PFF: 5 reasons to be confident / concerned

homerj07 · 08-26-2011, 06:13 PM

Good article & I think that you guys make some excellent points. BUT I am confused by the failure to upgrade our LBs

alexonfyre · 08-26-2011, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by homerj07

Good article & I think that you guys make some excellent points. BUT I am confused by the failure to upgrade our LBs

Probably because they spent so much time fixing and improving other areas on the team, and they thought that it was better to trade weakness at OLB for strength in other areas (say D-Line and TE.) Its also possible that there simply weren't any good options (the guys that were there may have not fit well with what Gregg needs in an OLB, or had personality issues with our locker room.)

I know that GW is looking for solid OLBs to run his blitzes, so if he didn't pick up any big names, its because they weren't going to work any better than what we have, or at least not as much as they were asking for in return.

Danno · 08-26-2011, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by homerj07

BUT I am confused by the failure to upgrade our LBs

Well they signed an ascending free-agent in Will Herring.
They drafted the number 1 ranked MLB in the 2011 draft in Martez Wilson.
They have Casillas (last years starter) returning after missing the entire season.

Potentially we may end up replacing two slow OLB's (Dunbar/Shanle) with the fastest LB in the 2009 draft and the fastest LB in the 2010 draft.

Don't worry... yet.

strato · 08-26-2011, 06:29 PM

Only thing im concerned with is will this bottle last the night...

Danno · 08-26-2011, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by alexonfyre

Probably because they spent so much time fixing and improving other areas on the team, and they thought that it was better to trade weakness at OLB for strength in other areas (say D-Line and TE.) Its also possible that there simply weren't any good options (the guys that were there may have not fit well with what Gregg needs in an OLB, or had personality issues with our locker room.)

I know that GW is looking for solid OLBs to run his blitzes, so if he didn't pick up any big names, its because they weren't going to work any better than what we have, or at least not as much as they were asking for in return.

And don't forget we're up against the cap with Nicks and Brees to sign next year, so I'd imagine that kept our options down.

jnormand · 08-26-2011, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by strato

Only thing im concerned with is will this bottle last the night...

It never does my friend.

SaintsBro · 08-26-2011, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by alexonfyre;323747
[i

I know that GW is looking for solid OLBs to run his blitzes, so if he didn't pick up any big names, its because they weren't going to work any better than what we have, or at least not as much as they were asking for in return.[/i]

Originally Posted by Danno

And don't forget we're up against the cap with Nicks and Brees to sign next year, so I'd imagine that kept our options down.

Both of these quotes caught my eye. To kinda combine them -- I have always felt that GW's philosophy is that, you don't necessarily always need BIG NAMES or MONEY SUPERSTAR players on defense, but if everybody does their JOB or sticks to their assignment, and plays their role (containment, blitzing, pass rushing, eyeballing the QB, whatever it is) then the defenses that he calls WORK, even if they're not amazingly great players. A lot of the times where things DO go wrong on the Saints D, it looks to me like it's because somebody was out of position or didn't do what they were supposed to do on THAT PARTICULAR PLAY -- it's not that they got out-muscled, outplayed, or that the scheme GW called was wrong. I mean excluding the obvious "WTF?" things like Marshawn Lynch runs, Paul Oliver, and those Shanle football follies type plays. But the idea to me is that solid, aggressive, no-name (and cheap) guys CAN do it, you don't need top-dollar marquee name players to run a Gregg Williams D. And that philosophy also helps keep the money down. At least that's my theory about it.

jeanpierre · 08-27-2011, 10:23 AM

I totally agree with the criticism of Ellis...

We've moved up in the draft to grab this guy and his play has not warranted the move...

; a move I think that was affected by the emotions of not getting LSU's Glenn Dorsey...

I think alot is asked of Shanle and while he gives max-effort, his breakdowns, or appearance when he's covering other's mistakes, brings him harsh criticism...

Can Strief Run Block is my big question...

And while Ingram looks really good thus far, where do we get a front line Left Tackle if we've no Round 1 picks?

We trade picks away a little too easy...

