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Analysis: Saints’ cuts more about strength of roster than players selected
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Re: Analysis: Saints’ cuts more about strength of roster than players selected
BY NICK UNDERHILL | NUNDERHILL@THEADVOCATE.COM SEP 1, 2018 - 6:31 PM
It can be a good sign when a team cuts good players and doesn’t have room for all of its draft picks. Sometimes those moves create some shock. Running back Jonathan Williams getting released by the Saints on Saturday was a legitimate “whoa” moment, but more so because of what New Orleans doesn't have at the position than the talent lost in the transaction. And seeing fourth-round tackle Rick Leonard, fifth-round cornerback Natrell Jamerson and sixth-round safety Kamrin Moore let go was a bit of a surprise, just because people are conditioned to expect draft picks to make the team. Now, it isn't all good when rookies get cut. Having a fourth-round pick fail to make the roster isn’t the best outcome. Leonard, a converted defensive end with minimal experience on the other side of the ball, was billed as a project, and while he demonstrated the physical ability to play the position, he struggled with motivation and applying coaching points. This isn’t necessarily the end for him. He could clear waivers and continue to develop on the practice squad, but it says something that the team is willing to risk losing him. As far as anyone else who didn’t make the team, it’s not a big deal. The headlines will read “three draft picks fail to make the roster.” But put it in context. These moves are about the strength of the roster more than the players selected. Look at the profile of the players selected during the final day of the draft. Jamerson, Moore and running back Boston Scott all had something in common: They could perform on special teams. That tells you right away these guys needed to do more than one thing to crack the roster. If not, see ya. That’s how undrafted safety J.T. Gray ended up making the team over Moore and Jamerson (at least for now). Moore and Jamerson looked promising at times. Moore made some plays on special teams once he returned from a hamstring injury, and secondary coach Aaron Glenn talked up Jamerson’s play at cornerback earlier in the camp. Now, think back to two years ago when Sterling Moore and B.W. Webb started games at cornerback. The fact that a position coach wasn’t able to keep a player he thought was playing well is a testament to the strength of this roster. The Williams cut was the most surprising move of the day. It felt like he gained momentum at the position early in the preseason and maintained it coming into this week. He rushed 31 times for 124 yards with a pair of touchdowns, averaging a respectable 4 yards per carry. But the team must prefer Scott, who averaged 4.8 yards per carry, even though he was often playing lower in the order behind a lesser offensive line. Scott also has the added benefit of being a better receiving back and can help out in the return game. It wouldn’t be a surprise if New Orleans looks outside of the building for additional help — coach Sean Payton has alluded to the possibility several times — and running back could be one of the spots the Saints addresses. If not, it looks like Alvin Kamara and Scott will carry the load at running back, with fullbacks Trey Edmunds and Zach Line helping out where they can until Mark Ingram returns from a four-game suspension. But certainly, the absence of those three rookies on the initial roster does not indicate that something has gone awry with the drafting process. New Orleans just had what might end up being one of the best draft classes in history a year ago, and another very solid draft before that. This class should be judged by what defensive end Marcus Davenport, wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith, Scott and offensive lineman Will Clapp do. Maybe even some of the other three end up on the practice squad and climb back on the roster in due time. Say what you want about the missed risk on Leonard, but overall, these cuts are another sign of success. Carrying late-round picks because there is no one around to beat them out every year is when things are going wrong. |
Re: Analysis: Saints’ cuts more about strength of roster than players selected
Some of those will be PS candidates...
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Re: Analysis: Saints’ cuts more about strength of roster than players selected
BS. These cuts show this DRAFT (outside of perhaps the 1st and 3rd pick) was a disaster.
Hope whoever ran/approved it catches hell like after the 2014 draft disaster (don't think we have anyone still left on the roster from '14). We passed on these players in order to take and cut our picks: - 4th: DT and former top 10 player Maurice Hurst. - 5th DE Fitts, CB Nicherson, QBs White and Falk - 5th and 6th: WR St. Brown, OT Senat Bad draft unless we hit on our 1st. Pathethic. And, speaking of pathethic (our defense agains the run), I still wish we'd taken NT Phillips over our good WR in the 3rd. Someone should be removed from draft-making decisions. |
Re: Analysis: Saints’ cuts more about strength of roster than players selected
This draft smells of Sean Payton, moving up, taking players that are projects.
