Overhauled front seven will make or break 2015 New Orleans Saints

08-12-2015, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by SAINTstunna

Henry Cole looks like a young RAY LEWIS . . . hopefully he comes close to his play on the field . . . .

I'm hearing a lot of talk about this guy. Says he hits like truck.

darstep · 08-13-2015, 06:31 AM

I am glad to be back to 4-3 set.
I hope we have the right personnel and performance to make it work.
It seems the entire Payton/Brees era has hinged on how well our defense performed.
If we can get stops and a few key turnovers, we will do very well again.
I will forever hang my hat on the fundamentals. Good technique will yield good results.
I am pulling for these guys.
It would be nice to see a defense that matches the performance of the offense week to week.
I've only got a few strands of hair left.

Cruize · 08-13-2015, 09:03 AM

The Saints have alot of young players I'm excited about and could be the core of the team for years to come. Anthony, Breaux, Coley, Davison, Grayson, Hickey, Hopkins, Kikaha, Peat, and Richardson. Not even mentioning guys from last year like Sunseri, Coleman, Snead, SJB, and Powell. Also, being hopeful for guys who haven't seen the field in Willams, Swann, and Tull.

jeanpierre · 08-13-2015, 09:28 AM

Henry Coley was another great defender on a bad Virginia team...

I like him to make the team and make Hawthorne, his contracts and mis-tackles, expendable...

In interviews I've seen, Coley impressed as a very mature, grounded young LEADER...

He can bring the wood - which is something we haven't had from linebackers in a while...

And he probably just needs to be coached up, and can contribute youth to the kicking coverage game...

Saints Coaches should role the dice, though not much of a gamble, and cut bait with Hawthorne, and develop Coley behind Anthony/Ellerbe in the middle...

Danno · 08-13-2015, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

Henry Coley was another great defender on a bad Virginia team...

I like him to make the team and make Hawthorne, his contracts and mis-tackles, expendable...

In interviews I've seen, he impressed as a very mature, grounded young LEADER...

He can bring the wood - which is something we haven't had from linebackers in a while...

And he probably just needs to be coached up...

Saints Coaches should role the dice, cut bait with Hawthorne, and move him behind Anthony/Ellerbe in the middle...

Don't really think he's that much a gamble...

I did a little research on him and he has one major downside. He barely broke 5.0 in the 40 yard dash. Scouts say he's too slow for pro ball.

Pro Day Results
40-yard dash: 4.95 and 4.98 seconds
Analysis

Strengths Team captain and voracious film watcher. Lauded by coaching staff for leadership traits. Found his way into eight sacks thanks, in large part, to ability to shadow and close out QBs who tried to leave the pocket. Big, strong hands and plays with grown*-man strength. Packs a powerful punch behind his pads as a tackler. Willing to step up and thump against linemen drifting to the second level looking for action.

Weaknesses Duck*-footed playing style with heavy, lumbering legs. Marginal athlete with stiffness that slows his chase to the perimeter. Ran painfully slow 4.95 40 at his pro day. There are times when he plays with great instincts, but his reaction time off the snap is curiously slow on some snaps. Needs to play in zone coverage to hide his lack of athleticism in man coverage.

Draft Projection Priority free agent

Bottom Line Heavy-hitting inside linebacker with a knack for getting after the quarterback when he's turned loose as a blitzer, but too stiff and slow to field his position as a pro. Coley's intangibles and leadership traits could get him into a camp, but his lack of functional quickness is a major concern.

jeanpierre · 08-13-2015, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by Danno

I did a little research on him and he has one major downside. He barely broke 5.0 in the 40 yard dash. Scouts say he's too slow for pro ball.

For drafting purposes, I'd agree with that statement...

However, he came from a Virginia program that really doesn't develop players well under the current regime...

Second, I think when the pads go on, it's similar to Kikaha, in that he doesn't play slow and he's brings alot of power to his game...

I think with an NFL conditioning program, such as the Saints have, he could shave some time off that timed sprint...

Reports are that Seantavius Jones and Brandon Coleman have showed some improved wheels this offseason...

Brandon Coleman even ran away from the back seven on a deep reception for a touchdown, and his speed was a knock against him...

