Saints off-season looking strong

By Jason Dupuy

When you take the NFL draft and the off-season roster moves into account, the New Orleans Saints look poised for a repeat of their sensational 2006 season.

The Saints concentrated on positions of need in the draft and made out with stud DT Sedrick Ellis and underrated CB Tracy Porter in the first two rounds. Despite not having a pick in rounds three and four, New Orleans rounded out the draft with quality players like NC State’s DeMario Pressley to bolster the defensive front, tackle Carl Nicks to add depth to the offensive line and WR Adrian Arrington, a playmaker who could see action if the receiving corps suffers as many injuries as it has over the past few seasons.

The Saints re-signed a number or potential free agents this off-season, opting not to let the talent that led them to the playoffs just two seasons ago to simply walk off. The Saints opted to keep kicker Martin Gramatica, C Jonathan Goodwin, receivers David Patten and Devery Henderson, tight ends Eric Johnson and David Miller, LB Mark Simoneau, HB Aaron Stecker and DT Brian Young.

New Orleans also signed corners Randall Gay and Aaron Glenn to aid a weak secondary, guard Matt Lehr, veteran quarterback Mark Brunell, end Bobby McCray and linebacker Dan Morgan, released by Carolina earlier this year. It’s not an astounding haul of free agents, but it is a solid class noted for its experience and leadership. New Orleans appears to have done a fine job of recognizing team weaknesses and making strides to improve in those areas.

There are some notable losses including kicker Olindo Mare to Seattle and center Jeff Faine to division rival Tampa Bay. The Saints also released 33-year old linebacker Brian Simmons and have not made offers to several unrestricted free agents including the much maligned corner Fred Thomas, who spent eight seasons in a New Orleans jersey, and safety Jay Bellamy, another cog in the often criticized Saints secondary.

However, the biggest buzz surrounding the Saints are two moves that could have significant impact for years to come. New Orleans offered a mammoth contract extension to DE Will Smith, who agreed to the six-year, $70 million offer. The contract makes him the third highest paid defensive end in the NFL, and deservedly so. At just 25 years old, Smith already has a number of productive seasons under his belt, and Saints fans are glad New Orleans has the former Ohio State standout locked up for the foreseeable future.

The other possible move generating a lot of hype is the possibility of a trade for tight end Jeremy Shockey of the New York Giants. Shockey got into a shouting match with members of New York management this past week, and while some are saying it’s just another episode in an ongoing saga, others are signaling the end of the Shockey era in New York – and New Orleans continues to be the most publicized suitor.

Deals to make Shockey a Saint fell through on draft day, but that may work to the benefit of New Orleans, as his asking price becomes even less if New York decides to move him now. Shockey, arguably a top five NFL tight end, would represent a significant upgrade over the current solid, but unspectacular tight end system New Orleans currently trots onto the field.

There are some drawbacks to adding a player of Shockey’s loud and brash history to the team, but New Orleans has a lot of veteran leadership so the risk for clubhouse fallout is diminished.

The positives are much more tantalizing. Adding a tight end of Shockey’s caliber would open up the field for New Orleans’ other offensive threats. With a dual backfield of Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush and Marques Colston lining up another receiver from the Saints’ stockpile of potential threats along with Shockey, what does a defense do?

Quarterback Drew Brees has shown his affinity for throwing to tight ends over his stint in New Orleans, and having a tight end like Shockey would certainly benefit against Tampa’s cover two defense. With Shockey, the Saints would have two legitimate possession receivers – Colston being the other – to go along with solid guys like Patten and Lance Moore and burners like Henderson, Meachem, Bush and maybe eventually Arrington and former Tiger Skylar Green.

It’s a prospect that would make any offensive coordinator salivate.

And it’s just one of the many reasons Saints fans are excited for this coming season.

Originally Published: Issue 689 - June 18, 2008

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Comments

You would make your observations more believable if you noted that Dan Morgan ended up retiring. Your mention of him in the "free agent haul" suggests you are not aware of this, thus damaging your credibility.

Chuck | 2008-06-19 - 10:21:30 AM (CDT)
Olindo Mare was a notable LOSS ? I cringed every time he came out to kick a field goal. Other than that, yes, I’m pscyhed about the upcoming season.

KansasT | 2008-06-19 - 10:45:24 AM (CDT)
Chuck actually used the word "Thus"!

Using Chucks logic, since many of the free agents resigned, Like Gramatica, Copper, Moore, etc. signed may actually be cut during training camp, I guess that will hurt the authors credibility as well, "thus" making him less believable.

"Thus"

I think I will start using this word every day, "thus" making myself sound more authoritative and more informed than everyone else.

perrill | 2008-06-19 - 10:51:51 AM (CDT)
I have read many articles on the Saints, and it looks like this one, is a cut and paste job, from many of those. 1 example would be the pick up of Dan Morgan in FA. Not a abd article, but give credit tot he original authors or sources. "Thus", I am finished with my comment. Go Saints!!!

