Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

I like it!

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

agreed

i think center, at least interior depth, needed to be addressed in this draft

i was worried that we used our offensive line pick on the tackle earlier

IMO this is our best pick so far......maybe aside from the DT pick in the 4th

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

FINALLY!! A step in the right direction! (I hope!)

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Yes...this is a solid pick

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Matt Tennant (C)
Height:6'5"
Weight:300 lbs.
Arm Length:32 1/4 in.
Hand Size:9 1/2 in.

Strengths
Tennant possesses a nice blend of size and athleticism. Displays impressive initial quickness and agility to reach his blocks at the second level. Is a real technician with great field awareness. Exhibits good hand use and gets his arms extended and locked. Body control and balance are also impressive.

Weaknesses
Has a good frame but lacks good bulk for the position. Does not possess the power to consistently deal with the bull rush when pass blocking or blow interior lineman off the ball in the running game. Is not a great knee bender.

National Football League: NFL Draft 2010 - Matt Tennant

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Jacksonville got our 2011 4th rounder.

Matt Tennant
Offensive Center56SCOUTS GRADE
Grading Scale
Grading Scale50-69 Grade5th Round Round EquivalentThese are usually players that play at a high level in college, but lack some measurables or skills to play at that same level in the NFL. He may be a player that has a lot of developmental qualities, or could be a player that will contribute right away on special teams or in a situational capacity. He will usually rate in the second-third at his position and is considered a fifth round draft choice.
View All Grades »CloseBoston College
School
ACC
Conference6'4⅝"
Height
300 lbs
Weight32.2"
Arm Length
9.5"
Hand Size—
Overall Rank
3
Positional Rank2009 NCAA FOOTBALL STATS
Stats are not available.
2010 Draft Pick Info
TEAM ROUND PICK
NOR 5 27(158)
Scouts Inc. Player Evaluations
ProfileNewsVideoScouting CombineConversationOverall Football TraitsProduction 2 2005: Redshirted 2006: Appears in five games. 2007: Starts all 14 games. 2008: Starts all 14 games; honorable mention All-ACC.
Height-Weight-Speed 2 Prototypical height and bulk. Carries weight well. Top-end speed is above average.
Durability 4 Underwent Tommy John surgery on left elbow following the 2008 season and didn't participate in 2009 spring practice. Underwent Tommy John surgery on right elbow following junior year in high school.
Intangibles 2 Developed into a team leader and named one of two offensive captains in 2009.

1 = Exceptional2 = Above average3 = Average4 = Below average5 = Marginal
Offensive Center Specific Traits
Awareness 2 Above-average overall awareness. Keeps head up when asked to combo block up to the second level and generally slides off the initial block in time to get into position when the linebacker flows to him. Keeps head on a swivel in pass pro. Does a nice job of posting with one arm to help out OG in front side protection while keeping his eyes to the backside of protection for blitzes or defensive line movement.
Toughness 3 A competitor who works from snap until whistle but is more of a finesse blocker than a mauler. Lacks elite strength in lower body. Needs to be more aggressive at times and be more of a finisher.
Pass Protection 2 More stout than his size suggests and can hold his ground working against most bull rushers. Gets set quickly and does a good job of re-setting his feet after absorbing the initial rush. Above-average balance and flashes ability to recover when over extending. Lacks an explosive punch. Can cut legs out from under defenders on three-step drops and screens but overuses this quality at times.
Run Blocking 3 Above-average snap and step quickness. Gets into adequate initial position, maintains proper hand placement and generally locks arms out on contact. Possesses short arms though (32 ¼) and is lacking in terms of a power base. Needs to play with a lower pad level and can be overpowered at times. Will struggles to get adequate movement off the line of scrimmage against bigger and more powerful interior DT's at the next level. Also could do a better job of moving feet to sustain blocks. Transitions well to the second level to cut off LB's.

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Tennant meet Strength and Conditioning Coach Dan Dalrymple. Playing next to Nicks and Evans sure doesn't hurt either.

Tennant was the second ranked Center in the draft and was projected as a third or fourth rounder. Good value again.

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Are we looking to grow Tennant into a starting center in a few years, or as backup for Goodwin right away- in case the unfortunate injury bug appears??

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

both?

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Interesting. He has had Tommy John surgery in both elbows. Has this kid been pitching with both arms?

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

This pick concerns me some. He is a tall center and our QB is a little short by NFL standards. I am sure Brees can adjust like but I am just thinking out loud.

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

the motion of a pitcher is not a whole lot different from the motion of a center snapping the ball

this may be an issue?

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

I generally don't like trading next years picks but this should be a good pick up. BC has been known to produce some quality linemen, Dan Koppen, Pete Kendall etc.

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

I don't think it will be an issue. Our medical staff had to have checked him out or they wouln't have given up a 4th rounder for him. Additionally, a lot of kids are actually getting Tommy John surgery proactively now prior to being hurt as the arm actually comes back stronger than prior to surgery. I saw a 60 minutes episode on high school pitchers that do this. It's the only surgery I know of that actually strengthens the joint.

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Sure, both is the likely possibility, but I was curious if the team was leaning one way or the other for the immediate future? There is Leckey also at Center, but I haven't heard much about of him.

