Thanks for the twitter questions you submitted. Blogging can be tough this time of year so your interaction helps us grind through it. By the way, I hope you’ve been enjoying the material from our writers Brian Pavek, PatrickOrly and that crazy Dutchman when he finds the inspiration. I certainly have. I have paid them the BIG BUCKS so they hopefully stay around for 200 years. Let’s dive into your mailbag questions:
@SaintsNationBlg 1. How many more years does Brees have? 2. Player comparisons for: Coleman, Stretch Jones, Peat, Swann, Anthony & Kikaha?
— David Black (@jdavidyblack) June 27, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsSpoiler alert: he’s not playing to 45. Not well, anyway. If he wants to fade into the sunlight like Mark Brunell then maybe. I’m going to say 3 more years and whether he plays all of them with the Saints or not remains to be seen. Before you say “Drew would never leave New Orleans”, remember that Peyton Manning and the Colts was a similar love story until he destroyed his back. If Garrett Grayson looks awesome, the Saints will make the move. So part of any change would depend on the alternative. As for your player comparisons: Coleman – taller, bigger “freak” but inconsistent. Could become Colston if he turns it on. Jones – better than Coleman only because he’s steadier. Lower ceiling, though. Peat – tough to compare him to anyone, but he’s going to be solid. Maybe not spectacular, but real solid. Swann – No idea. Hopefully he makes the team. Anthony – HIGH expectations for this kid. He looks like he’d fit right in to the Seahawks defense. Kikaha – I think he’ll be a star. Clay Matthews.
@SaintsNationBlg on running downs, what will our linebackers look like. Projected — RAF (@sixxfortytwo) June 27, 2015
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Tough question. I think Anthony Spencer goes in Galette’s spot (assuming Galette won’t play much this year). Then I’ll say Anthony, Haralson and Hawthorne. I’m predicting Ellerbe doesn’t start.
@SaintsNationBlg ok what if the saints won the super bowl would you freak out Y or N
— The Real Matt Hunter (@BigAristotle503) June 27, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsI know that’s kind of a joke question but in 2009 it was a strange experience. I was almost sad, sad the ride was over. I didn’t want it to end. I think I would enjoy the win more this time around because it would be less nostalgic. The first time all these memories of a lifetime of being a Saints fan and the historical implications came flooding in. It would be nice to experience a Super Bowl win more at face value. If that makes any sense. But I’ll take what I have if my lifetime as a Saints fan will only afford me 1 Super Bowl. I never thought that was in the cards. I still pinch myself sometimes, that whole experience was surreal.
@SaintsNationBlg more likely to happen: Saints have 2 RBs who each go over 1000 yards or 2 pass rushers with 10 sacks or more? — Alfredo (@NOLA_Fredo) June 27, 2015
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Come on dude, that’s easy. The Saints had 2 pass rushers w/ 10 sacks or more in 2013 (Galette and Jordan). I don’t think they have ever had two 1,000 yard rushers in one season in team history. They’ve only had 1,000 yard rushers 11 times. Deuce is the only player that’s rushed over 1,000 in the Sean Payton era, and that was like 9 years ago. Definitely going with the sacks.
@SaintsNationBlg How confident are you in our offensive line going into the new season?
— SEUN (@Daniel_Onas) June 27, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsPretty confident honestly. I like the starting lineup and there’s a couple backups I feel good about now. The Saints are at least one deep at tackle and guard. Tim Lelito is definitely the X factor, though. He needs to improve and at least be serviceable.
@SaintsNationBlg highest ceiling on offense. Defense. — supersaiyansaint (@kirus16) June 27, 2015
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Not sure if you mean individual players or as a unit. I think the offense almost has to regress this year, but I still think the ceiling is a top 5 offense. Defensively, I think ceiling is top 10 if they can tackle. Left year was the worst tackling effort I’ve ever seen, particularly from the safeties.
@SaintsNationBlg best move and worst move of the off season so far.
