty good. He's been on the practice squad all year. Name's Lance Moore. Watch out for this guy, he might break in to the roster.

forgot all about him. thanks Joe
I like Ginn because of the dual threat he is.
If WR is the BPA on the saints board then WR it is. With the roster we have now, need is not so much of an issue. It is stange to say that being a saint fan.
I am still hoping for a CB, DT or LB here.

I dont think you are being dumb at all. Remember that our offense produced just fine over a several game stretch last season without Horn and more important without Colston and that does not include the additions of Patten and Johnson.

But I think that there is plenty of ability to upgrade at the position and it would be nice to really put another strong wideout into the mix to take the pressure off Colston. Patten is not necessarily on the upside of his career. Copper and Jones do not have the speed to be truly consistent wide out threats. And Henderson has shown that he is really just carving a niche as a deep threat guy. So another young receiver to team with these guys and add another dimension (ala the versatility of Ginn) and you have one heck of a rounded out core. Also, keep in mind that none of these guys behind Colston are solid blockers at the wideout. A player like D Bowe who can neutralize speedy corners with his blocking ability, opens up more room and big play potential for Reggie and Deuce.

And I agree with hagan and papz in that with the signing weve made in FA, there is no GLARING need that forces our hand in the 1st round. Thus, we can take BPA or if someone falls into our laps at a position that could use an upgrade, then great.

Also, keep in mind that even if we dont nab a WR in the first round, this draft is as stocked as last years' was bare of wideouts throughout the draft including in the middle and late rounds so a 1st round wideout is definetly not a done deal.

right one of three equals 33%. and um no thanks.

Maybe it's just me but i'm not overly excited about this Patton pick-up. I hope he pans out but I ain't getting giddy about it. He hasn't done much in some time now. After all the receivers I saw at camp last year, i'd rather see some of them back. Maybe even Chase Lymon. We need depth but is Patton really it?

We need another high draft pick WR like we need another Sullivan.

And who said that Henderson was eratic at best? Football Outsiders ranked him the highest in DVOA for 2006 (defense adjusted value over the average WR) in the league and he was rated the 17th best receiver overall. In other words, he was better than Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Marcus Colston, et al., for every down he lined up when the difficulty of the opponent was factored in. He may not have caught every ball, but he wasn't even tops on the team as far as drops. The only complaint one might have is that he missed several games because of the sprain he got running for a TD vs. the Falcons. Otherwise he might have had more of a noticeable (to whomever made that igorant assessment) impact.

You have to wonder why Brees didn't throw more Henderson's way given his production.

We have enought people at WR position I would rather us focus on the Defense in the draft than the offense maybe some people on the offense line....

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/player...e?statsId=6809

Come on xan, those stats mean crap and you know it. You're digging too deep and I'm pretty sure we all know Henderson is very inconsistent. We are Saint fans.

I think they will get the BPA, who may start or just ass depth.

Gee, it's like you guys think I don't watch the games or even recognize how players are being utilized. Let's see how much you guys don't know:

**He started 5 of the last 6 games of the regular season and the Philly playoff game (and was inserted in the second offensive play of the Bears game) so your observation is WRONG that Coach of the Year Payton knew enough not to start him.

**Beginning with the TB game (after recovering from his injury against the falcons) he started 6 of those 9 games. In the games he did not start, only against Cincy did he have a catch (9 of them). Againts Pittsburgh no balls were thrown his way, even though he played and against NYG he had two long balls knocked down by severe winds. Games Henderson did not start were bad weather games, where the offensive gameplan did not have as much of a vertical component.

**In the last 11 games of the season in which he played, he caught nearly all the catchable passes, dropping two of the total 43 passes his way, which he caught 26 passes. Of those 43 passes, only 32 were considered "catchable".

**Most of Henderson's routes were either deep releases or fake releases. In instances where he was on a fake release, he was 3rd or 4th in the progression; usually these balls were tossed out of bounds beyond his reach.

**In the Saints' scheme, where the high percentage route is usually under 10 yards, Henderson's roll was to draw the safety away from the primary target. This usually meant running fast down field. You can't do that to a receiver every down, so Copper and Jones also filled the roll. Copper was the beneficiary of single coverage many times because he is not as fast nor considered as much of a receiving threat compared to Bush, Colston or Henderson. Copper's opportunities were much greater, but he did not produce relative.

Copper had more drops, more fumbles and more penalties while catching fewer passes for fewer yards than Henderson.

Inconsistant? get it right.

Henderson was a lethal weapon last year and will be better this year.

I think the point people are trying to make is that Henderson is really good at what he does...Run deep and either catch the ball or draw the safety away from the underneath routes. he is not an over the middle target. he is not very good at releasing for underneath routes. I like Henderson. I think he had a really good year...but to say the Saints couldnt use another WR is foolish. They really need another "bigger" WR to pair with Colston when Henderson is running the deep routes. But people can blast me too because i think the Saints should take either Jarrett or Sidney Rice over any of the other WR's in the draft (aside from Johnson of course).

He has a world of talent yes. But why is he the 3rd or 4th WR in the progession? Why is he running mostly deep routes or fake routes? I go along with drawing the safeties off. One thing that has been said about him is those are really the only things he can do well. He does not work in the short area very well. His ability to grasp the playbook has always been questioned. I think it was simplifed for him by the coaches.

the guy did catch a couple of nice deep balls last year. i can't complain about his progress. hope he has a better year this year.

Do not expect to see as 1,2,3 option. 4 or 5 is what I expect. I like the signing myself. I look at him as more of a players coach. I watched him play here in New England for years. He is solid and he is smart. Work ethics is among the best in the NFL. He left here becuase of money. He was low balled badly. Pissed the fans off big time. They called it a slap in face. He always got a warm welcome when he came home as visitor. Even when he was on IR. The fans still talk about him with a loving passion in there voice. He was the WR that was clutch. In a big game you knew he was going to get 3 to 4 key catches. When the game was on the line he always stepped up on that final drive. I will go as far as saying,

"Without him the Patriots would have a few less rings."

I can not count the times he was the one to set up Adam Venturi for the game winning kicks. The Pats got to the superbowls by winning alot of close games. He is a player you have to listen to.
If he can rub some of that off on these young bucs, trust me, it will be worth every penny. Trust Shawn on this one. He coached him and coached against him.

He will by no way effect the draft. No player on the roster will effect this draft.