Good Point, but can Dunbar "lead" the defense? That's why I suggested what I believe would be an affordable Dan Connor...

Part of his struggles were that he didn't have those defensive lineman to "absorb" those offensive lineman...

He is a player and would get us younger, cap friendlier, and healthier...

One reason we may not have seen contract announcements is that the Front Office would want to wait until free agency is wide open to make moves without having competing clubs time to study what their plan may be...

I gotta believe that if Brees weren't at least done, we'd be hearing more about it...

You made a good point! I hope that's the case.

Do you think Tennant can make the jump to starter in the NFL or is he just a journeyman/supporter?

Last year he was doing fine at OC, but DLP blew everything up.

Now we see that DLP over Tennant wasn't a knock on Tennant, it was DLP earning the nod.

I think the staff is still high on Tennant, they just found a surprise diamond in the rough with DLP.

JP
I like the line up you have for the D-line, however I can't see the linebackers working out the way you have them...

"SLB Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Martez Wilson, Will Herring
MLB Dan Connor, Ramon Humber, Ezra Butler
WLB Wesley Woodyard, Jonathan Casillas, Nate Bussey"

I am a fan of Dunbar but when he was moved to the outside he was less effective. If (and a BIG IF) Vilma gets let go I could see Dunbar in the middle, a position which he excelled at. Dunbar>Conner

The SLB should be Wilson. He showed that he can play the position well and has the size, speed and pass rushing ability to be one of the best SLBs in the league. Wilson>Dunbar

I have not watched Woodyard play the position and his stats aren't all that impressive. I realize stats don't mean everything. Casillas has shown, when healthy, that he can play the position very well. Casillas has the speed needed at WLB plays the run decently, has the best cover skills of our LBs and can rush the passer well. Casillas>Woodyard (although I have not seen Woodyard play)

Let me tell you that Woodyard is a better LB than Casillas and the Saints would be lucky to have him.

Woodyard is a really good tackler, has very good closing speed, and is excellent in coverage. But I think that he is a natural MLB rather than a WLB, but Broncos used him more like a WLB, so it shouldn't be a problem.

He would be a huuuuuuuuuuge upgrade over Shanle, and a huge upgrade over Casillas, who has had his problems with injuries. BTW, Casillas is a RFA, so there's not a 100% certainty that he'll even be with the Saints next season - if the Saints/Spags should for some reason decide that he doesn't fit into what they want to do going forward.

Ill take your word for Woodyard.. So I won't mind him at the wlb, however I would not be upset to see casillas there.

Of all the younger players returning I am most excited about Wilson. He was really looking good and has huge upside. Dunbar just doesn't look right to me. Maybe it's just.....aw heck I don't know what it is. We are about to go from being one of the oldest teams in the NFL to one of the youngest. Kasay can sway that stat if he stays.
I know one thing we miss Darren Sharper badly and we need veteran leaders who know the game. That's one of the reasons I want to keep Vilma.