jeanpierre

Projected 53 man Roster players (those that make the cut) with starters listed bold; Injured players are italicized; (r) Rookie

QB Drew Brees, Chase Daniel
FB Korey Hall
RB Mark Ingram(r), Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles, Joique Bell
WR Marques Colston, Robert Meachem
FL Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, Courtney Roby
LT Jermon Bushrod, Jordan Black
LG Carl Nicks
C Olin Kreutz, Matt Tennant
RG Jahri Evans
RT Zach Strief, Charles Brown
TE Jimmy Graham, David Thomas, Tyler Lorenzen(r)

LDE Cam Jordan(r), Junior Galette
DT Sedrick Ellis, Tom Johnson, Mitch King(r)
NT Shaun Rogers, Aubrayo Franklin
RDE Will Smith, Jeff Charleston, Turk McBride
WLB Scott Shanle, Jonathan Casillas, Nate Bussey
MLB Jonathan Vilma, Jo-Lonn Dunbar
SLB Will Herring, Martez Wilson(r)
LCB Jabari Greer, Leigh Torrence, Johnny Patrick(r)
SS Roman Harper, Jonathon Amaya, Pierson Prioleau
FS Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Reis
RCB Tracy Porter, Patrick Robinson

PK Garrett Hartley
P Thomas Morstead
LS Justin Drescher

Injured Reserve/PUP

Chris Ivory, Greg Romeus(r), Joseph Morgan(r)

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

jeanpierre

Ladies & Gentlemen, your 2011 New Orleans Saints

...for now...

53 man Roster players with starters listed bold; injured players are italicized; (r) denotes Rookie

QB Drew Brees, Chase Daniel
FB Korey Hall, Jed Collins(r)
RB Mark Ingram(r), Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles, Joique Bell
WR Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Adrian Arrington
TE Jimmy Graham, David Thomas
FL Lance Moore, Robert Meachem, Courtney Roby
LT Jermon Bushrod, Charles Brown
LG Carl Nicks, Brian de la Puente
C Olin Kreutz, Matt Tennant
RG Jahri Evans
RT Zach Strief


LDE Cam Jordan(r), Jeff Charleston
DT Sedrick Ellis, Tom Johnson(r), Mitch King(r)
NT Shaun Rogers, Aubrayo Franklin
RDE Will Smith*, Junior Galette, Turk McBride
WLB Scott Shanle, Jonathan Casillas, Ramon Humber
MLB Jonathan Vilma, Jo-Lonn Dunbar
SLB Will Herring, Martez Wilson(r)
LCB Jabari Greer, Leigh Torrence, Johnny Patrick(r)
SS Roman Harper, Jonathon Amaya
FS Malcolm Jenkins, Isa Abdul Quddus
RCB Tracy Porter, Patrick Robinson

PK John Kasay, Garrett Hartley
P Thomas Morstead
LS Justin Drescher

PUP

Chris Ivory

PUP/Non Football

Greg Romeus

Injured Reserve

Alex Barron, Fabian Washington, Patrick Cobbs, Paul Oliver, Joseph Morgan(r)

*Suspended, does not count against roster max of 53

A few surprises:

- Adrian Arrington, would you buy my lottery ticket?

- Only two (2) Tight Ends; wow, really?

- Conversely, kept two (2) Fullbacks; commitment to running game?

- Ramon Humber definitely has that special teams edge; good for him.

- Saints' small school love goes out to Fordham's Isa Abdul Quddus

- So when Hartley gets healthy, then Ivory, is there a kickoff for kicker?

- And who goes when Smith gets out the penalty box?

- Got to have a de la Puente shirt at the B&G Store on Vets, right?

- the de la Puente shirt can go with my Guido Merkins old school jersey...

- 2012 Draft Priorities: Strong Safety, Offensive Tackle, oh yea, Linebacker

"I want to be in that number..."

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

Danno

SS? You gotta be kiddin me right?

Why is SS a priority?

jeanpierre

Sorry Danno, I'm in the camp that Harper is a liability in pass coverage no matter how many game balls he gets from "GW"...

The occasional blitz-sacks or strips are great; but a strong safety needs to be able to provide the basic required skills - solid coverage and enforcement hitting...

All positions should be looked at for improvement...

Now, I knew putting it first would spark debate; I like a healthy discussion...

Truthfully, by far Offensive Tackle and Outside Linebacker are most in need of upgrade - especially with an injury at either position creating a precipitous situation for the team; a team that is very capable of another championship...

I've seen enough of Harper's game to know that we could do better and that he was seriously overpaid in guranteed money the past offseason...

Now, I've been very critical of Will Smith in the past and he's finally elevated his game to be commensurate to his contract; as a Saint fan, I expect Harper to do the same or find his immediate replacement...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

strato

This team isnt as deep as a lot think..the O- Line and Safety are concerns..as far as depth...I would bring in Meriweather for depth..as soon as possible..JMO

Danno

As far as "priority" goes, replacing a pro-bowl safety in the 1st year of a 4 year contract is not exactly a priority.

These are the positions that I'd consider a priority...
DT - Yes (Rogers and Franklin are free agents next year)
WLB - Yes (but hopefully Casillas is the answer)
SLB - Yes (but hopefully Wilson is the answer)
LT - Yes
RT - Yes
PK - Yes
DE - Maybe (Will Smith isn't getting any younger)

But...
SS - No
FS - No
CB - No
MLB - No
QB - No
WR - No
OC - No
OG - No
TE - No
FB - No
P - Hell No

jeanpierre

As I said Offensive Tackle and Linebacker are the two biggest "needs" on this team...

While Bushrod and Streif look to be capable professional football players - their play or positions could use improvement...

I think all the Linebacker positions should be closely scrutinized; with the exception of Dunbar, who's not a full-time player, we don't have anyone in the corps whose hits make opposing teams "hear the footsteps"

On the issue of Defensive End and Will Smith's age, I'd agree; we don't know that Cam Jordan can produce nor what we have in Greg Romeus, but I like the picks made...

And I don't buy into Loomis Cool-aid; personnel mistakes have been made and I'm not comfortable with Harper's past coverage play for another four years; that's why Strong Safety as all positions should be scouted...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

papz

You should buy into the Loomis Cool-aid. 3 playoff appearances, a Superbowl ring, and a NFL executive of the Year award. Clearly he's doing something right. Just because our strong safeties strong suit isn't in coverage, doesn't make Loomis an idiot(I think you've said that before if I remember correctly). If GM's had to hang their hat on the SS being excellent coverage guys, the majority of them would be out of a job.

jcp026

We're getting ready for the 2012 draft already? Gotta go with a tackle in the second round...no doubt.

st thomas

retired/tv personallity