3 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Black & Gold scrimmage
 

2. Marcus Ball will be the player Roman Harper was supposed to be

If Cooks was the big name on offense yesterday then Marcus Ball (who I wrote on here) was the standout on defense. He had a great game playing Roman Harper’s old role near the line of scrimmage, recording an interception of Luke McCown, solo tackle for loss on shifty halfback Travaris Cadet, and last-minute blitzing sack on rookie quarterback Logan Kilgore to close out the practice.

A linebacker for the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts, Ball is playing a similar role at safety for the Saints by lining up within eight yards of the line of scrimmage to cover the slot and middle of the field while spying the quarterback and shutting down plays around the edge. He is perfectly suited to this role from his CFL experience and should continue to be a playmaker there for the Saints as preseason goes on.

3 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Black & Gold scrimmage

Re: 3 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Black & Gold scrimmage
 

I think this Ball kid can be special. I love the reports I'm reading about him. He does fit the Roman Harper role well, but better in coverage and likely an excellent special teams demon.

His statement about "what Harper was supposed to be" is contradictory though. Harper was very good as an in the box safety. He's describing Ball as an in the box safety. Harper was an in the box safety and was exactly the player he was supposed to be.

Re: 3 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Black & Gold scrimmage
 

The bit about all of the RBs doing all things now making our offense much less predictable is good too.

Re: 3 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Black & Gold scrimmage
 

Yup. He should have said "all the player that Harper was and more" referencing his ability in coverage.

Re: 3 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Black & Gold scrimmage
 

Exactly, and I think that's what we may have in Ball.

Re: 3 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Black & Gold scrimmage
 

I was excited when we first signed Ball. Because of the style of football played in the CFL LB's must basically be safeties. With the three downs, wider field and 12 player teams, there is more of a need for the LB's to be able to cover the passing game be sure tacklers. Ball was clearly the best defensive player on the Argonauts. He would fit perfectly into Ryan's defense.

BTW, I was "Admiral" of the CFL Shreveport Pirates fan club, The Armada, back when we had the franchise. I have always been a big fan of the CFL.

Some of the gear from back in the day, along with a Seahawks cap I have to document for losing a bet with a Seattle fan. :rolleyes:

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/j...ps8a4fc1a8.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/j...ps7419c494.jpg

That is former Saints starting QB, Billie Joe Tolliver on the cover of the yearbook and his signature on the cap in the following picture.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/j...ps2115bd32.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/j...ps80170c49.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/j...psde45b407.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/j...ps1167ef1d.jpg

Re: 3 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Black & Gold scrimmage
 

Nick toon just got injured and went inside the facility - Nola.com live updates

UPDATE - toon returned to the field 2 minutes later and now looks fine

Re: 3 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Black & Gold scrimmage
 

Sunseri was draft because ?????? see the pick itself made wonder if signing Ball was a mistake. now it appears the pick was weird in its own right. not that the kid is not good but why another safety? then we scored the best UDFA safety in my book Pierre Warren, which after the Sunseri pick struck me as strange.

so this love of safety addition this off season left me stumped.

Re: 3 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Black & Gold scrimmage
 

Sunseri is a smart guy and will most likely end up being the special teams captain as well as knowing every aspect of the defense

Every analyst has compared him to Jim Leonhard, which I for one will not complain about, need several of those "coaches son" type players on your team, Steve Gleason was one of them

Re: 3 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Black & Gold scrimmage
 

do not get me wrong i love the fact that the saints are going to have a hard time cutting safeties this year. so far it has look like a great step in the right direction. may have been a bit over zealous :)

Re: 3 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Black & Gold scrimmage
 

Yeah, lazy author should've written...

"The hard hitting, run stuffing, quarterback sacking, tackling machine, Roman Harper..."

He probably didn't realize you'd be reading this Danno.

Re: 3 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Black & Gold scrimmage
 

You forgot "two time pro bowler".;)

Re: 3 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints Black & Gold scrimmage
 

Also, I've read that the position Ball played in the CFL is basically identical to NFL Strong Safeties. He should fell pretty comfortable there.