Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Koa Misi is till out there as well

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Tight End?

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Tight End rated that high, probably not...

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Koa Misi was one of the surprise picks that could surface...

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Lock and Load Saints Fans, we're nearing our LZ...

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Injured affected Gronkowsk.....

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

FUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG.

Gotta take Kindle with Hughes gone.

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

ESPN's Pat Yasinskas: Gotta think Everson Griffen and Carlos Dunlap are considerations for the Saints

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Wassup, Waazup?

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Clock stopped?!? Trade?!?

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Well our dynasty was nice while it lasted; maybe we can trade J Brown for Dorsey...

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Patrick Robinson CB.........

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

patrick robinson DB FSU

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

NFL speak: Robinson is the Seminoles most active pass defender and should make the transition to the next level well. His combination of size, strength and athleticism is best suited as a rolled up corner in two deep schemes. He is a solid perimeter run defender but not always physical versus larger ball carriers. Pat needs to use his hands better to jam and reroute receivers off the line of scrimmage as well as his over all body positioning in coverage. He can be aggressive in zone schemes and is susceptible to gadget plays as well as double moves. Robinson is a good football player that should contribute on special teams as a rookie while developing his overall game

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Strength
Robinson possesses the ideal size and straight line speed coveted in today’s starting corners. He anticipates break points well and jumps routes. Robinson’s a competitive defender with great ball skills, who was not tested often later in his college career. He’s a special team’s contributor, which will allow him to see the field immediately.
Weakness
Only has average play speed for the position and doesn’t have as much closing burst and quickness when transitioning as you’d like to see. There are some durability questions as he dealt with multiple injuries in college. Only an average technician who would benefit from some coaching up at the next level.

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

CBS Sportline

Overview
Robinson has good size and athleticism and has all the natural traits teams are looking for in a first-round pick.

He exploded onto the scene in 2007, snaring six interceptions despite only starting five games. He was suspended for his role in the infamous Florida State academic scandal and missed the Music City Bowl and the first three games of the 2008 season, but quickly proved just as effective as a junior.

In '09, Robinson enjoyed his best all-around season. He had career highs in tackles (47), solo tackles (37), passes broken up (11) and forced fumbles (two).

Athletic, instinctive and possessing good size, Robinson has all of the traits teams are looking for in a first-round cornerback -- except consistency. He has all of the natural talent and ability necessary to become a Pro Bowl cornerback, but there is no denying his inconsistent play leaves the door open for Robinson to be a bust.

Analysis
Read & React: Good instincts for the position. Reads the receiver and is athletic enough to mirror routes. Willing to take gambles and will bait the quarterback. Showed better focus as a senior. Aggressively attacks the line on outside runs and wide receiver screens.

Man Coverage: Lanky athlete with long arms. Built to play press coverage. Aggressive use of hands at the line of scrimmage helps knock receivers off routes. Good low, tight backpedal. Good balance and foot quickness to turn and mirror the receiver's route.

Zone Coverage: Good low, tight backpedal. Good route recognition for zone coverage. Reads the quarterback's eyes and closes quickly. Needs to improve his discipline in zone coverage, as he too often trusts his eyes and can wander out of his zone.

Closing/Recovery: Explosive burst to close toward the passer. Shows a legitimate second gear to recover if beaten initially. Former wide receiver with natural hands for the interception. Can pluck the ball outside of his frame and secures it quickly. Competes well for the jump ball. Times his leaps and has explosive athleticism. Natural playmaker with good vision for the return. Elusive and has very good straight-line speed to pull away.

Run Support: Looks smaller on film than his listed size. Has a cover corner mentality -- steers clear of head-on physical contact in run support. Will make the tackle when needed, but isn't likely to throw his body into the ballcarrier. Showed improved recognition of the sweep as a senior, rushing up to the line of scrimmage to beat the block and make the tackle behind the line. Will struggle to take down bigger ballcarriers. Will grab on, but is too often taken for a ride until teammates arrive to clean up.

