Saints Practice Report: 7th round pick Bussey standing out
 

Bradley Handwerger / WWLTV.com Sports Writer

METAIRIE, La. ― A lot of talk this preseason has been about linebacker Martez Wilson, the Saints’ third-round pick out of Illinois.

But the more I’m out at practice – which actually will be coming to an end tomorrow as the Saints move camp to Oxnard, Calif. – the more seventh-round pick Nate Bussey, also out of Illinois, catches my eye.

Bussey has been working with the third-team at weakside linebacker behind Scott Shanle and Jonathan Casillas.

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has both praised him during practice and called him out for doing the wrong thing. But Williams is paying attention.

On Wednesday, during 7-on-7 drills, the juxtaposition of the two rookie linebackers stuck out.

With the first-team out working against the first-team offense, Bussey stood by Williams, turning to him after each call to inquire about the coach’s thoughts. Meanwhile, Wilson was away from Williams, watching the plays and occasionally asking another coach for answers.

Wilson obviously has the greater upside athletically. But Bussey appears to have more “want to,” as coaches say, and in this game, sometimes that’s enough.

Bussey might not make the 53-man roster; he likely won’t. But he’s a perfect candidate for the practice squad and could be a diamond-in-the-rough pick.

Full article below.
Saints Practice Report: 7th round pick Bussey standing out | wwltv.com New Orleans

Don't play him too much......we don't want our PS raided.

If he's doing this well, why wouldn't he make the team?

True, we'll likely keep 7

Vilma
Shanle
Casillas
Dunbar
Herring
Wilson

and then Bussey?

He's got a good shot.

Can the Saints Strike Gold in the 7th round again. Black Gold New Orleans Tea. Ya'll get the point.

I like th sound of that, good NFL teams have to be able to finde the hidden gems in the lower rounds.

I would say it does mean good things. There's a competition for the long snapper job right? If I was a coach I'd choose a guy who could help out in other places too.

and then Clint Ingram?

Clint Ingram can't stay healthy it seems. Would not be surprised to se him cut when time comes for that.

I think Shanle is a ock, just too much experience to get rid of this year. Next year however....

The Saints fornt office obviously has some good scouts out there & we pick up some good gems in the later rounds.

I also would rather see this kid make the team with the upside he has. But we are playing for the "Now". So saying that if Shanle is a better fit how can we let him go?

You have to weigh team future versus win now.

Would winning now be compromised if Shanle was released and everyone else stepped up a notch?

We aren't comparing Shanle to Bussey, we're comparing Shanle to his the next man up. Bussey would simply be the low man on the totem pole.

I wanna win now just like everyone else, but it should also be balanced with an eye on the future. Cam Jordan may not be our 4th best DE, but I guarantee you in a year or two he will be. So we keep Jordan, even though he's probably not our 4th best DE on this team come week one.

Point well made, I was just using him for an example, Bussey is no Shanle.
Shanle might get beat out this year, so if he does that's why I threw him under the bus. Chances are this kid might not make the team.

Shanle is a LOCK. Ingram is the odd man out unless he gets healthy quick and really makes some plays. It always comes down to injuries and a numbers game, and with so many injuries at other positions, Bussey is facing an uphill battle. The good news is he's a lock for the practice squad. No other team is going to add a 7th round tweener/project player to their active roster.

Shanle can start at both OLB positions. The Saints are not going to go into the season with a new guy in Herring who has never been a permanent starter in his career and JC who is essentially a rookie coming off an injury as there starters with absolutely no experience or depth behind them. It's not going to happen. There is no comparison in Shanle and Stinchcomb. Shanle is healthy and his play hasn't decreased in a dramatic fashion. I'm not a fan of Shanle. He's above average with no playmaking skills. But, overall, right now taking all factors into consideration, he's the second best LB on the team. He is a lock.

Another reason Shanle is a lock. LOL. I wish someone else would step up. I hope that the young guys rise to the challenge. But, until they do, a team primed for a Super Bowl run is just not going to throw someone out there and hope for the best. Shanle is at the very least, which is no doubt where he is, good enough to get the job done. He's like Bushrod. Far from ideal but good enough to win with.:cool: