jeanpierre

SAINTS DEPTH CHART - Early, PreContact 53 Man Prediction

OFFENSE

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

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

FB (1) 35 - Austin Johnson

WR (3) 13 - Michael Thomas, 16 - Brandon Coleman, 81 - Jordan Williams

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

LG (2) 68 - Tim Lelito, 78 - Landon Turner

C (2) 60 - Max Unger, 65 - Senio Kelemete

RG (1) 75 - Andrus Peat

RT (1) 64 - Zach Strief

TE (3) 82 - Coby Fleener, 89 - Josh Hill, 84 - Michael Hoomanawanui

SR (2) 10 - Brandin Cooks, 83 - Willie Snead


DEFENSE

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

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

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

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

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

MLB (2) 53 - James Laurinaitis, 52 - Craig Robertson

WLB (3) 59 - Dannell Ellerbe, 54 - Nate Stupar, 55 - Davis Tull

LCB (3) 21 - Keenan Lewis, 25 - P.J. Williams, 20 - Brian Dixon

FS (2) 31 - Jairus Byrd, 48 - Vonn Bell

SS (3) 32 - Kenny Vaccaro, 30 - Erik Harris, 41 - Roman Harper

RCB (2) 40 - Delvin Breaux, 27 - Damian Swann


KICKING

K (1) 3 - Connor Barth

P (1) 6 - Thomas Morstead

LS (1) 47 - Justin Drescher


INJURED RESERVE

LB 44 - Hau'oli Kikaha
FS 33 - Jamarca Sanford



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 - 25, Defense - 25, Kicking - 3, Total Roster - 53

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

Couple of Things:

Listed Davis Tull as a LB because I see his role in pass rush subpackages this season from the edge; while he's been a Line/Edge Backer, I could also see him developing into a quality MLB or even a WLB with his physical skill set...

Once the game gets physical, I expect to see some surprises among the defensive backs; Byrd and Westbank are very vulnerable.

Speaking of Oft-injured defenders, Ellerbe is another guy on shaky ground as Roberston may actually be better; that, plus 57 - Dillon Lee continuing to make plays when hitting starts could make that interesting.

Can also possibly see a position change of sorts for Damian Swann to safety, making Harper expendable; then Kyle Williams makes the team or if a rookie like 49 - De’Vante Harris or 43 - Jimmy Pruitt can jump out and show good gunner skills.

Can see the Saints making a Training Camp trade for another wide receiver; for now I have the receiver Williams because Payton will want some more size; Coleman is not a lock to make this roster.

Richardson and Gwachum is a tossup, Saints want pass rush more than rush defense and Richardson offers nothing in the pass rush; when the contact starts my eyes will first be on Gwachum; on second thought, Richardson does a good job of sealing the edge and Edebali could rotate in on third and long so that'd work...

Saints have really brought in quality depth and player flexibility at critical positions (e.g. Cornerback, Edge Defender, 3T Tackle) as injuries are an inevitable part training camp

Landon Turner or 79 - Joseph Cheek will be the eighth offensive lineman; tossup here that could go either way; Joe Cheek may need a couple of seasons, but like Ryker Mathews, both are future NFL starters...

Really liked the Saints brought back 96 - Lawrence Virgil as both he or 96 - Ashaad Mabry could make Jenkins expendable a year early; expect one or both to get a "Redshirt" Season as the Saints ride out Jenkins this season...

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

K Major

I'm really interested to watch Jimmy Pruitt at training camp as well as David Onyemata.

There will be some tough cuts this year.

jeanpierre

It's been a while since we were able to make that statement.

Pruitt and Harris should be interesting.

Onyemata pushes Richardson.

jeanpierre

Why is Tim Lelito playing with the two's?

Where will Davis Tull play?

Who will be the fourth and fifth wide receivers?

K Major

Most NFL teams are in the nickel at least 60% of the time. Not to mention our Saints even more 4-3/3-4 ... Tull needs to be on the edge. I think he is a situational pass rusher at best.

jeanpierre

Yeah, and I don't know that Coleman offers enough in the way of the kicking game to be a lock for a roster spot...

jeanpierre

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, 12 - Kyle Prater

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

LG (2) 65 - Senio Kelemete, 68 - Tim Lelito, 78 - Landon Turner

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

RG (2) 75 - Andrus Peat, 62 - Cyril Lemon, 71 - Kaleb Eulls

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, 96 - Lawrence Virgil

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, 27 - Damian Swann, 29 - Tony Carter, 49 - De’Vante Harris

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

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

LCB (2) 21 - Keenan Lewis, 25 - P.J. Williams, 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


