Danno

I don't think the Saints will draft a MLB early. I think they're gonna stand pat with Grant'Ruff.

People forget Cie Grant was 240 at training camp. But I think he gained too much too fast and his body (muscles) lagged behind. With a full offseason of carrying 240 and training at 240 his body should easily have adjusted to it by now.

I'm excited about him, but quietly cautious. I always thought he'd be better on the outside, but I'm just a forum jockey. The coaches see this kid every day and have looked at a zillion hours of film we're not privy too, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

I'd still like to add a Donterrrious Thomas type LB to the mix.
At SLB we have Hodge and Allen battling it out.
At MLB we have Ruff and Grant battling it out.
AT WLB we have Rodgers and ??????.

I smell a WLB prospect being drafted, don't you?

Is DJ Williams projected at WLB?

Euphoria

yes he is... and I have him from the begining as a pick we may take at 18... he is OLB

turbo_dog

DJ Williams wouldn\'t hurt my feelings as our number one pick.

However, I don\'t think Ruff is the answer in the middle, he didn\'t really do anything last season or in San Diego that would show him to be improving as a player.
Do we know if Cie Grant can even play? Granted, he has to be athletic to have played safety, corner, and linebacker in college, but I can\'t find any stats from his last season at Ohio State. I\'m sure he\'ll fit into the defense somewhere, but I don\'t know how secure I feel at this point with those two slated at middle linebacker.

[Edited on 1/4/2004 by turbo_dog]

Danno

I get the feeling Vima, Hall, Robinson and several of the top WR\'s are in the Saints crosshairs.
I think trading down is a real possibilty if all of the above are gone.

Euphoria

one or a few will be there which is why I think trading down is a good thing and picking up a 3rd rounder.

no_cloning

If the Saints draft DJ Williams, where do you play him?
Rodgers is probably our best linebacker right now, he is the starter at WLB. Why not move Williams to SLB, where Hodge or Allen simply aren\'t the answer?
Quoting James Adler from About Football: \"Williams could play the strong side in the NFL, but I\'m not sure he has the speed to play on the weak side.\"

Euphoria

Oh no... Williams is fast. That was one of the high sale points on him. He has great attitude, instinicts and speed. Just doesn\'t have size.

whowatches

Why does Cie Grant have to play the middle? The second round will have at least two stud prospects at the position: Rod Davis and Teddy Lehman. Cie is going to have to learn the position anyway, why not have him use his speed on the outside?

I say all that because I would rather see us pick up a corner in the first and one of these second round MLBs than Williams in the first and whatever.

.02

rAge

Lehman is an OLB, and he is not a \'stud\'. We could probably pick him up in the 3rd round. He may make a decent LB, but he will never be anything great in the pro\'s.

whowatches

You are right. Lehman is projected as an OLB. My bad. Didn\'t he split time at middle at OU?

Wow. Thanks, man. \'Preciate you settin\' me straight. Don\'t know how we\'d make it around here without you. Didn\'t you say something on a thread once about people explaining their reasons or something if they disagreed with an opinion.

You\'re a real pleasure.