New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

One by one, NFL draft experts say the same thing when asked about the pressing need for the New Orleans Saints entering April's draft. And NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock followed suit Monday saying the Saints will focus on defense with the 15th overall pick.


NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said former LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo could be the explosive pass rusher the New Orleans Saints are looking for in the NFL draft.
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
He specifically pointed to outside linebacker as the Saints make the move to a 3-4 defensive scheme under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

"I think a 3-4 outside linebacker, an edge guy makes a ton of sense for them," Mayock said. "And a guy like (Oregon's) Dion Jordan could be there. Your guy, (LSU's Barkevious) Mingo, could be there. Jamie Collins in the second round. I think they need a 3-4 explosive outside linebacker, and there is no doubt about that. They've got to get some pressure on the quarterback. ... There are a lot of needs at 15 for them, and I think the five technique they can get in the second or third round as they can with the nose."

As for Mingo, the jury still seems to be out on him and Mayock continued the trend. Many draft pundits considered Mingo a slam-dunk top-10 pick at one point. Mayock doesn't feel that's the case right now.

"He's 230 pounds. He's got a little stiffness to him," Mayock said. "He obviously runs very fast. When the ball goes away from him, he's fantastic. He's a run-and-chase linebacker. He's got upside as a pass rusher. There is nothing about the kid I don't like. I just don't see a top 10 guy today.

"To me I'd feel much more comfortable with him as a developmental 3-4 outside linebacker, somebody that would go somewhere between 25 and 40. I know everybody's got him in the top 10, but I just don't see it right now."

Mayock did rave about BYU defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, but said there's no guarantee Ansah can become a star player even though his skill set may point to stardom. CBSSports.com's Rob Rang has the Saints selecting Ansah with their first-round pick in Rang's latest mock draft.

"I couldn't wait to see him at the Senior Bowl," Mayock said. "I thought he had an average week of practice, and in the one-on-one pass rushing drills, defense should dominate and he didn't dominate. He was a guy that was so long, so athletic, so gifted. I just think he's so raw sometime it can't come out. I don't think there is anybody on the in the NFL that doesn't think he's going to be a good player. But the question is when? Is it this year, next year or three years from now?

"And really what you're determining and building the answer of that question is going to determine what you think the value of the kid is. How quickly can he become a really good player? Can he be Aldon Smith this year? Because he's got those kind of skills. It just has to come out of him.

"Now can he play 3-4 outside linebacker? He's so gifted, some teams are looking at him as a 3-4 outside linebacker while other teams are saying with that frame, he could be 290 (pounds) and be a 3-4 defensive end. So it's kind of interesting. Teams are looking at him a 4-3 end, a 3-4 outside linebacker, and a 3-4 end. You can't say that about many kids and it goes to his unbelievable athletic ability and huge frame.

"I'm willing to bet on the kid. I think he's going to go earlier than later. When you get these kind of guys, and (Jason Pierre-Paul), he's way more raw than JPP was a couple years ago. People want to use that comparison, but he's not there yet. But I think he's going to become a good player."

Mayock said he didn't see Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner or Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore as top-10 players even though they might be drafted there. Mayock did point to LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery as a late first-round pick, possibly to Atlanta at No. 30.

http://media.nola.com/lsu_impact/pho...786993fa23.jpg

"Barkevious Mingo gets a lot more of the attention, but I feel like Sam Montgomery brings it every snap more than Mingo does," Mayock said. "He's not as quick, he's not as gifted, but he's very physical and tough."

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Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Please, just not Jordan. He's as skinny as Adrian Arrington.

No more raw projects.

I WANT NFL READY!!!

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Is Adrian back?

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

I hope we trade down for more picks, OLB are fairly deep, I hope we go with a hogg of a DT first then a big lb. to play inside, one that's very physical, I have a feeling our 1st pick will be on the O, just not sure where.

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

NEWS FLASH: THEY ARE ALL PROJECTS!!!!!!! Jordan can gain weight stop being so damn picky!!!!

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

once again it all about the hype and upside

now his insights on Kevin Minter and Kenny Vaccaro are about the players

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

I don't want a DT with the first pick... that's never worked out for us...

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

That's because we never picked Jesse Williams!!!!

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

I can see Mingo with the Saints and him Jordan, Junior and Wilson acting a fool in that 3-4 defense.

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

So many to choose from, its hard to pick a favorite.. I gotta say though, the more I read about kenny vacarro the more I'd like to see him in the black and gold. I'm not necessarily saying he's the guy we should take, and I know that safety is lower on the list of needs, but if you don't want to take a risk on one of these "upside" guys, he seems like a very smart pick. Still, I wouldn't be upset if we took one of these freak OLB's like ansah or margus hunt, if he falls that far. We need impact players on d, and I think we could go either way (s or lb) and get one

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Mayock thinks we have a 2nd rounder. Now that's some sound analysis. He's definitely got his finger on the pulse. Give that man a raise...

