Not quite time to panic
 

So the first weekend of free agency has pretty much come and gone and the Saints havent signed anyone...no big deal. You may want to get used to the fact that the one guy we got was through a trade, and i think there are more to come. Not just with the Saints, but league wide. These guys have all had trade rumors floating around about them:
Michael Huff, Fabian Washington, Dewayne Robertson, Lito Sheppard, Dominique Foxworth, Marcus Trufant, Jeremy Shockey, and God only knows who else.

I think and most of you guys should know that drafting a CB in the first round does very little to help us out this year. I do think adding a CB in the early rounds is a must but that is not going to solve our problems in 2008.
I do believe that improving the secondary is the saints number 1 priority and I do think they will get someone in here to help. Before the offseason started, i really didnt think the saints had major interest in Briggs and i feel strongly that they really like Keith Rivers for our first pick. That just reaffirms my belief that the Saints will swing a trade to bring in a CB before the season starts. So dont panic just yet...something will get done and we will all be able to smile........or we could do nothing and i will have to apologize to each and every one of you for leading you on.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

You are right, it's not time to panic yet. At least the Saints got Vilma, but other than that, the roster pretty much looks the same. Still have a draft ahead of us, and still a chance to get a little improvement from the second tier free agents, and possibly trade. I was hoping for a little more action from the Saints, but I guess things are not really that bad. At least the Saints did secure the services of valuable role players. It's amazing that what I've just said has been pretty much the tone of the Saints for the past several years now. From a risk standpoint, I cannot blame them for not getting some big time free agents, but at the same time it gets a little bit frustrating to know how close this guys are and that a nice pickup could put the Saints over the hump.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

I agree, not time to panic yet. I thought we were going to get Asante Samuel, but with how much money he would have cost us, maybe it's a good thing he's going to Philadelphia. Like boba said, there are a lot of good players out there that are either free agents or are being dangled as trade bait. Just be patient with the FO, because I'm sure they're doing something about the defense (especially CB). I mean seriously, they have to understand that MM had ACL surgery and Jason David is our other corner. That's a problem that needs fixing, and I'm sure they'll do something about it.

Also remember to stay patient, Payton and Loomis have done a pretty good job over the last two years of swinging draft day trades for some solid players (ie Hollis Thomas). It might take a while, but I'm sure they'll figure it out.

I personally would love to see us sign either Randall Gay, or get Lito Sheppard somehow.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

They may work out a deal to get Hall (who everyone forgets about).. who would be solid enough and is the cheapest option belive it or not at only 4.2$ million next year.. so what if it is for one year. He said he wouldn't re-adjust his contract if a team traded for him.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

It is all over. the time to panic is now. Take down the tents and roll up the carpet all is lost. we are doomed I tell you we are doomed to a 0-16 season. The fat lady is signing. We need to gut the entire team and start over. Trade all our picks for the #1 this year because we are getting the #1 pick next year. Those two picks will get us to the super bowl. The caravan is leaving at midnight Monday morning. I am telling you we are dead in the water and a storm is coming. Shoot me now. The sky is falling and I do not want to be around to see it. I can not take any more of this.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

For the love of God and all that is holy WAKE UP! Sorry about that I lost it for a brief post. ;)

It takes time to build a winning club. We took a gamble and if it pays offf we got the second best if not the best LB in the first weekend of FA. Score! We are not done, I just punched out the fat lady. She aint going to be signing for a while.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

As much as I wanted Asante, I feel he was a product of the scheme of the Pats and also knowing what the other team is going to do may have helped. all that being said......he still would have been an upgrade. I also feel the same way about gay, although I would like to see him play nickel for us. We need a true starting CB very bad!

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

I think that R,Gay will sign with us soon . No inside poop just a gut feeling.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

Maybe Payton is gun shy.

Here's the big 4 from last year- David, KK, Mare and Simmons. Toast, bench, and cut X 2.

On the other hand Patten, Thomas, Clancy and Johnson were serviceable.

I wouldn't feel so bad about free agency if I knew which draft Payton is going to have: Year 1 A+, Year 2 C-

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

Yeah, no need to panic, it takes time to build a winning club, another 40 years ought to do it. The organization is not willing to spend the money, period and if anyone thinks that we can fill all of our holes with the draft think again, Meachem is still on the bench and he was our 1st rounder last year. We only have 9 spots left open on the roster as of this morning, who does anyone see us signing in FA now that will start for us? NO ONE or maybe Gay can start opposite David and everytime the opposing team throws a pass it will be for a touchdown.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

Damn, that's a scary thought. JD cannot be a starter. Please God. I can't take another season of watching powdered toast man being made fun of by the entire league.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

I would have to agree Bob that we will probably trade for a CB before the draft considering we are interested in Hall and Sheppard and maybe every other cornerback in the league that any team will listen to trade offers for.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

Year 1 was an A, but I would have to say that year 2 was an F as of right now. We got nobody and traded up to get a running back tat got cut after preseason. As good as the 1st draft was the last draft was that much worse. I would be satisfied with something in the middle this year.

Analysis

Year 1:
1st round: Reggie Bush - could be great if used properly
Round 2 - Roman Harper - could be better 2 yrs removed from ACL. Jury is still out
Round 4 - Jahri Evans - Great pick. Our best offensive lineman in my opinion
Round 5 - Rob Ninkovich - Could have been good but too many injuries
Round 6 - Josh Lay - Is he still on the practice squad?
Round 6 - Zach Strief - solid backup
Round 7 - you know who!
We also traded for Faine, Simoneau, and Hollis ondraft day (which is really what made this draft so excellent)

Year 2:

Round 1 - Robert Meachem - all I can do is hope, but I think that may just be unrealistic optimism
Round 3 - Usama Young - Did not look impressive last year
Round 3 - Andy Alleman -Barely played
Round 4 - Antonio Pittman - Traded up for him and then cut him
Round 4 -Jermon Bushrod - never played
Round 5 - David Jones -didnt even notice him in preseason (try drafting someone from an actual college)
Round 7 - Marvin Mitchell - looks like he will be a solid special teamer (maybe we should justt draft 7th rounders)

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

Thats 7 starters from 2006. 0 so far from 2007

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

and I have a feeling we are going to rely on the draft to fill the rest of our holes and it ain't going to happen.

If you think we'll go 6-10 and we actual go 7-9 does that feel like a win to you?

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

We should take the picks and the money we offered for Shockey and go get a premiere corner.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

Rookie cornerback? Most QB's drool over that the night before. Need a lockdown man corner with this defense.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

Most teams are already looking at our secondary and laughing hysterically because they know all they have to do is throw the ball and they'll win. That's why our run defense didn't look so bad last year, everyone was passing us to death.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

CB isn't the answer! There is this thing called a "pass rush" and unless you can get one going you will suck. You wanna win games, impose your will on the opposing team's offense. Even the best of CB's will get burned if you give a QB all day to wait until his WR do get open. Address the front 7 and you'll start to improve. I can't name not one secondary person for the Giants off the top of my head but I sure do know what that front 7 did to the Pats.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

must not be an LSU fan other wise you would know who Corey webster is.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

I'm nowhere near panic mode. We got a lb, which was a big priority. I'm sure the front office has a plan. I also see us trading for a quality cb, (hopefully sheppard). I was intrigued by samuel and did want the saints to pursue him, but I'm glad they didn't break the bank to get him. I do hope we draft a cb in on the first day, but I also want to see how usama develops going into his second season, and how j. david rebounds from his suicidal season (he might make a serviceable nickle corner). Do we still have holes, yes, but I don't see the team standing pat. There will be more moves to come, and we know the team likes to make trades on draft day, so who knows what will happen.

Re: Not quite time to panic
 

this is what the saints need to do sign Gay some how get there hands on Ellis or Dorsey and in the second round draft Xavier Adibi and they will have a much better defense.