jeanpierre

2012 New Orleans Saints Depth Chart

Note: Free Agent Signing/Retainer or Acquisition in Bold; Needs indicated in Italics

WR Marques Colston, Adrian Arrington, Joe Morgan
TE Jimmy Graham, David Thomas
LT Jermon Bushrod
LG Ben Grubbs, Eric Olsen
C Brian De La Puente
RG Jahri Evans, Matt Tennant
RT Zach Strief, Charles Brown
WR Lance Moore, Devery Henderson
QB Drew Brees, Chase Daniel
FB Jed Collins, Korey Hall
RB Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles, Chris Ivory

RDE Will Smith, Turk McBride, Greg Romeus
RDT Sedrick Ellis, Mitch King
LDT Brodrick Bunkley, Tom Johnson
LDE Cam Jordan, Junior Galette
SLB Scott Shanle, Martez Wilson, Jonathan Casillas
MLB Curtis Lofton, Jon Vilma, Ramon Humber
WLB David Hawthorne, Chris Chamberlain, Will Herring
LCB Jabari Greer
SS Roman Harper; Jonathon Amaya
FS Malcolm Jenkins; Isa Abdul-Quddus
RCB Patrick Robinson, Johnny Patrick

P Thomas Morstead
K Garrett Hartley
LS Justin Drescher

Analysis

Defense

Do we still have Free Agent DL candidates available? especially a DT, that can protect these LineBackers? I think the Saints let Sedrick play out his contract and walk - only thing is does he forget his assingments to protect his teammates and get his stats for his next contract? Aubrayo Franklin should be signed, again, to see if Spagnuolo can give it a better spin.

Regarding the Ends, I believe we have the speed rushers we need on the roster with Galette & Romeus; though Smith is aging, he's still there with a salary number reflecting his play. Where is the Cam Jordan that shot up the draft boards at the Senior games a year ago? Again, what can Spagnuolo do?

The most obvious improvement thus far is at Linebacker. No one wants to say it, out of respect for what he's done here in New Orleans, but Vilma seems to be done. Unless we see Shanle stave off challengers again, and Herring step into a starting role - their contracts will make them expendable if contracts aren't redone. Martez Wilson, is he ready to play his...? Casillas will be there for depth if he can't make the jump. And three quality linebackers entering their primes - Lofton, Hawthorne, and Camberlain. Now, how does it shake out?

While Porter is not the leader of the defense that National Media has embarrassingly stated - he's still a significant loss; we need to add some depth at the position.

There seems to be some suggestion that Vilma will not be the only Saints to get the hammer; and while some love Harper's FF/Sack Stat line, he's given up key, big plays in pass coverage that have bounced the Saints out of the playoffs two years running; while there are quality backups on the roster, Safety now is under the microscope. Will Jenkins continue to regress or was last year an anomaly? I think Jenkins would be a better Strong Safety and a high round pick should be invested in a Free Safety, should that player be the BPA and warrant the pick. Curious to see what Spagnuolo does.

Kicking

Did Kasay do enough, despite age, to earn more time with the Saints and could Hartley be a cap casualty?

Offense

What about the offensive line? It's pretty thin. Nicks size will be missed, but Grubbs is no slouch. We had a nice signing in Eric Olsen - very impressed with this guy, wanted the FO to draft him. Is Charles Brown another soft USC player? Will this guy step up? Can De La Puenta continue to improve his play?

Saints have done a fine job with the cap and structuring of contracts - now we'll need to as Jimmy Graham is going to command a strong number; Saints had better have learned their lesson and extend him, now, immediately. The draft will need to produce another TE as well for depth and schemes.

The Saints have the deepest, best running back corps in the league; only question, do we keep two fullbacks?

The Loomis Love Fest is in full Spring Bloom, but it will be Hot Town, Summer in the City Riots if the big question doesn't get addressed - Will Drew be signed timely, appropriately?

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...