Oh, Danny Boy, the Clark, the Clark is Calling
by Dave Cariello on Oct 18, 2010 1:00 PM CDT
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PrintHas anyone been paying attention to the play of linebacker Danny Clark? After a surprisingly impressive performance last week vs. the Cardinals and earning an A- in Andrew's weekly grading, Clark once again looked aggressive and opportunistic this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, finishing the afternoon with five tackles.
In case you don't remember, Clark was the guy who used to back up Mark Simoneau for this team in 2006 and was actually a starter for the Texans before being released and picked up by the Saints last month after Jonathan Casillas was placed on injured reserve. Houston's defense isn't known for being horrible so it shouldn't be too much of a surprise to see Clark contributing like he has.
One of the more positive things that can come about when a football team is dealing with lots of injuries and a thin roster is that it gives them a chance to see exactly what some of their other players are really made of. It appears we're witnessing one of those situations right now as Danny Clark seems to be making the most of this opportunity. It's great to know the Saints have a little more depth at linebacker than probably expected but perhaps it's even better than that. The Saints have held their opponents to just 83 yards rushing the last two weeks and part of that improvement might be directly equated to Clark.
Has the presence of Danny Clark drastically improved the play of the linebackers these last two games? Has he done enough to unseat Jo-Lon Dunbar as starting outside linebacker opposite Scott Shanle? Is the linebacking corp better without Shanle? When Clint Ingram returns, where will he fit in?
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good problem to have
do you think ingram will make an impact after playing zero games with the saints so far?
I don’t think Clark DRASTICALLY improves anything, but he’s our best OLB at the moment, regardless of what side he lines up on, Shanle included. From what I’ve seen, I think our best combination would be Clark at Sam and Dunbar at Will, only because Shanle brings absolutely nothing to the table as a pass rusher. Ingram’s a bit of a wild card, though I’ve already seen him play under Williams at Jacksonville, so I’m not expecting anything earth shattering there, either. This is whole unit is pretty much a week-to-week case of throwing sh** at a wall and seeing what sticks.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Exactly, but I think once Ingram is ready to go (eligible to return against Cleveland, I think), he should easily be a starter
But he’ll have to prove that to Gregg Williams the rest of the staff
I don’t disagree, if only because it wouldn’t take much for anyone to unseat anyone.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
The can but are they ready?
We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. I just can't figure out where else to play!
-- Pat Williams
by Fat Punk Kicker on Oct 18, 2010 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions
I think Sharper has been practicing and he keeps saying he's ready to go..
I think it’s better to bring them back vs. Cleveland than Pittsburgh.. Let them have a game under their belt before playing against the top AFC team. Plus, Porter being out, Jenkins can move back to CB, Robinson or Gay at nickel. Sharper at FS..
Not sure about Ingram though.. It’s a good problem to have
Rumor has it Ingram may wind up on IR. Only 3 weeks to decide what to do with him and he’s not currently ready to go. He’s not practice squad eligible…so probably leaves IR unless his status improves greatly in the next 3 weeks.
Don’t know the link, i apologize. But in an interview last week, Payton stated that Ingram would not be ready to play directly coming off the PuP list. He then went on to say that they had 3 weeks after that to make a final decision. It was in the headlines section for the team on the official website, but don’t remember at all which one it was from, sorry.
No worries haha, don't be sorry
Was just curious, thanks though. Looks like him and Sharper are going to practice with the team this week, good news
Reserve PUP list players are not allowed to practice with the team
There’s a 3 week grace period after the initial 6 weeks (starting now) that Sharper and Ingram can begin practicing with the team without being activated. After that, they have to be moved to the active 53 man roster, put on IR, or cut.
Btw, I’d love to hear more from the Wake Forest fan who was convinced that Stanley Arnoux was going to set the world on fire coming off IR. He and Chip Vaughn were the dual saviors to all our defensive woes, if I remember correctly.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
LOL ya honestly..
Charles Brown has kind of disappointed me also, being inactive and all, I thought he’d take over Bushrod’s spot at some point this year. Maybe him, alongside Jimmy Graham, are future contributers
“Houston’s defense isn’t known for being horrible so it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see Clark contributing like he " When you have given up more points than the Bills, I don’t think that’s a good defense or even a mediocre.
Week 7 matchup: Browns
Week 7 motto: Keep it rolling, keep it moving, don't stop till the whistle blows.
by Jon Banks on Oct 18, 2010 1:18 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
This year they suck
But in the past they haven’t been terrible. In fact, maybe they suck now because they don’t have Danny Clark. ;-)
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by Dave Cariello on Oct 18, 2010 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Actually they’ve stunk for years. But their defensive problems always stemmed from DT play and lack of secondary depth, not linebacker. I guarantee you though that they’re regretting letting Clark go as Demeco Ryans just went down for the year.
Was gonna say the same
LB’s have been solid for Texans, now Demeco, achilles tendon, done.
