New Orleans Saints Discussion

[diabsoule]

The Saints have hired Michigan State OC Dan Roushar, in what capacity it's not yet known. He was Pierre Thomas' running back coach in 2003-4. Roushar and Sean Payton coached together at Illinois in 1996 when Payton was the QB coach and Roushar was the OT/TE coach. Throughout his 26 year career Roushar has coached RB for 5 years (1986-88, 2003-4). His background is mostly in coaching the offensive line.

Basically, it wouldn't surprise me if he's being brought in as the new OL coach while Bret Ingalls stays in his same capacity as RB coach. Or at least I'm hoping that's the case.

[Naga114]

running game coordinator ?

[diabsoule]

Originally Posted by Naga114

running game coordinator ?

Looks like he's going to be the RB coach.

[diabsoule]

Also, Curtis Lofton restructured his deal saving the team $4 million

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/po...tructures-deal

[aregand]

Read some speculation out of Denver Tracy Porter might get cut. Maybe bring him back on a team friendly deal? Do you want him back? Was hurt a lot and continued at Denver.

[CJSchneider]

Originally Posted by diabsoule

Also, Curtis Lofton restructured his deal saving the team $4 million

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/po...tructures-deal

We need to cut 35 million total. Lofton is 4 and cutting Smith yields 9 more.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...1534--nfl.html

Here is an article quoting that cutting Vilma and a simple restructure of Brees contract could get another 12.6 total.

That's a possible 25 of 35 right there alone.

[Saints Dome Patrol]

Thought y'all might like to might like to read this article from ESPN.com.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/89...ls-sources-say

I really don't know what how I feel about this... do either one of them really fit in the Saints' 3-4 system under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan?

[CJSchneider]

David Thomas terminated and Patrick Robinson waived

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news...4-e8d9c7ca0c2a

Cap at 136 million as per
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/new-orleans-saints/cap-hit/

[Saints Dome Patrol]

Originally Posted by CJSchneider

David Thomas terminated and Johnny Patrick waived

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news...4-e8d9c7ca0c2a

Cap at 136 million as per
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/new-orleans-saints/cap-hit/

I saw that. As much as it's sad to see David Thomas (or better known to many a Saints fan as "Double Stack") go, it's quite understandable to see both go in what is the first of what could be many players cut for cost cutting.

[aregand]

It is Johnny Patrick not Patrick Robinson. Now that the ax is falling I feel the overtures to restructure Vilma and Smith are probably symbolic \ political. Hard to see them take a paycut and stay to be miscast in a 3-4 D.

[CJSchneider]

Oh, snap! LOL - I'm a dumb-ass.

[Saints Dome Patrol]

ESPN article on the two players released...
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/89...johnny-patrick

[Saints Dome Patrol]

Question: Could you guys see Bart Scott as a member of the New Orleans Saints?

[diabsoule]

Originally Posted by CJSchneider

We need to cut 35 million total. Lofton is 4 and cutting Smith yields 9 more.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...1534--nfl.html

Here is an article quoting that cutting Vilma and a simple restructure of Brees contract could get another 12.6 total.

That's a possible 25 of 35 right there alone.

Letting Chris Chamberlain walk will save another $1.9, iirc. Same thing with Will Herring.

[zachsaints52]

Originally Posted by Saints Dome Patrol

Question: Could you guys see Bart Scott as a member of the New Orleans Saints?

If we was needing a ILB we should just get Te'o....

[Auron]

I don't think we need another ILB, Lofton is our thumper, and from what Payton said on Sirius it seems like the team is really going to be dedicated toward keeping Vilma. Also Hawthorne played Inside in Seattle and should be a very solid backup there, even start if one of them went down.

I think our biggest needs right now on Defense as it stands now:

Edge rushing OLB, (350+ lb) Nose Tackle to split time with Bunkley, Safety (not happy with either Jenkins, or Harper), and depth at Corner.

[bigbluedefense]

Jenkins isn't playing well? I didn't pay attention to him this year but I thought he was great in 2011, and was an up and coming player in this league.

[Auron]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

Jenkins isn't playing well? I didn't pay attention to him this year but I thought he was great in 2011, and was an up and coming player in this league.

He showed flashes in 2011, and this past year under Spags he was pretty awful.

