Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

can we draft already please

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

We will, and I'm hoping its Friday night.

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Hopefully we draft 31st., then Friday we'll have 2 2nd's and 2 3rd's.that would be sweet.

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

It’s uncommon to see a franchise address their need at offensive guard with a top-10 pick. The last time that a true offensive guard was drafted that high came in 1997. With the No. 10 pick, the New Orleans Saints drafted Chris Naeole. Since 2000, no guard has been drafted higher than No. 15.

Does this mean that a team would never consider an offensive guard with a top-ten pick? Not necessarily. Let’s revisit the 2001 NFL Draft. With the No. 2 pick, the Arizona Cardinals drafted Leonard Davis. Although Davis was drafted as an offensive tackle, he spent his first three seasons as an offensive guard.

Tennessee Titans Rumors: D.J. Fluker at No. 10 in 2013 NFL Draft?

so history says bpa just maybe an OG/OC

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Well, got to thinking that Jones may not last till the fourth (he shouldn't) even though some of the news I'm seeing (and reading/over-reading between the lines) suggests that he may not play his rookie year...

I just find it difficult in today's NFL to see a GM taking him with that risk of not playing before the fourth round...

But I'm crushing on him almost as bad as Ogletree...

If we take Vaccaro over Ogletree, I think I'll have Malcolm Jenkins over Clay Matthews flashbacks and throw up to the point I'll have to attend to the local ER for dehydration...

Hagan has told me that won't happen, but I think he's just trying to be friend and limit how long I'll be sick if we take a Safety in a deep safety draft over an impact LB that could play all four (Mike, Will, Sam, Jack) linebacker spots and actually start immediately...

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

But times have changed. With so many offenses using 2 and 3 step drops instead of the old 5 to 7 step drops, the interior linemen have inched up the scale of importance (or OT's have inched downward), and I think Brees and our offense are the Pioneers of that shift.

I think OG's and OC's are more respected now than in any time in NFL history.

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Rest easy Jeanpierre, there's folk out there that want Vaccarro much worse than we do. We could make out alright because of that.

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Why can't they move the draft around each year, like the Superbowl?!?

If the draft were hosted in New Orleans, you know from across the country that it would be better attended, better wined, better dined...

Of course, it won't happen on Rodge's watch...

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Best options for Saints at Pick 15...

LB Alec Ogletree, Georgia

DL Sheldon Richardson, Missouri

CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State

LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia

DL Sylvester Williams, North Carolina

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

I like the first 4,not read up enough on Williams.Cant wait.
1am start for me.
Once the draft has happened I can start my early fantasy boards and the seasons starts to feel like its just around the corner

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Xavier Rhodes, CB/SS Florida State
the more i watch this kid the more i see him a modern day CB/SS tweener. I am not sold he is the second best CB in the draft. I will say this he might be the best tackler in the secondary this year. Now as a SS he is scary.

Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
is a better option for a true CB but at 15? i am not sold he is even that good. Not sure he has those kind of skills - yet

Johnthan Banks, CB/FS, Mississippi State
like Rhodes i see him as tweener but with much better hands and CB skills. he is better than second rounder

David Amerson*, CB, N.C. State
here is the total physical package at cb but i have not seen a good reason for the mental melt down he suffered last year.

IMO it is a reach at 15 for any of the CB's unless you are toying with idea the player can transition.

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

papz i am waiting on you picks!!!!!

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

i would rather hayden than trufant

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

opps forgot him. sorry

yeah i have those two neck and neck. the issue in my book was hayden was attacked more as a senior and he held up extremely well. i was wondering why teams kept doing it myself

teams stayed away from trufant a bit more.

sell me on hayden

either way bottom the first is were i see them on my big board. surely is not at 15 for both of them

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

I'm no where nearly as educated as you guys are with these mid round guys to even gauge where they're likely to be going. However, I'll be consistent throughout this draft process and say I would like to have one of the top 3 DE/OLB hybrids in the draft. That said, I don't feel we'll likely have a chance at any of them as I feel they'll all be gone by then(Mingo/Jordan/Ansah).

With our first pick, I'd have no issues if we took Damontre Moore, Jarvis Jones, or Kenny Vacarro. Tank Carradine is also an intriguing name that been rising big time in the past few weeks. As far as mid round prospects, I've mentioned J.J. Wilcox, Da'Rick Rodgers, Chris Faulk as guys I would like to look at. Sean Renfree or Ryan Griffin are two late round guys I wouldn't mind us drafting and developing. There's got to be a familiarity with Griffin being a local product and playing for Curtis Johnson(last year we took Tiller who played for Marrone late). Cutcliffe has a strong history with quarterbacks and that make Renfree interesting for me. Call it homerism or just due to the fact they're solid mid round prospects, but the LSU crop of prospects carry some solid upside.

I honestly don't have a deep list or anything... I found over the years that while being fun to do, nailing the picks are as likely has hitting the powerball. Expect while paying a couple bucks for a quick pick ticket, trying to get a good feel for the draft takes up a ton of time. Plus I stopped gambling for a few years already so my knowledge and care for college football(on a broad level) has dwindled more and more as time goes by.

I much rather just read the draft analysis and scouting reports after we take them these days.

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Same here. Its odd, almost all the players have similar strengths and weaknesses. Its like reading a horoscope or a fortune cookie.:p You can just about pull the so called experts analysis' out of a hat for most of these prospects. They all have very minor differences.

I'd still love to see how Loomis organizes his board, what system does he use, how much influence Payton and Ryan have, are the scouts in the war room too, etc...

I'd also like to know how close the media scouts are in their anaysis to the real NFL scouts.

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

I had read this - glad someone post the link...

And that opening line is very telling...

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Yea touches on quite few things we talked about in your thread. That information would absolutely be golden. But I guess that gives other teams more insight in our draft process... vice versa. That may minimize the competitive advantage that some teams have over others. It could certainly help us out.

I don't know how legal it would be... but I think it would be very helpful to set up minor "pipelines" and build strong relationships with collegiate recruiting coordinators. We'd be more privied to information that would help us scout players long before they're able to be drafted. It's all about staying ahead of the game.

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Actually i have been waiting to hear Damontre Moore and Tank Carradine as options. funny how Damontre Moore dropped of the map

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

I'd like to get some of your opinions on this guy:


Malliciah Goodman, DE, Clemson, 6-4, 276 lbs


http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townn...review-300.jpg


Malliciah Goodman, DE, Clemson, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com


I don't know, for some reason I'm getting the same kind of tingling from this guy as I did from Hicks last season. He has almost 37 inch arms and apparently a knack for stripping the ball. The weaknesses all seem fixable with good coaching and motivation, which I think Rob Ryan could certainly provide. He's projected as a 5th rounder and could provide some really nice quality at such a low round.

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

he is one of the guys that you wonder if coaching can correct some of the issues with him.
its quickness or late off the snap that worries me.
is it mental, lack of effort, or asked to play to much in college and wore down?

worth a late round flyer keeping in mind he may never be more than a rational player? sure

see here is the statement from above that makes you wonder

He had a "wow" bowl game performance against LSU with three sacks, which brings the question: where was this intensity the rest of the season?

was he rotated in and out more or what?

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

He's not a quick-twitch type of athlete; and his current size suggests him as a 4-3 defensive end...

Comparable to Will Smith...the slower, older version...not the younger version though admittedly, I was never impressed neither....

Not sure his frame could take another forty pounds, but that's what it would take for him to play 3-4 DE...

With some hard work, he could last in the league for eight years, but the slowness of his game limits his ceiling to a rotation/reservist player...

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Yeah, I was thinking of him as a rotational player who could provide very serviceable depth for several years at a key defensive position with a low investment of a latter round pick.

I wouldn't expect him to necessarily ever become a starting player, especially not right away, but he could be groomed into a very good rotational guy who wouldn't brake the bank.

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

ok i did some digging and i think conditioning is a major issue. he is a limited snaps player for sure. kinda of the same story with Kwame Geathers DE/NT Georgia. i think he could be used as 34 DE but he needs work lol i know thats what these rounds are for.

his numbers are not that bad
40 4.78
20 2.71
10 1.72
20 ss 4.48
3 cone 7.10

it seems his snap count cap in college should have been around 40. thats when he was most productive

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Just reading the BBCs website this morning and they have a piece of British prospect Menelick Watson.
It's pretty in depth and good

From the streets of Manchester to the NFL
Last updated 1 hour ago

By Ian Shoesmith

BBC Sport

From devouring free sachets of tomato ketchup as an impoverished kid in inner-city Manchester to the brink of a multi-million dollar career in the NFL, Menelik Watson's journey is an incredible tale.

As one of four boys brought up by a single parent on the tough Anson Estate in Longsight, an area of Manchester which until recently was infamous for gun crime and turf wars between gangs, life's dice were loaded against him.

One of the Watson boys is still in prison and another has spent time inside. But not Menelik.


Watson played for Florida State University
"I saw my brothers hit the streets and I really saw what it was doing to my mum," the 24-year-old told BBC Sport ahead of Thursday's NFL Draft (early hours of Friday in the UK), in which the cream of the college crop are allocated to the sport's 32 professional teams. "I always knew that I didn't want to add to that stress - it was really breaking her down.

"I've been on the street corner before, but I've always been blessed by a good spirit around me that kept me out of trouble."

That and his quick feet. Able to complete the 40-yard dash in a shade over five seconds, Watson is freakishly fast for a man standing 6ft 5in (1.95m) tall and weighing 310lb (22st, 141kg).

Watson also thanks his lucky stars for the day he met basketball coach Rob Orellana.

The American spotted him at a Christmas 2006 basketball tournament in Manchester, just after Watson's 18th birthday.

While being 6ft 5in tall is something the vast majority of us can only dream of, amazingly it is not quite tall enough to put you into the stratospheric world of an NBA power forward.

But Orellana thought he would take a punt on Watson anyway, because of his "agility, lift and unique ability to move laterally for a kid of his size" and offer him a place at his basketball academy in the Canary Islands.

It represented a second chance in sport for Watson, whose dreams of playing as a defensive midfielder for his beloved Manchester City had been shattered along with his ankle five years previously during a "100 against 100" game of park football.

"Can you imagine seeing the bone poking out of your skin? The doctor told me they almost amputated [my foot] because they were worried about the difficult complications that could happen if they put my ankle back together," he recalled.

"They told me I shouldn't play sports again. Me being bone-headed, I found basketball and fell in love with it."

What he lacked in inches Watson certainly made up for in application, although he openly admits to having initially found Orellana's tough training regime hard to deal with.

"The first year, I hated him. I couldn't stand him," joked Watson before talking about the incredibly close relationship which now exists between them.

The love goes both ways.

"If everyone had his drive we would have a beautiful world," said Orellana. "You'd have to do a lobotomy; you'd have to do open-heart surgery to see what was in his brain and what he's got in his heart."

When Watson was about to become a father four years ago, it was coach Orellana who stumped up the money to pay for him to fly home to Manchester.

"I got home to see my baby being born. He's like my father, he always has been and always will be," said Watson.

When it was clear a couple of years ago that his protege would not make it as a professional basketball player, Orellana took Watson to a small-town college which barely registers in its home state of California, let alone across the United States.

"We showed up unannounced on the doorstep at Saddleback junior college and said 'hey, he wants to play [American] football'," explained Orellana.

"He ran a little, they looked at the size of his legs and they said 'we'd love to have you'."

At this point, Watson had never donned a pair of shoulder pads or even picked up an American football.

But he took to the sport like a natural - "I had to learn all the rules; it was fun, like being a kid again" - and within months he had scouts from elite colleges checking him out.

The man who ended up signing Watson, though, did so purely by chance.

If you were looking for an actor to play the role of a gruff, grizzled coach, Rick Trickett's name would surely be at the top of Central Casting's list.

"I went to California to see another guy we had on our list," explained the former US Marine and Vietnam veteran. "And the junior coach then pulled me aside and said 'I've got one better than him'.

"And I'm thinking 'OK, sure you do'."

Watson joined Trickett's Florida State University team as a right tackle, a position where your main jobs are to stop your equally huge opponents from flattening your quarterback and to open up gaps for your running back to exploit.

"I've been doing this going on 41 years now," said Trickett in his slow West Virginian drawl. "And Menelik is the most explosive big man that I've ever coached.

"It didn't take long for me to realise this cat is a little bit different."

Having only played 20 games in his entire life, Watson now heads to the NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York as one of the highest-rated young players in America.

A seven-figure salary awaits wherever he ends up, although he had the option of further honing his skills by playing one more year in college.


Watson gets to grips with an opponent while playing for Florida State University last season
But American football is a brutal sport. With the risk of a torn cruciate ligament or a head injury snatching away any dreams of a million-dollar contract in an instant, few can blame him for turning pro at the first opportunity.

"I'm 24 years old, I've been in school my whole life and I thought it was about time I got a job," said Watson, who promises to give some of his first pay cheque to his mum Novlyn as well as buying his first place to live and a "little" vehicle.

"I'm a simple guy, I don't need much," he said.

"Some consider me as a mummy's boy. She had four boys, she was by herself and many a time she could have walked out and left us [but] she always showed us love.

"She was hard on us - she had to be - but it's just the respect, when you see somebody fight that hard for you. I owe it to her, more than anybody else in the world, to do something positive and see her smile. That's my motivation."

When he was growing up, he remembers being so hungry that, when accompanying his mum on a cleaning job, he helped himself to ketchup in the canteen.

Watson is desperate for his four-year-old girl Orellana - named in honour of his mentor Rob - to have a better start to life than he did and is relieved that his soon-to-be-found financial security will enable him to see a lot more of her in Manchester, where she still lives with her mother.

"She is so aware of her surroundings, so advanced, smart, respectful and loving," he says with pride. "I'm just so glad that she won't have to ever go through some of things [I had to]."

Watson knows he still has a lot to learn but, in the words of coach Trickett, "Menelik is like a sponge".

Trickett explained: "He's not been Americanised so he doesn't know what he's not supposed to know.

"God's blessed him with enough ability and enough intelligence that, for the most part, he can do anything."

As for Watson himself?

"I haven't done anything yet in terms of where I want to go and want to accomplish," he said.

"Rome wasn't built in a day but I've figured out the formula of the way you're meant to do things.

"One of my big goals is to win a Super Bowl. I watched this year and I was telling myself 'I know I'm going to be there one year'."

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Menelik Watson's is an interesting prospect that is a RT that is projected to MIGHT be able to switch to LT in the NFL. now that move would need a heck of a lot of scouting that is available to to the normal fan.

good story

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

2013 Wish List, Mock Draft, Deez Guys [Updated 2013/04/25]

R1 (15) LB Alec Ogletree, University of Georgia

R2 Forfeit

R3 (75) OL Barrett Jones, University of Alabama

R4 (106) LB Chase Thomas, Stanford University (from NY Jets)

R4 (109) DE Nicholas Williams, Samford University

R5 (144) QB Ryan Griffin, Tulane University

R6 (183) FS Cody Davis, Texas Tech University



:bng:

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

my big board Round 1

who might is in our reach for a trade
Lane Johnson OT Oklahoma
Jonathan Cooper OG/OC NC
Star Lotulelei NT Utah

at 15
Alec Ogletree, ILB - Georgia
Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia

surprise reaches or trade down
Alex Okafor, DE/OLB, Texas
Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
Desmond Trufant CB Washington
Jamie Collins, OLB, Southern Miss
Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
Datone Jones, DE/DT, UCLA
Damontre Moore, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
Xavier Rhodes*, CB, Florida State

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Just seen tape on vaccarro and I have to say - he's very slow to read and react, very slow to the ball!

