Ridiculously Early 2011 Saints Roster Breakdown: Safety
by Dave Cariello on Jun 13, 2011 12:00 PM CDT
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PrintWe now turn back to the defensive side of the ball in our absurdly premature examination of New Orleans Saints roster by looking at the safety position. All of the names we're going to discuss today should be familiar to you.
There are seven players currently set to compete for a job this summer/fall. We're ignoring any free agency or lockout implications that exist or may arise in the near future and assuming everyone get's re-signed. Make the jump to see exactly who's currently listed on the roster and to get my opinion on where they stand as far as their chances of making the team this year. Of course I want to hear your opinions on the subject as well.
Definite
This one is a no-brainer. Jenkins and Harper are the returning starters at both free and strong safety. They are both locks to make the final roster. Moving on...
Likely
I think Payton and the coaching staff have a hard on for Chris Reis. He's the new Steve Gleason, which means he's got a great work ethic and he's a special teams stud. Sharper has actually been giving thought to retiring but all the extra time off because of the lockout has allowed him more time to heal his knee injury. If he returns, I think he's a member of the 2011 Saints.
On the Bubble
Usama Young, Pierson Prioleau, Matt Giordano
All three of these guys could go either way, though I would give Young and Prioleau better odds than Giordano. I think this battle here will be an interesting one when training camp actually begins and it's the subject of our poll below.
Longshot
None
I really wouldn't consider any of the Saints currently listed on the roster as a longshot. The three players mentioned directly above all have at least a little experience with the team already.
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On a related note, check out this brand new article on Isportsweb
An Early Look at the New Orleans Saints’ 2011 Defensive Backfield
Thanks!
I think Sharper’s gone. He hasn’t shown any willingness to play for the veteran minimum and at his tenure, I seriously doubt they’ll be looking to bring him back for anything more than that. I don’t view anyone but Jenkins as a lock. Harper’s going to be looking for Pro Bowl money and isn’t worth it, imo. That said, most other GMs are well aware of that, so Mickey may be able to lowball him, if no one in need of a SS drinks the Kool-Aid. Or he may overvalue him. Given Loomis’s track record, the odds of one or the other happening are pretty strong, so I’ll begrudgingly call Harper likely. The rest are all on the bubble, imo. Prioleau can play FS, SS and CB, but he’s also the oldest of the bunch. I’m sure free agency (both incoming and outgoing) and special teams will play big roles in sorting this position out.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Not participating in the poll, since Sharper’s not listed.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Why isn’t he, btw? Reis is and he’s under the same category.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Because I specifically didn't want you to vote.
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by Dave Cariello on Jun 13, 2011 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions
I’m sure I wouldn’t have been the only one that would have voted for him, considering he didn’t gather a single vote amongst 22 keepers in the revamp thread.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
There's a difference between fantasy and real life.
When we are planning for the long term “Top 53 players”, Sharper is not young and is on the down side of the hill. In real life, he can contribute on sure passing downs or come in to formations designed to get a turnover.
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
Lulz
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
Non taken...
I was just messing with CP.
I REALLY don’t like mushrooms. They are my absolute least favorite food.
But if someone asked me which of these three foods I like least: eggplant, cucumber or bell pepper, I can still answer the question because the question ISN’T “Which one do I hate more than anything else in the entire world?” It’s just asking me to choose from the three.
To not vote in the poll simply because the answer you REALLY wanted to choose isn’t included just seems a bit silly to me.
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by Dave Cariello on Jun 16, 2011 12:52 AM CDT up reply actions
where's your snarky comment about the presumption of players being "on the roster" who aren't really on the roster and the like?
that’s how you usually wade in on these posts…I was looking forward to reading how you handle it this time…
Thumbs up, everybody...
For rock and roll!!!!
by Hans Petersen on Jun 13, 2011 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions
I think you're wrong about Sharper and Harper, for that matter too...
Darren Sharper still has plenty of gas in the tank and something tells me that his knee has healed a lot in the past year to the point where he can make the most of just one more NFL season. There is no arguing against the fact that he has one of the best minds in the game for reading offenses and quarterbacks’ tendencies in order to make plays on the ball in flight. Loomis will low-ball him and he will end up accepting the deal to stay in NOLA because no other teams will want to take the risk on him for any more money than that.
