Saints 2009 First Round Draft Pick: One Year Later

Is my hamburger option?

Michael Oher was and still would be my first choice. In hindsight, I think he would have had a much bigger impact than Jenkins did. With the second round pick we spent on Charles Brown this year, we could have selected Chad Jones, thereby filling the long term FS void that has yet to transpire.

It may not matter to Goodell, but it would matter to me as a fan. If it is another Starcaps situation where the NFL is at fault, then I’d still love for him to be a Saint and I’d defend him every chance I got.

On the other hand, if he came out tomorrow with some BS excuse like the Manny Ramirez “Its a fertility drug not a steroid (which I need because my testicles are shriveled up from years of steroid abuse)” claims, then I wouldn’t want him as part of this team, or even this league. But after all of the mess that has been thrown at the Saints over the years with regards to the league’s drug testing policy, I just don’t trust the system to act fairly anymore.

To wit:
Forced 2nd half turnover vs Eagles
Forced turnover at Buffalo on punt
Pick at Tampa Bay
Near pick vs Manning in SB
Threw Collie for loss on ‘quick screen’ in SB
Consistent Special Teams player

Jenkins definitely showed flashes last year and did play a part in some key moments (his play in the pats game was huge and he was good in the SB). His strength seemed to be tackling while his weakness seems to be recovery, so perhaps a move to S is just what the doctor ordered.

Having a great young LB would be great, but if Jenkins turns into a great S then I’d say we came out ahead. Secondary may be the most important part of the defense with GW’s “blitz till you drop” system. I’d also like to see what we have in Arnoux before pining for cushing.

One year later is….well….one year later. I think it is too early to decide who is the better pick. However, this is good for a healthy debate.

After one year, I would pick Cushing (who I also wanted the Saints to draft) – but I still liked Jenkins and was happy with the pick. I did not like V. Davis, I think he had/has character issues.

However, I think (am hoping) that when it is all said and done Jenkins will prove to be the best pick. I mean, if he turns out to be the next Ed Reed then it really won’t matter how well Cushing turns out?

I agree we’ll need at least another two seasons to determine which would have been the better choice. I think Cushing had a better statistical year because the Texans desperately needed him to. They really needed some help at LB. Jenkins was playing behind two superior corners and thus saw limited action on defense. If he had been tapped as a starter from day one (as Cushing was), Jenkins probably would have pieced together a season more in line or better than Cushing did.

I also agree that we need to find out exactly what Cushing tested positive for before condemning him. When the story first broke, it seemed to suggest steroids, but now it seems less clear. A totally agree with VAsaintsfan. The league and it’s anti-doping policy is totally untrustworthy.

I’m interested to see how he fits this year.

38 of the 50 AP writers voted for Cushing, 3 other players divided the 12 remaining votes. Now there is a re-vote. Since I live in H-Town, exposed to his play every wk, he was dinged up all yr., and still was the best player on the Texans D, maybe now for a reason. Irony-Wed. May 5 Cushing did a live phone interview that I heard on Houstons’ 790am, and bam, 2 days later Red Flag. Colts and Cowboys are the first 2 opp. this season and he gets a 4 gm. susp. Which means the Texans will miss the play-offs again by 1 gm, oops! Above- voted for Jenkins, Saints needed DB help, size wise, he’s a future S fo-sho. By the way, Saints are still World Champs! just sounds great.

are forgetting the numerous defensive holding calls that Jenkins got last year when he started. Heck i think i counted four or five in one drive alone that weren’t called. But anyway, rookies make mistakes and he’ll learn.

I want to say this about Cushing though. I think it’s terribly odd about the revote for DRoY. The guy tested positive in early September. So you know the guy was peeing in a cup twice a week every week from then on til the end of the season. That means he would have had to play the entire year clean. It’s not like he got caught during game 10.

Was obviously a bone-headed move on Cushing’s part assuming he is guilty (who knows what came out of the appeals process). Hopefully he’ll learn and move on. One would think though that working hard and being forced to stay clean after getting caught so early on would teach him he doesn’t need that kind of thing to be successful.

little 2 early 2 tell, imo.. cushing did seem like the bonified playmaker a lot of people were craving.. malcom did show some flashes.. & all his physical talent appears 2 be just good old fashion DNA.. cushing, on the other hand.. has a big uphill now.. if it is true that he has juiced throughout.. his production will plummet.. let’s be happy with what we have, shall we?

Jenkins was phenomenal on special teams last year. He was an excellent gunner. He did good early before he got hurt for a few games then Roby was spectacular as a gunner after that and so Jenkins early production got overshadowed. He also did average for a rookie CB. He didn’t really get a lot of playing time but I think when he played the nickel he did well and when we played the Pats he did really well. I only remember him getting burned a few times which is typical for a rookie corner. I think he did well and has all the right tools and skill sets to become an elite corner or safety.

Is still the best option to me. The downside that I saw from him was his ability to get caught holding. Other than that, I think he did pretty well for a rookie.

Since I don’t want to start a new fanpost just for this. Cushing won the AP DROY re-vote with 18 less votes than originally. Does this mean that PED use doesn’t matter, or what?

These voters kept him:

Don Banks, Sports Illustrated.com
Bob Berger, Sporting News Radio
Chris Berman, ESPN
Steve Cohen, Sirius Satellite Radio
Frank Cooney, SportsXChange
Mark Craig, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Tom Curran, Comcast Sportsnet
Vinny Ditrani, The Record
Rick Gosselin, Dallas Morning News
Paul Gutierrez, Sacramento Bee
Clark Judge, CBSSports.com
John McClain, Houston Chronicle
Gary Myers, New York Daily News
Danny O’Neil, Seattle Times
Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com
Adam Teicher, Kansas City Star
Charean Williams Fort Worth Star-Telegram

One voter changed their vote to Cushing.

Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (from Jairus Byrd)

an Alabama fan I am totally biased in saying this, but I think Cushing’s year had a lot to do with the fact that so many teams place a big emphasis on blocking DeMeco Ryans.

when this is what’s getting written about. between this and the non-story lawsuit, i’m bored out of my mind.