I'm still not getting why people think Ansah is SO raw. He's a little raw, but man, you gotta give him some serious credit for working himself up to first round material in just two years of football. This guy has has true freakish potential. There are no safe picks in the draft.

What I don't like is when a team drafts a guy in the 1st round, who has not produced, simply on the merit of athletic ability. Jimmy Graham, for instance, was a project. That's why we drafted him in the 3rd. Far more often than not, those guys never amount to anything, but Jimmy was a freak. We can nit pick about guys who we might not think will be able to adjust to the NFL, but if they have produced at the collegiate level, then at least they have a track record of success.

I'm not sure how I feel about Mingo. I thought he was going to be great after the sophomore year he had, and he is extremely fast, but he played very undisciplined this year. Over ran a bunch of guys, and never seemed to have a plan, but for one or two games. He's more of a project, in my opinion.

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

NEWS FLASH: They aren't all 30 pounds underweight. ;)

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Trade back

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

I don't like the idea of drafting an LSU player if he isn't a d-back.

LSU has a little bit of a history of having this awesome defense and high drafted players that bomb in the NFL.

These guys seem to peak in college and disappear in the NFL.. i.e. Kelvin, Tyson, Dorsey.

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Noticed that too. Maybe he can ask the man who signs his checks to give us our friggin' pick back.

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

I don't want to trade back. If any of the Mingo/Jordan/Ansah trio fall into our laps, I want it.

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

And if all 3 of those are available at 15, trade back two spots and get one.

But I'm hearing from some respected posters that the draft doesn't matter anyway so lets just throw names in a hat and be done with all these scouts. :rolleyes:

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

I mean that's possible... but I don't know, I can't see all three being there after the combine. They should all put up some eye popping numbers.

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Oh yea, I agree. I was just pointing out that if we have 3 or 4 players all rated the same it helps to trade down, still get you A-player and possibly pick up extra picks or move up some in subsequent rounds.

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Way to think Danno!:bng:

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

at 6'7 245 he has the perfect frame for the position and could add 10 pounds..


I want him

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

I think Bunkley and Hicks will be a good fit in this system (and getting rid of that Sederick the pylon won't hurt either)

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

...and as for the draft, I think either Mingo or Jordan will be great for us. Pick up which ever one is available at 15.

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

With his size and frame he could be our very own Aldon Smith, how awesome would that be

Martez one side and Dion Jordan the other

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Ok, is he 247 or 230. We're getting different info.

Even 247 is extremely light. I don't like the "he can add weight" angle at all. Saw that with Cie Grant and it doesn't work out.

He's skinny, and has injury problems. And as others have pointed out once an OG or OT get their hands on him he's done. The next time he disengages from a block will be the 1st time he disengages from a block

I wouldn't touch this guy until the late 1st early 2nd round.

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Shame on you after you gave me a hard time when I was b*tching that first rounders need to start and have an impact immediately...


Ogie Oglethorpe, we need to get Ogie; remember my man crush a few years ago when Clay Matthews was there?!? But we drafted Ohio State - ARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!

I like Williams and if we can get a mid-round second, I'd like Williams, CB Amerson, or S Bacardi (error) Bacarri Rambo there (really should have taken that Long Island Tea offer from that bartender just before Lent!!!)

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Dion Jordan?

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Exactly if draft someone 250-260 that doesnt gurantee anything! I like jordan

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

[QUOTE=Danno;480945]Ok, is he 247 or 230. We're getting different info.

Even 247 is extremely light. I don't like the "he can add weight" angle at all. Saw that with Cie Grant and it doesn't work out.

He's skinny, and has injury problems. And as others have pointed out once an OG or OT get their hands on him he's done. The next time he disengages from a block will be the 1st time he disengages from a block

I wouldn't touch this guy until the late 1st early 2nd round.[/QUOTThat guy Aldon Smith is 258 w/ 19.5 sacks I dont think 10 pounds will make that much of a difference especially when its going to be muscle

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

This is true but Jordan is a tad under sized for the position.

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Smith is also 6-4 258, not 6-7 230.

That is an enormous difference.

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

[quote=Rell&Gold;481166]Aldon Smith has thus far proven ineffective without Justin Smith in the middle. I think Aldon is a system player benefiting from the players around him. Not saying he isn't a decent player, but he is a bit overrated. He's still bigger than Dion Jordan however.

I am not high on him at all. He seems brittle and not enough of an all around player. If we trade back and get him later on, then maybe, but let's not forget that you have to find a trade partner. That's not a guarantee.

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Mingo is close enough to Mongo for me... Sign the man.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_yrc1IYpyO...dles-Mongo.png

Re: New Orleans Saints could target explosive outside linebacker
 

Mingo only pawn...in game of life...