Completely Random Post-Draft Thoughts
by Dave Cariello on Apr 28, 2009 6:00 AM CDT
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Againts All Odds
Have you stopped yet and thought about how many players the Saints have actually added to their secondary and even the linebacking corp this off-season. I mean, they're not screwin' around this year and I am lovin' it. Compare that with the last two off-seasons of attempted improvement and 2009 blows them both out of the water. The Saints might actually have some legitimate depth on defense for the first time in quite a while. With so many new faces and a new defensive coordinator the odds have to be in the Saints favor that this defense is finally improved. The Saints are giving my cautious optimism a run for the money.
Undrafted Free Agents
It's now time for NFL teams to start signing players whose phones never rang on draft day and hope to find a hidden gem at a discounted rate. The Times-Pic claims that Payton is going to sign ten players during this period. The Saints currently have nine of those players, as reported by the Times-Pic. Here is the list so far:
Player
Position
College
CB
Danny Gorrer
Texas A&M
G
Cedric Dockery
Texas
WR
Chris Vaughn
Louisville
LB
Jonathan Casillas
Wisconsin
CB
Reggie Jones
Portland State
G/T
Augustus Parrish
Kent State
C
Alex Fletcher
Stanford
QB
Patrick Cowan
UCLA
RB
Herb Donaldson
Western Illinois
Also, last I checked safety Derek Pegues from Mississippi St. has still not signed with anyone. Pegues was a moderately ranked safety that many mock drafts had going in the middle rounds but was never selected in the draft. I know we've got a crapload of players now in the secondary but it might not hurt to give him a look. Or perhaps the fact that every other team passed him up speaks for itself.
Yo Mickey!
Mickey Loomis just loves him some trading. For a guy who said...
"One thing we wanted to do as best we could was to maintain as many of our picks next year as we could."
...Loomis sure didn't do a great job sticking to that plan. The Saints gave up their 2010 fifth round pick in their trade up to acquire punter Thomas Morstead. We also know they were very interested in moving back into the first round to grab "Beanie" Wells which I would have to imagine would have required giving up a 2010 pick or two. None of this shows me any sincere interest in actually holding onto future draft picks.
And by the way, I never weighed in on the whole possible trade for "Beanie" Wells situation so here is my official stance: ridiculous.
"One thing we wanted to do as best we could was to maintain as many of our picks next year as we could."
More-stead
The more I hear about punter Thomas Morstead the more I think I'm beginning to like this pick. CSC reader YESSaints (hat tip) claims he's got some insider information and speaks very highly of Morstead. That seems to be right in line with other talk I've been reading around the internet. I think we all need to wait it out before cursing this move. It might turn out to be genius.
ESPN Grades the Saints
Just watched ESPN's NFL Live as they graded every teams draft by division. The Saints received a C as did Carolina. The Falcons and Bucs were both awarded with a B. No doubt the lack of picks this year plus the drafting of Morstead were major factors in the Saints getting just an average grade. After a current total of 645 votes 61% of Canal Street Chronicles readers would give the Saints a B. I'm with the readers on this one. I don't even know why I watch that show every day.
The Hits Just Keep on Coming
Sunday set a new Canal Street Chronicles record for most hits in a single day. Yesterday we broke that record. We will also set a new record for most hits in a month. Thanks to everyone out there reading.
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I reallly, really, really
like the Cowan pick up. I always thought he was a pretty good player in college, he was just derailed by injuries. Don’t forget: as a freshman, he led UCLA to an upset of USC. I think he could be groomed into a very good back up and eventually maybe the replacement for life after Drew. There is no way he is not drafted if it weren’t for all the injury concerns!
Also, personal story: I used to hate McShay. I still think some of his rankings may be a little shaky, but I have a newfound respect for him after I heckled him on Sunday at the draft to the point that he jokingly called me a d*$*. He really sticks to his guns and seemed to be an all around good guy, unlike Marshall faulk who acts like what McShay called me.
by DeuceisLoose926 on Apr 28, 2009 8:02 AM CDT reply actions
A lot of talent will be cut from the Saints roster this year
it’s going to be very interesting to see who gets cut in the end. Should make for a very competitive camp. It’s even possible some trades might still happen
Jason David, Brian Young, Hollis Thomas are all gone in my opinion.. Now let’s hope that DeMario Pressley has a huge training camp, starts alongside Sedrick Ellis, and we have some solid pressure in the middle of our D-Line. We made a mistake not drafting a defensive end or even signing a undrafted free agent
defensive TACKLE
should’ve been targeted—we really need youth at that position, even with Ellis/Pressley. We’re set at end, though, I think.
Otherwise I totally agree with Saintsational—I’m “cautiously optimistic” about Morstead, but all our other moves have made me unabashedly optimistic. Look at our CB depth: Gay, Porter, Greer, David, Young (at the moment), Jenkins, Torrence and the two undrafted guys – Gorrer and Jones. It’s pretty ridiculous that we potentially have 4 starter-quality CBs (Gay, Porter, Greer, Jenkins)—and I’m so glad we didn’t entertain trades about Randall Gay given how injuries affected us last season; it’s great to have so much depth at what was one of our weakest positions.
I like it.
i also saw
on nola.com that we signed PJ Hill, the RB from Wisconsin. He was named to Rivals.com’s “all-undrafted team” and is a big, strong runner. He got arrested for DUI which no doubt hurt his draft stock, but he put up pretty good numbers at Wisconsin. Here’s his scouting report via WalterFootball.com.
No we have 4 guys to compete for the power-runner spot in the backfield. I like it.
throw the caution out the window
maybe i’m just too confident in the saints. NOT. the saints are going to the playoffs for sure and have a great shot at making it to and winning the superbowl. i won’t say that we will go there for sure b/c too many different things can happen in the playoffs
Superbowl bound!!!...I hope? Go Saints! :D
Internal Conflict?
How can you criticize Loomis for trading away one late pick next draft, then turn around in the same article and say you’re liking the pick they made with that trade? Me thinks you have to take the two together, one way or the other.
Hell, I glad they only traded away 1 pick, not 3 or 4. The draft will be a heck of a lot more fun if they hang onto those picks.
Diamonds In the Rough
This staff has a knack for finding late and undrafted talent. I though P.J.Hill would be a good late round pick but undrafted even better. He’s a big guy that doesn’t need to have brake away speed just get me that 3rd and 1 or 2 yards to keep the sticks moving. Can hardly wait until Sept. 13th. Giddy with anticipation. I also hope with the added dept on defense we can press the attack more throughout the game.
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