Defensive End or Linebacker?
by vanondubs on Mar 8, 2010 6:34 PM CST
12 comments
The past few weeks i've been arguing with people on who the Saints would sign in free agency, a DE or a LB. I believe we're going to snag a DE, but it's there's a reason I'm not an NFL GM. There isn't much out there on the defensive line or in a small group of linebackers.
Good defensive ends left on the market; Tyler Brayton, Dwan Edwards, Greg Ellis, Jarvis Green, Leonard Little, Adewale Ogunleye.
Out of this small group of guys, only one of them is under 30 years of age. If we did sign any of these guys, they'd be a temporary fix. Who is the best one you ask? I can't really decide. The ones on the bottom half would have to be, Adewale Ogunleye, Brayton, and Jarvis Green. I say Green is on the bottom half because we run a 4-3 more than a 3-4 and he has been in a 3-4 most of his career. Ogunleye was a career backup until a few seasons ago, and I just don't know that much about Brayton. Leonard Little was scheduled to make a visit with the Saints sometime this week. He's the first guy this free agency to even talk to the Saints, so they may offer him a contract. Greg Ellis may be the best choice out of this group of thirtysomethings. He played as a LB and a DE in the 3-4 and suceeded in both. A versitile guy is always good.
Good linebackers left on the market: Akin Ayodele, Bertrand Berry, Keith Bulluck, Paris Lenon, Pisa Tinoisamoa, and Will Witherspoon.
Most of the guys on this list, like the one of DEs are getting older. The youngest one is Pisa Tinoisamoa at 28. I think he would be the best fit. He came in last year for a look see, and the Saints offered him a contract. He decided to go with Chicago for more money. He only played in a couple of games due to injury. If he can get healthy he should be fine. I think Ayodele plays ILB, but he could come in for a visit soley because his brother is on the current roster. Bulluck is in his mid 30's and is coming off major knee surgery but he is a monster force in size and ability. If you remember, a few years back, we tried to get Witherspoon here, but he opted to go to the Rams. Maybe after a few years, after being traded from the Rams to Eagles then being released, his mind has been cleared. He is an upgrade from Scott Shanle, but has the same style of play, under the radar.
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I like Witherspoon
and Tinoisamoa. For some reason I have always liked both of those guys. Not sure why, they just do. I don’t know whether it will be addressed in the draft or free agency though. But I would like for them to draft Sean Weatherspoon, just don’t know if he’ll still be there
The only thing we cant do is
sign Witherspoon, and draft Weatherspoon. it would be madness.. but i think youre right, Weatherspoon would be a must draft if he’s still there.
why not...
The Bungles had 4 Johnson’s on the roster 2 or 3 years ago… and 3 were on offense.
Pigs have flown! Hell has frozen over! The Saints HAVE WON the Superbowl!!
and maybe we could trade for...vince wilfork too...and our defense would be nicknamed the utensils
PSN: greenwald2004
Hit me up on the sticks! NBA2K10 is my game now.
What's wrong with the draft?
We could get a good end and a good linebacker in the first couple rounds. Besides: when it comes to linebacker, we have Stanley Arnoux, who hasn’t been tested; Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Jonathan Casillas, who could work out well with more experience; and Anthony Waters, who could still be useful if he can stay healthy. Are other teams’ leftovers really better than what we already have?
"Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.." --J.O.L.
Hmmm...
What’s wrong with the draft?
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush… especially when, from past experience, there ain’t much in the bush to begin with.
IMHO, the draft is not for now (the coming year), it’s for the future… 2-3 years into the future. Sure, a few teams get lucky and draft a “rookie of the year” type player that fill a need from day one, but for the most part rookies suck… or at best, are sub-par their first season.
(I could say a bunch more about why I don’t like rookies and that I’d gladly trade all our draft picks to pickup suitable, young (or extremely talented) free agents, but I won’t cause it’s getting late.)
Are other teams’ leftovers really better than what we already have?
Just because they’ve hit the free agent market, doesn’t mean their “leftovers”. We’ve got a ton of players on the market, many that we’ve tendered offers to, they’re not “leftovers” that’s just how the business of football works.
And besides… Brees and Sharper were “leftovers”; some might say Vilma was “leftover” too… and they worked out pretty well. (Yes, I know Brees was lighting in a bottle; and I agree. But, it happens.)
Randy Moss was a leftover… then he set the single season TD record for a WR.
Pigs have flown! Hell has frozen over! The Saints HAVE WON the Superbowl!!
We have some options
I think we can fix one position in free agency, and one in the draft, but the problem is that we don’t know what will be available with the 32nd pick. There are plenty of good DEs in this draft, but Sean Weatherspoon would be hard to pass up, even if we pick up a OLB in free agency. Right now my strategy would be to focus on those two positions in free agency and grab the best player available, then do the same for the first round of the draft and see where we stand after that.
"I want to hand this trophy to the MVP of the Super Bowl -- and the MVP of the entire league.''
-- Saints coach Sean Payton, handing the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Drew Brees after Super Bowl 44.
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