Wouldnt want to waste our pick there

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

well he is not a safety to generate turnovers either i have him as a SS


i think with the off season moves in the secondary generating turnovers has to be a very big factor in the draft.

thats why i look at him as solid trade bait

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

may day may day

top 14 teams pick all the players we want so the saints draft


Justin Hunter

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

i really really want Mingo - I am skinny dipping tonight if he falls to us :)

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

"Several execs picking early in round 1 believe OAK will take corner DJ Hayden 3rd overall if they keep the pick." - Jason La Canfora

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

ok i have to add a 6th rounder here

Nick Williams DT/DE Samford
DT Nick Williams
Height: 6044
Weight: 309
Arm Length:
Hand Size:
40 time: 4.84
20:2.80
10:1.70
SS 20: 4.65
3 Cone:7.55
Vert: 33
Broad: 9' 03
Bench: 28

Strengths

Impressive build makes Williams' scheme flexible. Williams could play as a defensive end in the 3-4 or as a defensive tackle in the 4-3.

Williams is an explosive player. He gets off the line of scrimmage quickly and is athletic enough to chase the ball-carrier down.

Weaknesses

At times, Williams is caught trying to play too high. He has an impressive build for the position, but he needs to stay low to generate a push into the backfield.

And despite above-average strength, Williams isn't very active with his hands. Beating offensive linemen won't be as a easy at the NFL level, so he needs to improve in that area.

Tools

From a size standpoint, Williams (6'4", 309 lbs) would appeal to every team in the NFL, regardless of its defensive scheme. Williams put together an impressive showing at the combine, clocking a 4.97 40-yard dash and putting up 28 reps on the 225-pound bench press.

Williams' athleticism is apparent when watching Samford last season. While still a small-school project translating to the NFL level, Williams has the physical tools necessary to stick around the league.

Intangibles/Character

Williams only played one year of high school football before being recruited by and committing to Samford. He had no known character concerns at the college level.

System

Samford primarily used four defensive linemen in its defensive scheme. Williams lined up inside at tackle and had a very productive senior season.

In the NFL, Williams could be used as a defensive end in a 3-4 or at defensive tackle in a 4-3.

Pass Rush

Williams doesn’t add much as a pass rusher, but he does have a few moves in his arsenal. He has a nice a swim move to knock offensive linemen off balance.

Against the Run

When he stays low, Williams successfully uses his leverage to generate push into the backfield. Williams has some added value against the run, as his athleticism allows him to continue to chase the ball-carrier even if he gets outside the tackle.

Against double-team blocks, Williams does a nice job of holding his ground and allowing others to make the tackle.
Tackling

Williams is a solid tackler, routinely using his size to drive the ball carrier to the ground. His tackling shouldn't be a concern at the NFL level.

Use of Hands

Willliams has solid upper-body strength but will have to improve on using his hands in the NFL. At Samford, he was able to use his size and quickness to beat offensive linemen, but things won't come as easy at the professional level.

Scheme Versatility/Future Role

As mentioned before, Williams possesses a unique blend of size and athleticism that will allow him to play in multiple schemes in the NFL. He's built like a 3-4 defensive end and has above-average athleticism for a 300-pound guy.

Early in his NFL career, Williams will likely be used as a rotational lineman. But a few years down the road, Williams could prove to be a late-round gem with starting-caliber talent.

6th rounder

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Okay, nightmare is happening - Internet, Phone, Tv is out - major outage!

This usually happens during a fantasy draft!

SSSCCCHHHIIIEEEETTTTTTT!

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Our talent evaluators suck balls...

We get rid of Harper to watch another safety getting burned for another four years?!?

WTF?!?

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

JP i do not get it this is flash backs to the crapy drafts dallas did year after year under this defensive guru. they sucked the big one.

not with the players on the board. this kid is going to get exposed in the nfl.

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

he is not on my board at all. i had him for trade bait. i know we turned down trade offers. i know it

Re: 2013 NFL Draft - Saints Big Board
 

Time to call a spade a spade in my book. a few gems do not make up for the long list of bad draft picks. i am not including kenny here he has not taken the field yet. once again the saints go stale in an active draft and do not add picks.

the saints are a C rate team in the draft ,if that.

measuring stick for a good drafting team?

Ravens. they have 31 picks still on there roster