Conversation with Saints beat writer Jimmy Smith

foreverfan · 04-09-2008, 04:47 PM

[Comment From Guest]
what do you expect Duece's impact to be this year? He's older, recovering from inury, etc. Can he still be a part of a threatening 1-2 punch with Reggie?

12:01
timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: No one will work harder on his rehabilitation than Deuce McAllister. But it’s going to be difficult to come back from two surgeries, one on each knee. The microfracture procedure, just recently revealed, is the more troubling of the two. Ordinarily, those could take up to a year from which to fully recover. He’ll be OK from the ACL because he’s had so long to recover. The next few weeks, perhaps six or so, will be crucial to see just how far he has come back from the injuries.

12:02
[Comment From Noel Anderson]
Do you think that since our def. secondary has added depth between this off season season and last, there is a chance we will trade up to get either Ellis or Dorsey or maybe even Mcfadden?

12:02
timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: Well, Noel, you have to ask yourself about that depth first, and Jason David’s future. Speaking with Sean Payton last week at the owner’s meeting, I get the feeling he’s still committed to Jason David as a cornerback, despite his troubles last season. That being said, it’s awfully hard to see David as a starter again in 2008. Can he be a quality backup as a nickel back? Based on last year, it’s tough to say. Aaron Glenn is up in age and Mike McKenzie is coming off late-season ACL surgery. That leaves Jason Craft as a backup as well. So even though there’s some depth there, the quality of that depth is still unknown until it hits the field. If the Saints stay where they are, they should still get a good defensive lineman if that’s where they choose to spend the pick.

12:02
[Comment From Les]
What do you think about the signing of Aaron Glenn?

12:03
timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: Les, it certainly seems that the Saints have created something of a pattern in their offseason free agent signings, going after older, veteran players. It remains to be seen whether Glenn or Dan Morgan, both dogged by injuries, will be sufficiently recovered to make substantial contributions this season. What’s also disturbing about Glenn’s signing is it was just a one-year deal, obviously because of his age and the uncertainty whether he can contribute to the Saints’ defense.

[Comment From Amis]
I am looking at every possible scenario involving the Saints pick. But one thing bothers me: the possibility of the Saints getting an OT. Please tell me this can not happen, not after last couple of seasons.

12:04
timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: Certainly, Amis, you’ll agree that the Saints’ offensive line has performed well beyond anyone’s expectations the last two seasons. The team seems to have adequate depth at offensive line, with Zach Strief having the ability to play on either side. Some might think Strief is better than Jammal Brown. So I don’t think the Saints would go after an offensive tackle. But you never know. Mickey Loomis sat down on the first day of the draft and told the media that the last likely position the Saints would go after the rest of the way was running back, then he made a second-day trade, up, to pick Antonio Pittman. You just never know.

12:04
[Comment From ChrisinBR]
Are the Saints planning on using Randall Gay to solidify the Nickle Back position, or do they think he can start opposite of McKenzie? My fear is that the organization will take another defensive back from another team who had experience in another system/position and try to convert his skills to a starting CB a la Jason David.

12:04
timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: That’s an insightful question, Chris, but I believe your fears are unfounded. I don’t think you’ll see another free-agent signing in the defensive backfield. I do think they’ll give Randall Gay every opportunity to unseat Jason David for the starting job at right cornerback. Sean Payton seems to like what he has seen in Gay, his instincts, and he spoke highly of him during a conversation we had last week at the owner’s meeting. At the same time, Payton also said he thought David would have a better year in 2008. This is an area no doubt that everyone will be closely watching.

12:04
[Comment From David and Joel]
The Saint's draft philosphy has been to take the best player available instead of what they really need. Based on last year's draft result (pretty much a bust on almost all players) we really aren't very good at estimating the best player better. What is your opinion about going after what you really need instead in the draft?

12:05
timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: A double-team from David and Joel. OK. In fairness to last year’s draft, and this is certainly no defense of how it went top to bottom, it takes a while to accurately gauge the impact players will make coming out of college, usually three years or so. When Sean Payton says it’s easier to make a determination on a free-agent class, he’s correct. Robert Meachem was a suspect pick because of his injury situation and last year was basically a red-shirt year, and would have been anyway because the Saints were pretty deep at wide receiver. Based on what has transpired so far in the free-agency market, I see the Saints going after some help in the interior of the defensive line, where Bryan Young and Hollis Thomas are aging and where there is the greatest need for depth.

12:05
[Comment From Reniel]
Do you believe there is a possibility that Vernon Gholston will fall to the Saint's and would they select him? Perhaps moved to Linebacker?

12:06
timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: If you’ve followed NFL drafts, Reniel, and from the sounds of your question you have, you know that anything can happen when teams start picking. Who would have thought the Texans would pick Mario Williams two years ago having Reggie Bush fall into the Saints’ laps? While speculation is just that, speculation, it’s possible that Gholston could drop down to the No. 10 spot. Whether he’s high on the Saints’ wish list, no one knows.

12:06
[Comment From Chris]
Jimmy, do you really think Mark Brunell will be a quality backup at this point in his impressive career? Do you think we are leaning towards a LB or CB in the draft? Finally, how do you feel about our WR depth after M. Colston? Patten is older and after that it is kind of scary...

12:06
timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: Chris, speaking of Mark Brunell, I’ve written this before: the scariest aspect of watching the Saints practice the last two seasons was seeing the drop off between the starting quarterback, Drew Brees, and his primary back up, Jamie Martin. We really won’t be sure about Brunell until we see him on the field, but based on his resume, he should be a stronger understudy than Martin.