— supersaiyansaint (@kirus16) June 27, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsBest move I would say is C. J. Spiller. The Saints finally got a Bush/Sproles replacement. We really missed having that in the offense last year. Worst move? Not getting Greg Jennings to sign. I’m worried about receiver depth. Drafting Garrett Grayson is another move I wasn’t psyched about, honestly.
@SaintsNationBlg Who looks like a lock for the slot corner position? — SaintsfaninCali (@SaintsfaninCali) June 27, 2015
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Delvin Breaux has fans and coaches drooling over him. He seems like the guy so far. But we’ll see if he can stay healthy when the pads come on. That’s still a big question mark. He’s already gotten banged up.
@SaintsNationBlg who will replace jimmy graham as the saints new redzone go to target
— Brandon Decareaux (@BrandonDec77) June 27, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsFrom a pure potential standpoint I’d love to see it be Brandon Coleman. He has the size and playing style to be that guy. Josh Hill is another one to watch. The red zone trips could be more dicey this year, though, and we should be prepared for that. Spiller can help, and with the improved o-line maybe the Saints are built to pound it with Ingram more from close.
@SaintsNationBlg pic.twitter.com/9OTxCDk465 — SaintsfaninCali (@SaintsfaninCali) June 27, 2015
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I know this isn’t a question but OH MY GOD this is glorious.
Do you think Andrus Peat will start at right tackle or guard? @SaintsNationBlg
— TheCubanMissile#94 (@TapBaby94) June 27, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsI don’t think he’ll play guard. I think he competes with Zach Strief at right tackle and Strief remains the starter in 2015. Peat will play in jumbo sets as the “extra tight end” like Strief used to do. And Peat will be a full time starter in 2016. Just my prediction.
@SaintsNationBlg Considering everyone stays healthy…Can this be one of the best secondary the Saints ever had
— T-NASTY (@RickySpanish93) June 27, 2015
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Interesting question. Hmmm. The secondary during the Dome Patrol years was pretty good, particularly at safety, but the corners were kind of the weak link. The Saints have never really had an awesome secondary now that I think about it. 2009 might be the benchmark. I doubt Jairus Byrd can produce like Sharper and Kenny Vaccaro still needs to improve to match the Pro Bowl quality Roman Harper. At corner, though, no reason Keenan Lewis and Brandon Browner can’t be better than Jabari Greer, Tracy Porter and Randall Gay. If they can stay healthy I think they could be one of the best for sure and the potential is there, yes. It’s all about production, though, and save Lewis none of these guys have truly produced for the Saints yet. Vaccaro as a rookie was close. For starters they need to tackle much much better at the second level this year.
@SaintsNationBlg let’s talk about playcalling. Last year was awfull, what do you think ?
— Stéphane (@wiget99) June 27, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe first thing that comes to mind when you say that is the Thomas Morstead fake punt against Dallas. Everyone in the building saw that coming. That might have been the worst decision in Saints history, with the Josh Hill 4th and 1 reverse coming in second. But let’s not forget the Saints were the #1 offense in the NFL. I think this was less about play calls and more about Marques Colston dropping passes, the offensive line getting owned in pass protection, and Drew Brees costing the team with back breaking turnovers at the worst time. Bad execution gives the illusion of bad play calls sometimes. I think performance was substandard. And once Jimmy Graham got hurt with the shoulder the offense wasn’t the same. I don’t buy that Sean Payton has dropped off that much when the offense is still #1 in the NFL.
@SaintsNationBlg Are they going to bring Meacham back?
— Amanda Lindseth (@aelindseth) June 27, 2015
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Never say never if someone gets injured or they just perform poorly at the position in training camp/preseason, but I think the plan at least for now is to move on from Meachem. He’s had an up and down career with the Saints but some of his best plays are incredibly memorable. He’s also a great guy and one of the most likeable people I have ever watched in a Saints uniform. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him on a couple occasions and I’ll miss him. He’s one of the most down to earth and genuinely nice guys on the team. I don’t think he’ll be back with the Saints in 2016 but the locker room was very fortunate to have a guy like that.
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