Now vs. Later

Boutte · 09-05-2010, 01:40 PM

These words were made famous by George Allen (whom I hated) while coaching the champion Redskins teams of the 70's. This translated to meaning that he didn't have any rookies on his teams and using draft picks only as trade bait. He always had the oldest team in the league but they were always contenders and sometimes champions. He did the same with Rams. The problem was that after a few years the team was in shambles and George would move on leaving the franchise with a huge rebuilding project for years to come. The question that presents is itself is was it worth being a great team for a few years at the cost of being a lower rung for a long time later?

The reason I bring this up is that I see the Saints being faced with that same choice albeit on a lesser scale. Our offense is one of the best ever put together but our D is a major liability. While we have an outstanding backfield our front seven is thinner than Adrian Arrington's legs. If we can shore that part of team up we can be a top five team for years to come. But how do we do that?

Our draft this year could eventually prove to be outstanding but as it stands now few or none of the players drafted is looking to contribute much this season. We need help now! We have an excess of talent at WR and we have draft picks. Would you be willing to us use these picks and maybe one of our WRs to pick up a player or two that could turn our questionable defense into a solid force so we can win it all again? What could we get for a 1st or 2nd round pick? How much better would we be with a pro-bowl caliber NT or outside LB?

I say go for it now! Who knows what the future will bring. We know we have a team that can be as good as anyone but how long will it last. I'm glad we're keeping an eye on the future, that's how teams like Pittsburg , N.E. and Ind. remain contenders year after year but the proverbial window is open for this team now! Let's milk it for all it's worth.

biloxi-indian · 09-05-2010, 01:45 PM

Boutte; I am sure you said something important in that post, but found it very hard to read given your avatar! Good job.

foreverfan · 09-05-2010, 01:51 PM

Well when you have championship type players, you may grow old together. But in a day of Free Agency I don't think it will be a problem. Next year the Saints will lose some players on offense and have to replace them. Just look what happened to J Brown.

This isn't the 70's.

strato · 09-05-2010, 01:55 PM

Boutte did you see my Poll...i agree..were stacked at wr..we need a stud LB in the worst way...i hope were on the phone as i type this makin a deal with the ole man Davis for Thomas Howard....thursday is getting close

Boutte · 09-05-2010, 02:18 PM

Just saw it now. My thoughts are that the most likely bait to use if we're going to get a player who will have a major and immediate impact is Devery Henderson.

He's a proven play maker and I'm sure there are several teams out there who would drool over the prospect of adding him to their starting line up. AA is a good prospect but hasn't done enough to tempt anyone to give the type of quality that would really help us. Roby is basically a ST guy and your not going to get much with out packaging with some draft pics. not that i have a problem with that. Moore I think adds more value to us than we're likely to recieve in return.

What do you think about dangling out a first or second rd draft pick and see what we could get?

DRsaints · 09-05-2010, 03:25 PM

Well one thing I can say is that the Saints have drafted a lot of defense in the last few drafts. I think that trend will continue. Sure, Payton will always try to get some playmakers on offense, but defense is where we need the most help. It also helps that we're finding some nice players on offense for backups, i.e. Chase Daniel, Chris Ivory, maybe DeShawn Wynn will turn out to be good, Arrington, etc. Once you have a good team, you have the luxury of building up good replacements and training them ahead of time. You don't have to just stick them in the game right away like a Sam Bradford or Matthew Stafford.

homerj07 · 09-05-2010, 06:31 PM

There has got to be some talent out there we can use

Boutte · 09-05-2010, 07:47 PM

DT seems to be one of the hardest position to fill, not just for us but throughout the league.

09-05-2010, 01:40 PM	#1
Boutte Site Donor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belle Chasse Posts: 1,701	Now vs. Later These words were made famous by George Allen (whom I hated) while coaching the champion Redskins teams of the 70's. This translated to meaning that he didn't have any rookies on his teams and using draft picks only as trade bait. He always had the oldest team in the league but they were always contenders and sometimes champions. He did the same with Rams. The problem was that after a few years the team was in shambles and George would move on leaving the franchise with a huge rebuilding project for years to come. The question that presents is itself is was it worth being a great team for a few years at the cost of being a lower rung for a long time later? The reason I bring this up is that I see the Saints being faced with that same choice albeit on a lesser scale. Our offense is one of the best ever put together but our D is a major liability. While we have an outstanding backfield our front seven is thinner than Adrian Arrington's legs. If we can shore that part of team up we can be a top five team for years to come. But how do we do that? Our draft this year could eventually prove to be outstanding but as it stands now few or none of the players drafted is looking to contribute much this season. We need help now! We have an excess of talent at WR and we have draft picks. Would you be willing to us use these picks and maybe one of our WRs to pick up a player or two that could turn our questionable defense into a solid force so we can win it all again? What could we get for a 1st or 2nd round pick? How much better would we be with a pro-bowl caliber NT or outside LB? I say go for it now! Who knows what the future will bring. We know we have a team that can be as good as anyone but how long will it last. I'm glad we're keeping an eye on the future, that's how teams like Pittsburg , N.E. and Ind. remain contenders year after year but the proverbial window is open for this team now! Let's milk it for all it's worth.

09-05-2010, 03:25 PM	#6
DRsaints 100th Post Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 166	Well one thing I can say is that the Saints have drafted a lot of defense in the last few drafts. I think that trend will continue. Sure, Payton will always try to get some playmakers on offense, but defense is where we need the most help. It also helps that we're finding some nice players on offense for backups, i.e. Chase Daniel, Chris Ivory, maybe DeShawn Wynn will turn out to be good, Arrington, etc. Once you have a good team, you have the luxury of building up good replacements and training them ahead of time. You don't have to just stick them in the game right away like a Sam Bradford or Matthew Stafford.
DRsaints 100th Post Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 166	My Saints blog: http://dr3pts.tumblr.com

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09-05-2010, 01:45 PM	#2
biloxi-indian Site Donor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 1,706	Boutte; I am sure you said something important in that post, but found it very hard to read given your avatar! Good job.

09-05-2010, 01:51 PM	#3
foreverfan 12,000 BS Posts Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 13,457 Blog Entries: 5	Well when you have championship type players, you may grow old together. But in a day of Free Agency I don't think it will be a problem. Next year the Saints will lose some players on offense and have to replace them. Just look what happened to J Brown. This isn't the 70's.

09-05-2010, 01:55 PM	#4
strato Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: "Little Ole Town in Tejas" Posts: 7,586	Boutte did you see my Poll...i agree..were stacked at wr..we need a stud LB in the worst way...i hope were on the phone as i type this makin a deal with the ole man Davis for Thomas Howard....thursday is getting close

09-05-2010, 02:18 PM	#5
Boutte Site Donor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belle Chasse Posts: 1,701	Just saw it now. My thoughts are that the most likely bait to use if we're going to get a player who will have a major and immediate impact is Devery Henderson. He's a proven play maker and I'm sure there are several teams out there who would drool over the prospect of adding him to their starting line up. AA is a good prospect but hasn't done enough to tempt anyone to give the type of quality that would really help us. Roby is basically a ST guy and your not going to get much with out packaging with some draft pics. not that i have a problem with that. Moore I think adds more value to us than we're likely to recieve in return. What do you think about dangling out a first or second rd draft pick and see what we could get?

09-05-2010, 06:31 PM	#7
homerj07 In Doh We Trust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 7,027 Blog Entries: 16	There has got to be some talent out there we can use

09-05-2010, 07:47 PM	#8
Boutte Site Donor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belle Chasse Posts: 1,701	DT seems to be one of the hardest position to fill, not just for us but throughout the league.