Saints 2007 draft....you need to read...

JOESAM2002 · 05-01-2007, 08:55 AM

Great article maybe will help you doubters.

http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...420.xml&coll=1

fhs623 · 05-01-2007, 09:07 AM

I was a little confused right after the draft, but seeing their undrafted FA's I guess they know what they're doing

papz · 05-01-2007, 09:24 AM

I agree with the article... and I'm definately taking the wait and see approach. I'm not disappointed in our draft at all nor elated. This isn't the same organization like it was years ago, we've turned over a new leaf. I have faith our staff know what they're doing and that they're going to get the best out of the players we drafted. No point in dogging these guys... they're all Saints now.

saintsfan1976 · 05-01-2007, 10:26 AM

You SAid:
Draft (C-)- Other than Meachem, all of these kids need time to develop. Let's put it this way, there is not Evans or Colston in this bunch. By next year or year after, this draft will pay dividends. Not until then unfortunately.

But isn't this why we draft college athletes? For them to DEVELOP into NFL starters?? The percentage of 3rd - 7th rounders who actually "pay dividends" has to be a small number.

saintsfan1976 · 05-01-2007, 10:58 AM

Great point....

Maybe since we made it to the NFC title game, we're where (too bad I couldn't fit 'ware' in here) we need to be and can afford to develop players to be starters over the next 2 - 3 yrs?

hagan714 · 05-01-2007, 11:01 AM

we are better today than yesterday.

WhoDat205 · 05-01-2007, 11:15 AM

I agree with the assertion that small school kids need more time to develope than BCS school kids, but I think you have to weight your draft assessments based on several factors. Obviously, team need is major concern, and sure you can note the holes on the D line especially at tackle. However, you have to look at the strenght of the draft class. I saw several analysts say that this was a weak class at the top where only 18-20 guys are 1st round quality and only 1 of those guys was a DT (okoye). I think we lucked into one of those 18-20 guys in Meacham. Then you've got to look at the team's picks. Due to a good season last year, we are picking late in every round. Consistently having late picks puts a greater influence on value. Just look at some of AjunCajuns statistical analyses. We drafted ahead of our spot on most of our picks and signed some really promising UDFA's. Finally, look at where we stand going into the preseason. We've got cap room and a lot of high value rookies. When teams start to finalize cuts, sign new players and jockey for cap room, there's no telling who might land in our lap. We've got some very nice barganing chips in Pittman and even Meacham that might lure some big name players. Finally, rookie camp starts in two weeks. Let's give the team a chance to evaluate these guys.

saintsfan1976 · 05-01-2007, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by WhoDat205

Let's give the team a chance to evaluate these guys.

Touche. But what the hell are supposed to do with all of this extra time in front of the laptop????? lol.

lumm0x · 05-01-2007, 11:34 AM

I think in any draft you expect something for the immediate year contribution from your 1st round pick. After that you are hoping for a good learning curve and spot production from your 2nd rounder and beyond that it's a crapshoot whether any of the guys will even make the squad. No one goes into a draft counting on late round picks to be starters or even contribute first year. So with that said, I don't see how a poor grade can be relevant to a draft visibly intended for depth and project players. I think the intention here was to find smarter and better character players (although the Mitchell pick baffles me) and give them 2-3 years to develop if they show enough in camp. I'd rather have a few bodies that are desperate to make an impression and have the aptitude to develop than a guy who's just talented enough to stick around but may never mature into that next step (Devery Henderson is a good example of this so far).

As I've said before, the coaching staff's first year draft has earned them a pass this season and fans need to reserve judgement until the season plays out. If they had a history of failing experiments on small school players and a tendency to grasp at these guys then they deserve criticism. They can be objectively evaluated after this season and the free ride is over next draft if they picked 4 small school duds this year.

WhoDat205 · 05-01-2007, 01:38 PM

With a sophomore head coach like Payton, he is probably still trying to develope his style. True, he's had coaching expirience, but not at this level. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to think that Payton is still developing as a coach (scary, huh?). Different coaches look for different qualities in players at different positions. Payton may want a MLB with a nasty streak and figured Mitchell was worth a gamble in the 7th. Just a though.