08-26-2011, 06:20 PM	#12
alexonfyre Site Donor Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Black Pearl University Posts: 799	Originally Posted by homerj07 Good article & I think that you guys make some excellent points. BUT I am confused by the failure to upgrade our LBs Probably because they spent so much time fixing and improving other areas on the team, and they thought that it was better to trade weakness at OLB for strength in other areas (say D-Line and TE.) Its also possible that there simply weren't any good options (the guys that were there may have not fit well with what Gregg needs in an OLB, or had personality issues with our locker room.) I know that GW is looking for solid OLBs to run his blitzes, so if he didn't pick up any big names, its because they weren't going to work any better than what we have, or at least not as much as they were asking for in return.

08-26-2011, 06:21 PM	#13
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	Originally Posted by homerj07 BUT I am confused by the failure to upgrade our LBs Well they signed an ascending free-agent in Will Herring. They drafted the number 1 ranked MLB in the 2011 draft in Martez Wilson. They have Casillas (last years starter) returning after missing the entire season. Potentially we may end up replacing two slow OLB's (Dunbar/Shanle) with the fastest LB in the 2009 draft and the fastest LB in the 2010 draft. Don't worry... yet.

08-26-2011, 06:29 PM	#14
strato Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: "Little Ole Town in Tejas" Posts: 7,586	Only thing im concerned with is will this bottle last the night... jnormand likes this.

08-26-2011, 06:32 PM	#15
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	Originally Posted by alexonfyre Probably because they spent so much time fixing and improving other areas on the team, and they thought that it was better to trade weakness at OLB for strength in other areas (say D-Line and TE.) Its also possible that there simply weren't any good options (the guys that were there may have not fit well with what Gregg needs in an OLB, or had personality issues with our locker room.) I know that GW is looking for solid OLBs to run his blitzes, so if he didn't pick up any big names, its because they weren't going to work any better than what we have, or at least not as much as they were asking for in return. And don't forget we're up against the cap with Nicks and Brees to sign next year, so I'd imagine that kept our options down.

08-26-2011, 09:29 PM	#16
jnormand 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Free State of Idaho Posts: 5,660	Originally Posted by strato Only thing im concerned with is will this bottle last the night... It never does my friend.

08-26-2011, 06:13 PM	#11
homerj07 In Doh We Trust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 7,027 Blog Entries: 16	Good article & I think that you guys make some excellent points. BUT I am confused by the failure to upgrade our LBs

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08-26-2011, 09:32 PM	#17
SaintsBro Site Donor Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: in line with my ridiculous CLEAR PLASTIC BAG Posts: 3,650 Blog Entries: 3	Originally Posted by alexonfyre;323747 [i I know that GW is looking for solid OLBs to run his blitzes, so if he didn't pick up any big names, its because they weren't going to work any better than what we have, or at least not as much as they were asking for in return.[/i] Originally Posted by Danno And don't forget we're up against the cap with Nicks and Brees to sign next year, so I'd imagine that kept our options down. Both of these quotes caught my eye. To kinda combine them -- I have always felt that GW's philosophy is that, you don't necessarily always need BIG NAMES or MONEY SUPERSTAR players on defense, but if everybody does their JOB or sticks to their assignment, and plays their role (containment, blitzing, pass rushing, eyeballing the QB, whatever it is) then the defenses that he calls WORK, even if they're not amazingly great players. A lot of the times where things DO go wrong on the Saints D, it looks to me like it's because somebody was out of position or didn't do what they were supposed to do on THAT PARTICULAR PLAY -- it's not that they got out-muscled, outplayed, or that the scheme GW called was wrong. I mean excluding the obvious "WTF?" things like Marshawn Lynch runs, Paul Oliver, and those Shanle football follies type plays. But the idea to me is that solid, aggressive, no-name (and cheap) guys CAN do it, you don't need top-dollar marquee name players to run a Gregg Williams D. And that philosophy also helps keep the money down. At least that's my theory about it. Danno and Saint_LB like this.

08-27-2011, 10:23 AM	#18
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	I totally agree with the criticism of Ellis... We've moved up in the draft to grab this guy and his play has not warranted the move... ; a move I think that was affected by the emotions of not getting LSU's Glenn Dorsey... I think alot is asked of Shanle and while he gives max-effort, his breakdowns, or appearance when he's covering other's mistakes, brings him harsh criticism... Can Strief Run Block is my big question... And while Ingram looks really good thus far, where do we get a front line Left Tackle if we've no Round 1 picks? We trade picks away a little too easy... Saint_LB likes this.
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

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