Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

Last year we were heading into the season with Fred Thomas, Ashley Ambrose, and Tebucky Jones.

This year we're heading into the season with Mike McKenzie, Dwight Smith, and Fakir Brown.

I'd call that a slight upgrade.. :cool:

[Edited on 7/3/2005 by GumboBC]

Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

Much better secondary. Hopefully they can tackle the running back after he bolts through our Dline and linebackers.

Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

LOL! You nailed it man!

Yes, let\'s not forget that LB\'s are still pressing need, regardless of whether the D-Line improves or not.

Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

F. Brown is a UFA. I\'m not sure we\'re heading into anything with him just yet. Guess what? Craft is also a UFA. That is, unless I missed something today.

Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

I don\'t think F. Brown is a free agent. I\'m 99.99999% sure of that..

Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

He isn\'t. I thought Craft was though.

Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

My bad on that one. It was the source I\'ve been using.

Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

Craft is an UFA but hopefully we will re-sign him and cut bait with Fred Thomas ( Then Deuce can finally wear #22, and hopefully be like Samson getting his hair back!)

Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

I like McKenzie and Smith both. Both great additions over the last year. However, I\'m not entirely confident in our secondary. There seems to be a pretty large gap from Smith and McKenzie to Bellamy and Brown. Don\'t get me wrong, I like Fahkir a lot, but ultimately he seems like a nickel guy to me. At SS, maybe this is the year that Mitchell finally steps it up. I hope so, b/c I don\'t put much stock in Bellamy. Three years ago I outwardly criticized the guy and said he was probably the worst guy on the defense. I was probably right. Then two years ago, out of nowhere, he had a monster year. It was amazing the turnaround. Still, credit where it is due and all, but I didn\'t think the guy could keep it up. I don\'t know if I\'d call his 2004 campaign anything but average. He\'s a question mark in my book. The secondary still needs help, but not nearly as much as the LINEBACKING CORP!!!

Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

Bellamy\'s \"skill\" improved dramatically when he moved to SS. I think he\'s got at least a year left, but I said that about Ambrose too.

I think Brown is serviceable, at worst; if we improve our DLine, then our second CB isn\'t as critical. However, with guys like Law and Dyson still out there...

I agree though, LB needs some serious work!!!

Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

I\'m still not sold on Brown. Don\'t get me wrong, he is an amazing athlete and has decent NFL potential. But I still feel he is a below average starter. He either needs to make a great improvement or we need to find a replacement.
However, He is hardly a concern compared to the rest of our D (with exception to DE). Until we stop the run, no corner will live up to their potential in NO.

Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

were better off then at this point last year

Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

You said it all Spk, we are alot better off then at the same point last year or so it would appear and the plot thickens or the pot thickens, oh what the hell, I\'m just happy to see us really filling some needs this year. Don\'t be surprised if a FA linebacker is next, then the best defensive lineman with the 16th pick and the best linebacker with the 40th or trade Howard for someones first pick, then there would be three defensive picks within the first 40 or a QB?

Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

We tend to forget that Fred Thomas is still on our roster. Out of all the years he\'s been with us, only last year did he have a bad season. He did sustain some injuries and if he\'s healthy, I think he would make a great nickel corner. Remember before he resigned with us last year, he was heavily courted. Do yall realize that he was top 5 in the league breaking up passes(previous 2/3 seaons combined)?

Saints' secondary ... What a difference from last season!
 

I have to agree with Papz. Freddy had a terrible year last year but, you never know. I think he can still come back and be a good nickel, however, the fact of the matter is he is being PAID like a starter. That alone might be the downfall of him unless he wants to take a pay cut. I doubt he could be used for much of a trade. But you never know.