Tackling: Efficient wrap-up tackler in the open field. Breaks down in space and isn't afraid to take on the bigger man, though he typically relies on duck-and-swipe type tackles. Quick, active hands to rip the ball away. Forced two fumbles in 2009.

Intangibles: Has all the tools. However, he hasn't developed into a true standout and has minimal starting experience (24 starts in 44 career games). Suspended for four games (2008 Music City Bowl, first three games of 2008) for his role in the Florida State academic scandal. Good special teams player with experience as kickoff and punt returner and with a blocked kick and blocked PAT (returned it for two points) to his credit.

NFL Comparison: Eric Wright, Browns

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Wonder if we didn't take so long to pick as this was a pick and trade deal?

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

I see couple of players we could trade for direct exchange or to move up in Round 2...

J Brown and now, Roman Harper, if Sharper is resigned...

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

??? WHAT????:whatever:

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Okay So the Saints drafted a cornerback in Round 1, an offensive tackle in round 2 and a tight end in round 3 (what was the investment in Shockey?!?) and I spend the last two days in the hospital with ESPN blocked by the medical staff...

Just got discharged and I'm going the New Orleans to kick Mickey Loomis and his staff in the knutz...

Want to draft a guy at his value spot...fine

Trade up and get your guys, you;ve got bullets in Brown and Harper...

You trade to get a punter but not a defensive lineman or linebacker?!?

I can't wait to see this one play out...

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

lol thats funny

we did trade up for the LSU kid in the 4th tho

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

should have took bowman in the 2nd and aaron hernandez/dorin dickerson/ricky sapp in 3rd

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

trade up to get harry coleman

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

I'm still amazed that the Saints were willing to trade up to get a punter last year and were not willing to do the same with glaring needs at Defensive Tackle, Defensive End, and Linebacker...

I see the picks as good, hell, great value picks...

but I mean, did Loomis and the scouting staff take the entire offseason to pat themselves on the back and not prepare the trading scenarios to move up and get some help for the pass rush and run stoppers that are needed?!?

Are we to be a one hit wonder?

The talking heads on ESPN are calling out the Saints saying we have to validate our championship as if they knew what they were saying?!?

We have to protect this house!

ARRRGHHHH!!!! I hope this wasn't another Usama Young Andy Alleman Draft Playoff Hangover Draft!!!!

And would somebody please take the trophy away from Tom Benson and the Zurich Classic and let his grand daughter parade around with it instead!!!

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Bookem Danno

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Perhaps they learned their lesson?;)

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

That second question in the Bizarro universe would be very interesting...

Rounds one through three are what count; they have to contribute immediately, even on a winning team...


Guess we'll see...

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Curious that Peter King said that upon review of the Saints draft that they addressed a big need at cornerback...

I know he's not very popular as he comes off as a pompous gas bag; but, if this young man gets his helmet on straight, the Saints have a cornerback corps as good as any in the league...

And the Safeties should be, with logic prevailing, Sharper, Jenkins, Harper, Vaughn, Reiss at the very least...not too shabby

Now if we only had a defensive line...

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

we do Will S. Sed Ellis...B McCray...Hargrove...Al Woods...Remi.A...Alex Brown..Jimmy.W..J.Gallett...and a few more im missing here..

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

We've got to have more starters; the Brown and Wilkerson signings were fortunate, but we need another big tackle...

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

I know..sarcasm...but we might have to go into the season with that group..

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

The addition of Brown and Wilkerson are definite upgrades for the D-line this year. We were 21st against the run and 13th in sacks last season, so these additions can only send those rankings higher. Woods will be starting by year end and Pressley will be placed into the rotation at the DT position opposite Sellis.

I didn't really like the draft at first but we stole Brown and Graham, Tennant was the best center in the draft, Woods is the wide body we needed and a great value pick, Canfield may be the heir apparent if Daniels doesn't work (my money is still on Daniels. He reminds me of Drew). I still have problems with the Robinson pick. I know they picked him for the system but the quickest feet in the draft can't move if your not cerebral at the same time.

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

I don't think brains were his problem, consistency was his problem.

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

and that too, thanks Danno.