Danno · 08-13-2015, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

For drafting purposes, I'd agree with that statement...

However, he came from a Virginia program that really doesn't develop players well under the current regimes...

Second, I think when the pads go on, it's similar to Kikaha, in that he doesn't play slow and he's brings alot of power to his game...

I think with an NFL conditioning program, such as the Saints have, he could shave some time off that timed spring...

Reports are that Seantavius Jones and Brandon Coleman have showed some wheels this offseason...

Brandon Coleman even ran away from the back seven on a deep reception for a touchdown, and his speed was a knock against him...

Thats one of the reasons why I think all scouting combine times should be in full uniform. There is absolutely a difference in 40 times with and without full pads. Some players slow down, some not at all.

He looks like he'd be a decent fit as an ILB in a traditional 3-4 set, kinda like Vaughn Johnson was.

IIRC I think the knock on Coleman was quickness, not top end speed. He looks like a long strider who gets faster as he builds up speed.

Cruize · 08-13-2015, 11:11 AM

You can't discount a real football player because of a stopwatch. If he has instincts, understanding, toughness and heart, as this young man seems to do, I'll take my chances.

Beastmode · 08-13-2015, 12:48 PM

No kidding. Some things, which to me are the most important, can not be measured.

halloween 65 · 08-13-2015, 02:22 PM

I'm all about a hard hitting ILB. I hope he lays the wood on every blade of grass he protects. I would be estatic with a 3-4 set and lumberjack ILB. No more running up the middle without some pain.

08-12-2015, 02:34 PM	#11
Threaded by Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720 Rating: (0 votes - average) Originally Posted by SAINTstunna Henry Cole looks like a young RAY LEWIS . . . hopefully he comes close to his play on the field . . . . I'm hearing a lot of talk about this guy. Says he hits like truck. Beastmode and K Major like this.
Views: 5797

08-13-2015, 06:31 AM	#12
darstep SaintSince67 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PortCity Posts: 2,044	Re: Overhauled front seven will make or break 2015 New Orleans Saints I am glad to be back to 4-3 set. I hope we have the right personnel and performance to make it work. It seems the entire Payton/Brees era has hinged on how well our defense performed. If we can get stops and a few key turnovers, we will do very well again. I will forever hang my hat on the fundamentals. Good technique will yield good results. I am pulling for these guys. It would be nice to see a defense that matches the performance of the offense week to week. I've only got a few strands of hair left. SmashMouth likes this.
	SaintSince67

08-13-2015, 09:03 AM	#13
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457	Re: Overhauled front seven will make or break 2015 New Orleans Saints The Saints have alot of young players I'm excited about and could be the core of the team for years to come. Anthony, Breaux, Coley, Davison, Grayson, Hickey, Hopkins, Kikaha, Peat, and Richardson. Not even mentioning guys from last year like Sunseri, Coleman, Snead, SJB, and Powell. Also, being hopeful for guys who haven't seen the field in Willams, Swann, and Tull. SmashMouth likes this.
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457

08-13-2015, 09:28 AM	#14
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Overhauled front seven will make or break 2015 New Orleans Saints Henry Coley was another great defender on a bad Virginia team... I like him to make the team and make Hawthorne, his contracts and mis-tackles, expendable... In interviews I've seen, Coley impressed as a very mature, grounded young LEADER... He can bring the wood - which is something we haven't had from linebackers in a while... And he probably just needs to be coached up, and can contribute youth to the kicking coverage game... Saints Coaches should role the dice, though not much of a gamble, and cut bait with Hawthorne, and develop Coley behind Anthony/Ellerbe in the middle... Cruize and SmashMouth like this.
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way... Last edited by jeanpierre; 08-13-2015 at 09:35 AM..

