2016 New Orleans Saints: Roster Outlook

jeanpierre · 06-26-2016, 07:52 AM

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:

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.
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?
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...
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...
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?
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...
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
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.
93 - David Onyemata - Good quickness in small area with impressive strength and bulk, but can he be a quickstudy to justify the roster space?
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.
55 - Davis Tull - Phenomenal athlete, played against lesser collegiate competition, should be receiving more attention but is D.A. even interested?!?
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?
96 - Lawrence Virgil - Disappointing injury led to his release, great size and strength, but raw and inexperienced coming from a small-school program

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...

06-26-2016, 07:52 AM	#11
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: 2016 New Orleans Saints: Roster Outlook 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: 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. 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? 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... *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...* 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? 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... 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 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. 93 - David Onyemata - Good quickness in small area with impressive strength and bulk, but can he be a quickstudy to justify the roster space? 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. 55 - Davis Tull - Phenomenal athlete, played against lesser collegiate competition, should be receiving more attention but is D.A. even interested?!? 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? 96 - Lawrence Virgil - Disappointing injury led to his release, great size and strength, but raw and inexperienced coming from a small-school program 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... Last edited by jeanpierre; 06-27-2016 at 03:18 AM..

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: https://blackandgold.com/saints/76615-2016-new-orleans-saints-roster-outlook.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date	Hits
The Latest David Hawthorne News \| SportSpyder	This thread	Refback	02-08-2016 02:24 PM	1
The Latest Khiry Robinson News \| SportSpyder	This thread	Refback	02-07-2016 02:59 PM	1
The Latest Tim Lelito News \| SportSpyder	This thread	Refback	02-06-2016 04:51 PM	2
2016 New Orleans Saints: Roster Outlook	This thread	Refback	02-06-2016 09:54 AM	1
The Latest New Orleans Saints News \| SportSpyder	This thread	Refback	02-06-2016 09:16 AM	8