Intel on Andrus Peat from @RuleofTree

With all the new drafted players on board for the Black and Gold I took the time to reach out to some of the most knowledgeable fans, beat writers and bloggers for information on what to expect from the newest crop of talent. First up is the 13th overall pick, tackle Andrus Peat of Stanford. I was able to catch up with Jack Blanchat over at Rule of Tree, which is the Stanford blog for SB Nation.  Many thanks to Jack for this write up, and make sure you give these guys a look on twitter. Here’s what he had to Saints on the offensive tackle:

Peat was one of the best tackles in college football over the last couple seasons, with a polished pro-ready game and an NFL frame to boot. He’s incredibly gifted at turning 6-foot-7, 313 pounds of size into run-blocking power, but he’ll need to work on his pass blocking skills – his punch doesn’t always connect and he will need to adjust to counter NFL edge rushers. He’s a prototypical franchise left tackle, and should the Saints place more emphasis on their power run game over the next few years – the financial commitment to Mark Ingram suggests that they will – Peat will be a huge asset to opening holes on the ground. 

 

As far as where he fits in with the Saints, he should offer enough versatility to fit in at either tackle spot. I think he’s a little too big to fit at guard in the NFL, but even if he doesn’t start right away for New Orleans, he will offer a ton of versatility as a swing tackle or 6th o-lineman on the field. Stanford uses a ton of jumbo sets, and Peat was the designated 6th o-lineman his freshman year – before he settled in at left tackle the last two seasons.

 

I understand why Saints fans might be nonplussed or peeved with the selection of Peat, but I think he should be an excellent long term pro, and I think he’s a good fit for what Mickey Loomis is trying to do to expand the Saints’ championship window. With Drew Brees settling into the back half of his career, the only way New Orleans is going to win a Super Bowl is with him upright and healthy throughout an entire season – something Peat should help to do.