Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

From CBS top FA's
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/6911680

2. Redskins cornerback Champ Bailey: This is a corner's market, but no cornerback in the NFL is as talented as the athletic Bailey. While some say he has not had the type of year that one would expect, Bailey is still the best in the NFL. The best get paid.

8. Raiders CB Charles Woodson: Talent-wise, Woodson is as solid as it gets. He's a prototypical shutdown corner who, when healthy, is a legitimate playmaker. But how his stock is affected by the Raiders' locker room turmoil could play a major factor in his market value. There were also reports in the offseason that the Raiders had peeked around to see if there would be any takers in a trade but found nobody to bite. The Raiders denied it. Still, some teams will likely be turned off by his comments about coach Bill Callahan, despite the fact that the coach in turn referred to his team as the "dumbest" in the country.


The other thing working against Woodson is the fact that the cornerback position is so deep this year. After Bailey, Woodson and McAlister, Buffalo's Antoine Winfield, Philadelphia's Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent, Jacksonville's Fernando Bryant, Seattle's Shawn Springs and San Francisco's Ahmed Plummer are all first-line corners who are eligible to hit free agency. This might be the deepest free-agent class the position has ever seen in one year. Last year's elite was linebacker. This year, it's at the corner.

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

This team has not made a meaninful move on the cornerback position since Haslett was hired. If he sticks around next year, I don\'t see that changing.

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

I think Haz thinks the CB\'s are the last piece of the puzzle. I see him addressing this position with 2 FA\'s (1 stud and an up and comer) and a draft pick.

He might be stubborn, but he\'s not stupid. He thought Carter could last another year and with Ambrose and Thomas on the other side, we were set. Well it backfired in his face so I think he now sees the light.

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

I agree with BMG. The BIGGEST concern coming into this season was linebacker. Everyone talked about how we would get studs there too. Who did we get? Orlando Ruff, Derrick Rodgers (which was a good move, but we gave up a 7th rounder for him, that\'s not exactly going after the big names), and... oh yeah, no one else.

I hope they sign a big name CB, but I\'d expect to see them sign a middle of the pack guy at best and draft someone. The FA market is deep, but they won\'t wade into the water.

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

We can go after these players but if the same coaches around that means the same scheme than good players will look like bad players. I will always say this: WE NEED BETTER COACHING FROM THE COACHES OR GET NEW ONES!!

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

I wish we could get Camp Baily or Charles Woodson, but I know thats not going to happen. :(

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

Buffalo\'s Antoine Winfield, Philadelphia\'s Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent, Jacksonville\'s Fernando Bryant, Seattle\'s Shawn Springs and San Francisco\'s Ahmed Plummer.

If we got one of these 2nd tier guys I\'d do naked cartwheels in my front yard!! :D

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

Yeah, your right. I would be extremly happy if we got one of those guys. :D

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

I think one thing is very clear about Haslett\'s philosiphy on how to build a defense. Well, here\'s the way I see it anyway.

I think Haslett\'s master plan was to get players on the defensive line FIRST and start there. I don\'t think he\'s been too concerned about anything else on defense but this. Think about it................ He has drafted or signed these players.

1. Johnathan Sullivan
2. Darren Howard.
3. Grady Jackson.
4. Norman Hand.
5. Kenny Smith
6. Charles Grant

And that\'s not even listing all of them. Clearly he has concentrated on this area more than any other on defense. I also think that\'s the smart thing to do. Hasett would probably have gone after a top linebacker last year but I don\'t think he was happy with Norman Hand and he decided to fix what he considered a mistake in Norman Hand.

To make a long story short. I think Haslett is more or less happy with the defensive line now, and will address the linebacker and cornerback position in the offseason.

If you really want to think about what Haslett has tried to address in the draft and offseason signings. I think you would have to say he has concentrated more on the offeensive and defensive lines more. The problem is.............He\'s made some mistakes there and had to address them again.

[Edited on 11/12/2003 by BillyC]

[Edited on 11/12/2003 by BillyC]

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

That\'s an interesting philosophy considering two of his first moves were to ship out La\'Roi Glover and Joe Johnson (say what you will the man was productive in New Orleans). Think maybe he\'s simply been trying to make up for that? Now he has to address the LBs and secondary b/c he messed with them too.

Clemons is the perfect example. As an OLB the man led the team in tackles, led the team in sacks with 13.5, and had a few INTs too. He was the defensive captain and called the plays. So let\'s move him inside right? OK, he fails miserably inside (was that his fault or Haslett\'s?). OK, well, just move him back outside to where he was a stud a year ago right? Wrong. Clearly he\'s a problem so let\'s ship him outta here.