05-01-2007, 08:55 AM	#1
JOESAM2002 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: CRYSTAL BEACH TEXAS Posts: 4,100	Saints 2007 draft....you need to read... Great article maybe will help you doubters. http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...420.xml&coll=1

05-01-2007, 09:07 AM	#2
fhs623 100th Post Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 137	I was a little confused right after the draft, but seeing their undrafted FA's I guess they know what they're doing
fhs623 100th Post Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 137

05-01-2007, 11:27 AM	#8
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,846 Blog Entries: 3	Originally Posted by WhoDat205 Let's give the team a chance to evaluate these guys. Touche. But what the hell are supposed to do with all of this extra time in front of the laptop????? lol.

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05-01-2007, 09:24 AM	#3
papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,753	I agree with the article... and I'm definately taking the wait and see approach. I'm not disappointed in our draft at all nor elated. This isn't the same organization like it was years ago, we've turned over a new leaf. I have faith our staff know what they're doing and that they're going to get the best out of the players we drafted. No point in dogging these guys... they're all Saints now.

05-01-2007, 10:26 AM	#4
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,846 Blog Entries: 3	You SAid: Draft (C-)- Other than Meachem, all of these kids need time to develop. Let's put it this way, there is not Evans or Colston in this bunch. By next year or year after, this draft will pay dividends. Not until then unfortunately. But isn't this why we draft college athletes? For them to DEVELOP into NFL starters?? The percentage of 3rd - 7th rounders who actually "pay dividends" has to be a small number.

05-01-2007, 10:58 AM	#5
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,846 Blog Entries: 3	Great point.... Maybe since we made it to the NFC title game, we're where (too bad I couldn't fit 'ware' in here) we need to be and can afford to develop players to be starters over the next 2 - 3 yrs?

05-01-2007, 11:01 AM	#6
hagan714 LB Mentallity Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15,870 Blog Entries: 68	we are better today than yesterday.

05-01-2007, 11:15 AM	#7
WhoDat205 Prediction Pain Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,082 Blog Entries: 2	I agree with the assertion that small school kids need more time to develope than BCS school kids, but I think you have to weight your draft assessments based on several factors. Obviously, team need is major concern, and sure you can note the holes on the D line especially at tackle. However, you have to look at the strenght of the draft class. I saw several analysts say that this was a weak class at the top where only 18-20 guys are 1st round quality and only 1 of those guys was a DT (okoye). I think we lucked into one of those 18-20 guys in Meacham. Then you've got to look at the team's picks. Due to a good season last year, we are picking late in every round. Consistently having late picks puts a greater influence on value. Just look at some of AjunCajuns statistical analyses. We drafted ahead of our spot on most of our picks and signed some really promising UDFA's. Finally, look at where we stand going into the preseason. We've got cap room and a lot of high value rookies. When teams start to finalize cuts, sign new players and jockey for cap room, there's no telling who might land in our lap. We've got some very nice barganing chips in Pittman and even Meacham that might lure some big name players. Finally, rookie camp starts in two weeks. Let's give the team a chance to evaluate these guys.

05-01-2007, 11:34 AM	#9
lumm0x Resident antediluvian Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,026	I think in any draft you expect something for the immediate year contribution from your 1st round pick. After that you are hoping for a good learning curve and spot production from your 2nd rounder and beyond that it's a crapshoot whether any of the guys will even make the squad. No one goes into a draft counting on late round picks to be starters or even contribute first year. So with that said, I don't see how a poor grade can be relevant to a draft visibly intended for depth and project players. I think the intention here was to find smarter and better character players (although the Mitchell pick baffles me) and give them 2-3 years to develop if they show enough in camp. I'd rather have a few bodies that are desperate to make an impression and have the aptitude to develop than a guy who's just talented enough to stick around but may never mature into that next step (Devery Henderson is a good example of this so far). As I've said before, the coaching staff's first year draft has earned them a pass this season and fans need to reserve judgement until the season plays out. If they had a history of failing experiments on small school players and a tendency to grasp at these guys then they deserve criticism. They can be objectively evaluated after this season and the free ride is over next draft if they picked 4 small school duds this year.

05-01-2007, 01:38 PM	#10
WhoDat205 Prediction Pain Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,082 Blog Entries: 2	With a sophomore head coach like Payton, he is probably still trying to develope his style. True, he's had coaching expirience, but not at this level. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to think that Payton is still developing as a coach (scary, huh?). Different coaches look for different qualities in players at different positions. Payton may want a MLB with a nasty streak and figured Mitchell was worth a gamble in the 7th. Just a though.