USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

As we said earlier, everyone else is playing for second string.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

So if Erik is our center, does that mean Nick Easton transitions over to guard and bye bye Andrus Peat in 2020?

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

I think Easton is there to man the important swing position of G/C. We need a quality backup badly. Peat can swing from LG to LT, as well. We need to keep every versatile offensive lineman we can lay our hands on.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

Unless Peat gets too expensive I don't see him going anywhere. He has been really really good for us so far.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

He's due 9.625M for 2019.

No way the Saints pay that.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

An extension/restructure will deal with that. But, what does it matter for 2019 if we have everyone else covered? Personally, I think he gets extended.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

They might pay that. Remember , we have Mr. Glass at LT.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

It doesn't matter ... I'm just a forward thinker.

Peat is in a contract year. With the plethora of contracts coming up, recent Easton signing & the drafting of Erik makes Andrus expendable.

Tom & Clapp (Rousar has done a good job of grooming these two) IMO is decent depth.

I just don't think Peat has played up to his draft status but that's just me.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

I’ve learned over the years to not even worry about the offensive line.
Every year I’m concerned but somehow we manage to put together a top tier offensive line. The coaches seem to always get them to play cohesively even when they bring in guys from elsewhere. That’s hard to do. Most teams try to keep the same personnel intact.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

I applaud your well reasoned positive attitude, my friend. You have promise.

:D;)

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

Well it’s just their track record. No reason to believe it will be any different this year. Same type of reasoning tells me there is no reason to believe Armstead will play more than about 8 games, given his track record and all.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

Easton is our Kelemete

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

I wish Kelemente was our Kelemente

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

We play well on the O-line because we have good coaching.....and a bunch of 1st round drat picks. We are seeing the benefits from investing heavily in the trenches.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

Anyone remember how dominant Arkansas center Frank Ragnow was in college? He played exclusively at left guard as a rookie for Detroit in 2018.

It will interesting to see how quickly Erik transitions from college to Pros and if he's able to start and beat out Nick by the start of the season.

Our first regular season game is against the Texans. That defense and those pass rushers will test his will ... quickly.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

I don't remember the exact numbers, but something crazy like 21 of the last 22 centers drafted in the first two rounds started in their first year. I fully expect McCoy to be starting day one.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

Going back to 2009, teams have drafted 14 centers in the first two rounds. Thirteen of those 14 started at least 10 games during their rookie seasons. The only one who didn't was Rodney Hudson, who started just one game but played in all 16 as a rookie with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2011. This includes Ryan Kelly of the Colts.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

Thanks! I knew it was divisible by seven somehow. :) But, yes, that pretty much implies that if you draft a center very early it is because he is going to be a starter.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

RB, Nickle back (Chauncey G), WR's, TE and C battles galore.

Can't wait for camp.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

It was a numbers game. Kelemete got $5M guaranteed ($2.25M bonus) and Easton $4M ($2M bonus)

We should get the same level of production for less money.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp
 

That is a "wow" stat but not all surprising. Center is a very taxing position mentally and can be quite hard to just step into if you only played G before. Having to step, snap and get your snap hand back up and block quickly is a skill that takes time to master. No big surprise that guys that has done it for many years have a good chance of continuing doing it.

Re: USA Today/Saints Wire: Rookie center Erik McCoy getting first-team reps in minicamp