Franklin and Rogers: Should They Stay or Should They Go Now?

by Dave Cariello on Feb 13, 2012 6:00 AM CST

The Saints have some decisions to make regarding the interior of their defensive line this off-season. More specifically, regarding Shaun Rogers and Aubrayo Franklin, the two veteran free agent defensive tackles they signed to one-year deals last off-season.

I think it's safe to say neither player met the expectations we all had for them, particularly Franklin, who came to New Orleans highly touted. Was Gregg Williams' system simply too complicated for the first year players to pick up? Or have they just lost a step? Here are their 2011 stats:

		Sacks		Interceptions			Tackles
	G	Sacks	YdsL	Int	Yds	IntTD	Solo	Ast	Total
2011 - Shaun Rogers	13	0	0	0	0	0	13	8	21

		Sacks		Interceptions			Tackles
	G	Sacks	YdsL	Int	Yds	IntTD	Solo	Ast	Total
2011 - Aubrayo Franklin	11	0	0	0	0	0	12	7	19

Now, they are free agents once again and the Saints must decide whether they want to keep one or both around, or let them walk.

Much of that decision presumably lies with what new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo expects from his defensive tackles and whether or not Rogers and Franklin can meet those expectations. Of course we're not privy to that information so we're left to speculate.

What do you guys think? Are Aubrayo Franklin and Shaun Rogers worth keeping around another year?

Poll

What should the Saints do?

Keep Franklin and Rogers.

57 votes

Keep just Franklin.

97 votes

Keep just Rogers.

56 votes

Keep neither.

191 votes

401 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

too much money for 25 tackles, no sacks and limited disruption..

need to retool with a younger player.. hard to find these supersize guys.. there are a couple of prospects that will be FAs, that may come in for less money..

by the 9th plague on Feb 13, 2012 7:01 AM CST reply actions

were these guys brought in to stop the run?

If so, they didn’t do that bad of a job in that regard. We got pretty good vs the run mid season and on. These two guys were not stand outs, but they (or maybe one of them) could be okay if we had a marquis pass rusher. To me, that’s what it’s all about. Getting a pass rush from the outside.

Also consider that Vilma wasn’t 100 % and the other LBs that came in and replaced Vilma did pretty good vs the run, so that might mean these two guys did their job vs the run. I though they were mediocre, but I am not sure we will find any better.

"We've established the run; we've established the pass. Now all we have to establish is another championship!" (And a Defense!)
"Some say the glass is half empty;
Some say the glass is half full.
I say- 'are you going to finish that beer'?"
I've learned so much from my mistakes...I'm thinking of making a few more!"

by Philinwood on Feb 13, 2012 7:16 AM CST reply actions

they did help improve the run defense, somehow, but if you think they costed over 6 million for a year (between both of them)

i would think a younger FA like for example this sammie lee, from detroit could be cheaper and better to pair up with ellis/tom johnson.. this beefy guys are not very abundant.. the biggest guy in the draft is about 330lb.. we could try to get the best value there..
but still need to get one huge body.. a good, young, mid-grade FA pick-up may be a better choice than resigning either of these 2 guys..

http://walterfootball.com/freeagents2012DT.php

by the 9th plague on Feb 13, 2012 7:40 AM CST up reply actions

Those two guys are pretty much evenly matched.

Evenly matched at not being worth a crap that is. They should have been let go before the regular season started. If that would have happened, we may have actually gone 16-0 and we would have heard no mention of the Pack.

by tommy v on Feb 13, 2012 9:14 AM CST reply actions

Let's not forget...

… that Sedrick Ellis also underperformed this year. I think that it was a failure of coaching and scheme this year. The real question is whether Spagnuolo thinks he can work with them or wants them back (at a lower price obviously).

by GnomeChumpsky on Feb 13, 2012 9:19 AM CST reply actions

If Rogers wasn't motivated on a 1-year deal, why would anybody want to give him more?

Neither one of these guys are spring chickens either. Really the whole DT position needs to be revamped. Ellis’ occasionally strong moments aren’t worth the amount of time he’s injured or struggling.

Writer (and a handsome one at that),
And the Valley Shook

by Billy Gomila on Feb 13, 2012 9:48 AM CST reply actions

I think one will stay

Coaches tend to be by natural very hesitant to play a lot of young players at a given position especially on a title contender such as the Saints. I’m guessing at least one of them stays and the Saints draft a DT to replace the other.

Think of it this way; If the Saints drop both Franklin and Rogers, draft two DT and Ellis gets hurt then suddenly the Saints are trying to win a title with 2 rookie DT getting heavy rotation.

"Saints fans should be sending Paul Tagliabue primo Hollywood quality hookers monthly for the remainder of his life"---Andrew Juge

by Malbrough on Feb 13, 2012 9:49 AM CST reply actions

I think the Saints should look at Red Bryant from Seattle

Assuming there’s cap room after resigning Brees and other Saints free agents.

Additionally, I think both may have been affected by the lack of a training camp, so it’s certainly possible that either (or both) of them could improve next season.

by shipgoalie05 on Feb 13, 2012 10:02 AM CST reply actions

Offer Rogers a contract at a reduced rate

2.5 mil or so, drop Franklin, restructure Ellis & Smith, draft a young DT with your first pick.

by canu2u on Feb 13, 2012 10:03 AM CST reply actions

definitely reduce the contract.

and/or make in heavily incentive laden.

"Move over Marino, there's a new Brees coming through town!"-Jim Henderson

by BRSaintsFan on Feb 13, 2012 12:14 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

Franklin should be gone, if we can keep Rogers for a steal of a price, then fine… if not, that’s fine, too.

by The Irish Assassin on Feb 13, 2012 12:32 PM CST up reply actions

they carried a collective cap around 8 million last year. That is a lot of money for 25 tackles
250K a tackle what a deal that is!

by Jrok3110 on Feb 13, 2012 2:08 PM CST reply actions

I bet they both stay

and Saint’s procure best available talent at the position. If a younger, cheaper guy wins the starting spot, pay him later. If it becomes obvious in training camp, cut somebody but I don’t think it will be that easy to upgrade from scratch.

"Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds" -Bob Marley

by PanheadCatahoula on Feb 13, 2012 3:25 PM CST reply actions

If they go there will be trouble.

But if they still it will be double.

The Pancho's Defense? ...Much like everybody's favorite Mexican cafeteria, it kinda blows, and it'll have you racing to the toilet while shouting "PLEASE! JUST HOLD ON FOR TWO MORE MINUTES!!! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, PLEASE!!!"--Grandmaster Wang, 30Nov2011

by Doc Boudin on Feb 13, 2012 6:37 PM CST reply actions

*Stay

Damn. Perfectly good Clash reference ruined.

by Doc Boudin on Feb 13, 2012 6:38 PM CST up reply actions

g-d- autocorrect!!

"We live by the blitz, and we die by the blitz.'' - Roman Harper

"So I guess the blitz died.'' - Alex Smith

by Hans Petersen on Feb 13, 2012 6:58 PM CST up reply actions

Hans!! Your last name is exposed!

I feel like I’ve just been given the secret identity of a superhero. What’s up with the new moniker?

by Doc Boudin on Feb 13, 2012 8:58 PM CST up reply actions

yup - little HansDat is growing up

and I am now using my full name as a blogger

"We live by the blitz, and we die by the blitz.'' - Roman Harper

"So I guess the blitz died.'' - Alex Smith

by Hans Petersen on Feb 14, 2012 7:58 AM CST up reply actions

"..so you gotta lemme know..

..should i stay or should i go.."

by the 9th plague on Feb 13, 2012 7:39 PM CST up reply actions

" this indecisions buggin' me "

" if you don’t want me set me free “…….” spit "

by canu2u on Feb 13, 2012 7:50 PM CST reply actions

I think either would perform well enough to keep a roster spot in a more defined role. Gregg Williams had way too many allignments and packages and “flexibility” in his defense despite not having an offseason.

Simply put, a jack of all trades was a master of none. Pick one scheme, one base defense, and just roll with it. Master it. Want to change up? Make changes in the back 7 but leave the front 4 intact. Let them do the same thing with the same responsibilities whether it is nickle, dime, or base. If the Franklin/Rogers role is to take up space, double teams, and stop the run/ keep the LB clean, so be it. If they manage to get interior pressure in the process, great.

That role should be facilator— their play should allow the LB, 3 technique, or DE to win a 1 on 1 matchup. Design a defense that line play is the focus as opposed to chaos and confusion while hoping one of the 50 blitzers away from the defensive line makes it through, and I bet Franklin/Rogers does pretty good.

My vote is to keep Franklin. I think Spags knows how to utilize a defensive line properly, and I do not believe both players were put in the best positions to succeed last year.

Stop wearing a wishbone where your backbone ought to be. Would you be convicted in court of being a Christian? Happiness is shared, and comes from sharing.

by Preston J. Gary, Jr. on Feb 13, 2012 9:42 PM CST reply actions