FinSaint

First of all, the Saints had 4 picks before the trade up and they had 4 picks after the trade up in the 2009 draft, because they exchanged their 7th round pick that year for the NYG 5th round pick. Now, they did give up a 5th round pick in the 2010 draft, but they still ended up with 6 picks that year.

As for the whether I would prefer to have Nicks over Morstead - I won't even answer that 'cos that's naturally a given. Also, he wasn't available in either of the the draft classes of 2009 or 2010, so he couldn't have been drafted instead of Morstead.

The only one who we could really play the what-if game with out of that group of players is Tennant, and I would maybe lean towards Tennant on that one too, but it would not be a "cut and dry" decision for me.

Obviously the Saints wanted Morstead and saw in him something that they felt justified the trade up which they went ahead with, so in that respect I would say that it was worth it. And, furthermore, I don't remember a single time after Morstead became the Saints' punter that I've thought to myself: "if only the Saints had a punter, who would make our ST better."

Being a punter is definitely not as flashy of a position as being a QB, RB or a WR, for example, but you can't play successfully without having a guy making those kicks. The punting game can be that one thing that decides the outcome of a tightly fought game, where field position is ultimately what brings home the W. When a situation like that presents itself, you'll more than likely be happy that the Saints have one of the best punters in the league, and couldn't care less about the backup center.

"I'm not bashing people, I'm bashing their opinions because in my opinion their opinion is wrong" - Danno

strato

Don't listen to Danno he got smoked in a poll on this topic...i know he doesn't want me to pull that up again.lol

Danno

You mean your homeristic "are you glad we got Morstead" poll. Gimme a break dude.

Pull it up, I couldn't care less. It certainly doesn't mean I was wrong, and NFL history is certainly on my side.

strato

Smoked! the people spoke and you lost

FinSaint

It's not even about who's right and who's wrong in this or any other topic for that matter. It's all about the debate and expressing varying opinions - at least it is for me.

I value Danno's opinion and I was very much interested in understanding why he feels that making that trade up for Morstead (or any other punter in a similar situation) was a mistake.

I understand that the Saints did give up a 7th round pick by substituting their 5th round picks with NYG, and if someone like Colston was drafted with that same pick in another year, maybe the Saints could've struck gold with it once again. But that's what the draft is all about, since it's basically gambling, and that's why you use scouts to manipulate the odds of success in your favor. For every Colston picked in the 7th round, there are probably dozens if not hundreds of players who never amount to anything, but that was not how the teams that drafted them felt about them at the time of the draft. Let alone all the players that go undrafted and become big contributors, like Moore.

So, in that regard I don't see the trade up as a huge gamble and certainly not as a mistake, because they drafted a reliable star punter, who has made major contributions to the way the Saints have played during the past seasons. And this becomes even more valid when you look at the players that the NYG drafted with the picks they got from the Saints - Woodson and Petrus.

"I'm not bashing people, I'm bashing their opinions because in my opinion their opinion is wrong" - Danno

strato

I do to ..but he's wrong...onside kick...lol

Saint_LB

If someone held a gun to my head, I would say that the holder for FG's and PAT's is the most insignificant...but it's funny when you think about it. A football team really doesn't have an insignificant position.

Let's take Danno's top 2...punter and long snapper. If your team is inferior with either of those 2, you are in a world of hurt. My point, however, is that this would be the case when you think about any position. JMO, though.

TheDeuce

Exactly right. Anybody remember Tony Romo's botched hold? Or Dan Marino botching the hold of Ray Finkle? Laces out Dan!

Choupique

This is intended for the OP.

You're an idiot. Is it genetic?

spkb25

Dude I'll bet that nearly everyone, if not everyone, is ready to go at GB.