04-09-2008, 04:47 PM	#1
foreverfan 12,000 BS Posts Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 13,457 Blog Entries: 5	Conversation with Saints beat writer Jimmy Smith [Comment From Guest] what do you expect Duece's impact to be this year? He's older, recovering from inury, etc. Can he still be a part of a threatening 1-2 punch with Reggie? 12:01 timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: No one will work harder on his rehabilitation than Deuce McAllister. But it’s going to be difficult to come back from two surgeries, one on each knee. The microfracture procedure, just recently revealed, is the more troubling of the two. Ordinarily, those could take up to a year from which to fully recover. He’ll be OK from the ACL because he’s had so long to recover. The next few weeks, perhaps six or so, will be crucial to see just how far he has come back from the injuries. 12:02 [Comment From Noel Anderson] Do you think that since our def. secondary has added depth between this off season season and last, there is a chance we will trade up to get either Ellis or Dorsey or maybe even Mcfadden? 12:02 timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: Well, Noel, you have to ask yourself about that depth first, and Jason David’s future. Speaking with Sean Payton last week at the owner’s meeting, I get the feeling he’s still committed to Jason David as a cornerback, despite his troubles last season. That being said, it’s awfully hard to see David as a starter again in 2008. Can he be a quality backup as a nickel back? Based on last year, it’s tough to say. Aaron Glenn is up in age and Mike McKenzie is coming off late-season ACL surgery. That leaves Jason Craft as a backup as well. So even though there’s some depth there, the quality of that depth is still unknown until it hits the field. If the Saints stay where they are, they should still get a good defensive lineman if that’s where they choose to spend the pick. 12:02 [Comment From Les] What do you think about the signing of Aaron Glenn? 12:03 timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: Les, it certainly seems that the Saints have created something of a pattern in their offseason free agent signings, going after older, veteran players. It remains to be seen whether Glenn or Dan Morgan, both dogged by injuries, will be sufficiently recovered to make substantial contributions this season. What’s also disturbing about Glenn’s signing is it was just a one-year deal, obviously because of his age and the uncertainty whether he can contribute to the Saints’ defense. [Comment From Amis] I am looking at every possible scenario involving the Saints pick. But one thing bothers me: the possibility of the Saints getting an OT. Please tell me this can not happen, not after last couple of seasons. 12:04 timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: Certainly, Amis, you’ll agree that the Saints’ offensive line has performed well beyond anyone’s expectations the last two seasons. The team seems to have adequate depth at offensive line, with Zach Strief having the ability to play on either side. Some might think Strief is better than Jammal Brown. So I don’t think the Saints would go after an offensive tackle. But you never know. Mickey Loomis sat down on the first day of the draft and told the media that the last likely position the Saints would go after the rest of the way was running back, then he made a second-day trade, up, to pick Antonio Pittman. You just never know. 12:04 [Comment From ChrisinBR] Are the Saints planning on using Randall Gay to solidify the Nickle Back position, or do they think he can start opposite of McKenzie? My fear is that the organization will take another defensive back from another team who had experience in another system/position and try to convert his skills to a starting CB a la Jason David. 12:04 timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: That’s an insightful question, Chris, but I believe your fears are unfounded. I don’t think you’ll see another free-agent signing in the defensive backfield. I do think they’ll give Randall Gay every opportunity to unseat Jason David for the starting job at right cornerback. Sean Payton seems to like what he has seen in Gay, his instincts, and he spoke highly of him during a conversation we had last week at the owner’s meeting. At the same time, Payton also said he thought David would have a better year in 2008. This is an area no doubt that everyone will be closely watching. 12:04 [Comment From David and Joel] The Saint's draft philosphy has been to take the best player available instead of what they really need. Based on last year's draft result (pretty much a bust on almost all players) we really aren't very good at estimating the best player better. What is your opinion about going after what you really need instead in the draft? 12:05 timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: A double-team from David and Joel. OK. In fairness to last year’s draft, and this is certainly no defense of how it went top to bottom, it takes a while to accurately gauge the impact players will make coming out of college, usually three years or so. When Sean Payton says it’s easier to make a determination on a free-agent class, he’s correct. Robert Meachem was a suspect pick because of his injury situation and last year was basically a red-shirt year, and would have been anyway because the Saints were pretty deep at wide receiver. Based on what has transpired so far in the free-agency market, I see the Saints going after some help in the interior of the defensive line, where Bryan Young and Hollis Thomas are aging and where there is the greatest need for depth. 12:05 [Comment From Reniel] Do you believe there is a possibility that Vernon Gholston will fall to the Saint's and would they select him? Perhaps moved to Linebacker? 12:06 timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: If you’ve followed NFL drafts, Reniel, and from the sounds of your question you have, you know that anything can happen when teams start picking. Who would have thought the Texans would pick Mario Williams two years ago having Reggie Bush fall into the Saints’ laps? While speculation is just that, speculation, it’s possible that Gholston could drop down to the No. 10 spot. Whether he’s high on the Saints’ wish list, no one knows. 12:06 [Comment From Chris] Jimmy, do you really think Mark Brunell will be a quality backup at this point in his impressive career? Do you think we are leaning towards a LB or CB in the draft? Finally, how do you feel about our WR depth after M. Colston? Patten is older and after that it is kind of scary... 12:06 timespicayune - JIMMY SMITH: Chris, speaking of Mark Brunell, I’ve written this before: the scariest aspect of watching the Saints practice the last two seasons was seeing the drop off between the starting quarterback, Drew Brees, and his primary back up, Jamie Martin. We really won’t be sure about Brunell until we see him on the field, but based on his resume, he should be a stronger understudy than Martin.
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