jeanpierre

February 10, 2016 6:57 pm
Saints' Austin Johnson: Signs with Saints
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
The New Orleans Saints signed Austin Johnson on Wednesday, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Johnson has jumped between the Saints' 53-man roster and practice squad over the past three seasons, but in 17 appearances between 2014 and 2015, he totaled 12 carries for 31 yards and seven receptions (on 10 targets) for 45 yards. At the outset of the offseason, he'll be measuring himself against fellow fullback Toben Opurum.

Source: Saints' Austin Johnson: Signs with Saints - CBSSports.com

jeanpierre

Keeping Dannell Ellerbe still leaves Saints with questions at linebacker: Larry Holder | NOLA.com

voodooido

Seantavius Jones and Evans are gone. Browner and KRob will also be gone.

halloween 65

True. And their ILB'ers and secondary don't miss a lick either. Wade Phillips has a tuned machine going strong.

jeanpierre

John Elway deserves as much if not more of the credit for managing the cap and getting the right guys for that front seven...

Disclaimer: I still don't like John Elway, but I respect the incredible job he's done...

jeanpierre

INITIAL OFF-SEASON CUTS SAINTS DEPTH CHART - 2016

Comment: While Restricted Free Agents (RFA) and Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFA) are listed, Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA) are not listed.

OFFENSE

QB (3) Drew Brees, Garrett Grayson

RB (5) Mark Ingram, C.J. Spiller, Khiry Robinson (RFA), Marcus Murphy, Vick Ballard

FB (1) Austin Johnson, Toben Opurum

WR (3) Marques Colston, Brandon Coleman, Kyle Prater

LT (1) Terron Armstead, Andrus Peat

LG (1) Tim Lelito (RFA)

C (2) Max Unger, Ryan Seymour (ERFA)

RG (2) Senio Kelemete (RFA), Cyril Lemon

RT (2) Zach Strief, Bryan Witzmann

TE (3) Josh Hill (RFA), Jack Tabb, Chris Manhertz, RaShaun Allen

WR (2) Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead, Shane Wynn, Reggie Bell, R.J. Harris


DEFENSE

RDE (2) Cameron Jordan, Lawrence Virgil (ERFA)

NT (2) John Jenkins, Kaleb Eulls, Ashaad Mabry

DT (2) Tyeler Davison, Austin Brown (ERFA)

LDE (2) Bobby Richardson, Tavaris Barnes, Obum Gwacham, Phillip Hunt

WLB (2) Dannell Ellerbe, Mike Mauti, Erik Harris

MLB (3) Stephone Anthony, Jeff Luc

SLB (2) Hau'oli Kikaha, Kasim Edebali, Davis Tull

RCB (3) Keenan Lewis, Damian Swann, P.J. Williams, Tony Carter

FS (3) Jairus Byrd, Alden Darby

SS (2) Kenny Vaccaro, Vinnie Sunseri

LCB (2) Delvin Breaux, Brian Dixon, Brandon Dixon


KICKING

K (1)

P (1) Thomas Morstead

LS (1) Justin Drescher


Projected Starter

Reserve/Injured

Reserve/Future

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

jeanpierre

We've got 'hot spots' across the board:

On defense, we need starters at Nose Tackle, Defensive End and upgrades at Free Safety, Weakside Linebacker; also need depth Middle Linebacker...

On offense, we need starters at Right Guard, Left Guard and Tight End and X receiver to groom behind Colston and interior offensive line depth...

In the kicking game, we need a PAT and inside the 45 money kicker...

jeanpierre

RECONFIGURED DEFENSE FOR A 3-4 FRONT SAINTS DEPTH CHART - 2016

Note: Thought we could see what we have already on the roster if we were to scheme our personnel in comparison to what Denver ran in the Superbowl...

We'd still need upgrades at NT and LDE and a couple of linebackers, but the front seven definitely has a "faster look" to it; we still have depth issues, but we were going to have them either way...

DEFENSE

RDE (2) Cameron Jordan, Lawrence Virgil (ERFA)

NT (2) John Jenkins, Kaleb Eulls

LDE (2) Tyeler Davison, Bobby Richardson

LEO (2) Davis Tull, Kasim Edebali

WLB (2) Dannell Ellerbe, Erik Harris

MLB (3) Stephone Anthony, Jeff Luc

SLB (2) Hau'oli Kikaha, Mike Mauti

RCB (3) Keenan Lewis, Damian Swann, P.J. Williams

FS (3) Jairus Byrd, Alden Darby

SS (2) Kenny Vaccaro, Vinnie Sunseri

LCB (2) Delvin Breaux, Brian Dixon


Projected Starter

Reserve/Injured

Reserve/Future

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

jeanpierre

See above for what we could look like on defense in a 3-4 with what we have now on the roster, under contract and with the possible Browner release...

jeanpierre

New Orleans Saints open at tight end with Benjamin Watson a free agent - New Orleans Saints Blog- ESPN