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New Orleans Saints position series: Receivers | NOLA.com

In anticipation of the New Orleans Saints upcoming training camp, we will be running a series of online position-by-position breakdowns with our bests guesses as to who will make the final 53-man roster. Along with these breakdowns, we will also run interactive polls so that the voice of Who Dat Nation can be heard.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston, right, pulls in a touchdown pass as Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel defends in the first quarter an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Philadelphia.(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
This season, the New Orleans Saints could potentially be the toughest roster in the NFL for a fringe receiver to crack. Four slots - those belonging to Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson and Lance Moore - are virtual locks after the Saints' passing game emerged as one of the league's most potent over the last few seasons. The real interesting subplot here will be the battle for what figures to be two more roster berths.

The leading candidate has to be special teams ace Courtney Roby, who handled kickoff returns for the Saints last season. Roby can be dynamic in this capacity, averaging 27.5 yards per return last season, and he can also make tackles in kickoff coverage situations. As a pure receiver, however, the 6'0" Roby is somewhat limited, recording only one reception in 2009. Fortunately for Roby, teams with this kind of front-line talent at the receiver position require much production from the fifth receiver on their roster, but instead value his brand of gritty versatility.
The philosophic opposite of Roby would have to be former Michigan receiver Adrian Arrington. At 6'3" and with extremely long arms, the extremely quick Arrington has the physical tools to develop into a Marquis Colston-type of receiver. The knock on Arrinton, however, has always been about his character and work ethic, and these concerns are like the reason for his slide to the seventh round of the 2008 draft. At 24 he still has time to fulfill his significant potential, but unlike Roby he needs to be a part of the offense to contribute, as he doesn't play special teams.
Another interesting talent is the 5'10" Larry Beavers, who by all accounts is the fastest player at Saints camp, having reportedly run a 4.28 40-yard dash while at Wesley College. The highlights of Beavers embarrassing Division-III opponents while at Wesley are extremely intriguing, but he appears painfully undersized on a field full of NFL players. Beavers probably will have to show some ability to tackle NFL return men in the open field, as he could potentially use his speed on special teams as a gunner.
Rod Harper is also back in Saints camp after making a name for himself by returning two punts for touchdowns last preseason. He made the Saints roster out of training camp, but a stress fracture in his left foot effectively ended his 2009 season in the middle of October. Harper is certainly an explosive kickoff returner, but it will be extremely difficult for him to supplant Roby in that role. If Roby struggles, however, Harper will have a proverbial punchers chance at making the roster.
The three longest shots are probably Montez Billings, Andy Tanner and Matt Simon. Billings has potential, but his disappointing college career at Auburn was simply too unproductive to make such a competitive roster. Simon and Tanner were hard-nosed, reliable receivers at mid-major schools, but neither has the speed to be more than just a camp body.

Larry Beavers could give Roby some competition.

jcp026

I hate the thought of Arrington not making the team. If we cut him, some other team is going to get a very talented receiver.

504state

People say this every year, and every year this dude cannot make the roster. He is not good enough to beat out the guys we have, so who cares if he goes somewhere else and has his average career while our guys continue to have great years. I personally dont get the love for this guy. He has proved nothing, refuses to play special teams, and has an attitude.

jcp026

He's as good as, or better than Henderson and Moore, he's just had injury problems and hasn't had the chance to prove himself. And as far as Saints wide receivers having "great years," outside of Colston everyone has average years.

darstep

Colston is even average in this offense. The only player that will ever have great blockbuster seasons is Brees and perhaps his left tackle. We are loaded at WR and its very doubtful that any of the young bucks will make the squad. Arrington is on the bubble AGAIN. This may be his last go-round with the Saints.

RaginCajun83

and to think training camp was going to be boring on the offensive side of the ball ... I see it as a good thing that there's competiton for the 5th spot it will make these bubble guys better and make sure our starters don't start to let up

st thomas

and add beavers in the competition, arrington's going to have to hump it

Rugby Saint II

Well said. I couldn't agree more.