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

Looking forward to seeing how the draftees and UDRFA look in the Black and Gold...

Re: 2010 NFL Draft
 

New Orleans Saints used technology to draft their players

By James Varney, The Times-Picayune

May 08, 2010, 9:24AM

In the NFL draft last month, New Orleans Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis commanded not one but two sprawling systems in the team's draft room, a position that earned him a new nickname: Captain Kirk.

For the first time, the Saints were employing a new technology they have developed, along with a Microsoft spinoff company. The software, called "Surface," allowed the Saints to compress reams of information and video on hundreds of players, creating a kind cyberspace trading card with dozens of backs that can be displayed with a mouse click or screen touch.

Thus, on large wall screens and smaller personal computers, every Saints executive, coach or scout in the room could follow the action in the draft as a whole, and in real time study the team's own rankings at every position, and a list of the best available players according to the Saints' grades.

Watching Loomis as the admiral on this deck, which just a year ago had involved magnets, tape and stacks and stacks of paperwork, the software men dubbed him the commander of the Starship Enterprise.

But Loomis kept the magnets up, too. While he controlled the draft day operation from a post that looks like a coffee-table sized iPhone, he conceded he had some trepidation. It worked like a dream.

"Even the older-school guys get it," Loomis enthused. "Now we've got a way to put it all together. It's always been available to us, but now we can associate it with players and numbers."

For example, the Saints get reams of data from an outfit called STATS. Some of this is the same kind of numbers that comprise Monday morning boxscores and are familiar to every football fan. But others, "burned defender," or, "stuff," are more arcane yet revealing statistics that in the past required labor-intensive time to collate.

Now, it's all there with a click -- the Saints' own research, video footage from games for players, and for the draft, footage from the NFL combine and various school's Pro Days.

"We're always looking for an edge," Loomis said. "Whether it's technology, the talent of your people, anything. I think we have talented evaluators, and part of my job is to find the best way to use that."

The road to what now appears the best way began in 2007 when John Pollard, who was doing some NFL marketing work for Microsoft, met Loomis and some other Saints executives.

"Surface" was a fledgling at the time, but when Pollard brought it up, he said the Saints' team instinctively grasped its potential.

"So I brought Mickey and some others over to Microsoft -- top secret now," Pollard said. "At the time, the applications we'd developed were rudimentary -- finger painting, checkers."

Those basic pleasures are still a part of "Surface." Bill Gates and Warren Buffett use it to play cards together. But Pollard made frequent trips to Metairie, and eventually he and some other partners formed a company called Identity Mine. But the venture capital and much of the intellectual impetus for Identity Mine came from Microsoft and some other heavy hitters, and they also have a stake should the product become popular in the league, according to Pollard.

Thus far that hasn't happened. In fact, Loomis would like to keep it that way and confessed he had some reluctance about even discussing it. But the NFL is hip to it now, although Pollard acknowledged not every team has expressed interest.

At the moment the package the Saints are using costs roughly $250,000 with a service and maintenance contract adding thousands more. Pollard said that is a cut rate given to the Saints because of their initial, enthusiastic support, and the fact feedback from the Saints was instrumental in developing some of the features.

"With the Saints, it was just serendipity," Pollard said, estimating the Saints had easy access to some 30 percent of the information they owned. "I hit it off with Mickey, and Sean Payton was the right coach because he grasped it all immediately. I like the Saints people personally, and as an organization they have a vision."

The Saints have 32 terabytes of video on file. That is to "Surface" as some old-school mainframe is to a laptop. Payton, for instance, can break down video in a fraction of the time, scouts can compare Pro Days coast to coast, and players, quite soon, will have game video reviewable on their phone at home.

Ultimately, that's the beauty of "Surface". It promises not a new batch of information that must be absorbed and learned, but an easy and increasingly familiar way to access all the information already on hand. Loomis said younger staffers have taken to the system like otters to water.

"What we've been using the last 10 years I would equate to the CD collection you might have had then," Loomis said.

New Orleans Saints used technology to draft their players | - NOLA.com