WhoDat!656

New Orleans TE Benjamin Watson knows he's not going to replace the top TE in the NFL, but he does hope he can bridge the gap until Graham returns.

Watson, a very athletic player in his own right, can run and has solid hands, however, his skill set isn't close to what Graham brings to the table.

Watson will start filling in starting this weekend and all he wants to do is hold the fort down.

"We can't replace Jimmy," Watson said, via Larry Holder of NOLA.com.

"Jimmy does some things that only he can do, but we will be able to come in and do whatever is asked of us to make sure the offense runs smooth."

"It's (his comfort level) definitely increased since training camp, my comfort level in understanding what's to be done first and how to do it," Watson said. "There's always those ripples that you go through in the beginning with certain things that you're just not used to hearing because you just haven't been around.

"Now, six games in, everything is starting to come a little bit slower and I'm actually able to play and not think as much."

TE Benjamin Watson will try to fill void left by Jimmy Graham's absence: 'Jimmy does some things that only he can do'

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

QBREES9

Jimmy being Jimmy.

jeanpierre

Ben, just be yourself and the Saints Clan will be behind you laddie...

hagan714

actually it might be for the best in an odd way. Jimmy has turned into our #1 weapon in the passing game. now sp can knock the cob webs off in the passing game and use the other wr. i have not like the over use of graham this year at all. it turned us into a one denominational offense. church of graham is good but a steady diet makes you weak as a whole

lee909

Ig Graham misses thr game im expecting Colston to be back to his best, 100+ yards 2TDs.

AlaskaSaints

Well if you can catch each and every football that you tuck into your chest AND break tackles after the catch, you will be doing things that Jimmy can't do.

Alaska

SaintnDE

Holy hell...I was just about to post something similar. Glad I'm not the only one that see's that JG is a easy take down after the catch.

The Dude

people forget that Watson is a pretty damn good receiver in his own right and is probabpy a better blocker than Jimmy.

thebdj

Jimmy Graham is an amazing player but he is a mediocre blocker at best. Having someone that provides a bit more equality at the TE position whilst allowing us to spread the ball around could yet be brilliant. In fact I think it makes it more of a headache for opposing DC's.

Having said that, let's be clear. I want Jimmy Graham fit and playing

exile

I can't buy the "it may be for the best" line. If we didn't have Graham for NE then Talib would have been locking down someone else. At least with Graham playing it uses up a good defender. Not so much with Watson. But a team has to do what a team has to do.