Offseason Priorities
by Alex Swift on Jan 15, 2012 7:10 PM CST
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PrintWow. I literally did not get out of bed until noon today (though that may have had more to do with the alcohol consumption from last night). Numb all over.
Unfortunately, the time for self-pitying is not long. We have a bunch of guys set to become free agents, coaches leaving for other opportunities, and PLENTY of holes to fill. Using this list of players set to become free agents next year, as well as my own opinion of what we need based on how this season unfolded, I will attempt to prognosticate our moves this offseason. Read on after the jump!
Must Keep
-Drew Brees. Obviously. The best quarterback in the NFL right now. I don't care who thinks that's homerism, it's the truth. Without Brees, this team is lost.
-Carl Nicks. The other half of our Pro Bowl Guard tandem. Key in both run and pass protection. Losing him severely injures our ability to do either. Despite what many people (read: Eagles) believe, games are won in the trenches. Spending 80% of your cap on skill position players does nothing, if you can't win the battle up front.
-Marques Colston. While I don't think he would do as well else where, and while I do think we have enough receiving options to make up for him leaving, I still think keeping our number 1 WR is a must.
-Chase Daniel. Becomes even more important if Brees somehow doesn't resign, as he is the only other quarterback on our roster. Has shown great ability to be a backup in our system, and I wouldn't relish the idea of having to train a new guy next year.
-Jonathan Casillas- Jonathan Vilma's replacement. If we move to a 3-4, we will need him to start from day one.
If The Money's Right
-Robert Meachem. If Colston walks, this moves up to a must. Explosive receiver, but could get bigger money elsewhere.
-Tracy Porter. Even though we all have a warm spot for Porter in our hearts, he was a big liability on defense this year. Maybe in a different scheme he will do well.
-Aubrayo Franklin. Especially if we move to a 3-4, if he's willing to stay here for cheap, then why not?
-Justin Drescher. Long snapper. Nuff said.
Let 'em Walk
-Fabian Washington. I didn't even realize he was on the roster.
Free Agents
WR- Vincent Jackson, Desean Jackson, Plaxico Burress. All proven number one guys. V-Jax and Burress would be an upgrade over Colston, as both are also big, strong, sure-handed receivers, but I believe may have a step on Colston in terms of speed. I'd love to see what Payton could do with Desean Jackson and Darren Sproles on the field at the same time.
OLB- Ahmad Brooks, Leroy Hill, Mario Williams, Lawrence Timmons. These are just a few of the big names out there at OLB this year. Please, don't make me suffer through another year of Scott Shanle and Will Herring. Please.
CB- Brandon Carr, Brent Grimes, Carlos Rogers. Especially if we let Porter walk, though CB may become less of an issue in a different scheme.
SS- Madieu Williams, Troy Polamalu, Jim Leonhard, Chris Hope, Dashon Goldson. Yes, Harper played well this season. But his liability in coverage is just getting too much to handle. Keep him for blitz packages, but we need someone who can play the position completely.
Coaches
OC- Pete Carmichael, Jr., Hue Jackson, Rob Chudzinski. Not much out there right now. Carmichael is definitely our best bet. Don't let him leave.
DC- Steve Spagnuolo, Mike Nolan, Mike Zimmer, Vic Fangio. I'd really like to see a 3-4 here. Fangio and Nolan would bring that. Spagnuolo and Zimmer are both well respected as DC's around the league.
This FanPost was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.
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To be honest I am not sold on Nolan, and I think fangio might be difficult to lure away from the 49ers. Which leaves Spag and Zimmer if we assume GW is leaving. I believe both run a 4-3 defense which obviously leaves less of an adjustment for current personnel.
I actually respect what Zimmer has done with the bengals, and think we can do well with Spag coming from the nyg/Philly school of defense.
I also would not mind considering a 3-4 but I don’t know if we have the personnel to do so – ie who are going to be our fast/mobile OLB rushing the QB?
Martez Wilson for one....
Did you see his speed in the two playoff games? I think both Wilson and Casillas are ideal for OLBs in a 3-4 due to their speed and size. And a 3-4 allows us to get rid of some of the logjam at DT (Ellis,Franklin,Rogers,T. Johnson). Also, Galette could be an OLB as well, possibly.
I picked Spagnolo because he’s the only one with no past ties to the Saints, either familial or past work history. I know, hardly a good reason.
