ChrisXVI

WalterFootball.com: 2016 NFL Offseason Page - New Orleans Saints - Team Needs, Season Preview, Free Agents, Salary Cap

Spoiler alert: Not good. I usually really like the blunt, opinionated style of WalterFootball but not so much with this article for obvious reasons.

ScottF

This article is pretty contradictory:

--"Willie Snead caught 69 passes for 984 yards in 2015, but that was mostly Brees manufacturing those numbers"
How is this bad? The same two guys will be on the field this year.

--"Brees relied heavily on Ben Watson last year, but that won't be an option anymore. Watson signed with Baltimore in free agency, prompting New Orleans to add Coby Fleener to a ridiculous 5-year, $36 million contract."

I'm confused...Watson's career year was his doing, but Snead's was all Brees? Come on.
I will concede the thumbs up on overpaying Fleener

--"The Stanford product has a lot of talent, but struggled mightily in brief appearances last season. If this past year was any indication, he'll be a big liability. He'll start alongside center Max Unger, who was a bit of a disappointment in 2015, and Tom Lelito, who happens to be woeful in pass protection."
SP and Mickey didn't bring anyone else... so maybe this is overblown?

--"Major upgrades were needed on every level of the defense, but because of cap limitations, the Saints signed only one player of note. That would be Nick Fairley"
except for Laurinaitis, our new defensive QB

The offensive will still be top 5, and the defense really can't be any worse.

jeanpierre

First, let me say that adding AdGuard AdBlocker to Chrome when viewing WalterFootball.com made his page(s) load much faster...

Second, true there should be some concern for Brees' age, however, Walter really went through the motions on the receiving corps; Cooks is probably the top "y" receiver in the league right now; of course Snead is a third option, and he will excel again in that role; the big question mark is can Michael Thomas keep teams honest as the "x" receiver - that remains to be seen; Watson was more of a dump-off option vs when we had Graham and everyone in the house knew Brees was throwing to Jimmy so anything Fleener adds (so long as it's not drops on third and longs or red zone targets) will be bonus; expensive bonus, but bonus nonetheless...

He overlooked that we've added four new defensive linemen to the front and he was pretty critical of the linebackers and failed to mention that several of our reserves graded the highest at their respective positions; and if Vonn Bell is half-way serviceable, it'll keep an oft-injured Byrd on the bench allowing the defensive backfield to finally develop some cohesiveness...

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

QBREES9

and Tom Lelito, who happens to be woeful in pass protection." Tim Lelito get the name right.

hagan714

See they all have the saints picking in the top ten of the 2017 nfl draft.

None appreciate what a historical bad job Rob did here, much less believe the guy is the bum of the family.

The effect of kicking him to the curb will be bigger than the media wants to admit.

Firing Rob automatically moves the defense into the lower twenties before the ink dried and the door hit in the butt on the way out.

spkb25

This was the part that struck me...let's see how Ben does in Baltimore, nothing against him. Great guy all around

vpheughan

"WalterFootball"any relation to "Johnny?"

foreverfan

Rugby Saint II

His math sucks..........

nola_swammi

I am curious about James Laurinaitis,,, he isn't a definite upgrade,, I'll prefer S Anthony starting at mlb and Stupar or Robertson starting at strong side lb. maybe a change of scenery is what JL need