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By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune
April 25, 2010, 7:04AM
Former LSU superstar Glenn Dorsey once summed up the tantalizing potential of fellow defensive tackle tackle Al Woods by saying, "I've seen the future of LSU defense, and it's Al Woods."

Woods, a gifted 6-foot-4, 309-pound athlete, never quite lived up to those lofty expectations, starting just one year for the Tigers in 2009. But clearly the New Orleans Saints saw that same upside, prompting them to trade up seven spots Saturday to draft Woods with the 123rd overall pick in Round 4.

The Super Bowl champs also traded up to draft Boston College center Matt Tennant in Round 5 and finished their draft with left-handed Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield in Round 7 before hitting the phone lines to start recruiting this year's group of undrafted free agents.

But Woods was the most intriguing pick of the day, both because of the Elton native's local connection and his potential to fill one of the Saints' most glaring needs by plugging a hole in the middle of their defensive line.

"I think we were lucky to get Al, to be honest with you," Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis said - a belief that he said was backed up when two teams called to let the Saints know they had been targeting Woods before the Saints swooped in. "We just thought that there were a lot of picks between us and where we traded, and we tried to move up higher than that, to be honest with you.

"We clearly had a conviction for this player, as opposed to three or four others ... and we just didn't want to take the chance that he wouldn't be available."

LSU's Al Woods ready to give his all with New Orleans Saints | - NOLA.com

A very interesting excerpt from the article states...

Though Woods is not particularly big for a nose tackle, Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams stressed before the draft that he's not interested in big lumbering defensive tackles who aren't able to move well on their feet.

I'm sure that answers a few questions some fans had about the passing on some defensive tackles.

foreverfan

Williams will light a fire under his....

D_it_up

I'm have this gut feeling that Woods will definitely benefit in the future from having three pretty stellar defensive linemen to work with and that he's going to end up surprising a lot of people. I will admit it if I am wrong, but I think he is going to fit in nicely with what Gregg Williams defense brings. He could tap into that potential that he never really found at LSU.

SaintFanQ

I think he is a fine acquisition for this team and with the great coaching he will get, he should do well!!!

GEAUX SAINTS!!!!!

QBREES9

Button that chip strap. You're play'in wit the big boys now

homerj07

Lets see what develops