Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER JUNIOR GALETTE: While he’s played three seasons with the Saints after making the roster as an undrafted free agent in 2010, Galette will get a chance to spread his wings at a new position.

An undersized defensive end at 258 pounds, Galette, who had five sacks a year ago despite missing a month with a sprained ankle, was moved to the pass-rushing outside linebacker spot in Rob Ryan’s new 3-4 scheme.

That should help keep Galette from going snap after snap against huge tackles, allowing him the freedom to use his speed and quickness not only to rush the passer but to cover tight ends and running backs.

DEFENSIVE END AKIEM HICKS: Hicks, the Saints’ third-round draft pick in 2012, also will settle in at a new position after playing defensive tackle in the team’s old four-man front last season.

A 6-foot-5, 324-pounder, Hicks, like Galette, is better suited to play end in the 3-4 because of his speed and quickness. He has an 83-inch wingspan that could make it difficult for quarterbacks to throw the ball over him.

With his size, Hicks could be a key against the run after the Saints were gashed for 147.6 yards per game last season and were last in that category en route to allowing an NFL single-season record of 7,042 total yards.

RUNNING BACK MARK INGRAM: Saints’ fans have been waiting two seasons for Ingram to break out and be the productive back coach Sean Payton highly coveted in the 2011 draft.

Ingram had a rough rookie season with toe and heel injuries and last year got off to a slow start after offseason toe and knee surgeries.

But after rushing for 134 yards and one touchdown with a 2.9 average in the first seven games, Ingram netted 468 yards and produced a 4.3 average with four touchdowns in the final nine games.

While he won’t get a ton of carries sharing time with Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles, Ingram has to run the way he did in the latter part of last year to open some eyes.

WIDE RECEIVER NICK TOON: At 6-4 and 218 pounds, Toon will try to make a big first impression on Payton with his length and size — much like Marques Colston did back in 2006.

Toon will be vying for the No. 3 spot behind Colston and Lance Moore after the Saints allowed Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson to leave the team as unrestricted free agents the past two years.

Toon will try to hold off deep threat Joseph Morgan and fifth-round draft pick Kenny Stills, who will also be vying to be in the mix for Brees’ passes.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER MARTEZ WILSON: Like Galette, the 252-pound Wilson was out of position at defensive end last season after playing linebacker during his rookie season in 2011.

The speedy Wilson, a third-round draft pick, ranked fourth on the team last season with three sacks. He could have an opportunity for more if he wins the starting job with Victor Butler expected miss the season with a knee injury.

Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

:popcorn:

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

Ability is not in question. The mental aspect of this defense will be the biggest challenge.

Facing Atlanta game one is an enormous test. Mike Smith will have the entire first quarter scripted and ready for Ryan.

I expect a crazy scoring frenzy for 30 minutes and a second half of determined defense with a couple long scoring plays mixed in.

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

I'm so damn stir crazy, it isn't even funny. Lets GO! I want to see these guys in action. I'm tired of speculating. I sure hope Ingram gets 500 carries this preseason so we can see if he's any good. *wink wink* :-)

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

I get this feeling that Galette and Wilson are going to shine as LBs... Their speed alone makes them great pass rush threats, hopefully they can cover and stop the run with ease

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

The good news is that Jack LB's rarely ever cover, and hopefully Martez moves inside.

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

Just wait and see.

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

If Will Smith is starting at the beginning of the season.... Im gunna be pissed.... Wilson n Gallette R both faster n get pressure better ! ! !

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

I agree. I believe we have the big guys we need to open up space for them to get a good pass rush. Hicks, Bunkley/Jenkins, and Jordan is a bright group of young guys.

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

who would you slide outside with Wilson taking ILB?

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

If our D can just improve 10 or 11 spots & do MUCH better with turnovers we will be awesome this season!!

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

Maybe Hawthorne, or one of the rookies.

I think Mike is probably his ideal position, but if the goal is to put the best 4 LB's out there he may be forced to play SAM with Lofton and Vilma inside. I can't see sliding Lofton or Vilma outside.

I think Wilson can be a very good SAM, but an excellent MIKE.

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

Shouldn't be hard. Thats what we had in 2011 and we have more talent now.

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

i think Butler injury has put Wilson at OLB for the season. He can play ILB without to much adjustment because he played it a lot in college.

Now Jr is the big question mark and his play or lack will effect the entire line up at the second level. we all know he can rush and is pretty darn good at it. He has major issue in run support and we have yet to see him try to do pass coverage. he definitely has his work cut out for him and if he does step it up it will be huge. So huge i would say he would be defensive player of the year for the saints.

If not the only other real options is Hawthorne and Vilma filling the OLB spot.

Butler being out really puts the heat on Jr. more than Wilson

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

I agree, Wilson would be great paid with Lofton but I don't like the idea of anyone else on the team playing SAM yet... If Butler had not gone down it would be a different story. As it stands Wilson is the only viable option at SAM with some proven success as a pass rusher, but we know Hawthorne can play ILB.

seems like IR always snags someone promising from us before the season...

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

Will Smith at SAM? Interesting.

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

What's big John Jenkins up to?

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

Trying Will Smith at Sam was probably a very quick experiment. Considering we're all skeptical of his ability to play the Jack LB spot where he'd mostly pass rush and do very little in coverage... I think Coach probably got his answer pretty quick trying him at the Sam where he would play tons in coverage; At least I hope so.

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

In a 1-gap 3-4...The SOLB will be in charge of the outside of the TE on running plays and will normally either blitz or be manned up on the TE in pass plays.

Smith has 2 of those 3 covered. Not sure how long he can cover a TE before exposure.

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

That was my concern... He's never had to cover anybody. Probably a short experiment. I think Martez and Chase Thomas will make for a good duo at the head of the depth chart at Sam. Junior Galette played LB for 3 years at Temple so I'm sure even he's a better option at Sam just because he's actually played LB before... Not that I'd like to see that happen, just saying that Will Smith at Sam would be even worse than Will Smith at Jack.

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

I think most agreed he needed to be at about 265 to play that OLB spot.

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

That shows he's at least dedicated and trying to make the switch!

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

And it has been pointed out several times that pass coverage for OLB's in a 3-4 is almost always just a small zone. If asked to cover it will only be a small area off the line, which he has already done numerous times before.

90% of the time they'll be playing the run or rushing the passer.

Will Smith at 260 could probably play either outside spot adequately.
Will Smith at 280 will be ineffective in a 3-4.

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

I think that what some guys may not understand is that at either position (jack or sam) Will Smith will not be asked to do anything that he hasn't done a million times before. When someone says the Sam "covers the TE" they aren't talking about breaking up the field with him stride for stride in man coverage. We're talking a small "bubble zone" being his responsibility in coverage. He's done it before. If we were still in a 4-3 alignment hardly anyone would be so worried about him, but he would still have the same assignments. We should all lighten up a bit and just wait and see how it turns out. I feel like our much improved secondary and more suitable scheme for our d-linemen will ease the transition for whoever ends up taking the majority of the snaps at OLB.

Re: Five Saints will draw attention when camp opens
 

And he should.....................:cool: