Saints Pick Akeim Hicks DT - Regina Canada

burningmetal · 04-28-2012, 06:15 AM

Originally Posted by SaintGup

My friend, I understand your concerns but to mention our offense's shortcomings after the season we had last year, especially your comment on Jimmy Graham's playing time seems a little unnecessary. We needed to address our defense, especially our Line as one of our problems was lack of Qb pressure. Yes this guy is raw but so is a steak until given some heat and some spices and...erm, a little barbecue glaze with...ah, erm...sorry, can't finish my point as I need to get something to Eat. Bye.

I think those of you who are disagreeing with me are missing my point. I didn't particularly want an offensive guy, but in the 3rd round there isn't a lot of elite talent left on the board. So you take the best player regardless of position, unless it's a quarterback or running back, which we obviously have no need or lack of depth there.

I mentioned Massie because he was, in my opinion, the best player left on the board. I haven't forgotten the Rams game last year when Drew nearly got killed. Our tackles are only saved by Drew's ability to feel the pressure, step up and make quick decisions. We signed Brodrick Bunkley, so we're already better at DT than we have been in a while. Could we use another? Sure, but I don't believe Hicks is good enough, or specifically reliable enough to warrant being picked over some of the other talent that was there.

This isn't a blue collar, great work ethic, physical specimen that Graham, Colston and Evans have been as project type players. He's got the physical part, but he doesn't have the greatest attitude, and that's what keeps me from feeling very confident about him. You can't get better if you don't want to work hard 100% of the time. But I will of course be pulling for him now that he's on our team.

FinSaint · 04-28-2012, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by burningmetal

I think those of you who are disagreeing with me are missing my point. I didn't particularly want an offensive guy, but in the 3rd round there isn't a lot of elite talent left on the board. So you take the best player regardless of position, unless it's a quarterback or running back, which we obviously have no need or lack of depth there.

I do understand your sentiment and I agree with you on it, but there's a difference in picking the BPA and picking the BPA with an emphasis on need.

I have to think that Hicks was the BPA for the Saints among the positions of need they had decided to target before the draft, and so I have to think that the Saints staff and FO saw in him something that in their opinion warranted the 3rd round pick. The GMs and the FOs in general know more about the other teams' interests and plans than we probably give them credit for, and there might've been a strong inclination that some other team would've pulled the trigger on Hicks before the Saints' 4th round pick.

In light of these conclusions, whether their right or wrong, I do feel good about this pick even though I would've never thought back in February that Hicks would be picked as high as in the late 3rd round.

Just to further strengthen my point, this is from the other thread, the press conference with Vitt and Spags about Hicks:

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news...8-3995feacdb09

Vitt:

We tried to get a group of players that we thought would be there at this time in the draft. I know you’re going to think that I’m making this up, but he was at the top of the list of our board when it was our pick. If he wasn’t there, Mickey was entertaining some phone calls to move down. But this is the player we covered and the one that we wanted and the one we studied the most on Friday. It worked out well.

Naturally, they aren't going to say that anything negative about the pick, but it would seem that he was the BPA in a need position for the Saints.

Danno · 04-28-2012, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by burningmetal

I think those of you who are disagreeing with me are missing my point. I didn't particularly want an offensive guy, but in the 3rd round there isn't a lot of elite talent left on the board. So you take the best player regardless of position, unless it's a quarterback or running back, which we obviously have no need or lack of depth there.

I mentioned Massie because he was, in my opinion, the best player left on the board. I haven't forgotten the Rams game last year when Drew nearly got killed. Our tackles are only saved by Drew's ability to feel the pressure, step up and make quick decisions. We signed Brodrick Bunkley, so we're already better at DT than we have been in a while. Could we use another? Sure, but I don't believe Hicks is good enough, or specifically reliable enough to warrant being picked over some of the other talent that was there.

This isn't a blue collar, great work ethic, physical specimen that Graham, Colston and Evans have been as project type players. He's got the physical part, but he doesn't have the greatest attitude, and that's what keeps me from feeling very confident about him. You can't get better if you don't want to work hard 100% of the time. But I will of course be pulling for him now that he's on our team.

I have to agree with you. He was a reach in the 3rd. I've read many who say he'd have been there in the 4th and maybe even the 5th.

I don't dislike the pick because he does have some awesome potential, but it appears there were better players on most boards. I also trust the new staff. There's something they really like in this guy so they nabbed him.

I do feel that the absense of a 1st and 2nd round pick probably forced us to factor need into the equation more than we normally do.

The guy is raw, but his upside is off the charts, and we have a defensive coach with an eye for D-linemen and the talent to coach them to their potential.

Right now I'd grade the pick a B-minus, but most of us can't name 20 players strengths and weaknesses once we look outside of the SEC.

CharityMike · 04-28-2012, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by burningmetal

I think those of you who are disagreeing with me are missing my point. I didn't particularly want an offensive guy, but in the 3rd round there isn't a lot of elite talent left on the board. So you take the best player regardless of position, unless it's a quarterback or running back, which we obviously have no need or lack of depth there.

I mentioned Massie because he was, in my opinion, the best player left on the board. I haven't forgotten the Rams game last year when Drew nearly got killed. Our tackles are only saved by Drew's ability to feel the pressure, step up and make quick decisions. We signed Brodrick Bunkley, so we're already better at DT than we have been in a while. Could we use another? Sure, but I don't believe Hicks is good enough, or specifically reliable enough to warrant being picked over some of the other talent that was there.

This isn't a blue collar, great work ethic, physical specimen that Graham, Colston and Evans have been as project type players. He's got the physical part, but he doesn't have the greatest attitude, and that's what keeps me from feeling very confident about him. You can't get better if you don't want to work hard 100% of the time. But I will of course be pulling for him now that he's on our team.

I agree for the most part with everything you said EXCEPT the last paragraph. I think you are dead wrong.

How do you figure he doesn't have the greatest attitude? Considering what happened at LSU, I think he is VERY humble.

He is EXACTLY a blue collar player. He had high hopes of playing for one of the best college football programs in the country and through no fault of his own, was taken away from him. He had to go to Canada for crying out loud!! To even be invited to the combine speaks VOLUMES on this guys heart and work ethic.

How do you figure he doesn't work hard 100% of the time? Do you have inside info on this guy none of us have seen?

It's one thing to not like a player/pick but don't start making things up that, from what we have seen on this guy, he has all the physical tools to be successfull NFL, just needs some technique work.

burningmetal · 04-28-2012, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by CharityMike

I agree for the most part with everything you said EXCEPT the last paragraph. I think you are dead wrong.

How do you figure he doesn't have the greatest attitude? Considering what happened at LSU, I think he is VERY humble.

He is EXACTLY a blue collar player. He had high hopes of playing for one of the best college football programs in the country and through no fault of his own, was taken away from him. He had to go to Canada for crying out loud!! To even be invited to the combine speaks VOLUMES on this guys heart and work ethic.

How do you figure he doesn't work hard 100% of the time? Do you have inside info on this guy none of us have seen?

It's one thing to not like a player/pick but don't start making things up that, from what we have seen on this guy, he has all the physical tools to be successfull NFL, just needs some technique work.

I don't make things up, and I really get tired of being accused of such. What I have read about him is that he doesn't play through the whistle consistently, he has bad technique, which wouldn't be a problem if he worked harder, and that he has some character issues.

I believe people can change, and am hoping he will. But that is the book on him right now, not according to me, but according to people who evaluate players for a living. I am not a negative guy, so I wouldn't just randomly make up something bad about a player on my team.

Do not ever accuse me of making things up about my team.

CharityMike · 04-28-2012, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by burningmetal

I don't make things up, and I really get tired of being accused of such. What I have read about him is that he doesn't play through the whistle consistently, he has bad technique, which wouldn't be a problem if he worked harder, and that he has some character issues.

I believe people can change, and am hoping he will. But that is the book on him right now, not according to me, but according to people who evaluate players for a living. I am not a negative guy, so I wouldn't just randomly make up something bad about a player on my team.

Do not ever accuse me of making things up about my team.

Well please by all means, post the links to these things you say because everything I have read had said the opposite.

