Saints Pick Akeim Hicks DT - Regina Canada

burningmetal · 04-29-2012, 03:10 AM

Originally Posted by Tobias-Reiper

My response was directed to the comment you made about OT being a bigger need than defense. Yes, "serviceable" OTs, who are part of the best offense in football the last 6 years.

And yes, I remember the Sullivans, the Grants, the Dunbars, the Bates, the Kings... I remember a lot of players from waaaaaaayyy back. I'm old, you know?

And as for "flopping" on defensive picks, was it the players or the coaching?
Because Abrayo Franklin was damn good in SF, and Rodgers dominated games in Cleveland. And you can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't say the Saints have done a bad job of choosing DTs on one sentence, then on the other say they have upgraded the line enough... how can they upgrade enough if they suck at picking DTs? If they are that bad at picking DT talent, better get as many as they can in there, no?

Anyway, you can be as skeptical as you want and make too much ado about draft picks like a great number of NFL fans, especially after reading some scouting reports and watching clips on youtube (because reallly, have you ever seen a complete game played by Hicks?).

Personally, I really don't care that much about the draft and all the hype that comes with it, who picks who on what round, the grades, winners and losers, etc...

And yes, bow down to Loomistofeles!

You completely missed my point. Please read one of my one thousand replies to everyone who thinks I said we needed an offensive player more than defense. That is clearly NOT what I said. I said OT was a weak spot for the Saints and that I believed Bobby Massie, who was still available, would have been a better choice than taking a chance on a project guy. No player is a sure fire thing in the draft, but I didn't find DT to be such a great need that we had to pass on a very highly rated player like Massie. If there had been a DT who I thought was worthy of being picked over him, I would not have had a problem with that. And maybe Hicks will be great, but this is just my opinion based on what I've seen and heard so far.

And yes, I have seen film of him. I did read the scouting reports, and as I said in another reply to someone, I followed that up by watching footage of him, to see what they were talking about. What I saw was a guy who was talented but he did at times seem give up on plays a bit. It's not that I didn't want him at all, I just didn't like him in the 3rd. And yes, it is possible that they thought someone else would get him if they didn't select him right away, but I was really high on Massie at that point. Couldn't believe he was still on the board.

And I feel like Bunkley was a real upgrade because he is not only an established player, but he isn't a washed up project like Rogers was. And Franklin just didn't fit the system. Bunkley does. But the overwhelming majority of the time, the Saints have been bad at evaluating DT's.

And those offensive tackles have not been starters for the last 6 years. It was Jamaal Brown and Jon Stinchcomb for a good while. Now, when we go up against teams like the 49ers, Ravens, even the freaking Rams, our tackles struggle mightily and Drew is running for his life. Of course the Saints have a great offense, but for how long if Drew is getting blindsided?

04-29-2012, 03:10 AM	#10
burningmetal 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,923 Blog Entries: 3	Originally Posted by Tobias-Reiper My response was directed to the comment you made about OT being a bigger need than defense. Yes, "serviceable" OTs, who are part of the best offense in football the last 6 years. And yes, I remember the Sullivans, the Grants, the Dunbars, the Bates, the Kings... I remember a lot of players from waaaaaaayyy back. I'm old, you know? And as for "flopping" on defensive picks, was it the players or the coaching? Because Abrayo Franklin was damn good in SF, and Rodgers dominated games in Cleveland. And you can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't say the Saints have done a bad job of choosing DTs on one sentence, then on the other say they have upgraded the line enough... how can they upgrade enough if they suck at picking DTs? If they are that bad at picking DT talent, better get as many as they can in there, no? Anyway, you can be as skeptical as you want and make too much ado about draft picks like a great number of NFL fans, especially after reading some scouting reports and watching clips on youtube (because reallly, have you ever seen a complete game played by Hicks?). Personally, I really don't care that much about the draft and all the hype that comes with it, who picks who on what round, the grades, winners and losers, etc... And yes, bow down to Loomistofeles! You completely missed my point. Please read one of my one thousand replies to everyone who thinks I said we needed an offensive player more than defense. That is clearly NOT what I said. I said OT was a weak spot for the Saints and that I believed Bobby Massie, who was still available, would have been a better choice than taking a chance on a project guy. No player is a sure fire thing in the draft, but I didn't find DT to be such a great need that we had to pass on a very highly rated player like Massie. If there had been a DT who I thought was worthy of being picked over him, I would not have had a problem with that. And maybe Hicks will be great, but this is just my opinion based on what I've seen and heard so far. And yes, I have seen film of him. I did read the scouting reports, and as I said in another reply to someone, I followed that up by watching footage of him, to see what they were talking about. What I saw was a guy who was talented but he did at times seem give up on plays a bit. It's not that I didn't want him at all, I just didn't like him in the 3rd. And yes, it is possible that they thought someone else would get him if they didn't select him right away, but I was really high on Massie at that point. Couldn't believe he was still on the board. And I feel like Bunkley was a real upgrade because he is not only an established player, but he isn't a washed up project like Rogers was. And Franklin just didn't fit the system. Bunkley does. But the overwhelming majority of the time, the Saints have been bad at evaluating DT's. And those offensive tackles have not been starters for the last 6 years. It was Jamaal Brown and Jon Stinchcomb for a good while. Now, when we go up against teams like the 49ers, Ravens, even the freaking Rams, our tackles struggle mightily and Drew is running for his life. Of course the Saints have a great offense, but for how long if Drew is getting blindsided?
	If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

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