Re: 2016 New Orleans Saints: Roster Outlook
 

Seems the vision for him was as a "Sproles-back"...

Wished he could have played one season with Darren Sproles and learned the work ethic, dedication it takes to be an All-Purpose Yardage Leader...

Sproles opened the offense up like no one except maybe Bush, and even then, Darren was head and shoulders above Reggie in that regard...

Not sure what Spiller will bring, if anything, to this offense...

Really want BOTH Murphy and Lasco and to win out the No. 2 and No. 3 spots behind Ingram...

Re: 2016 New Orleans Saints: Roster Outlook
 

SAINTS DEPTH CHART - 2016 June OTAs

OFFENSE

QB (3) 9 -Drew Brees, 7 - Luke McCown, 18 - Garrett Grayson

RB (5) 22 - Mark Ingram, 34 - Tim Hightower, 28 - C.J. Spiller, 38 - Travaris Cadet, 23 - Marcus Murphy, 36 - Daniel Lasco

FB (1) 35 - Austin Johnson, 39 - Sione Houma

WR (3) 13 - Michael Thomas, 16 - Brandon Coleman, 15 - Vincent Brown, 81 - Jordan Williams, 85 - Jared Dangerfield, 17 - Kyle Prater

LT (2) 72 - Terron Armstead, 79 - Joseph Cheek, 70 - Ryker Mathews

LG (2) 65 - Senio Kelemete, 68 - Tim Lelito, 71 - Kaleb Eulls

C (1) 60 - Max Unger, 66 - Jack Allen, 61 - Marcus Henry

RG (2) 75 - Andrus Peat, 78 - Landon Turner, 62 - Cyril Lemon

RT (1) 64 - Zach Strief, 74 - Tyrus Thompson, 67 - Avery Young

TE (3) 82 - Coby Fleener, 89 - Josh Hill, 84 - Michael Hoomanawanui, 88 - RaShaun Allen, 80 - Jack Tabb, 86 - Chris Manhertz

SR (2) 10 - Brandin Cooks, 83 - Willie Snead, 14 - R.J. Harris, 11 - Reggie Bell, 87 - TommyLee Lewis, 19 - Jake Lampmann


DEFENSE

DE (2) 94 - Cameron Jordan, 98 - Bobby Richardson, 77 - D.J. Pettway

NT (2) 92 - John Jenkins, 95 - Tyeler Davison, 96 - Ashaad Mabry

DT (2) 90 - Nick Fairley, 99 - Sheldon Rankins, 93 - David Onyemata

LEO (2) 91 - Kasim Edebali, 58 - Obum Gwacham, 55 - Davis Tull, *44 - Hau'oli Kikaha

WLB (2) 59 - Dannell Ellerbe, 54 - Nate Stupar, 97 - Tony Steward

MLB (3) 53 - James Laurinaitis, 52 - Craig Robertson, 51 - Jeff Schoettmer

SLB (2) 50 - Stephone Anthony, 56 - Mike Mauti, 57 - Dillon Lee

RCB (3) 40 - Delvin Breaux, 24 - Kyle Wilson, 25 - P.J. Williams, 29 - Tony Carter, 49 - De’Vante Harris

SS (2) 32 - Kenny Vaccaro, 33 - Jamarca Sanford, 30 - Erik Harris, 41 - Roman Harper

FS (3) 31 - Jairus Byrd, 48 - Vonn Bell, 42 - Alden Darby, 26 - Trae Elston

LCB (2) 21 - Keenan Lewis, 27 - Damian Swann, 20 - Brian Dixon, 37 - Brandon Dixon, 46 - Ken Crawley, 43 - Jimmy Pruitt


KICKING

K (1) 5 - Kai Forbath, 3 - Connor Barth

P (1) 6 - Thomas Morstead

LS (1) 47 - Justin Drescher, 45 - Garrett Griffin


Projected Starter

Reserve/Injured

Reserve/Future/UDRFA

Note: Jersey Numbers based on Nola.com, Twitter, and NewOrleansSaints.com Images and Reports

Note: Roster Unit Nos.: Offense - 43, Defense - 43, Kicking - 4, Total Roster - 90

Note: * 44 - Hau'oli Kikaha hasn't been officially put on IR nor IR-To Return

Re: 2016 New Orleans Saints: Roster Outlook
 

Someone on this roster (specifically Defense) needs to step up in a BIG way for 2016.

Re: 2016 New Orleans Saints: Roster Outlook
 

Major...

Need a Free Safety to step up and finish strong; whether Kenny V shifts over or Vonn Bell steps in and replaces Byrd...

Need all four (4) starters on the defensive line to create a legitimate pass rush without the added blitzer...

Need linebacker chemistry, continuity...

Need a young, complimentary cornerback to Del Breaux...

Re: 2016 New Orleans Saints: Roster Outlook
 

+1. This will be one of the most intriguing and anticipated battles to watch.

Re: 2016 New Orleans Saints: Roster Outlook
 

I still love the personnel on defense this year compared to last. No glaring holes yet!

