This is just my opinion on it -- but I think that with a few notable exceptions, Sean Payton is usually pretty stingy and conservative, about putting rookies out into live-fire game situations. I get the feeling, I don't think he likes it. Probably a LOT more cautious than the fans are, and more than many other coaches are.

A few obvious exceptions being guys like Reggie Bush or Colston who arrive and just go to work...but other than that, look at Ingram's rookie year....look at Pierre Thomas' early year or two, when he was battling it out with Aaron Stecker for the spot behind Deuce....look at Khiry now... look back at the game logs for rookie years of LOADS of Saints players and you'll see -- with a few exceptions - you will see a LOT of rookies being eased in to the league with, 1 game, 2 games, 3 games on their rookie game log, IF they get any games at all....P-Rob spent a lot of his first year playing special teams, which is where I first noticed he existed...Zach Strief was nowhere near the field for his first couple years....Jenkins only started as a rook because of injuries all over the secondary. Things like that.

Most of the Saints linemen who have played AT ALL as rookies, have been thrown into the fire with no other option but "next man up"....Nicks, Bushrod, filling in for veterans who couldn't go, to name just two.

I think it's just something Payton does. One reason why a lot of people love to label Saints' high draft picks as "busts" is because, a lot of times they don't come in and instantly produce, INSTANTLY on the field upon getting here.

I am 100% sure that Payton gives him help early so that the transition is smoother.