Marvin Mitchell Signed
 

The New Orleans Saints have signed their 2007 seventh-round draft choice linebacker Marvin Mitchell to a three-year contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis. With the signing, the Saints now have four of their seven picks from the April draft under contract.

"Marvin is a strong young player and he's adapted well to our system through the minicamps and OTAs," Loomis said. "He's a real competitor who will push hard for a spot in our linebacker corps during training camp."

Mitchell was taken by the Saints with the 220th overall selection in the draft following a solid college career at the University of Tennessee. The 6-foot-3-inch, 249-pound linebacker was a team captain for the Volunteers during his senior season where he served as the team's starting middle linebacker, opening all 13 games in the 2006 season.

For his career, Mitchell started 15 of the 40 games he played and registered 154 tackles (120 solo), one sack, an interception, four pass defenses and three forced fumbles. The Norfolk, Va. native led UT in tackles as a senior, making 104 stops and forcing two fumbles.

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/

Heard alot of negatives about him pre-draft and post selection, but nothing but good things in mini-camps. Hope he turns into another diamond in the rough.

well got have faith man. Sean will have us scratching our heads alot. I guess we will soon find out. thats 4 down. 2 to go.

Meach, Andy and Pittman???

thought andy signed.

Meach, Pittman, Bushrod.

Special teamer
 

Greetings fellow Saints fans. I'm a long time reader but first time poster. Now back to MM, he should be an absolute beast on special teams. I don't see him cracking the starting line up anytime soon. I hope I'm wrong though.

Welcome to the site...

I don't expect much if anything from Marvin... being a late round pick and all. Hopefully he can make an impact on special teams and with some hard work... slowly move himself up the depth chart. With the departure of Clark, we definately can use a hitter on ST.

Wow could this be another diamond in the ruff??? I hope so I like this kid I hope he can impress some people....

That's why I said what I said... you never do know.

mitchell was prospected as the next coming of ray lewis in his freshman season at tennessee. he played under expectations, and then got injured. when he came back healthy (senior year), he lived up to those expectations. the guy is a beast, and i wouldnt mind him starting over simmons

I'd take Simmons any and everyday over Mitchell. The guy had a decent senior season... let's not get that worked up about him. His mid 4.8ish speed doesn't bold too well for a starting spot. We're not going to hit a Colston every year.

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/sco...nmitchell.html

Mitchell over Simmons, if that isn't over-hype I don't know what is...

Mitchell has a lot... A LOT to learn. Totally respect the Saints for taking him aboard and giving him a shot to make the team but he'll be fighting for his life to make the cut. You also failed to mention his arrest.

And here I thought it was mid 4.8ish... I knew it was in the 4.9s. There are offensive lineman who runs faster than he does.

Bushrod
I keep forgetting about him. I hope that is not a sign.

There are O-linemen that ran the 40 faster than Ray Lewis' 4.8 also.

I don't know of any offensive lineman that runs below a straight 4.9. I'm gladly eat my crow if you can prove otherwise though Danno. Regardless, Mitchell is still very slow.

It is rare, but it does happen, looking at this years prospects only...

Joe Thomas 4.92
Joe Staley 4.82
Allen Barbe 4.84
Jermon Bushrod 4.95
Gabe Hall 4.91

Yes, his 40 time is slow, that doesn't always mean he'll play slow. I personally feel 40 times are important, but way over-rated. Ray Lewis had a slow 40 time, he's one of the fastest MLB's I've ever seen play. Its all gonna depend on how fast he plays with pads on.

But yeah, if he has to race someone 40 yards, from a complete stop, in shorts and a T-shirt, untouched, he's in big trouble.

Or if he doesn't play faster than he times, he won't last long, obviously.

4.8 isn't the same as 4.95... and I doubt Johnson and Mills ran close to 5.0 40 either.

I guess we'll find out on the field. I'm not rooting against the guy, but the odds are stacked against him. He's got a lot of work to do.

Speed is over rated
 

I don't care if you run a 4.3, if your reaction time is slow you will not make many plays. But you can run a 4.9 and have good instincts and reaction time you will constantly put yourself in place to make more plays. Payton wants football playas, I don't think he is as impressed with 40 times. Hasslet on the other hand was all about how they did in the combine. I bet Payton didn't draft him because of his 40 time, he must see a football playa ready to bust out. If not no one will remember it anyway, because 7th round picks are long shot to make the team.

but you can't measure the heart until he is on the field so until he gets on the field... you can't call him the next Ray Lewis either.

No one here called him the next Ray Lewis.

The kids a 7th round pick nothing more, lets hold off judging him until we see how he looks during training camp. Besides if he proves to be worthy of making the final roster cool, it just strengthens our team if not, no biggie.

Well put. Why didn't someone write that 3 pages ago?

This guy is still barely 50-50 to even make the team. If he does not shine on special teams in training camp, he has no shot.

What are we debating anyways? He's slow... that's a fact. I don't think anyone hear said he can't make the team and can't turn out to be a solid player. I don't think anyone said he doesn't have good football instinct. He just has a lot of work to do.

You post the quote where Payton said "HE KNEW"... I dare you! That is not what Payton said, he said he had no idea what they had in Colston.

CALM DOWN, CALM DOWN

I really don't know why any of us second guess Coach Payton.

If he is not satisfied with someones performance, they won't make the cut.

If he starts Fred at CB, by God, he knows something we don't.

Until Coach Payton fails, I'm not going to worry about anything.