RESERVE/INJURED

FS 33 - Jamarca Sanford (Prior to Cut to 75)

CB 24 - Kyle Wilson (Prior to Cut to 75)

DE 76 - 76 - Mitchell Loewen (NFIN)


Projected Starter

Reserve/Injured

Draft Selection/UDRFA/Future

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

Note: Roster Unit Nos.: Offense - 44, Defense - 41, Kicking - 5, Total Roster - 90

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

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

jeanpierre

Saints Announce Roster Moves

Posted Jun 24, 2016
By NewOrleansSaints.com

The Saints announced that they have placed CB Kyle Wilson on the reserve/injured list and have signed DT C.J. Wilson

The New Orleans Saints announced today that they have placed CB Kyle Wilson on the reserve/injured list and have signed DT C.J. Wilson. The announcements were made by Saints’ Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.

Wilson, 6-3, 290, comes to New Orleans after splitting the 2015 season between the Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions. He opened the year appearing in four games with one start for the Raiders and recorded five tackles (two solo). In eight games for Detroit, he posted eight tackles (six solo) and one sack. Originally a seventh round choice (230th overall) of the Green Bay Packers in the 2010 NFL Draft out of East Carolina, the Belhaven, N.C. native has played in 78 career games with 19 starts over six seasons with the Packers, Raiders and Lions, accumulating 150 tackles (84 solo), 6.5 sacks for a total loss of 27 yards, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery. The East Carolina standout appeared in eight postseason games with three starts for the Packers from 2010-2013, recording 24 tackles (14 solo) and one sack, and was part of Green Bay’s Super Bowl XLV championship team.

Source: NewOrleansSaints.com - Saints Announce Roster Moves

Comment: This was what I was referring; we don't need four (4) standouts on the defensive line; we need a healthy rotation of seven-eight defensive linemen and to just keep bringing the heat by keeping the horses fresh through four (4) quarters...

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

jeanpierre

SAINTS DEPTH CHART - 2016 Pre-Training Camp ***UPDATED***

DEFENSIVE LINE

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

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

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

LEO (3) 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...

[B]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. 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?
6. 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...
7. 98 - C.J. Wilson - Late FA addition that won't blow anyone away but is an "innings eater" who'll give quality snaps; part of a Green Bay DL rotation that won a Superbowl
8. 98 - Bobby Richardson - Walk-on who earned a starting gig last season because of lack of depth; he's a liability in pass rush and must change that.
9. 93 - David Onyemata - Good quickness in small area with impressive strength and bulk, but can he be a quickstudy to justify the roster space?
10. 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.
11. 55 - Davis Tull - Phenomenal athlete, played against lesser collegiate competition, should be receiving more attention but is D.A. even interested?!?
12. 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?
13. 96 - Lawrence Virgil - Disappointing injury led to his release, great size and strength, but raw and inexperienced coming from a small-school program
14. 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/Wilson, 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 (3) 91 - Kasim Edebali, 98 - Bobby Richardson/98 - C.J. Wilson


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...

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

jeanpierre

Make no mistake, the Saints are doing everything they can to make sure they have a consistent rush with the base four up front on the defensive line...

Defensive Line Battles

Nose Tackle - John Jenkins, Tyeler Davison, Ashaad Mabry, Lawrence Virgil

Jenkins, last year of rookie contract will be pushed and will be expendable if Mabry and/or Lawrence can be an able backup; Davison better not sleep either as that back two on this list have the size and hunger to make it happen...

Defensive Tackle - Nick Fairley, Sheldon Rankins, David Onyemata

This will be more of a battle of 1 and 1A, Saints did a great job of setting this up to bring Rankins along in the NFL; Onyemata can play along the DL so there will be flexibility for him making the team so Payton can justify the move to select him...

Defensive End - Cam Jordan, Kasim Edebali, Bobby Richardson, C.J. Wilson, Obum Gwachum, Davis Tull, David Onyemata, D.J. Pettway

May see as many as five from this group make the 53 man roster; C.J. Wilson vs Bobby Richardson, Davis Tull vs Obum Gwachum, David Onyemata vs D.J. Pettway will be some good battles in camp...

What really will make this a puzzle is that the onus will be on the one-dimensional players like John Jenkins, Tyeler Davison, Ashaad Mabry, Lawrence Virgil, Davis Tull, Obum Gwachum, D.J. Pettway to have outstanding camps as players like Nick Fairley, Sheldon Rankins, C.J. Wilson, Bobby Richardson can move inside and out for matchups, injuries et cetera will have an advantage make the roster...

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