papz

1. WR Saalim Hakim – The New Orleans Saints are pretty familiar with Hakim (5 feet 11, 188 pounds), since they picked him up last December. But fans aren’t. In a nutshell, the guy can run really, really fast and appears to be a solid receiver. Now, will he be able to play special teams and use that speed on those units? That remains to be seen. He’ll have to have multiple skills if he wants to be on this team, and Saturday will afford him an opportunity to show some of them.

2-3. LBs Eric Martin and Chase Thomas – We’ll list both of them here, since they’re both linebackers. Each undrafted rookie has an opportunity to be a Saint (we know the Saints don’t mind keeping an undrafted rookie) because the team needs linebackers and each is capable of playing special teams. Martin (6-2, 250) is a heavy hitter who brings some striking ability and Thomas (6-3, 241) was rotated in with the No. 1 defense for some snaps during the first week of training camp. Saturday’s scrimmage will be the first time we can get an idea of what they can do as professional defenders.

4. OT Marcel Jones – Jones is a right tackle and right now, the seventh-round draft pick from 2012 is backing up Zach Strief. Not much has been made of that fact because of the battle for the left tackle spot, but Jones will have to be ready if anything happens to Strief, who has missed four and five games, respectively, the last two seasons. New Orleans liked him enough to draft him, keep him and develop him into Strief’s backup. He’ll get a chance to show what he has learned during the Black and Gold scrimmage.

5. TE Michael Higgins – The certainty is that budding superstar Jimmy Graham and productive veteran Ben Watson are the top two tight ends. But Higgins has shown some ability during the first eight days of training camp. He started a game last year, has played in four games (over two seasons) with the Saints and spent the first 12 weeks of last season on the practice squad. He won’t get the notoriety of Graham and Watson, but he could find a way to stick on the 53-man roster.

Five under the radar players to watch at Black and Gold scrimmage

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

All little common sense goes a long way.

K Major

I will definitely keep a 'lazy eye' on Chase.

jeanpierre

Would love to see Chase, EM, and Martez take the other three Backing positions with Lofton with Big John 'destroying" the middle of the line...

Danno

I'm so wanting this team to start a youth movement. With the big salaries to Bree's, Colton, Evans, Graham, we're gonna need a roster full of young cheap talent. We have a ton of youngsters that look to have nfl potential.

hagan714

Rod Sweeting any one?

Thomas i want to see play and see if they are even toying with the idea of ILB

always watching the OL without a doubt

homerj07

Wow! could you imagine a 3 TE formation with Higgins in the mix?

Rugby Saint II

This years diamond in the rough?

K Major

Rugby Saint II I truly believe this kid will make the 53 man roster and eventually crack the starting line up in a year or two. I think he will play with a chip on his shoulder & when given the opportunity he will capitalize.

lee909

Marcel Jones-I hope he can stay fit and can get going.Too many question marks on both tackle positions.Hopefully we have enough to get through this season as some good talent in next years draft and with the amount of QB in next years draft theres is a good chance somebosy falls,even though the need to fall to the 32 pick

FinSaint

I'm hoping Marcel Jones is able to take over for Strief during this season - at some point at least - but he has to stay healthy in order to rack up some snaps which will be crucial for his overall development.