Roman Harper is more trusted in the Saints’ defense than I think you realize. Who do you project is in the position to replace him as the starting strong safety if he were to walk right now? Other than possibly moving Usama Young down to strong from free, I personally do not see anyone on the roster right now who could fill Harper’s shoes full time. Therefore, I think the Saints will ensure that they pay him just enough to keep him in house.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I really think that you are way off on this one. But, that is just my opinion, for whatever it is worth.
Other than possibly moving Usama Young down to strong from free, I personally do not see anyone on the roster right now who could fill Harper’s shoes full time.
You don’t see either one of those guys on the roster right now, either.
Who do you project is in the position to replace him as the starting strong safety if he were to walk right now?
There are several projected UFAs better at both run support and flat coverage — the two primary functions of a SS — who won’t demand top dollar. Eric Weddle, Bernard Pollard (who can also play OLB), Quintin Mikell (who’s from New Orleans and a great special teamer), Atari Bigby, Melvin Bullitt, Sabby Piscitelli, Gibril Wilson, Gerald Sensabaugh, Deon Grant … that’s just to name a few.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Bernard Pollard
You hate Harper so much that you want the guy who has the exact same skill set as him? Seriously, I’ve often compared Pollard to Harper.
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
They don’t have the exact same skills set. When has Harper ever played OLB in the NFL? Pollard has almost twice as many career INTs as Harper. He’s also considerably better at wrapping up at the point of attack and has performed well on special teams, primarily because of that. He also knocked Brady out for the season, which is reason enough for me to like him.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
He also knocked Brady out for the season, which is reason enough for me to like him.
Heh, same here. But I’ve watched him play in Houston. No way in hell he comes in and plays better than Harper. And he can’t play OLB, that’s a fools dream.
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
He filled in at OLB for KC a few times, from what I understand.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
ORLY?
Show me proof.
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
I’m looking. Here’s an article that lists him among their most underrated playmakers on defense.
Bernard Pollard is a safety playing in a linebacker’s body. At 6’1", 224 pounds he’s a bruiser to be sure.
Now with the Houston Texans, the former Kansas City Chief continues to rack up tackles year after year. Pollard hasn’t finished under 90 tackles since becoming a starter in his 2nd season.
His tackles have increased from year to year and he’s on track to break his previous career high of 102 from last year. Pollard has 2.5 sacks on the year, as well as three forced fumbles. He has nine forced fumbles in his five-year career.
The only thing Pollard hasn’t done this season is record an interception. Last season, he picked off four passes, and even returned one for a touchdown.
At 25, Pollard is only getting better and the Texans certainly got a steal when the Chiefs released him. He may be better suited as a linebacker, so perhaps he will make that change in time.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
This touches upon his shortcomings in pass coverage, which is evidently the basis of the Harper comparison you’re making. That and their reputation as hard hitters. There are definitely SOME similiarities. Still, he’s a better open field tackler and he’s not going to be looking for Pro Bowl money.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
He's not an open field tackler.
He can’t make open field tackles! He just forces people out of bounds or tries to hit them as hard as he can to scare them into stopping, he doesn’t have fundamentals.
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
Bull cr**. I’ve seen him wrap up numerous times. He doesn’t dive at the runner’s ankles like Harper does.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Of course you have, and I've seen Harper make a tackle wrapping up.
You haven’t seen him all the time, I don’t know how many times I’ve seen him miss a tackle or get a tackle broken, or let a wide open guy break out of his coverage to catch a touchdown. Pollard was good, emphasis on was. Harper is good when used properly.
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
Harper is good when used properly.
I must have been in the restroom for that play.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Lol.
You can’t say he’s not a good inside the box safety. It’s when he leaves the box that plays start making highlight reels…in a bad way.
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
Harper is terribly overhyped, imo. I wouldn’t rank him among the Top 20 SSs in the game. Anyone who thinks he’s good in run support or pass coverage doesn’t watch Saints games.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
I would. SS are lacking in that there's only a few who are actually really good as FS is usually where all the talent is at.
Also, have you even seen Bernard Pollard play? HORRENDOUS in pass coverage, and missed some of the most tackles in the league last year. He had a good 2009 because he was used exactly how Roman Harper was used, as in inside the box safety with little deep coverage.