08-13-2015, 09:35 AM	#15
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	Re: Overhauled front seven will make or break 2015 New Orleans Saints Originally Posted by jeanpierre Henry Coley was another great defender on a bad Virginia team... I like him to make the team and make Hawthorne, his contracts and mis-tackles, expendable... In interviews I've seen, he impressed as a very mature, grounded young LEADER... He can bring the wood - which is something we haven't had from linebackers in a while... And he probably just needs to be coached up... Saints Coaches should role the dice, cut bait with Hawthorne, and move him behind Anthony/Ellerbe in the middle... Don't really think he's that much a gamble... I did a little research on him and he has one major downside. He barely broke 5.0 in the 40 yard dash. Scouts say he's too slow for pro ball. Pro Day Results 40-yard dash: 4.95 and 4.98 seconds Analysis Strengths Team captain and voracious film watcher. Lauded by coaching staff for leadership traits. Found his way into eight sacks thanks, in large part, to ability to shadow and close out QBs who tried to leave the pocket. Big, strong hands and plays with grown-man strength. Packs a powerful punch behind his pads as a tackler. Willing to step up and thump against linemen drifting to the second level looking for action. Weaknesses* Duck-footed playing style with heavy, lumbering legs. Marginal athlete with stiffness that slows his chase to the perimeter. Ran painfully slow 4.95 40 at his pro day. There are times when he plays with great instincts, but his reaction time off the snap is curiously slow on some snaps. Needs to play in zone coverage to hide his lack of athleticism in man coverage. Draft Projection Priority free agent* Bottom Line Heavy-hitting inside linebacker with a knack for getting after the quarterback when he's turned loose as a blitzer, but too stiff and slow to field his position as a pro. Coley's intangibles and leadership traits could get him into a camp, but his lack of functional quickness is a major concern.

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08-13-2015, 09:40 AM	#16
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Overhauled front seven will make or break 2015 New Orleans Saints Originally Posted by Danno I did a little research on him and he has one major downside. He barely broke 5.0 in the 40 yard dash. Scouts say he's too slow for pro ball. For drafting purposes, I'd agree with that statement... However, he came from a Virginia program that really doesn't develop players well under the current regime... Second, I think when the pads go on, it's similar to Kikaha, in that he doesn't play slow and he's brings alot of power to his game... I think with an NFL conditioning program, such as the Saints have, he could shave some time off that timed sprint... Reports are that Seantavius Jones and Brandon Coleman have showed some improved wheels this offseason... Brandon Coleman even ran away from the back seven on a deep reception for a touchdown, and his speed was a knock against him... Danno likes this.
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way... Last edited by jeanpierre; 08-13-2015 at 04:38 PM..

08-13-2015, 09:44 AM	#17
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	Re: Overhauled front seven will make or break 2015 New Orleans Saints Originally Posted by jeanpierre For drafting purposes, I'd agree with that statement... However, he came from a Virginia program that really doesn't develop players well under the current regimes... Second, I think when the pads go on, it's similar to Kikaha, in that he doesn't play slow and he's brings alot of power to his game... I think with an NFL conditioning program, such as the Saints have, he could shave some time off that timed spring... Reports are that Seantavius Jones and Brandon Coleman have showed some wheels this offseason... Brandon Coleman even ran away from the back seven on a deep reception for a touchdown, and his speed was a knock against him... Thats one of the reasons why I think all scouting combine times should be in full uniform. There is absolutely a difference in 40 times with and without full pads. Some players slow down, some not at all. He looks like he'd be a decent fit as an ILB in a traditional 3-4 set, kinda like Vaughn Johnson was. IIRC I think the knock on Coleman was quickness, not top end speed. He looks like a long strider who gets faster as he builds up speed.

08-13-2015, 11:11 AM	#18
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457	Re: Overhauled front seven will make or break 2015 New Orleans Saints You can't discount a real football player because of a stopwatch. If he has instincts, understanding, toughness and heart, as this young man seems to do, I'll take my chances. Beastmode likes this.
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457

08-13-2015, 12:48 PM	#19
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126	Re: Overhauled front seven will make or break 2015 New Orleans Saints No kidding. Some things, which to me are the most important, can not be measured.
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126

08-13-2015, 02:22 PM	#20
halloween 65 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Grand Haven, Michigan by way of a little Mississippi River town in Louisiana Posts: 5,893	Re: Overhauled front seven will make or break 2015 New Orleans Saints I'm all about a hard hitting ILB. I hope he lays the wood on every blade of grass he protects. I would be estatic with a 3-4 set and lumberjack ILB. No more running up the middle without some pain.

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