Would Like Some Feedback On Some of These Players

by Philinwood on Jan 9, 2009 8:21 AM CST Comment 13 comments

I was wondering if some of you might be interested in giving me some feedback on some of these players as they only got limited playing time for reasons such as some of them were rookies or inexperienced, or they got injured, or they were picked up mid-season just because others got injured, etc. I was wondering if they might help the team at all next year other than special teams roles. I think there sre actually a few here with either promising futures or the prospect of a promising one or two additional seasons.

I will list them and then give any assessment I might have.

Jo Lon Dunbar, Chris Reis, Mark Simoneau, Torrence Leigh,Darian Barnes, Mike Bell, Marvin Mitchell, Ron Ninkovich, Jeff Charleston, Sobonehim Olaniyi, DeMario Pressley

Dunbar- I think he played well in his only start vs. Washington- a game we had won and was lost, in my estimation, niot by Dunbar. I think we need to take a long look at him and he should have played morew in the last 2 games because we know what we have with our 3 starters and need to find out what Dunbar is about.

Mark Simoneau- Clearly he is a true NFL linebacker, although not All-Pro caliber. But, if he comes back healthy and is not too old (doubtful- he had a whole year to get rejuvenated and he is only 32. When he was with the Eagles, the knock on him was that he was undersized. Now the NFL seems to be favoring smaller and more mobile linebackers and that might just describe Mark. e won't beat out Vilma, but could be a good backup at all 3 linebacker positions, possibly even start in front of Shanle.

Reis- Very limited action but seems tough and I would have thought he would have gotten a shot since our safeties were questionable.

Mike Bell-I liked what I saw and I liked him in Col. He is not Deuce or Reggie or PT, but I still liked him when he played.

Jeff Charleston- As far as I am concerned he is an upgrade at DE from WS and CG, but I guess time will tell and I don't necessarily think the Saints feel that way. I thought he played well. He won't ever make the pro-bowl, but no DE on our team will either.

Sobonehim Olaniyi- (or whatever) played well in one game even though he fumbled. Nonetheless, I could see him helping the Saints if he gets healthy. I love Mike Karney, but he is getting older and I am not so sure he is as good a blocker as he was 3 or 4 years ago in Deuce's prime.

Torrence Leigh - Not sure what to think- but he had 43 Total tackles last year for Redskins without being a starter.- that's on a par with most of our CBs. He is young but with some experience. probably a smart player also,but not sure (he went to Stanford). Prime age for NFL CB (27)

DeMario Pressley- I figure Saints have big plans for him if he gets healthy but don't really know much.

Rob Ninkovich- I liked him when he was first with Saints. I'll go out on a limb here, but I think if he had started 16 games last season he would have had at least 4 sacks which might qualify him for "pass rush MVP" for 2008. Not Pro Bowl material, but possibly an upgrade of some sort.

Michael Lehan-Didn't even know he existed. Am I right, the Saints signed him when he was waived from iR @ Dolphons? Anyway- 6 years experience, 6-0 tall and 30 years old, maybe they want to take a closer look.

Terrence Holt- Don't know much, but I would look closely at any safety who has 6 years experience in the NFL , is 6-2 , 204 lbs when you consider our current safeties. Plus, this guy had 5 interceprions over 2005-06 and started 41 NFL games from 2005-2007 and had 186 total tackles. I would say he is a veteran but is only 28 years old.

Anyone else?? Darian Barnes? Bushrod? Ortega? Ayodele? Would love to hear anything anyone has to say.

This FanPost was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.

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oooppsss accidently pushed enter

anyway, I wanna play, Not gonna do everyone, but i can do some.

Dunbar-this guy looks great from what i’ve seen. Seems to have the ability to start, but can’t say for sure yet. Definitely worth keeping around next year too see exactly how good he is.

Simoneau-If anything keep him around another year to teach the younger guys. He’s been around a bit and he’s undersized and not as athletic as most but still has started for us and the eagles. He must have a great knowledge of the game and technique of the position to start as an undersized and slower LB. You can’t pass ability to the young guys, but he can share his knowledge of the game. He could be the guy that teaches Dunbar how to use his great athleticism properly.

Reis- eh…since you’re saying contributions beyond special teams i don’t really know what we can do with him. there has to be some kind of issue considering he never got much playing time on defense, and considering how our starting safties played at times. Maybe i’m missing something i dunno.

Bell- Keep him. Strong downhill runner with some good speed.

Charleston- Should’ve been on the team all year and should’ve started all year. The thing that pisses me off most aboug CG and WS is watching them take plays off. i can’t remember how many times i saw WS just stand up and take a block and contribute not a damn thing to a play. I don’t think charleston knows how to quit on a play. This dude is balls to the wall on every play he gets to be in on. I’d honestly like to see this guy and mccray over WS and CG :/.