You think you know, and you don't know, and you never, ever will.-Jim Mora Sr.
Bench Shanle
I’m tired of watching him miss tackles and get abused by opposing TE’s in obvious passing situation…The DEF looked much better against the run with him inactive….
agree to disagree. People keep saying Shanle's very underappreciated, very underrated but I just don't see it..
We keep saying this at every draft, we need a OLB, we need a OLB, we need a OLB.. I didn’t mind the Malcolm Jenkins pick whatsoever, I thought CB/S was a weak position for us. This draft year, although there wasn’t any OLBs available (Sergio Kindle, who is not even going to dress this year), Patrick Robinson was also a good pick.
Could this be the year we FINALLY get Vilma some help? Travis Lewis out of Oklahoma? Bruce Carter? Akeem Ayers? Ugh, why am I already thinking about the draft??
Woods is currently on the Steelers’ practice squad … listed as a DE, strangely enough.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Shanle????
Who is Shanle??
"I can eat oreos faster than him" Scott Fujita's take on Payton Manning SB44
by jeremysherwin on Oct 18, 2010 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions
whoa mike!
I thought we weren’t allowed to whine because we’re 4-2 and still in contention for the playoffs!
by Ezio_Auditore on Oct 18, 2010 3:12 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
LOL!
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by Dave Cariello on Oct 18, 2010 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions
I’ve felt that the improvement in run defense really has been because of Ellis and and an improved Ayodele, but, who knows, Clark may have a serious something to do with it too.
by AJG on Oct 18, 2010 1:51 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
^ this
Sedrick and Remi have been owning the interior line of scrimmage. Earlier in the season, some of the good RBs the Saints faced were able to bounce to the outside where containment broke down. I don’t know how much of Clark’s success is due to inferior talent or his own play. Probably some of both. Either way, he seems like a minor upgrade to Shanle. But, there’s still no one on the roster that would allow the Saints to once again ignore the OLB position in the offseason.
Duncan's Twitter:
Entering tonight’s MNF game, the #Saints are ranked No. 8 in the league in total offense & No. 7 in total defense.
That’s solid balance, finally
I would be fine with that being the end of the year totals.
Week 7 matchup: Browns
Week 7 motto: Keep it rolling, keep it moving, don't stop till the whistle blows.
Thanks for the correction. I was about to list my tickets on StubHub.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Plenty. Scott, Reggie and Roman are my three favorite Saints.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
really?…I don’t think I’ve ever heard your Roman rant. Let me guess…lack of pass recognition and an inability to solidly rap up a tackle at point of contact?
How do you feel about Patrick Robinson's tackling?
Not much wrapping up going on there.
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by Dave Cariello on Oct 18, 2010 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions
maybe he can train his dreads to wrap up the ball carrier (like Medusa's hair) as he smacks him down
It's gonna be a great year.
by Hans Petersen on Oct 18, 2010 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
BOOM!
rec’d it.
Can he make opposing receivers turn to stone on a helmet-to-helmet?
"Bow Down Before The One You Serve"
Same disdain, though I haven’t seen it enough to truly irk me. Tracy Porter does it too … CBs aren’t as involved in the run game, so their tackling flaws are always going to seem less substantial in the big picture.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
I think Deion Sanders
changed the way CB’s tackle today. He was a trrrrble, tackler.
You think you know, and you don't know, and you never, ever will.-Jim Mora Sr.
Mike Bell is an Eagle, no?
we don’t play them
You think you know, and you don't know, and you never, ever will.-Jim Mora Sr.
That's an awful lot of complaining about defensive players
when our defense has played phenomenal, is ranked like #7, almost pitched a shutout yesterday, won a super bowl last year. Butkus, Ronnie Lott, Deacon Jones, LT and Reggie White aren’t coming back, guys.
"I think we agree, the past is over" - George W Bush
"The greatest enemy of knowlege is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge" Stephen Hawking
I just want Reggie Sutton and Milton Mack to come walking through the door
Johnnie Poe, Vince Buck, can you hear me?
It's gonna be a great year.
by Hans Petersen on Oct 18, 2010 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions
What complaining?
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by Dave Cariello on Oct 18, 2010 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions
1 offensive TD allowed
in last 8 quarters that was not carried into the end zone by someone weighing more than Jackie Gleason
"Bow Down Before The One You Serve"
We're 4-2 and tied with 4 other teams with the best record in the NFC
I liked the play of Danny Clark yesterday a whole lot. Marvin Mitchell played a great game too.
Y’all complain too much about our linebacker play, I think. The Saints currently have the 7th ranked defense in the league. Relax a little and quit your complaining already!
BTW, Scott Fujita is not God, either…
BTW, Scott Fujita is not God, either…
However, he makes a comparable amount of money…
"Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds" -Bob Marley
by PanheadCatahoula on Oct 18, 2010 7:52 PM CDT reply actions
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