So what about Randel Gay
 

I just want a few opinions on what you all this about this guy. My first question is will he be the starter on the other side of Mike if Mike is ready to go by the regular season? Is he aggressive enough to play man-to-man coverage and actually make a big difference by disrupting the pass & making interceptions. We prob can all agree he is better than JD. I dont know much about the guy, but is he a big tackler? I love Porter and Usama and I know they will see a little playing time, but the point I am trying to get at is who is going to be the 2 starters. BTW off topic, I love this board and I truly respect each and everyone of your opinions. This is by far the best group of people that I have ever discussed Saints football with. This site kicks ass!!

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

I totally agree with you B Dub, this site is great. Most of the people on here really know there their stuff. I come here for all of my Saints info and the info is almost always reliable. I've been involved in some epic show downs with some of the more seasoned vets on this board and although I didn't agree with what they were saying I still respected them for not backing down and sticking to their guns. Many will remember my classic "Saints Fans = Too Picky" post and how that discussion went down hill in a hurry. Looking back I'd have to say that you guys were right about Pac Man, we didn't need that scum. I say that now because alot more information has come out about his shady dealings. Having said that, I still want Shockey by God!

As far as Gay is concerned I'm kinda like you in that I'm not sure just how well he'll fit in our defense. Alot of people are concerned about him being a cover 2 guy that might not be a great fit in a man scheme. We have a right to be a little worried due to he whole Jason David debacle last year. The way I see it nothing but good things can come from picking him up. Like you said, one would think that at worst he'll still be better than David. So if he starts and he's even close to being an average NFL starter that would be a big upgrade over David. But here's what I've been wondering, let's say MM comes back and is still the solid player he has been for us. Let's say Gay ends up starting and is an above average starter. If we had two solid, reliable corners that could be counted on every week, would that be enough to put us over the top on D? I think that if we had two solid CBs to go along with our front seven we would have one helluva defense to go along with our great offense. Guys I think our front seven is gonna be scary, maybe one of the best in the NFL. So if we get just a little help from the back end we might have a championship defense on our hands.

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

im with u BDUB....even tho sometimes i get mad and throw stuff at paks avatar or even euphoria...i have to agree with u....these guys are great...ive gone from checking the saints home page first when i log on to checking the forums first...thats a huge step...but all it means is that the information is solid...reliable...and true....these guys are great at finding facts to base their arguments on...that is the basis of a great forum....even heated arguments always have facts...unless u say u hope the falcons beat us lol....dont do that


on the gay subject....i kinda like him.....he was a solid number one in NE til asante samuel...then he was a great number 2....whether he is better in tampa 2 or in man to man is really irrelevant because he is an NFL corner....he has decent speed....he reads the QB very well...he has a lot of experience playing for an elite defense in NE for the past several seasons...i dont like him as a number 1 guy on our team so if MM isnt ready to start we might be in trouble again.....but he could be a great 2 corner and i want to see how the rookie and usama young will play off of gays experience and leadership

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

I think David will come into camp as the starter. Gay is capable of starting but I think he's better suited as our full time nickel corner... inwhich he will excel there for us. I see a solid all around player with 3 or 4 picks. I believe David will surprise many this year... it'll be his job to lose. Barring injury, I don't expect much production from Young until next year and Porter's main contribution will be on special teams.

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

We all love to discuss the saints, be right or wrong. I always come away with something to think about. Love it. nothing beats a good drunk agreement with out drinking. I agree to disagree. Nothing personal bonehead. Time to pour another one.

David will probably start the season on the island. We will need to have something happen in camp to change that.

Gay will be at the #2 till M&M is ready and I am thinking he will not be used until 2009 as the full time starter. Spot duty.

Young and Porter will battle it out for the nickel and the loser is the dime.

I am hoping by seasons end Porter or Young will be ready to take over on the island. Gay and M&M will be fighting for the #2. David will be holding on for dear life to be back in 2009.

I am looking forward to see what Gay can do on the field full time.

PS

Shockey can stay in NY and we should never let the falcons win. Yes saints fans are picky and we have the right to be.

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

First off let me say that this site has the best group of guys that I have had the pleasure of not meeting :).

Randall Gay....lets see...If you trace Gay back to his college days at LSU you will see a corner that excelled at M2M coverage. He played at LSU during the Saban (risisting urges to curse) days. Sabans defense thrived on LB blitzs and M2M coverage on the corners and it proved to be a top 5 defense. It is reason they played for the National Championship and it is the reason he was drafted as high as he was. NE refined his zone coverage skills but he is a true M2M corner. I believe that JD comes to camp as the #2 CB but is in real trouble. I believe Gay will be the #2 corner before preseason. If MM is not healthy by season start you may see JD and Young more often because we may be forced to play more zone coverage without MM to lock up with oppositions #1 reciever. Only time will tell but I promise you Gay will make a hard case for the #2 CB spot.

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

I think David will come out of camp as our CB2 and Gay will push him all year round with possibly some flip flopping on the depth chart throughout the year.

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

For some reason I think Gay will be are starter.

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

Gay is a nickel corner and I hope that someone step up to win the starter position( U. Young or T. Porter) so that he can continue to play nickel which will be good for the team. I keep getting the feeling that our secondary will be greatly improved and one of the corners will be moved to safety ( J. David ).

