Saints are picking up draft skills

Danno · 04-20-2005, 08:27 AM

Choices haven't dazzled, but front office looking sharper than in previous regimes
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
By Jeff Duncan
Staff writer
The Saints have had their share of hits and misses in the NFL draft since Jim Haslett became coach.

In many ways, the five drafts from 2000 to 2004 have mirrored the team's roller-coaster performance on the field. For every Darren Howard, Deuce McAllister or Will Smith success story, there's a Johnathan Sullivan, Kenny Smith or Keyuo Craver head-scratcher. For the most part, though, the Saints have hit more than they've missed in the NFL's annual player selection lottery. ...
In a subjective analysis of league-wide draft choices from 2000 to 2004, the Saints compare favorably to the rest of the NFL. In fact, the results might surprise many of the club's long-suffering fans, who tend to focus on the half-empty 2001 and 2003 drafts instead of the half-full ones in 2000 and 2002.

In the past five years, the Saints rank among the top 10 of the league in starters acquired (11, 10th place), percentage of draft picks still in the NFL (81.5 percent, eighth) and number of Pro Bowl players selected (three, tied for fifth).

Yet New Orleans ranked 19th in the percentage of draft picks still on the roster with 55.2 percent (21 of 38). That's a far cry from the top, where the New York Jets have 75 percent (27 of 36) of draft picks still on the roster.

But the Saints' figure is skewed somewhat by the club's propensity for trades. Quality draft picks such as Chad Morton and J.T. O'Sullivan probably would be on the roster if they had not been not packaged in trades. Ditto for quarterback Marc Bulger, a sixth-round pick in 2000 who became expendable after the Saints acquired Aaron Brooks in a deal with Green Bay a couple of months later.

...
One of the criticisms of the Saints in recent years is that the coaching staff and personnel departments have not been on the same page. Two coaches who recently left the staff complained privately about a lack of input in scouting.

Haslett, in an interview last month at the NFL owners meetings, acknowledged that the two sides initially didn't have "a really good understanding of what we're looking for player-wise or what we're trying to build." He later added that the relationship has improved this offseason.

Loomis disagreed with the claim, saying he includes all members of the 18-man coaching staff and 12-man scouting staff in decision-making before making the final call.

Jeff Duncan can be reached at jduncan@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3405.

Entire Article...
http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...9783185120.xml

[Edited on 20/4/2005 by Danno]

04-20-2005, 08:27 AM	#1
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,654	Saints are picking up draft skills Choices haven't dazzled, but front office looking sharper than in previous regimes Wednesday, April 20, 2005 By Jeff Duncan Staff writer The Saints have had their share of hits and misses in the NFL draft since Jim Haslett became coach. In many ways, the five drafts from 2000 to 2004 have mirrored the team's roller-coaster performance on the field. For every Darren Howard, Deuce McAllister or Will Smith success story, there's a Johnathan Sullivan, Kenny Smith or Keyuo Craver head-scratcher. For the most part, though, the Saints have hit more than they've missed in the NFL's annual player selection lottery. ... In a subjective analysis of league-wide draft choices from 2000 to 2004, the Saints compare favorably to the rest of the NFL. In fact, the results might surprise many of the club's long-suffering fans, who tend to focus on the half-empty 2001 and 2003 drafts instead of the half-full ones in 2000 and 2002. In the past five years, the Saints rank among the top 10 of the league in starters acquired (11, 10th place), percentage of draft picks still in the NFL (81.5 percent, eighth) and number of Pro Bowl players selected (three, tied for fifth). Yet New Orleans ranked 19th in the percentage of draft picks still on the roster with 55.2 percent (21 of 38). That's a far cry from the top, where the New York Jets have 75 percent (27 of 36) of draft picks still on the roster. But the Saints' figure is skewed somewhat by the club's propensity for trades. Quality draft picks such as Chad Morton and J.T. O'Sullivan probably would be on the roster if they had not been not packaged in trades. Ditto for quarterback Marc Bulger, a sixth-round pick in 2000 who became expendable after the Saints acquired Aaron Brooks in a deal with Green Bay a couple of months later. ... One of the criticisms of the Saints in recent years is that the coaching staff and personnel departments have not been on the same page. Two coaches who recently left the staff complained privately about a lack of input in scouting. Haslett, in an interview last month at the NFL owners meetings, acknowledged that the two sides initially didn't have "a really good understanding of what we're looking for player-wise or what we're trying to build." He later added that the relationship has improved this offseason. Loomis disagreed with the claim, saying he includes all members of the 18-man coaching staff and 12-man scouting staff in decision-making before making the final call. Jeff Duncan can be reached at jduncan@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3405. Entire Article... http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...9783185120.xml [Edited on 20/4/2005 by Danno]