Bastad | 2008-06-19 - 11:12:38 AM (CDT)
Hello, Vilma? I’m thinking he is one of the most notable pick-ups.

Vicious | 2008-06-19 - 11:15:23 AM (CDT)
no mention of vilma in the whole article. whats up with that?

Jayd265 | 2008-06-19 - 11:28:07 AM (CDT)
Billy Miller, not David Miller.

kfaulk99 | 2008-06-19 - 12:11:12 PM (CDT)
Get your head out of ......the sand! If you are going to write about a team a little up to date research and making sure you have priorities in order for a team would help. Signing Smith was huge for this team. Signing Shockey would be notable as well but to omit the trade for Vilma who could possibly have the largest impact of all is just plain incompetent

A Houston Saint | 2008-06-19 - 12:34:32 PM (CDT)
No mention of the trade to get Jonathan Vilma?

Dan Morgan announced his retirement about a month ago.

Billy Miller, not David Miller.

Will Smith’s Contract has been disputed to the total amount.. some say it’s more like 63 million over 7 years. Probably not the third highest like originally reported, but still big, and deserved.

You didn’t mention that we drafted a kicker (I forget how to spell his name.. Melhaff?) to compete and probably take Gramattica’s job

No mention of Meachem being healthy and looking to make his 2nd "rookie" year something to look forward to.

i agree with the Shockey thing. I think he’d be good for us, but I wouldn’t sell the farm to get him.

The big question is can the Saints maintain that many high profile / high cost players for a few years? Or are we just going for this year? You can’t pay everyone that all-pro money and we’re starting to add a lot of all-pro type players....

Ward | 2008-06-19 - 12:46:33 PM (CDT)
Ward - You pretty much summed up my comments to Jason Dupuy’s poor review of the saints off-season except I would like to point out no mention of OTA’s, mini camps, or any other first hand knowledge of how the players looked. With the exception of Sedrick Ellis and possibly Tracy Porter, the rest of our draft picks are full of Pro-Bowl potential but need some polishing before their true talent can be seen. Sedrick Ellis and maybe Tracy Porter are pretty much ready to make an impact on the NFL level. The others... not so sure, that’s what I was hoping to read in this article.
Actually.. I lied. I have more to add.

Who cares about the draft picks if they suck? Jason is saying the Saints are having a strong off-season because we have some good players on paper, but we all know that doesn’t mean crap (Antonio Pittman).

Vilma, a huge pick up is coming off of a bad knee injury. How is that coming along Mr. Dupuy? How much chemistry does he have with the other linebackers?

Ohh and I almost forgot about your last paragraph. "The big question is, can the Saints maintain that many high profile/high cost players for a few years? Or are we just going for this year? Hmmm..... lets see
Deuce - Agreed to less pay if knee is a problem and wants to stay in N.O.
Bush - 3rd year of 6 year deal
Brees - 3rd year of 6 year deal
Smith - 1st year of 6 year deal
Grant - 2nd year of 7 year deal
J. Brown - 4th year of 5 year deal
Meachem - 2nd year of 5 year deal
Colston - In the process of new contract

But your right Ward, I also think Meachem’s 2nd season is going to be something to look forward to. I have read articles from other "journalists" who have actually been to a saint’s practice and said he looked like a number one receiver in the nfl. Of course he is practicing against guys who won’t make the team but it still sounds promising regardless.

Jason - Do your own homework next time you post an article about the saints and don’t under estimate the intelligence of your audience. It’s insulting and embarrassing on your part.

Devon | 2008-06-19 - 01:45:53 PM (CDT)
Hey, it’s great to see that people actually read my articles. This is the first time I’ve had more than 2 comments on one.

Dan Morgan’s retirement. Egregious error on my part. I completely forgot about it as I was writing the article. No excuse for that.

No mention of Vilma because he’s been covered in the recent Saints articles by the other writers. He did deserve a sentence in here just to recap/remind (but it looks like nobody needed reminding).

I still stand by my words that Mare is a notable loss. Notable not as in Mare was a great player. Notable as in it’s noticeable he’ll be gone. He was our K for the bulk of last season.

I was aiming for a brief overview of the off-season with this article (too brief, apparently). I am sorry for the errors; I will leave the Saints writing to those who typically cover the team and go back to my little corner and write about the non-major LSU sports like usual, haha.

Thank you for the comments.

Jason | 2008-06-19 - 02:18:34 PM (CDT)
Devon,

I was mostly thinking about what we just paid for Will Smith (deserved), what we will be paying for Ellis (the rookie contracts are pretty darn big lately), if Vilma does what I think he’ll do, he’ll be getting a pretty hefty contract next year, next year you know we’ll address something in free agency (TE, OLB, SS/FS), and if this whole Shockey thing actually happens, he’ll want a nice contract. Perhaps not all huge, but still, more money then we are paying now. How much is Benson willing to spend? I trust Loomis to keep us under the cap. He’s good with contracts.

