jeanpierre

Ingram hasn't finished a season healthy...

Hightower has never really played an entire season...

So I could see Lasco eventually getting his opportunities...

jeanpierre

SAINTS DEPTH CHART - 2016 July PreCamp

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, 69 - C.J. Wilson, 98 - Bobby Richardson, 77 - D.J. Pettway

NT (2) 92 - John Jenkins, 95 - Tyeler Davison, 96 - Ashaad Mabry, 76 - 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 (2) 53 - James Laurinaitis, 52 - Craig Robertson, 51 - Jeff Schoettmer

SLB (3) 50 - Stephone Anthony, 56 - Mike Mauti, 57 - Dillon Lee

RCB (2) 40 - Delvin Breaux, 27 - Damian Swann, 29 - Tony Carter, 49 - De’Vante Harris

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

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

LCB (3) 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 - Mitchell Loewen (NFIN)

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

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

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

jeanpierre

SAINTS DEPTH CHART - 2016 Pre-Camp

RUNNING BACKS

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

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

Projected Starter Entering Training Camp

Reserve/Injured

Draft Pick/Future/UDRFA

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

Saints will probably keep five (5), Running Backs and one (1) Full Back on the final (53) initial roster...

Early Rankings of our Running Backs:

1. 22 - Mark Ingram - RB who's had the most invested in him and debatable he's produced to justify those investment; regardless he's a a quality back and fit to this offense...
2. 28 - C.J. Spiller - Disappointing free agent acquisition, he turns it on this season or gets added to the list of FA failures for the Saints; could be real special in this offense...
3. 34 - Tim Hightower - Finally had a healthy season as a Pro, may not have the same first step, agility he had as a Cardinal, but did well behind an underrated Saints offensive line...
4. 35 - Austin Johnson - Not only a quality Fullback, but played linebacker in college making him another quality player on special teams; in today's offenses the fullback has all but disappeared, but he provides advantages at the goal line...
5. 38 - Travaris Cadet - Returned to the Saints while improving himself as an all around player, will need to be special as a returner to make this team...
6. 23 - Marcus Murphy - Surprise 7th round pick who had the misfortune of not being able to play with Darren Sproles, who with more effort on Murphy's part, could develop into that All-Purpose Yards threat...
7. 36 - Daniel Lasco - Injured his senior year and fell in the draft, Lasco comes in the mould of a Roger Craig-type speed back with great hands and ability to turn the corner...
8. 39 - Sione Houma - Houma would be an instant favorite on a team in the 1980's, but there can be only one fullback, if that, and he lacks the speed to contend as a ball carrier...

Running Back most likely to move up:
36 - Daniel Lasco


Notes/Observations:

• Mark Ingram's was the absolute right choice for the Saints to re-sign, but Ingram has never really justified the picks it took to select him and that is as much on the coaches/front office as Ingram; it's be nice to see him play sixteen games and finally be an All-Pro...
  
• Spiller has got to find away to step up, man up and stay available on the field; there was some grumbling that he also wasn't as prepared for games as he should be; the Lasco selection could make him expendable...
  
• As mentioned in a comparison earlier, Marcus Murphy has got to develop as intense a work ethic as Darren Sproles had while with the Saints; Saints really screwed the pooch not keeping Sproles, not only for what he brought to the offense, but what he did as a role model in the weight room...
  
• Cadet would be a coach's dream as a No. 3, change of pace running back and may not make this team...
  
• Austin Johnson reminds of a Patriots' type of player, multi-faceted, multi-role and are the kind of players the Saints would be wise to hold on to...
  
• Not many saw that much left in Hightower's game last season; let's see how he does not that people will see him coming this time...
  
• If Daniel Lasco can make the roster as a rookie, watch for him to develop as an absolute star in Payton's offense; he could end up being Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas rolled into one - all on a seventh round pick investment!

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

jeanpierre

A little more on DL C.J. Wilson...

C.J. Wilson to Saints: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction | Bleacher Report

jeanpierre

New Orleans Saints look noticeably deeper, more athletic in secondary, receiver corps | NOLA.com

jeanpierre

New Orleans Saints receiver R.J. Harris willing to play defense to make roster | NOLA.com

Patriots - South ?!?

jeanpierre

Good thing QB Luke McCown is on the depth chart; does Brees also have alligators in the pool?!?

hagan714

Nice write up on the RB.

Major concern is the laundry list of past injuries with almost the entire back field

jeanpierre

And that's why we'll keep at least five (5) RBs and one (1) FB...

And if that number isn't hit in the initial roster, it will be because of underwhelming performance in training camp and better options on the waiver wire...

jeanpierre

Top Five (5) Saints Who'd Be Most Likely To Be Traded

(1) NT John Jenkins (Would be a better fit for a 3-4 team)

(2) RB C.J. Spiller (Have a theory he's unhappy still being a No. 2 RB)

(3) QB Luke McCown (If Grayson comes on, how valuable a trade chip would he be?)

(4) LB Obum Gwachum (Would be a better fit for a 3-4 team)

(5) FS Jairus Byrd (It may be time to end the investment and just move on)