He just lacks instincts, doesn't play the ball as well as you'd hope from your deep coverage Safety. There was a play in the Sunday Night game against the Chargers where it looked like the Corner was beat badly on 3rd and very Long, but in actuality Jenkins actually was reading the backfield and jumped towards the Line of scrimmage from the snap... completely voiding the deep zone. It was the long TD to Meachem.

Also he takes really bad angles in the run game which leads to some long runs. Can't blame him entirely for that, as if the Front 7 would do a better job of keeping things clean he wouldn't have to try and tackle running backs who are building a head of steam 10 yards downfield.

It's pretty common opinion that Jenkins will get another shot in Ryan's Defense as no one played well last year and he is still young, but I am not alone in the opinion that Isa Abdul-Quddus played like a much more natural Free Safety when Jenkins went down with injury last season.

[Saints Dome Patrol]

A link to a good read about the Saints and their salary cap situation:
http://www.wwltv.com/sports/black-an...191867711.html

[Saints Dome Patrol]

Originally Posted by Auron

I don't think we need another ILB, Lofton is our thumper, and from what Payton said on Sirius it seems like the team is really going to be dedicated toward keeping Vilma. Also Hawthorne played Inside in Seattle and should be a very solid backup there, even start if one of them went down.

I think our biggest needs right now on Defense as it stands now:

Edge rushing OLB, (350+ lb) Nose Tackle to split time with Bunkley, Safety (not happy with either Jenkins, or Harper), and depth at Corner.

I really would like the Saints to go after safety T.J. McDonald from Southern Cal. Not only would he be a possible upgrade at who we have now, but what I really like is that he has great bloodlines as his dad Tim was a long-time starter for the Phoenix Cardinals. If he's there in the third round, I think the Saints should snap him up.

[Saints Dome Patrol]

Originally Posted by diabsoule

Letting Chris Chamberlain walk will save another $1.9, iirc. Same thing with Will Herring.

I assume that Will Herring is a "gone pecan". He didn't play but in only 8.9 percent of the Saints' defensive snaps in 2012.

As for Chamberlain, I'm not so sure. He was supposed to be the one of the outside linebackers in Steve Spagnuolo's system, but got injured in the preseason game against Jacksonville. He might end up a casualty as well.

Do you also think the Saints will cut linebacker Scott Shanle as well? I don't know how much he actually cost against the cap, but he's getting older and didn't play much for New Orleans last season either (only 19.2 percent of snaps).

[Saints Dome Patrol]

Originally Posted by CJSchneider

We need to cut 35 million total. Lofton is 4 and cutting Smith yields 9 more.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...1534--nfl.html

Here is an article quoting that cutting Vilma and a simple restructure of Brees contract could get another 12.6 total.

That's a possible 25 of 35 right there alone.

I don't know if the Saints are going to cut Jonathan Vilma. But I could see the Saints and Drew Brees restructuring his contract to help New Orleans' cap situation. I really think Brees is a team player and would attempt to help the Saints by reducing the team's cap number.

[diabsoule]

Originally Posted by Saints Dome Patrol

I assume that Will Herring is a "gone pecan". He didn't play but in only 8.9 percent of the Saints' defensive snaps in 2012.

As for Chamberlain, I'm not so sure. He was supposed to be the one of the outside linebackers in Steve Spagnuolo's system, but got injured in the preseason game against Jacksonville. He might end up a casualty as well.

Do you also think the Saints will cut linebacker Scott Shanle as well? I don't know how much he actually cost against the cap, but he's getting older and didn't play much for New Orleans last season either (only 19.2 percent of snaps).

Shanle is a free agent. I don't know if they would re-sign him just to add depth to their ILB rotation or not.

[Saints Dome Patrol]

Originally Posted by diabsoule

Shanle is a free agent. I don't know if they would re-sign him just to add depth to their ILB rotation or not.

If the Saints re-sign Shanle, it better be at a bargain-basement price. Seriously, I appreciate him and all he has done for the Saints, since we all remember it was him, not Drew Brees, that was the first free agent signing following the season from Hell in 2005. But yeah.

[diabsoule]

Looking at the Saints own free agents, their cap situation, and other team's free agents I can pretty much confirm what everyone's sentiment is: we won't sign any big time guys. Shocking, I know.

I think we re-sign Elbert Mack and Courtney Roby and try to sign Victor Butler away from Dallas. I'm curious as to what we're going to do about the back-up QB situation seeing as how Chase Daniel is a UFA.

Also, I think Chris Ivory, Brian de la Puenta, Junior Galette, and Justin Drescher will all be tendered.