Did anyone notice
I really didn’t think the absence of Lance Moore was gonna be missed.Ther was at least three possesions I clearly seen Drew with nobody to throw too.I ’ve seen a lotta games where Meachem and Devery Henderson seem to sometimes be invisible.Texans game is one of them.No one runs better routes than Lance Moore
Those passes to Adrian Arrington
Would no doubt have been first down to Moore
Peyton, I can eat Oreos faster than you!!!!
I would like to see Spags here
He runs a 4-3 and utilizes a heavy rotation along the d-line. He also runs a good bit of blitzes, which wouldn’t be too much of a transition for this personnel.
Peyton, I can eat Oreos faster than you!!!!
Voted Spags...
but I’d also be A OK with Nolan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qais_eGMnWk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39GH-nzrY_I&feature=relatde
oh...
and Fangio ain’t goin’ nowhere. It’ll be a lateral move, which the 9ers would block. Plus, he’s pretty buddy-buddy with the HC over there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qais_eGMnWk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39GH-nzrY_I&feature=relatde
Doesn't stop me from wanting him lol
Mark Ingram-OROY
Cam Jordan-DROY
New Orleans Saints-2012 Super Bowl Champs
TOP IS GAWD!
Troy Polamalu would look great in Saints black and gold. However I just dont see Pittsburgh letting him walk. As well would love to see Mario Williams in NOLA but see above. Alot of the big named F.A.s are almost untouchable. Out of any of the above mentioned I think you would see one of the W.R.s here before anyone else.
I keep thinking of the word 'magical,' " he said. "When you think about the relationship between the Saints and the Gulf Coast and the city of New Orleans, it was more than just a football game and more than just a football team. The hopes, the dreams and the struggles of that community were all reflected in that football team. It was a great night for the people in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region-Roger Goodell
You'd think....
….that after 4 years of running the same 2 point conversion play, SOMEONE in this league would think to put a corner in the right flat, right? Nope.
Maybe we oughta just go for two every TD, rather than kicking extra points.
Our conversion rate has to be more than 50%. In the long run, we’d come out ahead.
The same percentage can’t be applied in such a case. Defensive coaches don’t scour multiple games worth of film seeking 2 pt conversion formations and how to defend them. They simply go with what they’ve seen executed most recently in short yardage. If a team went for two every time they scored a TD, those short yardage tendencies would be much, much more apparent, as they would exist on film an additional 4-6 times per game.
"I don’t intend to draw any conclusions from any single game." -Brian Burke
"I will now attempt to exclude specific large amounts of TOP from the totals of winning teams, in order to prove that TOP doesn't contribute to winning." -Dr. Jeremy Arkes
Wade Phillips as DC
If we can pry him away from Houston.
by BlackandGold4ever on Jan 16, 2012 7:26 AM CST reply actions
Houston will keep him.
He’s already said he’s staying.
Mark Ingram-OROY
Cam Jordan-DROY
New Orleans Saints-2012 Super Bowl Champs
TOP IS GAWD!
I wonder if Jason David is still available
Seriously guys, I don’t think there is a single person on that list of foreign free agents that’s at all likely to be playing for the Saints next season. Most of them will be resigned by their teams; and some of them, frankly, aren’t welcome.
Desean Jackson? Are you kidding me? There aren’t many things that would cause me to blow off the Saints, but whoring after lowlifes is one of them.
"Sinn Féin, motherf*****s!"
Maybe V-Jax
If we let Meachem and Colston walk? I love Colston and he’s great, but he’s not QUITE as good as Jackson. Meachem, I believe, can be easily replaced. I wouldn’t mind losing 2 out of the Henderson-Colston-Meachem trio if we get Jackson. I’ll be furious if we re-sign Colston and Meachem at the expense of Nicks.
by JellyPhantom on Jan 16, 2012 12:54 PM CST up reply actions
I think Meachem's gone.
Man was a first round choice and has been in the league 5 years. The money’s better used elsewhere.
I can’t argue that, other than to point out that Henderson was a 2nd rounder, has accomplished even less and has somehow has managed to stick around, despite not even being a PayLoo pick.
"I don’t intend to draw any conclusions from any single game." -Brian Burke
"I will now attempt to exclude specific large amounts of TOP from the totals of winning teams, in order to prove that TOP doesn't contribute to winning." -Dr. Jeremy Arkes
You know what??
I’ll take a Vincent Jackson for Colston “trade” any day of the week.
Especially if Lance Moore returns, and they can draft a replacement for Meach.
I think the Saints will lock up Brees and Nicks, and do their best to attempt to persuade Colston to stay.
I’m far more concerned with DT, DE, OLB, and SS. Depending on who becomes DC and whether they change the scheme, we still have gaping holes that need filling there.
Lance is under contract.
Mark Ingram-OROY
Cam Jordan-DROY
New Orleans Saints-2012 Super Bowl Champs
TOP IS GAWD!
Resigning Brees will take a lot of the Saints cap space.
I think we lose Nicks or Colston, or likely both, like it or not. And we have a big hole looming in the middle of the D-Line.
It is my hope we do something good in the LB position, which may be the best we can do with the $$ available.
Let Colston walk
if he can make more dough somewhere else. It’s not him we want to watch, he’s incidental to the scheme. A couple more rings might be worth more in the long haul for him, though. He should consider that. The team needs to spend money on defense. If we go next year with our O at 90% of this year’s and a D 30 – 50% better, we’ll be set to win the Division again and make another run at the Super Bowl. Our offense can take the loss, but our defense can’t take the neglect.
"I don't suffer from drug addiction. I enjoy it very much."
I have a feeling Colston is going to wind up in Philly. D. Jackson will get megabucks from someone and they’ll be looking for a dependable replacement. Harrisburg PA is in that general vicinity, meaning he’d be playing close to home for a team that is still fairly wide open on offense.
"I don’t intend to draw any conclusions from any single game." -Brian Burke
"I will now attempt to exclude specific large amounts of TOP from the totals of winning teams, in order to prove that TOP doesn't contribute to winning." -Dr. Jeremy Arkes
The report is that GW is gone.
This means a slow start for the D next year with a new DC. Get ready for some pain.
Maybe not...
Wade Phillips, Houston Texans. What one man can do, another can do.
"I don't suffer from drug addiction. I enjoy it very much."
by cajuncreation on Jan 17, 2012 8:42 AM CST up reply actions
Really can’t see all of the big three returning and I agree with the general sentiment that Colston is the most expendable (as much as I love the guy). I also can’t see us being able to afford a Vincent Jackson type to replace Quiet Storm if he leaves. Best option would be to sign a more affordable veteran (TO, Randy Moss, perhaps Braylon Edwards or Ochocinco if he comes available) to plug the hole for a year unless a viable potential WR1 drops into our hands in the draft. Can’t see that either considering our lack of a first round pick. Either way, we would have to bring some replacement. I for one am not at all comfortable with rolling into next season with Lance Moore as our WR1. Lance is great in his present role, but I don’t think he can handle that one.
Dont want any of those 4 WRs
Receivers have to be TEAM oriented in this system. Every one of those guys NEEDS the ball. Its like having Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony on the same team. Doesn’t work.
Neither do I
I want to keep Colston alongside Brees and Nicks. I doubt that’s going to happen, however. Now, assuming he leaves town, I’m wanting to compensate with a wideout with comparable size and athleticism if I’m the Saints organization. In my opinion we need a second big, capable possession receiver on this team outside of Jimmy Graham. Guys with that combination of build and talent aren’t exactly common (or cheap). I’m not afraid of taking a chance on a proven playmaker with a checkered past if he can help our offense maintain its current level of excellence at a bargain price.
Simply put, if we can’t pay Colston top dollar, neither can we pay someone else similar money to attempt to fill his spot. I’m not hugely worried about past selfishness or character issues considering what I believe to be the strength of the Saints locker room and its leaders. That sort of bull wouldn’t be tolerated here.
by Drunkamania on Jan 17, 2012 10:08 AM CST up reply actions
So much for Mike Nolan.
Mark Ingram-OROY
Cam Jordan-DROY
New Orleans Saints-2012 Super Bowl Champs
TOP IS GAWD!
i voted for the hamburgler
--- I don't miss the alcohol as much as I miss having the built in reason on why I'm nekkid in public.
--- I used to want to be an inspiration to my son. now i just hope to be a dire warning.
--- just two men and a dog making candles
--- I know i'll win my battles though i fear we'll lose the war
--- if you find yourself in a fair fight you failed in planning.
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