biloxi-indian

I had the pleasure of sitting next to Andrew Pinnock, FB, Chargers.com - Team » Roster » #34 Andrew Pinnock | RB / FB from the Bolts on a flight from San Diego to Dallas yesterday. Over the 2:25 flight we had a great conversation about football in general. It included a large discussion about the Saints and Bolts (along with conversations about agents and contracts).

Andrew knows Drew Brees very well and said that Brees went to the right system. IHHO Brees is and will continue to be outstanding in the Saints system. Andrew does not know Reggie personally, however, knows him indirectly. IHHO he does not think the Saints have used Reggie to his full capability. IHHO, Reggie is NOT a between the tackle runner and needs space...which is why he was so successful in his first year.

He asked me about Duece. I told him Duece had surgery on his left knee had microfracture surgery on his right knee which was hurt the previous year. Andrew said he, himself, was coming off and ACL injury and with the proper rehab...not a big issue. However, microfracture surgery is something else. We spoke about Colston and having his knee scoped...IHHO no big deal. Should be ready to go...and really liked Colston as, like Andrew, both were 7th round draft picks. Andrew came out of U of South Carolina under Lou Holtz in 03.

He knows Karney. They trained during offseason in AZ. Said Karney is one of the best FB in the league.

He is looking forward to London and playing against the Saints. He said the Saints are well known around the league for their front four. Grant and Smith are "animals" and will hurt you! His words not mine! Hollis weighs so much it takes two to handle him. Saints LB's are average, and at the Corner and Safety positions...well the Saints need help. Since I have been to London several times...he asked me for some recommendations for Tuesday...which is their off day. I gave him a few pubs and restaurants he would find interesting.

Andrew is a very likeable guy and readily talks about his and the Bolts situation. He said that the Bolts have to keep Rivers off the field as he wants to do too much during his rehab. Said Rivers sneeks onto the practice field to throw a few passes to the WR...but the coaches are keeping a very close eye on Rivers. He said they will really miss Michael Turner. I asked him who was going to take Turner's place. He said not Sproles. He expects the Bolts to draft a RB or pick one up after cuts in preseason. He said the Bolts do not have any picks on day 1 and only 2 on day two. He said the Bolts want to keep Sproles for KR and PR...plus he is not a big guy!

Andrew said he expects Gates to be back to full speed by TC...along with LT. He said it was really hard on LT during the AFC Championship game to have to sit it out!

He stated that he had to play a lot of ST while Lorenzo Neal was the starting FB. He indicated he learned a lot from Lorenzo and Lorenzo talked a lot about his days in New Orleans. He expects the Bolts to bring in a FB for competition...but is ready for it!

He said the differences between Marty and Norv is like NIGHT AND DAY. Marty was a players coach...Norv is very demanding and controlling. Said his position coach has very little say in what goes on as Norv controls most of the offense and makes ALL offensive players attend walk throughs no matter if they are focused on passing plays. He indicated that most of the time Norv is so concerned about the passing attack that he fails to let the RB know the pickups and pass protection that needs to be in place for the plays. He said the sidelines are a big "drama" during the games and likens it to controlled chaos!

I told him that many Saints fans were hoping for Florence to be a Saint. He likes Drayton a lot...but said he would bite at the least little pump! He said Florence, if he THOUGHT he had the play figured, he would bite. He said Merriman is an animal...he has to block him during practice!

We talke a lot about football. As we were deplaning...I wished him well and expressed that I hoped he would personally have an outstanding 2008. I also asked that the Bolts take it easy on the Big Easy in London! He thanked me and said the Bolts will have their hands full with Brees and the Saints!

What a great flight (in first class nonetheless). BTW; Andrews drinks Vodka and cranberry...me, I am a Jack Daniels on the rocks guy!

Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over, over, and over again...and expecting a different outcome!

winmill1

Great read. How cool to have a personal press conference with a starting NFL player who can't get away from you. The thing he said about Karney, I have thought for along time most underrated-fly under the radar player on our team. I also hope they use Karney more this year he is a tank.

pakowitz

excellent post.. sounds like a great guy and u had an awesome time talking to him

hagan714

nice time, you lucky bas..
Ok I wont spit on him running out of the tunnel. LOL All the others are fair game

andersen

He only mentioned three of the four, plus "average lb'ers", that was being nice, the DB's though?

papz

Thanks for the recap... pretty cool you got to do this.

biloxi-indian

Andrew could have told me to shut the hell up...however, he was engaging and liked talking football. Unlike many around here...I am not an X and O's type of guy, but I love my Saints (since 1967) and know enough to be engaging.

He said the heat was unbearable when he worked out in AZ. I asked him if he ever been to Jackson, Mississippi in July and August? He said, NO, but coming from South Carolina he understood heat and could only imagine. He spoke about the rigors of training in AZ and said Karney was up for the challenge. He was very complimentary regarding Lorenzo Neal...said he was a great help to his development (a coach on the field is what I took away).

Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over, over, and over again...and expecting a different outcome!

biloxi-indian

Hagan, Andrew is about 5'10", weighs about 230lbs and is stout! He has thighs like red cypress tree trunks...HUGE. I am 6'2" and weigh about 235lbs and work out every day...Andrew makes me look small and would have trouble getting through a door jam...he is as wide as he is high!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would think twice about spitting! LOLOLOLOLOLOL

What I really enjoyed was Andrew asking me questions about the Saints! Again, he said the Bolts will have their hands full when they play the Saints.

FireVenturi

Did you ask him if Merriman shares his roids?

biloxi-indian

Actually, I did not. However, he did speak about Stephen Cooper and stated it was not ROIDS, but a banned substance for which he was suspended. He indicated they will miss Cooper the first four games.