This certainly does not feel like a Jeff Ireland draft that have been so successful the past 2 years. |
Re: Analysis: Saints’ cuts more about strength of roster than players selected
At least we got a 7th back for Lawrence.
Gotta love the Browns |
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Perfect example is how Bobby and Kristain flip flopped from calling Bridgewater a bust to comparing him to Russel Wilson and loving the idea the very next day. I seriously put more stock in some of the crap that Guido posts than I do in anything put out by the sports media. Davenport is going to be worth the price and I have a feeling he will contribute more to stopping the run than most people think |
Re: Analysis: Saints’ cuts more about strength of roster than players selected
Maulet and Hardee simply outplayed Jamerson. Moore was a long shot and a wasted pick. Davenport is legit. Smith is legit. Scott is legit. Clapp outplayed some veterans and must be legit. Leonard was a project and hopefully will make the 53 next year. Solid draft.
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True but it most likely has to do with the needs at positions. What you say is also a major factor we don't get to see behind the scenes.
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Now on to the next wait and see, how long until Sed Ellis brother, shankins, is with the team. And btw just because we critize doesn't mean we don't all hope their super stars, of course we do. We are even happy to be wrong when the team improves as a result. |
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Re: Analysis: Saints’ cuts more about strength of roster than players selected
And the problem with your comments are that by your very logic this board has no purpose. If we are not here to discuss the good and bad while offering our opinions Halo may as well shut the site down. This is what it is here for. It is for saints fans to come together and talk about the team and share our opinion. It is also here to share our successes. So the fact that we are not privileged to the behind the scenes doesn't mean all opinions are completely invalid. Look some things simply don't pass the sniff test. In the case of Leonard it is like being 3 inches from a man with chronic halitosis due to decaying teeth
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You are ALWAYS going to be negative. I will ALWAYS be positive. It's the way we roll. Going to always be friction, but our common ground is the love for our Saints. I know that. |
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By the way, exactly how close have you been to Leonard? |
Re: Analysis: Saints’ cuts more about strength of roster than players selected
Most draft picks are long shots anyway. We hit last year and apparently hit again this year but we didn't like what we saw enough to keep them off waivers.
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There's nothing constructive about that. It is actually a negative based post by you without an ounce of supporting facts or details. In short it is useless. If you want to make positive post while ignoring anything negative, more power to you. Right now, however, you're being accused of posting the same negative posts lacking any supporting information against the other posters. Maybe either offer something constructive in terms of why you support a specific player (as that may change someone's opinion) or say nothing and stick to positive post only. |
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In his mind it should be structured in a way that each post he makes is like an article with a small comment section at the bottom. Like the articles from TMZ. The comments would probably be limited to 10-12 characters so about the only thing you have room to write is “You’re right” “Good point” You are so smart” “16-0” You get the point. |
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Bad point. You're not so smart. 19-0 Baby! :bng: |
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:D |
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Re: Analysis: Saints’ cuts more about strength of roster than players selected
I have a great feeling about Taquan Smith. He catches the ball in traffic and has good size and athleticism. Davenport showed seruous flashes in limited action. Sean Peyton will find ways to use Boston Scott. Duh. Will Clapp can play almost every position on the line. This is a tough roster to make.
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https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.the...4bf38.amp.html |
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I liked that we snag him for nothing outta State, but I hadn't seen anything that jumped out like Stupar... Payton's comments knocking back at Stupar's outstanding play against the Rams has now led me to believe that Payton didn't want Stupar no matter what he'd done... |
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The one play I remember from Gray was the 40 yard PI that got called on him when he got beat and just tackled the guy before the ball was there.
Solid decision Payton, congrats. |
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I gotta trust the process ... *welp* :(. |
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