I’d like to know more about Vilma’s impact in the locker room. I know he’s a film studying machine. There is a video of him in the Jet’s days where he’s eating and watching film and looks excited about it. He got the rookie in there to do the same, who saw the benefit, but obviously wouldn’t have done it on his own from his behavior. Basically I want to hear a Vilma or Fujita interview on Sirius, because I know they’ll ask stuff around that issue.

Ward | 2008-06-19 - 02:25:59 PM (CDT)
Jason,

I think in our efforts to keep things perfect, we overlooked something I think we all agree with. We pretty much all think the Saints will do well this season. See, you have something other than the Tigers to talk about this Summer/Fall. ;o)

Ward | 2008-06-19 - 02:27:41 PM (CDT)
Nice try.

Marc | 2008-06-19 - 04:05:22 PM (CDT)
Man, so many haters.

People suck.

Mark | 2008-06-19 - 05:07:18 PM (CDT)
The question isn’t about writing skills (mines suck).The question is; "Did the Saints make enough moves to contend for the bowl?" Next Question is..."Will the moves work?

Trey Willow | 2008-06-19 - 05:29:52 PM (CDT)
Yo Ward,
Have you noticed all the big contracts since the owners last CBA meeting? In the near future, the NFL will not have a salary cap so don’t worry about Mickey. Just worry that Benson keeps the saints in N.O. and can still afford to write the checks. Now that Benson is spending money on the players, he is going to want a new stadium. Believe it or not, the Saints my re-locate because they are to good for the city instead of being to bad.

Devon | 2008-06-19 - 06:56:25 PM (CDT)
Good article, Great comments:

Our offense can score but, I am concerned about our running game (i.e. Deuce Health? Can Pierre carry this team?, Can our running game sustain us)

Shockey would be a good addition to an offensive line that has little swagger even after losing Faine to the the Bucs, Shockey brings a little nastiness in the blocking game, has decent speed for a TE and he can catch. His attitude can be a killer for the locker room.

Meacheam, Colston, Henderson, Arrington and Moore will be our receiving corps for a couple years and will develop into a very good receiving threat as long as Brees stays healthy and on target as he has been for the last two seasons in N.O.

The Defense is the biggest question I have?? Can we stop a team when it matters??

We need a S, CB & LB - Why are we not pursuing Lito Sheppard, Takeo Spikes or even Roy Williams in Dallas. I love my Saints and feel to believe we are still very vulnerable at the defensive side fo the ball.

Ellis, Thomas & Young will plug the middle, while Grant and Smith pursue. but can our LB’s and DB’s cover WR’s, RB’s and TE’s???

Teams will be scheming multiple pass packages for the Saints until we show we can stop the pass.

I hope our skills on paper translate over to SB Championship!!

Go SAINTS!!

John | 2008-06-19 - 07:07:10 PM (CDT)
Devon,

The contracts have been getting pretty big for the last few years, so well before the CBA opt out. Even the "huge" contract Matt Ryan received isn’t too far beyond was was dolled out the last couple of years. And the guaranteed money is still in the same ball park.

It would be interesting to really take a statistical based look at all that. I just don’t have the energy.

Ward | 2008-06-19 - 09:04:49 PM (CDT)
One word: VILMA!!!!!!!!!

Bob | 2008-06-19 - 01:49:07 AM (CDT)
worst article ever....no vilma, morgan retired, glenn will not be an upgrade, and no mention of signing colston as a priority. cut and paste from a carpetbagger probably....the only thing that was accurate was the analysis of shockey but by now every tom and dick is throwing their hat into the trade scenario....

Homer | 2008-06-20 - 02:13:29 AM (CDT)
I have to agree, Vilma and McCray will probably be the biggest FA pickups... Smith, Grant, Ellis, and McCray on an obvious passing down, the QBs should be scared.

GL | 2008-06-20 - 01:12:11 PM (CDT)
My Biggest concern is the same one I’ve had for the past 3 years. The Defensive secondary. Hopefully Gay and Porter can step in and and become immediate impacts. An imporved pass rush from the front four should help the secondary. If Vilma is healthy he can also help pressure the Q.B. It would have been a good idea to draft a L.B. instead of another receiver. Ali Highsmith was available!

K.D. | 2008-06-20 - 03:29:52 PM (CDT)
Get a life chuck!

bibi | 2008-06-23 - 08:08:15 PM (CDT)
we need a secondary that can cover.

jayboy | 2008-06-25 - 06:40:02 PM (CDT)
WHO DAT TIME!

http://www.gotsaints.com

GOTSAINTS.COM | 2008-06-26 - 06:08:56 PM (CDT)

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