GumboBC

Next week's draft could be a critical time for Jim Haslett and company. Fans in New Orleans are tired of all the .500 ball and if Haslett and co. screw this draft up, ol' Haslett might be on his way out of town sooner rather than later.

It's tough to figure out just how talented this Saints' team is. Or isn't.

On the offensive side of the ball, all of the skill players appear to be in place. But the offensive line still looks suspect. Just how much is riding on RT Mayberry? And who is really comfortable with Wayne Gandy protecting Aaron Brooks' blind side?

By all accounts ... the defense appears to be the weaker of the 2-units. Bringing in FS Dwight Smith was a step in the right direction. But it does little to stop the run.

While Jim Haslett isn't publically saying he's counting heavily on Jonathan Sullivan .. you really have to wonder. Haslett made no attempt to upgrade the DT position in free-agency. And with no other proven DT on the team, it would appear that Haslett is counting on Sullivan to step it up.

The only other possibility is that the Saints are going to draft a DT in the first round?!

But that still leaves the LB corp unaddressed.

I believe Haslett is not satisfied with Courtney Watson at MLB. Haslett has made a coulpe of attempts to bring in a proven MLB in free-agency.

From listening to Haslett, he appears to be comfortable with Colby Bockwoldt at WLB. That's just a personal observation from hearing Haslett praise Bockwoldt.

Note: I'm not bashing Watson or prasing Bockwoldt. This is just my opinion based on what Haslett has said.

I feel that if we can't get an impact player at either DT or MLB that we would be better served drafting an offensive tackle.

Let's face it. If our defense is once again unable to keep opponents out of the endzone, our offense is gonna need to score a lot of points for us to have any chance of winning.

For our offense to score points, we need to give our QB time to find the open receivers.

I'll take one dominant side of the ball (offense) rather than two struggling units.

[Edited on 16/4/2005 by GumboBC]

GoldenTomb

I sincerely hope that a trade for Howard gets done this week. It will give us much more desirable options on draft day.

If we are able to get a second for Howard, we can package one of those with our first to move up to get DJ. This draft will be very interesting to say the least, because if the Saints are able to trade into the #6 spot, more than likely they will have a shot at DJ or Mike Williams, the only other player I think would justify trading up to #6. I would not be one bit surprised if the Saints moved up to get this guy. This guy could\'ve gone #1 last year and is a phenom. I don\'t feel comfortable with the Saints picking OL in the first round. That has been the shakiest position to pick in the first round, especially outside of the top 5. I think that the playbook being simplified for AB will help everyone on the O out with excecution. Hopefully the plays will encompass more of the hooks and slants that AB excels at.

If the Saints DO NOT trade up, and Rolle and Pac-Man are gone, then I\'m starting to think that trading down would be the best option. These LBs and Ss are good, but not significantly better than any of the ones that can be had in round 2. I say let\'s pass on Thomas Davis for Earnest Shazor in the second. For Kevin Burnett there\'s Channing Crowder in the second. I pretty much agree with a lot of the sentiments of the draft pundits on here. I just think that our strategy should be situation based.

Basically.....

If DJ is there at 6, we HAVE to get \'er done.
If MW is there at 6, we should try to get \'er done.
If we stay put at 16 and Rolle and Pac-Man are gone, trade down.

I would be totally disgusted if the Saints picked DT in the first. No true studs to warrant a mid 1st round pick, IMO. The most good that can be done with any single move for this franchise would be to draft DJ in the first or another LB in the second.

GumboBC

GoldenTomb --

I would hate to see us draft a DT. But only because we\'ve been there and done that. But if Sully doesn\'t come through, then it might be the weakest position on the entire team. I don\'t know if any DT in the draft is worth the 16th pick. But if there is one, it might be what\'s best for the defense.

I\'m on board with doing whatever it takes to move up and draft DJ.

If we come out of this draft with ONLY DJ, I\'ll be a happy camper.

Of course I\'m strectching it a bit. But not much.

Savant

I can\'t really go along with the idea of strenghtening one side of the ball and leave the other one to the pits. The Saint\'s have had that same situation since i\'ve been a fan, and it didn\'t get them anywhere.

Plus, look at the Colts. They haven\'t been able to get to the Super-Bowl even though tons of analyist placing them there every year. If they can\'t get to the Super-Bowl without a decent defense, what makes you think the Saints will. Aaron Brooks is no Peyton Manning by any stretch of the imagination.

This team needs balance. I know the Saint\'s record would look alot different last year if the defense would have stepped up earlier, instead of waiting to the last 4 or 5 games. And i thought we fell apart in December.

Reguardless, anything short of a Super-Bowl ring or an NFC Championship, i can\'t see Haslett with the clipboard next year.

GoldenTomb

Dude trust me...there are no Dwayne Robertsons, Kevin Williamses, or Jimmy Kennedys in this first round. A couple of Jonathan Sullys though.

Every year is a deep year for a different position. This year it is RBs. That may have a huge effect on where RB-hungry teams draft, like TB.

The only draft situation where DJ won\'t be at 6 will be if TB picks him at 5. I think they are the biggest threat to us not getting him.

If we get a second for Howard we can give that second plus our first to get to #6, or both seconds to get up to the #6, giving us two firsts. Either situation would be fine by me.

GumboBC

I\'m not suggesting that we ignore the defense. In fact, I\'m suggesting we do whatever it takes to get an impact MLB or DT.

I think those are the only two positions on defense that will really help us stop the run. I don\'t care if we draft the next Deion Sanders at CB, we need to stop the run.

But, if we can\'t get an impact player at DT or MLB, then I feel we need to draft an OT. It\'s not like we\'d be ignoring the defense. We really need an OT.

And if an OT is rated higher than some defensive player, then I think it would be foolish to pick defense just because we need help on defense.

GumboBC

GoldenTomb --

I\'ll take your word on the DTs in the draft. And I don\'t think Haslett is going to go that direction anyway.

I have a feeling that Darren Howard is going to factor in this draft somewhere.

Haslett is a gambler. I think if Haslett is in love with DJ, he\'ll do whatever it takes to get him.

FireVenturi

Defense wins championships. I think an O can struggle, but if u have a dominant D you can win a championship. See tampa and the ravens

GumboBC

Agreed!!

But I still think some are missing the point.

All I\'m saying is IF we canNOT get an IMPACT MLB or DT, then I think we should address the OT position in the first round. That is if one is left on the board that is worthy.

That way the offensive line is now a strong unit and we can draft a LB in the 2nd.

TheDeuce

I see what you\'re saying Gumbo, but I still think that if we couldn\'t get DJ or Merriman, I think that Thomas Davis would be a good first-round pick. If we don\'t pick a defensive player in the first round I am going to be über mad. Sure we could use an upgrade for the OT position, but at least we have somebody who can do a decent job of playing there. Our LB\'s suck, plain and simple. We need to address that. If we draft an OT I am going to be p*ssed.