04-28-2012, 06:15 AM	#1
burningmetal 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,923 Blog Entries: 3	Originally Posted by SaintGup My friend, I understand your concerns but to mention our offense's shortcomings after the season we had last year, especially your comment on Jimmy Graham's playing time seems a little unnecessary. We needed to address our defense, especially our Line as one of our problems was lack of Qb pressure. Yes this guy is raw but so is a steak until given some heat and some spices and...erm, a little barbecue glaze with...ah, erm...sorry, can't finish my point as I need to get something to Eat. Bye. I think those of you who are disagreeing with me are missing my point. I didn't particularly want an offensive guy, but in the 3rd round there isn't a lot of elite talent left on the board. So you take the best player regardless of position, unless it's a quarterback or running back, which we obviously have no need or lack of depth there. I mentioned Massie because he was, in my opinion, the best player left on the board. I haven't forgotten the Rams game last year when Drew nearly got killed. Our tackles are only saved by Drew's ability to feel the pressure, step up and make quick decisions. We signed Brodrick Bunkley, so we're already better at DT than we have been in a while. Could we use another? Sure, but I don't believe Hicks is good enough, or specifically reliable enough to warrant being picked over some of the other talent that was there. This isn't a blue collar, great work ethic, physical specimen that Graham, Colston and Evans have been as project type players. He's got the physical part, but he doesn't have the greatest attitude, and that's what keeps me from feeling very confident about him. You can't get better if you don't want to work hard 100% of the time. But I will of course be pulling for him now that he's on our team. Danno likes this.
	If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

04-28-2012, 07:55 AM	#2
FinSaint Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Finland... formerly Southern Virginia Posts: 4,964	Originally Posted by burningmetal I think those of you who are disagreeing with me are missing my point. I didn't particularly want an offensive guy, but in the 3rd round there isn't a lot of elite talent left on the board. So you take the best player regardless of position, unless it's a quarterback or running back, which we obviously have no need or lack of depth there. I do understand your sentiment and I agree with you on it, but there's a difference in picking the BPA and picking the BPA with an emphasis on need. I have to think that Hicks was the BPA for the Saints among the positions of need they had decided to target before the draft, and so I have to think that the Saints staff and FO saw in him something that in their opinion warranted the 3rd round pick. The GMs and the FOs in general know more about the other teams' interests and plans than we probably give them credit for, and there might've been a strong inclination that some other team would've pulled the trigger on Hicks before the Saints' 4th round pick. In light of these conclusions, whether their right or wrong, I do feel good about this pick even though I would've never thought back in February that Hicks would be picked as high as in the late 3rd round. Just to further strengthen my point, this is from the other thread, the press conference with Vitt and Spags about Hicks: http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news...8-3995feacdb09 Vitt: We tried to get a group of players that we thought would be there at this time in the draft. I know you’re going to think that I’m making this up, but he was at the top of the list of our board when it was our pick. If he wasn’t there, Mickey was entertaining some phone calls to move down. But this is the player we covered and the one that we wanted and the one we studied the most on Friday. It worked out well. Naturally, they aren't going to say that anything negative about the pick, but it would seem that he was the BPA in a need position for the Saints.
	"I'm not bashing people, I'm bashing their opinions because in my opinion their opinion is wrong" - Danno

04-28-2012, 08:17 AM	#3
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,758	Originally Posted by burningmetal I think those of you who are disagreeing with me are missing my point. I didn't particularly want an offensive guy, but in the 3rd round there isn't a lot of elite talent left on the board. So you take the best player regardless of position, unless it's a quarterback or running back, which we obviously have no need or lack of depth there. I mentioned Massie because he was, in my opinion, the best player left on the board. I haven't forgotten the Rams game last year when Drew nearly got killed. Our tackles are only saved by Drew's ability to feel the pressure, step up and make quick decisions. We signed Brodrick Bunkley, so we're already better at DT than we have been in a while. Could we use another? Sure, but I don't believe Hicks is good enough, or specifically reliable enough to warrant being picked over some of the other talent that was there. This isn't a blue collar, great work ethic, physical specimen that Graham, Colston and Evans have been as project type players. He's got the physical part, but he doesn't have the greatest attitude, and that's what keeps me from feeling very confident about him. You can't get better if you don't want to work hard 100% of the time. But I will of course be pulling for him now that he's on our team. I have to agree with you. He was a reach in the 3rd. I've read many who say he'd have been there in the 4th and maybe even the 5th. I don't dislike the pick because he does have some awesome potential, but it appears there were better players on most boards. I also trust the new staff. There's something they really like in this guy so they nabbed him. I do feel that the absense of a 1st and 2nd round pick probably forced us to factor need into the equation more than we normally do. The guy is raw, but his upside is off the charts, and we have a defensive coach with an eye for D-linemen and the talent to coach them to their potential. Right now I'd grade the pick a B-minus, but most of us can't name 20 players strengths and weaknesses once we look outside of the SEC. FinSaint likes this.