Olaniwhaaa?- sorry to lazy to scroll and see proper spelling. My opinion on this guy doens’t count. Besides Brees and Deuce, Karney is my favorite saint. Karney is a freak, right at 6 feet tall and 250 lbs. have you seen how jacked this dude is?!?! I think Karney is still way too good to keep another FB around.

by fruly on Jan 9, 2009 11:41 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Dunbar

is a guided missile on special teams. If he can play that way on defense, he could be a star. He had a terrible 40 time in the combine, as bad as Ali Highsmith, but he sure seems to play faster than that on the field. We need to see if he can compete for Shanle’s spot on the weak side, which is the only place I think he’s suited to.

Jeff Charleston is a high-motor overachiever who absolutely shamed Will Smith this year. But I don’t think he’s the full-time answer. If we get rid of Smith and/or Grant, we need to replace them with REAL pass rushing beasts. Charleston is definitely a keeper, though.

DeMario Pressley, on paper, is another Sedrick Ellis. I’m really looking forward to seeing that tandem play next year. I’ve heard that Pressley has a rap for not putting out the effort, so I don’t know what to expect. I was hoping that Ed Orgeron would get something out of him; but Pressley was injured and Orgeron was busy filling out job applications, so THAT never happened.

Mike Bell looked okay. Rob Ninkovich I liked from the start, but how many second-team defensive ends can we carry when our first team needs are so pressing?

Get Sean McDermott!

by MtnExile on Jan 9, 2009 1:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

dunbar

this is all i can think of when i hear his name

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80b7000f&campaign=ec0009

by in the 9th on Jan 9, 2009 2:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sweet

Hit ’em high, boys. Stecker got his guy too.

by stujo4 on Jan 9, 2009 2:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Weak side = Speed

Dunbar is slow.
hits like a dumptruck but slow

MT
Sean McDermott come on down! your the next contestant on the "Can you fix my Defense". You will be joined by a DL coach of your choice and may we say we are happy to have you here in Who Dat Nation.

by MT_always on Jan 9, 2009 3:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Orgeron was busy filling out job applications,

Meaning, surfing for porn.

I thought Mike Bell looked REAL good. Must have been the blocking.

Simoneau will be interesting. Done? Or still has something in the tank?

Didn’t think much of Leigh or Holt. Penalties and attitude. But I could be biased because when I see either one’s name I think of Lee Holt from junior high school. Let’s just say he was not nice to me.

I’d like to see more of Dunbar and Charleston. Nink’s done.

by stujo4 on Jan 9, 2009 2:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

i think is all on what we do in FA and the draft...

If we get a good FS through FA and draft and LB, Simoneau is gone… I think Shanle earned his right to fight for a spot and so did Fujita. I think our LB corp will be either the same as now with possible Dunbar taking Shanle’s spot or we will draft a LB like Cushing, Mauluga, Laurenitis, or Curry (although I think Curry will be gone by the 14th pick)

"For us, there is no spring... only the smell of fresh wind before the storm."
-Conan of Cimeria

by tlsk1066 on Jan 9, 2009 3:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Laurenaitis?

Isn’t he the stud who entirely disappeared in the 2008 BCS championship?

Get Sean McDermott!

by MtnExile on Jan 9, 2009 3:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

draft outlook

with stafford and moreno declaring, and both likey to be top 15 picks (if not top ten), then that can only mean good news for the saints quest for a top defensive prospect in the draft.

i am not certain about any of those linebackers either being available (curry, mauluga) or that good (laurenitis, cushing) i do however really really think that brandon spikes, if he declares, would be a impact player and immediate contributor, despite his handicap of being a florida gator. that being said, i think our immediate need is for secondary, and if taylor mays is available, he should be our man.

by in the 9th on Jan 9, 2009 3:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Someone else

who thinks Laurinaitis is overrated?

Get Sean McDermott!

by MtnExile on Jan 9, 2009 5:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

he benefitted

from having alot of talent in front of him on tOSU’s DL in his first few seasons. This past season he was pretty tame. i could be wrong though.

by in the 9th on Jan 10, 2009 11:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And another thing

I’d really like to see how our current safeties fare in a new system. Bullocks has only ever played for Venturi and Gibbs; Harper, only for Gibbs. Both were very highly regarded coming out of college. I wonder if someone like McDermott or Williams can get more out of them.

Get Sean McDermott!

by MtnExile on Jan 9, 2009 3:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

excellent point

I can’t get past that Henderson quote of him quoting Gibbs. I will loosely paraphrase: “Roman, don’t you let Hester beat you deep. Don’t you do it. You give him those short ones all the way down the field if you have to but don’t let him go long.” Jesus. That kills me.

Seriously, anyone: If you have to cover a guy who is fast and has moves, is it a mistake to get right up in his face before the snap and bump him? Not every time, 1 out of 3. Maybe the safety knows you’re going to so he’s got an eye on him if he somehow gets by you? There HAS to be a better way to run a defense than what we’ve been doing.

by stujo4 on Jan 9, 2009 4:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs