Maybe I was wrong. Will Smith might play linebacker.
 

Hey SaintsReporter, what a difference a day makes, huh? You were ready to string up the entire Saints\' front office yesterday because they didn\'t draft a linebacker (whom you never named) at 18th. Not only that but you complained that they should have picked Chris Gamble with this pick even though he had dropped on almost every board because of his poor showing at the combine.

I suppose they could have moved up but they made that mistake last year. I couldn\'t see them making it again. No, they did the right thing.

You\'re looking at a future All-Pro here in Will Smith and the Saints\' management would have deserved a fate worse than death had they not taken him with their pick. Couple that with drafting Courtney Watson from Notre Dame and this defense just made a huge leap forward.

Trust me (even though my mom always told me, \"Never trust anybody that says, \'Trust me\' \"), Watson will be excellent at the Mike LB position. This defense has to play Atlanta twice and with the speed N.O. just aquired in this draft, Michael Vick isn\'t nearly as scary as he once was. Watson has a nose for the ball. Ya can\'t tackle who ya can\'t catch. Watson can catch \'em.

This defense now has depth. Do they still need help at corner? Sure, but the front seven can make the secondary look pretty good if it\'s got the speed to make plays. And there\'s still time to make a deal for another CB, perhaps Ty Law...although if he can\'t outrun the cops on foot, I\'m not sure he\'d be much help. Sounds like he\'s lost a step or two.

Maybe I was wrong. Will Smith might play linebacker.
 

blake6900 --

I don\'t mind telling you, I was more than just a little upset yesterday. I just couldn\'t understand why they didn\'t address the cornerback position.

Quite honestly, I didn\'t know that much about Will Smith or Watson. I just had some preconceived idea of who I thought they should take.

Now, I\'m extremely happy with this years draft.

I\'d like to see us pick up another corner though.


[Edited on 25/4/2004 by SaintsReporter]

Maybe I was wrong. Will Smith might play linebacker.
 

And so am I.

We probably will...but it doesn\'t make much sense to draft one just to be drafting one. A good defensive line can make bad corners look good but good corners can\'t help a bad defensive line...unless they blitz. I don\'t think we want that...at least not on every play!

Maybe I was wrong. Will Smith might play linebacker.
 

Not to upset anyone\'s sunshine applecart here....

I\'m not terribly upset about this draft, but I do have a question.

How is it that every year of the Haslett regime, we have made a priority of fixing the D-Line? If the D-Line is the priority every year, how is it that the D-Line never gets fixed? It seems like we are putting disproportionate annual effort into the D-Line and not getting any better at stopping the run.

Maybe Pease will finally fix this, but I won\'t be surprised to see Haslett draft some more DT\'s and DE\'s next spring.

Maybe I was wrong. Will Smith might play linebacker.
 

I agree. While I am pleased with the Saints draft. Realistically I know that there are still a lot of \"if\'s\" there. Our entire linebacker corp is unproven as well as our entire secondary. The draft might help, but, it ain\'t going to sure up everything.

All of these guys are young that we drafted and we didn\'t do a lot in free agency to address BIG areas of needs.

Maybe I was wrong. Will Smith might play linebacker.
 

Smith is listed at the 40 in variable ranges .

ESPN has him at 4.58
Sporting News has him at 4.70

Lehman - 4.55
Boulware - 4.55
Dansby - 4.58

Natural players at the position , not converted too . Converting a player takes time and practice .

Go out to the forum choice page and notice under General Discussion Board , the Saintz08 it previously appeared on another board . Now it is under this one . The positive is , Banning is so much easier ..... ;)

Maybe I was wrong. Will Smith might play linebacker.
 

Banning? Wut chew tawkin\' \'bout 08? How did you get to be a moderator anyway? :P

Let\'s talk Eli? I hear he had a rough day. ;)

Maybe I was wrong. Will Smith might play linebacker.
 

Chosen for my interesting way of looking at things and my shoot first ask questions later approach . Dead men tell no tales

Have been busy , what is up with Eli that has you so amused Billy ??





[Edited on 26/4/2004 by saintz08]

Maybe I was wrong. Will Smith might play linebacker.
 

Interesting indeed. That\'s one word for it anyway 08. I have another word for it, but that moderator status kinda makes me gun shy. And I have plenty of tales to tell. :P

I just found it amusing all the hell Eli and the Mannings went though. You just haven\'t made metion of Eli and I found that odd, considering all the Eli threads you started dating back to his jr. high days. ;)

Maybe I was wrong. Will Smith might play linebacker.
 

Yeah all 2 days of it .

The endorsement rights alone after that stunt in New York are probably worth more then Archie made in his entire career .

Archie kept his son within a Saints connected organization .

Eli showed just enough class and rebellion of the system to keep it amusing . Peyton showed up for support in the matter .

The Chargers are a joke of an organization , one step ahead of the Bungles and Cardinals . Eli is the winner hands down ......

2 years from now , posters will be posting if only the Saints had traded up to get Eli ....Eli has a great support group and will most likely make his share of mistakes , but will eclipse the other quarterbacks in the draft .

Want some more ???