04-28-2012, 09:10 AM	#4
CharityMike Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mid City, New Orleans Posts: 3,556	Originally Posted by burningmetal I think those of you who are disagreeing with me are missing my point. I didn't particularly want an offensive guy, but in the 3rd round there isn't a lot of elite talent left on the board. So you take the best player regardless of position, unless it's a quarterback or running back, which we obviously have no need or lack of depth there. I mentioned Massie because he was, in my opinion, the best player left on the board. I haven't forgotten the Rams game last year when Drew nearly got killed. Our tackles are only saved by Drew's ability to feel the pressure, step up and make quick decisions. We signed Brodrick Bunkley, so we're already better at DT than we have been in a while. Could we use another? Sure, but I don't believe Hicks is good enough, or specifically reliable enough to warrant being picked over some of the other talent that was there. This isn't a blue collar, great work ethic, physical specimen that Graham, Colston and Evans have been as project type players. He's got the physical part, but he doesn't have the greatest attitude, and that's what keeps me from feeling very confident about him. You can't get better if you don't want to work hard 100% of the time. But I will of course be pulling for him now that he's on our team. I agree for the most part with everything you said EXCEPT the last paragraph. I think you are dead wrong. How do you figure he doesn't have the greatest attitude? Considering what happened at LSU, I think he is VERY humble. He is EXACTLY a blue collar player. He had high hopes of playing for one of the best college football programs in the country and through no fault of his own, was taken away from him. He had to go to Canada for crying out loud!! To even be invited to the combine speaks VOLUMES on this guys heart and work ethic. How do you figure he doesn't work hard 100% of the time? Do you have inside info on this guy none of us have seen? It's one thing to not like a player/pick but don't start making things up that, from what we have seen on this guy, he has all the physical tools to be successfull NFL, just needs some technique work.

04-28-2012, 05:25 PM	#5
burningmetal 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,923 Blog Entries: 3	Originally Posted by CharityMike I agree for the most part with everything you said EXCEPT the last paragraph. I think you are dead wrong. How do you figure he doesn't have the greatest attitude? Considering what happened at LSU, I think he is VERY humble. He is EXACTLY a blue collar player. He had high hopes of playing for one of the best college football programs in the country and through no fault of his own, was taken away from him. He had to go to Canada for crying out loud!! To even be invited to the combine speaks VOLUMES on this guys heart and work ethic. How do you figure he doesn't work hard 100% of the time? Do you have inside info on this guy none of us have seen? It's one thing to not like a player/pick but don't start making things up that, from what we have seen on this guy, he has all the physical tools to be successfull NFL, just needs some technique work. I don't make things up, and I really get tired of being accused of such. What I have read about him is that he doesn't play through the whistle consistently, he has bad technique, which wouldn't be a problem if he worked harder, and that he has some character issues. I believe people can change, and am hoping he will. But that is the book on him right now, not according to me, but according to people who evaluate players for a living. I am not a negative guy, so I wouldn't just randomly make up something bad about a player on my team. Do not ever accuse me of making things up about my team.
	If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

04-28-2012, 05:35 PM	#6
CharityMike Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mid City, New Orleans Posts: 3,556	Originally Posted by burningmetal I don't make things up, and I really get tired of being accused of such. What I have read about him is that he doesn't play through the whistle consistently, he has bad technique, which wouldn't be a problem if he worked harder, and that he has some character issues. I believe people can change, and am hoping he will. But that is the book on him right now, not according to me, but according to people who evaluate players for a living. I am not a negative guy, so I wouldn't just randomly make up something bad about a player on my team. Do not ever accuse me of making things up about my team. Well please by all means, post the links to these things you say because everything I have read had said the opposite.

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