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

i think its a misconception

people talked about this when i played baseball back in the day.......they said its the strength of the new ligament that causes you to throw harder but the muscle itself is not any stronger

they said that it weakens much faster than the original and that its not recommended to actually throw after having the surgery

then again....like you said it does make you throw harder initially

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

What did we trade?

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

4th next year

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Leckey will be hitting the street sooner rather than later now.

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Next yrs 4th?

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

im not even sure leckey is under contract

i remember us having a serious problem with interior depth because we dont have anyone backing up

we released nesbit and leckey i thought

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

One thing I am noticing is the bulk and height we are drafting this year.

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Lechey signed 3/08/10 according to the below link.

New Orleans Saints | Transactions

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

thanks

still makes sense to add depth if he is the only interior depth we have eh?

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

canton; you and I debated the C position last year. I wanted Unger and you wanted somebody else...hmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnn

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Leckey is signed. He will be released or Tennant goes to Practice Squad as we don't need 3 centers.

Yes we gave up a 4th rounder, probably pick number #130.

I'm not sure what doctors told you "back in the day" when you were pitching, but this surgery has come LIGHT YEARS since the 70's.
Again, no way we give up so much to move up and pick a guy that we are concerned medically about. We would have just waited until the 7th round and taken him.

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Can't ever have enough depth at any position. We need another DE and to trade JB for a veteran OLB or for Haynesworth if we can get the numbers to work

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

We have Tim Duckworth as depth at Guard. No matter who we have or draft, if either Nicks or Evans goes down for any length of time we will be cooked.

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

We are not trading Jammal Brown for an Outside linebacker. That's lunacy.
We are not trading for Albert Haynesworth. It's just not happening guys. I'm in a reasonably good mood today so please don't rile me with crazy trades that have no chance of happening.

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

im just not a fan of players on the offensive line who play one position but project to another

unger was one of those guys

if you play a position in college, shouldnt you project to that position in the pros?

there are several examples of this working out......we dont even have to look far.....carl nicks was a tackle in college

tennant is a center, played center, and projects as a center

only downfall is hes a bit light for his height.......that rhymes

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Strief could probably step in...does everything else

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Don't care at all about getting you mad and that's my opinion and it lunacy for you to think it won't happen. Look at the draft so far

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

canton; the problem with your position is it does not match the Saints FO. They speak often about versitility!

There are more cases than just Nicks.

All that being said, I like the Tennant pick.

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

Trading a Pro Bowl LT for an Outside Linebacker isn't lunacy as much as it is just plain stupid. You don't want to come off as stupid do you?

I've already told you Haynesworth isn't happening. Is it that you just don't believe that I know what I'm talking about or that your deaf?

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

a bit more detail about Tennant. Note; "Tennant has had just 1.5 quarterback sacks and two pressures registered against him in his last two seasons."


from cbs sports
Overview
Comparing Tennant to active NFL centers, professional scouts can see parts of many players -- the intelligence of Matt Birk (Baltimore), the tenaciousness of Olin Kreutz (Chicago), the trap-blocking ability of Brad Meester (Jacksonville) and the consistent effort of Jeff Saturday (Indianapolis).

Older scouts also see the aggressive and combative nature of Tim Grunhard (ex-Kansas City), the explosiveness off the snap of Dwight Stephenson (ex-Miami), the field vision of Jim Langer (ex-Miami) and the hand placement ability of Jay Hilgenberg (ex-Chicago). With all of those skills combined into one player, it is no small wonder than many talent evaluators regard the Boston College blocker as one of the elite prospects at his position heading into the 2010 NFL Draft.

Since taking over the center position as a sophomore, what once was a revolving door for defensive linemen to get to BC quarterbacks (from 2002-06, Eagles centers had allowed a total of 34 sacks) has all but shut down, as Tennant has had just 1.5 quarterback sacks and two pressures registered against him in his last two seasons. To further impress upon his importance to the Eagles' offensive success, during those last 27 contests, his fellow line-mates have given up 41 sacks along with 36 pressures.

Tennant was a highly regarded prospect during his playing days at powerhouse Arch-bishop Moeller High School. The Super Prep All-American added All-State honors from the Associated Press as a senior in 2004. He was also named to the All-Southwest Ohio, All-District and All-City first-team squads.

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

So you wouldn't trade a JB for a pro bowl OLB, now in my book thats just plain stupid if that's what you need. I don't care who you think you are but if you ain't coach you don't know.

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

defense is a bit different than offense but i agree that there are a ton of examples of it working out........thats just my personal opinion that players that play a position in college should project to that same position in the pros

technically he can be deaf and still be able to read

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

thats high praise for a 5th round pick

hopefully he pans out

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

now that's some funny ****e right there! roflmao

Re: Saints Select C Matt Tennant w/#158
 

No team is going to trade a Pro Bowl Outside Linebacker for a player coming off of season ending injury. Who is this mystery SAM Pro Bowl Linebacker out there that is on the trading blocks???

You understand how trading works right??

Your Haynesworth comment made a lot more sense, but I've heard from enough people now that I KNOW for a fact that the Saints want no part of his contract. I'm not a coach and I DO KNOW. I could probably fill the Grand Canyon with all of the information you don't know however.