SmashMouth

During the Saints’ rookie minicamp over the weekend, offensive line coach Bret Ingalls said it was possible that first-round pick Andrus Peat could start his NFL career at guard if that means putting the team’s best five linemen on the field at the same time.

That approach is a possibility because the Saints are unsettled on a starter at left guard after trading Ben Grubbs to Kansas City. Peat was drafted as a tackle, though, and Zach Strief thinks he knows that the rookie is ultimately going to take over for him at right tackle.

“He’s taking my job eventually,” Strief said, via the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “That is definitely happening. At some point, that’s happening. My job and my role is to make that take as long as possible. And that’s how I’ll approach it. … I don’t know that ultimately anything really changes this year for me, or for him. And maybe it does, and that’s fine too. Because at the end of the day I think that’s a result of your performance and the fair way is generally the right way.”

If Peat were to beat out Strief, the possibility of a move to guard could shift to the veteran. It’s not something he expects to happen — “a lot of people don’t know is how good [guards] Tim Lelito and Senio Kelemete are” — but if the Saints are committed to playing the best five regardless of current positions it would seem everything is on the table in New Orleans.

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RaginCajun83

I really hope its sooner rather than later

Rugby Saint II

Peat is too tall to play guard in front of Drew. The two UDFA's Gombrell(?) and the other new guy(too many names to keep up with) look promising.

Strief worked his way into a starting job and is a team first guy. So he understands how the system works. He may not start but he'll get playing time as tackle eligible and jumbo packages. He could play a couple of more years in a reduced role and will be a heck of a back up.

Danno

As is Strief, they're both 6'-7

Yes they could do it, but its probably gonna create some problems with a 5-11 QB.

saintsfan1976

Love me some Strief man. Always been a solid dude...


In the meantime, it's nice to know that if either of our tackles goes down we have Peat to fill in until he takes over RT.

|Mitch|

I personally don't think we spent the #13th pick on a player who will sit any. I'm thinking Peats' athleticism wins him the RT spot immediately...

SmashMouth

We might alright at guard. Kelemente and Lelito and whatever backups we can come up with.

saintsfan1976

Not necessarily. Had Shelton not been picked at #12 he would be a Saint.

Peat still has to prove he's better than Strief and until that happens, well...

|Mitch|

That's what I'm saying; Peats' athleticism makes him better than Strief...

And the Shelton theory is speculation at it's best

jeanpierre

I'd plug these guys in like this:

LT Andrus Peat
LG Tim Lelito
C Max Unger
RG Jahri Evans
RT Terron Armstead

RL Zach Strief