ssmitty

Sudden Impact!

Deke Bellavia Reporting

The Saints 2008 Season gets underway this weekend out on Airline Drive as fifty-seven new faces will audition for Sean Payton and his staff during Rookie Mini-Camp. Six draftees, sixteen undrafted free agents and thirty-five non-roster tryout invitees will all be in the fold for five practices to try and impress and make noise in hopes of being back when training camp opens in late July.

After the New York Giants had all eight of their 2007 draft picks make their team and contribute during their remarkable Super Bowl Season others are hoping to get the same type of impact from their draft classes.

Last season the Saints drafted seven players, with five making the club and of the five only two saw action in CB Usuma Young and 7th round draft choice LB Marvin Mitchell.

I think that we will all agree that the story of last season’s rookie class was that of a 5-11 210 RB from Illinois named Pierre Thomas. Thomas beat out fourth round pick RB Antonio Pittman and became the cream of the crop of last year’s class winning over the respect of fellow players and that of the Saints Coaching Staff as well.

With that said when you’re top pick does not smell the field then something is wrong as Robert Meachem was a first year bust. So what about the class of 2008? Which of the six draftees can or will make a sudden impact for the Saints?

The most likely candidates are DT Sedrick Ellis and CB Tracey Porter but nothing is a given. Ellis could be a huge impact player from day one providing he comes into camp in decent shape and he pans out like coaches project he will.

But to me Porter could be just as key. Two year’s ago when the Saints drafted SS Roman Harper many of us were scratching our heads wondering why another Safety but Harper was incredible for the Saints in 2006 before he went down with a season ending injury.

Porter could very well do the same this season especially with the status of CB Mike McKenzie still up in the air and the question mark on the other side in last season’s disappointment in Jason David. Basically the Saints are counting on Porter and Young to be the future at Corner Back and that future could be sooner than later.

And could there possibly be another Pierre Thomas in this year’s group of undrafted Free Agent Rookies? If so the Saints could be in store for one heck of a ride in 2008 and hopefully well into 2009!

Bottom line is that if the Saints get production out of this year’s class like they did last year’s class than another struggle to make the playoffs will be on the horizon but if the 2008 Class is anything like the Class of 2006 when four of eight players drafted became starters then the Saints will be playing in February and could possibly make it two straight for the NFC!