New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com

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I still don\'t get why we are moving Bentley to center.

Bentley is one of those players that fits a mold to a T of a proto type power west coast center .Which is why , I always wonder why did Haslett draft this player ??? The only answer that actually makes any sense is :

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NEW ORLEANS - Former San Diego Chargers head coach Mike Riley will join the Saints as assistant head coach and secondary coach.

Now I can hear the questions echoing in my head already , What does Bentley have to do with the Secondary coach ????

The answer is :

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Riley brought a rich tradition with him to Oregon State in 1997. Prior to being hired at OSU in 1997, he spent the previous four years at USC as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, plus he carried the title of assistant head coach during his last two years at USC.

Now somewhere in Hasletts peanautical brain , it would make some great deal of sense for the Saints to hire a coach who has spent the majority of his productive career in dealing with offenses and then make him a defensive secondary coach . Not unlike the simple genius of taking a quarterbacks coach , who has never been anything but and having him run the most complex offense in N.F.L. history .

Riley might have been some influence at the time for the Saints to select the perfect fit , power west coast offense center . Who Haslett promptly made a guard .If you were to build a power west coast offense , here is the type of center you would be looking for :

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The ideal size for the center should be about six foot two inches and weigh about 290 pounds. Although there have been successful centers in the NFL who were relatively tall, many West Coast offense teams feel that, all factors considered, a shorter center is better. Not only does a shorter center have lower center of gravity (thereby facilitating body balance), he also tends to be more mobile a trait that offers significant benefits to an individual who must operate in a relatively small area. A large body can be a hindrance in a small area (somewhat analogous to the limitations imposed on a jockey who weighs more than 150 pounds). Most West Coast offense prefer a center who is able to quickly move in between people. In most cases, a shorter center can do that better than a tall, rangy one.

65 LeCharles Bentley
C
Height: 6-2
Weight: 299