saintz08

March 21. 2004 1:57AM

MIKE DETILLIER'S FOOTBALL WORLD
How the NFC South has fared in free agency

By MIKE DETILLIER
Special to The Courier


NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

I really like the pick up of defensive tackle Brian Young from the St. Louis Rams, and he should give the Saints a solid inside performer who plays hard on each and every snap. Defensive linemen are the hardest people to find during the season, so getting a good one now is a strong move.

The biggest improvement on the Saints’ defense has to come from within. Young players, like Charles Grant, Johnathan Sullivan, Melvin Williams, Sedrick Hodge, James Allen and Cie Grant, must turn athletic ability into football production.

For all the potential pick-ups, nothing will have a bigger impact on this club in 2004.

The Saints are in serious discussions with former Atlanta Falcons cornerback Juran Bolden, and he appears to be a likely signee. Bolden has the size (6-2, 205) you covet in a cornerback, but he has had a stock market career in Atlanta. For whatever reason, Bolden seems to have his best games against the Saints, and he has potential. But Saints coaches will have to push the right buttons on him to get his very best if they sign him.

Even if the Saints sign Bolden, cornerback is on top of the Saints’ wish list come draft day. After cornerback, another defensive tackle and linebacker top the need list.

On offense, the Saints added veteran Aaron Stecker to back up Deuce McAllister, and Sam Gash to play fullback.

One area to closely watch on draft day is at wide receiver. The Saints can’t be happy with the production of their wide receivers last season, and don’t be surprised to see them pick one up early in the draft. Maybe very early.

http://houmatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/.../1032/SPORTS01


[Edited on 3/22/2004 by pakowitz]

Danno

Hmmm, I wonder if there\'s an agreement on the table, contingent on his legal outcomes?

Would the signing of Bolden change our 1st round strategy?

BlackandBlue

We can only hope...

BrooksMustGo

Big, Fast, legal problems.

Why don\'t we just bring in Nate Newton and Michael Irvin as position coaches while we\'re at it?

WhoDat

I like the idea of signing Bolden. The thing that is most disturbing to me in that article is...

\"The biggest improvement on the Saints’ defense has to come from within. Young players, like Charles Grant, Johnathan Sullivan, Melvin Williams, Sedrick Hodge, James Allen and Cie Grant, must turn athletic ability into football production.

For all the potential pick-ups, nothing will have a bigger impact on this club in 2004. \"

Yeah, players really seem to blossom under Haslett. Let\'s just hope that trend changes for the better this season.

D_it_up

I say this in \"off-season mode\", but so far, I\'m ok with what the Saints have done thus far in free agency. I do like Brian Young\'s tenacity and unrelentless play on every snap. Juran Bolden would be a nice pick-up for depth\'s sake at the corner. Kudos on Aaron Stecker signing. A man who is a capable back-up to Deuce and a tremendous special teamer as well. Sam Gash was not a bad choice even at his age, and I think they made a smart move in signing Bryant Johnson to an offer-sheet. That will give us depth at the position if Gash is injured or just needs a rest. Now how these players perform during the season remains to be seen. Barring major injuries again, the Saints could be vastly improved, but we still haven\'t seen what Cie Grant and Mel Mitchell can really do on the field. Darren Howard also needs to stay healthy.

As a Saints fan, we all dream of big stars and impact players making their way into the Crescent City. Hopes reign high during free agency that some of these saviors can come in and lead us to the promised land. As we descend towards reality once again, we see that the Saints have done exactly this free agent period as they have done in the past. Nothing to blow our minds, but only leave us wondering how another season is going to turn out.

[Edited on 22/3/2004 by D_it_up2]

People shouldn't be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.

26DEUCE26

[As a Saints fan, we all dream of big stars and impact players making their way into the Crescent City. Hopes reign high during free agency that some of these saviors can come in and lead us to the promised land. As we descend towards reality once again, we see that the Saints have done exactly this free agent period as they have done in the past. Nothing to blow our minds, but only leave us wondering how another season is going to turn out.
quote] [/quote:3304b9a58d]

Oh how true.

WhoDat

All I really want to know is if they\'re going to wear the throwbacks this year. There were no throwbacks last season... and the year before I only remember those hideously ugly gold jerseys they wore in that heart-warming last minute loss to the Vikings.

saintz08

Do this statement seem to have the infamous , \" Cancerous Player \" tag written all over it ???