Sammy Knight goes to the Pro Bowl one year so let\'s involve him more in the defense. OK, sounds good to me. But now he\'s playing behind a different line (the Fatty McFat lunch bunch are bleeding yards in front of him and he\'s got a first time MLB who realy should be playing OLB and basically two rookies in Hodge and Allen at OLB). But he still leads the team in tackles, has one less INT the year before, but the deep pass hurts us (think maybe that Knight may have had a problem b/c he had to come up in the box to help out against the run b/c our front seven sucked and still cover deep as well with only Bellamy - whose play sucked last season - to help out?). OK, fine, if we get better up front Knight, whose numbers didn\'t change from at all really compared to his Pro Bowl year, will be a stud again too right? Wrong. Ship him out and put in a Rookie... oops, he\'s hurt, now what?

My point is, Haslett has caused his own problems. It\'s not like players have retired or been injuried and not able to return. He finds a scapegoat and ships them out. The cornerstones of our D when he got here: Howard was a rookie, Clemons, Knight, Glover, Johnson, (was Fields still here?), Hand came in, Ambrose... and what did he do? Let every one of those guys leave. Whose fault is that? I don\'t feel bad for Jim. He did it to himself, and now he wants me to give him another chance? Sorry.

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

WhoDat -- Agree with you on that. I addressed that topic on \"the biggest problem\" thread\"

[Edited on 11/12/2003 by BillyC]

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

Man, you\'re not so bad when you\'re not drunk off of Tang!! ;) LOL

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

i wouldn\'t get too excited about next years CB pool

at least half of those guys will get franchised and the other half will be thrown to the wolves, let\'s not forget that there are about a dozen teams out there that need serious help at corner and almost all of them are more willing to dish out the bucks than we are

this brings another point about haz, if we were to go and by some miracle get a big name at coach or perhaps an up and coming D coordinator to take the coaching job, would that coach attract one of these CB\'s? cuz right now i don\'t see anyone turning down big money to play for haz

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

I don\'t see anyone turning down big money... period. The question is, will players take LESS money to come play here b/c they feel Haz is a good coach or that they would have a shot at competing for a title? I think the answer is no, and that means players will ask for more money to come to NO than they would to go elsewhere. New Orleans is where players come to die.

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

Exactly Gator, I think thats why Looms gets slammed so often. Many picks are not expected to contribute until a year or two later. If they do right away (like Holland) , thats great. But their vision is long-term.

Stinchcomb-A 2 year project. Starter in 2005
Holland-1 year project (took even less)
Mel Mitchell-2 year project to replace Sammy, (took only one, but he got hurt)
Craver-2 year project (he may still bust or boom)
Cie Grant-1 year project (injuries might make it 1-1/2)
Melvin Willaims-2 year project (ahead of schedule)
Charles Grant- 1/2 year project, (worked out well I\'d say)
Donte Stallworth-Immediate starter (he\'s approaching BUST at warp drive)
J. Sullivan-immediate starter (average results but huge upside for next year)

You get the picture. Too many fans want immediate results from all draft picks.
Loomis and Haz TRY to do it right. They have made some mistakes, but their procedures look good to me.

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

I think every draft the Saints have had that they did a very good job. There are no complaints from me about the way the Saints have drafted players. Since the first year of the Haslett era, we have drafted players like :

1. Deuce.
2. Charles Grant.
3. Darren Howard.
4. Johnathan Sullivan.
5. Le Charles Bentley.
6. Montre Holland.

I think those are 6 real impact players in 3-years. That\'s not bad. Then we have several more players that COULD develop into impact players a little further down the road.


The problem is, I don\'t think you can be successful just drafting players. By the time you draft enough players to field a great team, you are going to lose some of those players to free agency.

I think the key is to sign some TRUE impact players in free agency. The only TRUE impact player we have singed in free agence is Joe Horn. I think the key for a team to get over the hump is that they have to sign enough TRUE impact players in free agency. For whatever reason, we haven\'t done that. Can that change? I hope so.

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

Your a little off here WhoDat. Clemons always was a middle linbacker. He was in the middle in college at Georgia and was fighting London Flecher for the middle job in St. Louis. We signed him as free agent from St Louis to be in the middle. After he IRed his first year in 2000, he had his big year in 2001. He was used in Zooks scheme lined up all over the field to rush the passer a lot. But he was still our middle LB they just turned him loose. The next year the scheme changed when Zook left and we know what happened from there. The Texans signed him to be a outside LB after we let him leave but that was considered a move to let him get after the passer again.

I do agree with your overall premise of Haslett creating his own problems with to many roster moves.

[Edited on 12/13/2003 by saint5221]

Free-agent Cornerbacks-DEEP GROUP!
 

You\'re just now figuring out that WhoDat is a\" little off\"? I\'ve known it for a while now. ;) I think they are on to ya WhoDat. \"OFF\" is right. Off his rocker. LMAO... :P



[Edited on 13/12/2003 by BillyC]