ssmitty

SHOCKEY TO THE SAINTS?

Right now, the New Orleans Saints seem to be in the middle of the aggressive trade rumors that occur at draft time. Many times these items are leaked to the press to throw off the real deals and decisions done in the league, but in my opinion, the Saints have interest in moving up in the first-round and in acquiring New York Giants former All-Pro tight end Jeremy Shockey. I know that the Giants would deal off Shockey, but they won’t take a cut-rate price for him and they want something of quality in return for him.

The former Miami (Fla.) All-American is still in the prime of his pro career (he won’t turn 28 years old until Aug. 18). He is also still a quality performer. There isn’t a tight end in this draft class, unless you reach for one, that is worth a first-round draft choice.

And the Giants know it.

Pro scout Mark Kelwell, who has scouted and coached in the NFL and the Canadian Football league for over 25 years, feels the same way and says that the Giants would be foolish to do a bad deal just to get rid of a player that has shown a tendency to shoot his mouth off at different times.

“Jeremy is still a Pro-Bowl player in this league and if I were the Giants I wouldn’t send him packing for an average player and a low-round choice,” Kelwell said. “This is a guy that has caught 188 passes for over 2,100 yards and 17 touchdowns over the past three seasons in the NFC. Other than Jason Witten in Dallas and Chris Cooley in Washington nobody else in the NFC has caught more passes and been as productive, receiving wise.

“Shockey will drop an easy pass or two and he is a bit of a live-wire in the locker room, but he is still someone you have to scheme to stop on defense. As a former assistant coach I can tell you that Jeremy has great size for a tight end and safeties don’t match up well against him one-on-one downfield and he is too fast for most linebackers. He is a ferocious open-field runner and a very sharp route-runner. He isn’t a great blocker, but neither is Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, Kellen Winslow, Dallas Clark or Todd Heap, who are the best tight ends in the AFC. I know that Drew Brees would really love to work with him in New Orleans. Sean (Payton) is a brilliant young offensive mind and he would pump him the ball 75 to 80 times a year, provided he stays healthy. If I were running the Giants I would demand at least a second round pick for him and something extra.”

Kelwell also believes that the addition of Shockey would be a lift to the Saints’ offense in the same realm as the Patriots acquisition of wide receiver Randy Moss from the Oakland Raiders last spring.

“I firmly believe if the Saints could acquire Shockey, they would add someone that would rearrange opposing defensive schemes just like Moss did for the Patriots. He isn’t a deep threat like Moss is, but in the Saints offense they don’t throw a lot deep downfield. Payton likes the short rhythm passes and this is where Shockey excels. If you are a defense and you have Marques Colston, Reggie Bush, a healthy Deuce McAllister and Shockey to defend against, that will leave you thinking quite a bit on how to slow that offense down. I have been involved with four NFL teams and three teams in the CFL and while I know the opinions about current NFL players and draft choices vary across the board on talent, the acquisition of Shockey by New Orleans would be huge and they haven’t had that sort of receiving talent at tight end on that team since maybe Henry Childs back in the late 1970’s.”

NFL analyst Mike Detillier is based in Raceland.

hagan714

Solid evaluation. Some way some how we are going to have a fun draft.

nutria

I hope it's fun and we have a couple of players who can make the team We need some help in many areas.

BooBirdSaint

I'm assuming that the title "moving up" refers to the Offense moving up in the ratings and not our draft order? If we deal for Shockey I don't see how we could even think about moving up in the draft? Maybe a deal for Shockey also means were going to deal for Lito? After all if the G-men want a second rounder for Shock and we would have needed that pick to move up in the 1st round then why not trade out our 10th spot with the Eagles and get Lito? Two key issues solved with vet players who we don't have to wait on developing!

IT'S GOOOOOD!!!

FrenzyFan

I find this thinking completely mind-boggling. Our offense is already high-powered. Right now, the strategy that every team that plays us uses is to keep our offense off the field. If they can manage that, it's very hard to get in a rhythm - and they're doing it effectively against us mostly because our defense cannot stop them and get their offenses off the field.

So in answer to this strategic move by enemy coaches (to attack our defense to stop our prolific offense), our response should be to improve our offense.... Even better, FTA Detillier says it's OK to give up Harper (who he calls the best player in our secondary - not sure I agree but he says it) and a later pick for Shockey. So now our strategy would be to WEAKEN the defense and strengthen the offense...

At least it would confuse the enemy, I guess...

\"The AB brand of TP will hurt your O-ring.\" - BlackandBlue

http://www.darrylbercegeay.com/wsmith1.jpg

rjakapeanut

Harper IS the best player in our secondary besides McKenzie, he has a ton of upside but I wouldn't mind losing him to make Shockey a Saint.

pakowitz

see, i dont think he has a ton of upside.. he isnt going to get anymore athletic.. even tho he needs to.. he might get a lil better but he wont be a probowl player for us.. he will be a marginal safety and thats about all he can be.. he just doesnt have the athletic ability to become a super player

LordOfEntropy

Trading away Harper doesn't bother me if we bring in another safety (that is, a starting-caliber safety). If that happens, AND they replace Bullocks, then I'm fine. But I don't see how we'll have enough picks left to make it happen.

And what if we don't?

1) KK and Bullocks as starters??
2) Jay "born before electricity, juked out of his shoes by a QB" Bellamy as a backup??

That can't be the answer. Dude, in that situation, I really don't think the best offense in the world is going to do us any good.

But find a way to replace Harper and Bullocks with quality (how?), and I'm okay with it. Others have suggested moving over a CB. Sure, if that's the plan, and it works, then I have no problem with it.

But the answer CANNOT Bullocks and Bellamy.

can anyone help me id this tune? it goes thwap thwap boom tch boom tch boom tch.

Qui a laissez sortir les chiens!

lazybones

I think R.Gay is the answer at safety. He has played safety before and why else would we bring in a minza minza corner? This is probably the wrong thread to post this. Sorry to the starter.

hagan714

Lets get one first before nutralizing any improvement to the secondary by trading Harper.

I would rather go from 10 to 30 and get Shockey and keep Harper. Then go with the BPA.