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
and missed some of the most tackles in the league last year.
Some of the most? Citation needed.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Broken tackles, not missed tackles. My mistake, but the point is still the same.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2011/broken-tackles-2010
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
That’s just showing that he was among the many players who happened to have 10 or more broken tackles against him over the course of the season. Look at all the tackles he DID make, though. His percentage of broken tackles is lower than Jenkins and Shanle on that same list. I don’t consider either one of those guys poor tacklers. Do you? I’ve said before that Shanle’s one of the surest tacklers on the team.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Meaning this guy COULD be an improvement over Shanle at OLB.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Possibly,
I still haven’t seen proof that he played OLB before, but he may be better there and he might benefit from GW’s defense over the atrocious Houston defense. I would probably advocate bringing him in as a camp body to try out at the OLB position, but NOT at SS.
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
Also, there was some rumblings he could move to OLB while he was in Houston.
So there is that.
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
I can’t find it either and I’ve never seen it. Just remember hearing something about it. Maybe it was supposition on the part of some Chiefs forum fan at the time. (I used to frequent a general NFL group on MySpace, where everyone talked about their own teams, so I picked up on a lot of info that way).
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Yeah, there's always been talk of him moving, but he never actually did.
Just fan speculation.
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
Even if that entire post was true, you do realize you could juxtapose their names and it still would be, right?
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Yes but why would you want to go grab Pollard when Harper is the exact same player?
There’s no improvement and Harper has already played in Gregg Williams’ D.
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
Because Pollard’s a better tackler, imo. And he’s not going to command the same salary. And I’d rather watch someone new get burned in pass coverage, than Kaesviharn Harper.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
You could be right.
I may just be so soured from watching him play last year. (which admittedly was his worst year ever. Maybe not statistically, but the eye test says so.)
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
You’d probably know better, if you follow the Texans that closely. I just get highlights half the time. wish I had the spare time to watch every game on NFL Network, like a few people I know.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
And there's always the "New scenary" theory.
He improved drastically in the move from KC to Houston. And he might improve going from Houston to NO, especially when New Orleans defense is much better in terms of coaching and secondary talent.
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
Every Free Agent that you bring in still has to learn the defensive system that you run...
Harper already knows GW’s defensive schemes inside and out and has arguably improved in them for the past two years now. Getting someone new acclimated with the schemes takes time that this year’s NFL teams probably won’t have before the season starts because of this stupid lock-out thing! Not to mention meshing with the rest of the team’s players on and off the field. This is not the year for changing personnel at key positions unless absolutely necessary. And I still can’t believe that you compared Roman Harper to Kevin Kaesviharn.
Why? I specified in pass coverage. Harper’s actually worse. Kaesviharn had 2 INTs in 27 games as a Saint. Harper’s had 4 in 67. Do the math.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
So, do you want to bring back KK to replace Harp then, or what?
Do you not agree that the learning curve to replace Harper with a free agent is too high to warrant the move?
Re: Kaesviharn — No. He didn’t play last season. He’s likely finished.
Re: the UFAs suggested — Yes, I do not agree with that.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
I see, plug and play football works well in your mind, right?
But will it work for real on the field for the Saints if they were to do what you are suggesting? All I know is that it doesn’t work like fantasy football on a real team. Just saying…
They may not technically be signed to the Saints roster right now...
…but most of them certainly anticipate being with the team after the lock-out ends because look how many of them keep showing up at player-lead practices with Brees and Vilma!
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/06/photo_new_orleans_saints_defen.html
Last hired....First fired...
Sorry Giordano…. All others are proven….. Even Reis is a proven head hunter on special teams.
Giordano is a fine special teams player, as well. He’s also played in 69 career games, which is more than Jenkins, Harper, Reis and Young. And he Pick Sixed Brees in a nationally televised game. I don’t recall Harper, Young or Prioleau ever making that big of a play.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
By that measure, Porter is one of the best corners in the league.
He pick-6’d Manning in one of the most watched tv program of all time.
Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!
"I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose...Rapture!"
Usama Young knows the defense and is still....
…..young. He showed up against the Panthers when his number was called. I think he’ll have the the most upside in training camp when it comes down to safeties on the bubble.
"I can't believe what I just saw. You could have taken a knee! This isn't Detroit man, this is the Super Bowl!!!"
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