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

Gay has lots of talent.. he was really highly rated coming out of H.S. but didnt really put it all together until his SR year at LSU when he had an awesome season playing in a pro style high blitz M2M Defense. just b/c N.E. plays mostly zone doesnt mean they only play zone.. they are a hybrid 3-4/4-3 defense.. they switch it up alot and their corners play alot of different packages..

R. Gays situation is totally different from J. Davids b/c the Colts played in a 3-4 about 98% of the time and david was strictly a zone corner and Gay isnt.. he has played alot of M2M D and his coverage skills are really underrated b/c of the system that the Pats run.. im going to guess that Gay will be the starter no matter if M.M. is back or not and David will be either the other starter or the nickel.. im hoping that U. Young can actually beat out David for the nickel spot and then T. Porter getting some playtime in mop-up duty and im pretty sure he will get some P.T. as the gunner on special teams

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

first thing it is Randall with two L's. lol english 101
I have watched Gay play since he came to NE. What we got a CB that played all over the field. He never lined up at one spot last year. That NE version of a rover CB. He has the versatility to play both safety and corner. This dude is smart. 2004 started in the super bowl and lead the team in tackles.

Here is the problem.
Gay played with the Pats for four years and missed about 40% of the games. Ending up on IR two years in a row. 2005 (ankle) and 2006 (hamstring).

What we have is a very good DB more than a true CB. If M&M needs more time Gay will be more than welcomed to play in his spot. Maybe FS is where he will settle in at. he is quick but lacks that great straight line speed. either way a solid pick up.

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

If the TBD improved D-line & revampt when healthy LB core can create some pressure then you can put Shriners in clown cars in the secondary and we should be better then last year...

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

I disagree with PAPZ on the David issue. I do not believe we will see much of Him this year and the Saints are going to take a leap of faith with Young and Porter over and David comming in as the 4th or 5th man in the rotation. I think when you see David get burned badly (Which Is Inevitable) you are going to see a reaction from the Saints and by next year He is going to be disposable. I think the Saints organization has realized they made a mistake and are just going to try and get something out of Him before cutting Him. Overall consistancy is the hallmark of a good corner and sometimes a reciever just makes a great play. This is not something that anyone can Teach David. He flat out just does not have it and was very lucky to have played on a great Team at one time and was carried by them for His superbowl ring. Probably one of the least deserving guys to have that Boast. If one or two of our undrafted players pan out we may not ever see David on the field again. I don't see Him making any sort of comeback the guy was never even hurt. He needs to go to a team with a strong group to carry the load and occasionaly make a play. This is what any team will get from David.

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

With our improved front 7, I'm expecting at least league average production from him... which is a big improvement considering he was considered one of the worst starting corners in the league last year.

Now that's certainly a stretch. There's very good reason to throw David under the bus, he certainly deserves it. But to be beat out by UDFA's, come on now... don't let your hatred of him cloud objectivity. He's still very young, that was his first year inwhich he was making an adjustment from a cover 2 scheme, and we didn't have much of a pass rush last year... there's no reason why he couldn't rebound. We're paying him good money and he's still wearing our uniform... shouldn't we all want him to succeed and earn that money?

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

I am biased on the David issue and you are right. It is not that I do not wish to see Him have a good year quite the contrary I am hopeful but being realistic. But if he would not have played on a championship team with the other players support He would have been exposed earlier. Do you think the Saints would have tried to get David if He would have had even one year anywhere else like He had for the Saints last year ? I believe the jig is up for Him. If He is a situational player or a 2-scheme player use Him for that only or trade him off to a system that can use Him. I believe his lack of size, speed , power and athleticism are lacking and there is not enough bounce back or luck to change the evident.

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

I can only hope I'm the one that's right about him. :cool:

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

I think that Gay will start the season at #1 until Mike mac comes back...that rhymes and could be part of a new rap song lol.....ne way....this david issue is frustrating....he hurt our D bad...ne way u look at it...he hurt our team more than he helped....he is being paid too much for him to ride the bench so i think he will play #2 for the start....i like our depth at CB now even tho none of them are very great....gay was our key addition over the offseason....more than vilma....more than morgan...more than mccray..more than glenn...i wont say more than ellis or ne other draft pick cuz they are unproven but gay will have to hold down the CB position...he has a lot more pressure on him than jason david did last year....it is up to him to bring out secondary back to being respectable....i look for him to have a great year because, for no other reason than, we need him to

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

I am all aboard the optimistic magic voyage ride. I can dance to this beat.

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

I agree.

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

I think will be given a shot to prove what he can do with more help from the front 7. Last year's ordeal on D wasn't the ideal situation for a new CB to come in and give a good account of himself. We all saw that David isn't the best man cover corner in the league but surely he will improve if the QB doesn't have all day to throw the ball. Prime Time would've had a hard time locking down WRs if he had to cover them as long as our CBs were forced to last year. People forget that we brought him in for a reason. He was really solid in Indy while he was on the same D as Freeney. I remember him making alot of plays and his future seemed bright because he was a young, talented CB. I think he just ran into a buzzsaw last year and his lack of man skills were exposed. If he get's another shot and he still sucks despite an improved rush then I say cut the bum and let's move on with Young and Porter.

Re: So what about Randel Gay
 

Now that this is a David thread I say if we are lucky and he get bumped inside to the slot we are going to like him. Thats were he belongs. He is another Craft but with better speed. If not we will cut him after this year. This staff seems to cut there losses quickly.