Re: 2016 New Orleans Saints: Roster Outlook
 

SAINTS DEPTH CHART - 2016 June OTAs ***UPDATED***

DEFENSIVE LINE

DE (2) 94 - Cameron Jordan, 98 - Bobby Richardson, 77 - D.J. Pettway

NT (2) 92 - John Jenkins, 95 - Tyeler Davison, 96 - Ashaad Mabry

DT (2) 90 - Nick Fairley, 99 - Sheldon Rankins, 93 - David Onyemata

LEO (2) 91 - Kasim Edebali, 58 - Obum Gwacham, 55 - Davis Tull, *44 - Hau'oli Kikaha

Projected Starter

Reserve/Injured

Reserve/Future/UDRFA

Note: Jersey Numbers based on Nola.com, Twitter, and NewOrleansSaints.com Images and Reports

Figure on Saints keeping between eight (8), maybe nine (9) defensive linemen on the final (53) intial roster...

Early Rankings of our defensive line would be:

1. 94 - Cameron Jordan - Incorrectly utilized as a weakside DE, Jack LBer and coming off offseason back surgery (which is very serious) should be ready to lead unit.
2. 90 - Nick Fairley - Some guys you just have to keep the carrot in front of 'em; all the talent in the world, does the light finally go off and Fairley finds a home?
3. 99 - Sheldon Rankins - wasn't high on using first round pick to select due to lack of size and for Saints interior need, but he's carried himself well in OTAs...
4. 91 - Kasim Edebali - (music que - Eminem's Lose Yourself) Impressive Sacks/Opportunities ratio, but if ever there was a chance for a guy to control his destiny...
5. 98 - Bobby Richardson - Walkon who earned a starting gig last season because of lack of depth; he's a liability in pass rush and must change that.
6. 92 - John Jenkins - Bulked up, Lost Weight, changed position and technique and the coaches, who've changed as much, can't understand his stunted progression?
7. 95 - Tyeler Davison - projected NT coming out of college, he's been a top reserve who's learning to a warrior in the NFL trenches...
8. 93 - David Onyemata - Good quickness in small area with impressive strength and bulk, but can he be a quickstudy to justify the roster space?
9. 58 - Obum Gwacham - Former WR who's trusted coaches and worked to bulk to 255+, but still looks too lean to anchor the edge - better 3-4 fit.
10. 55 - Davis Tull - Phenomenal athlete, played against lesser collegiate competition, should be receiving more attention but is D.A. even interested?!?
11. 96 - Ashaad Mabry - Man's man from humble background who's worked to learn the NFL game and physically compete, but will the progression be there?
12. 77 - D.J. Pettway - Buried on a deep Bama, he did practice against some of the best offensive linemen to enter the NFL the past few years

Defensive Linemen to watch who're likely to move up:
55 - Davis Tull
96 - Ashaad Mabry
93 - David Onyemata



Notes/Observations:

*44 - Hau'oli Kikaha is likely lost for most, if not the entire season due to a third lifetime knee injury; he would have been ranked third (3rd)

What will be key is keeping the horses fresh so that the Saints can generate a pass rush with four (4) down linemen...

A unit strength that pops out is that many individual players do have versatility (e.g. 94 - Cameron Jordan, 90 - Nick Fairley, 99 - Sheldon Rankins, 95 - Tyeler Davison & 93 - David Onyemata)...

Of course while having that flexibility will be a plus from week to week, it'll put the onus on D.A. to find best possible match ups...

While Davis Tull was a DE in college and is ideally suited as a 3-4 OLB in the NFL, he could still be shifted to backup Anthony at the SAM...

It seemed early on that the base defense would be a mimic of Seattle's 4-3 under as this scheme would get the top front seven players on the field at one time...

...now with the Kikaha injury, we may see a more traditional 4-3 where you'd have a four-man DE rotation of Jordan, Richardson, Edebali and Onyemata and a four-man DT rotation of Fairley, Rankins, Jenkins and Davison...


DE (2) 94 - Cameron Jordan, 93 - David Onyemata

NT (2) 92 - John Jenkins, 95 - Tyeler Davison

DT (2) 90 - Nick Fairley, 99 - Sheldon Rankins

DE (2) 98 - Bobby Richardson, 91 - Kasim Edebali


That being the case, if a tremendous impression is made by Tull, Gwachum and/or Pettway, you could see as many as nine (9) defensive linemen make the roster...

Provided there are no more (nevermind)...

Despite the unfortunate, devastating news of the Kikaha injury (God Be With Him), I believe this can be the most improved unit for the team on the talent infusion alone; still would have liked a new defensive line coach...

Re: 2016 New Orleans Saints: Roster Outlook
 

If Bill Johnson can't get it done THIS season, it's time to look else where. Too many talented guys in the trenches for us not to substantially improve.

Re: 2016 New Orleans Saints: Roster Outlook
 

Great D-Line write up JP! I was nervous about that weak side DE position BEFORE Kikaha went down so I'm trying hard to stay optimistic. Not only do these guys have to battle it out against each other but they have to do it against one of the best left tackles in the league in Armstead. We should know REAL quick which guys have any shot at being an adequate starter.

Re: 2016 New Orleans Saints: Roster Outlook
 

Knock that sh*t off, Cher!

Not only Johnson, but all the way up to Dennis Allen; in fact, Payton probably loses his virtual cloak of invincibility and really feels the pressure...

Thanks, Chris! Actually we've got a legitimate, at minimum, seven-man defensive line rotation which I prefer over four standouts with a drop-off to reserves...

Packers had similar front when they made their run a few years ago; and you're dead-on that both lines should test each's mettle, pushing towards higher-level play...