Observation > Mlb
 

When I watched the repeat of the Saints and Bengals game Sunday morning, I noticed a few things about our boys in Black and Gold. First, Lance Moore should be put in the WR rotation. Second, our starting offense is going to be more potent than it was last year. And third, Mark Simoneau is not a starting MLB, I watched him play in, play out just get abused in the middle. Simoneau can't fight off the most simplest of blocks, it's just unbelievable to me how easy it is to take him out of a play. If Brian Simmons don't start at MLB, our defense will be so weak up the middle, it's going to be frightening. Simoneau is just not that physical at the point of attack, too often he sits and wait for the play to come to him instead of attacking the play. To play MLB in the NFL, you better be physical, dominating, attacking, and aggressive, and he is just none of the above. So I think Simmons will start at MLB, and Simoneau will back him up.

Re: Observation > Mlb
 

Totally agree. Simmons will be a better, more aggressive leader at the MLB.

Another bright spot I think is the safety position with Harper and KK, Harper's instincts are natural and pretty good.

Re: Observation > Mlb
 

Back at ya', I too believe the Safety position will be a strength. Also, I totally forgot to mention Olindo Mare, he really do make a big difference in field position, we definitely will be winning the battle for field position with him blasting kick after kick through the end zone, that will surely help our defense out tremendously.

Re: Observation > Mlb
 

another bright spot i feel was Copper, he caught everything thrown his way, yes he did have a fumble, but overall a good performance.

Re: Observation > Mlb
 

Agreed. If Simoneau is the started MLB, we're very weak in the middle.

Re: Observation > Mlb
 

Simoneau is a wonderful player to have on your team. Great character, can play a couple of the linebacker positions, will give it 110% on special teams, etc. With all that said, I agree, he's a great back up to have at your disposal but not a starter caliber player. Simmons has had to deal with injury recovery and learning a new scheme for the first time in a decade. He'll need time to adjust but he'll eventually be more effective than Mark is now. He's long in the tooth though and we need a future starter in that spot.

Re: Observation > Mlb
 

To me Simoneau looked more interested in engaging with lineman instead of shedding the block and attacking the ball.

Re: Observation > Mlb
 

Ah . . . my specialty.

I'm in agreement with you on Simoneau's lack of physicality at MLB, Blacksaint. He does seem to wait on the runner to come to him, all the while tying himself up with blockers instead of shedding them. He seems to be in the right place, but if he pursued North-South more agressively to meet the play, it's probable that he could plow past the blockers, but he doesn't. He's big enough and looks strong enough to be able to handle the MLB duties, but this was how he played last year, too.

The times that I watched Simmons, he seems very agressive. It looked liked he wound up in the wrong place a few times, but I like his attacking sense. Payton has raved about Simoneau and his knowing where to be on the play, so that might be a reflection on some lack of faith in Simmons -- understandable since Simmons is coming into a new system and didn't participate fully in the off season program because of the rehab. Give him time, and he'll see more and more playing time.