Thanks for all of you that participated in the Twitter/Facebook questions. I’ve included the answers below. I look forward to doing it again.
@SaintsNationBlg will they suck next year
— #JeffTheDiseasedLung (@cneyland) February 18, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThis made me laugh. I sure hope not! I think you can trust that Sean Payton will be smart about looking at what they did wrong and will come up with a good plan to turn things around. At least with a top quality coach, GM and quarterback, you can trust that turning things around is a lot easier than when you have a dysfunctional organization, a lack of talent, and/or bad decision makers. None of those things apply to the Saints in my opinion, which gives reason for hope. That said, it’s way too early to speculate and the cap situation makes massive changes a little prohibitive. Unlike last year, though, where many of us felt like the Saints were maybe just one or two players away, it’s more like five or six now. It’s going to take a little luck and a lot of smart evaluation/analysis to get back to where they were.
@SaintsNationBlg who is the the Saints’ prime free agent target this off season? — STEWART (@PTorsch97) February 18, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
I would say getting a corner opposite Keenan Lewis is the top priority. Names that come to mind are Byron Maxwell (who will probably get overpaid because of the system he came from), Kareem Jackson, Davon House and Chris Culliver. The bad news is it’s a bad year in both free agency and the draft for corners. There’s a couple pretty good guys at the top, which could force a situation where they get overpaid. If the Saints can’t land any of the guys I just named, they may consider the best corner in the draft at #13 in Trae Waynes of Michigan State.
@SaintsNationBlg will we go after a pass rusher in the first round?
— STEWART (@PTorsch97) February 18, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsPerfect segue. I think Waynes is a guy they will consider, especially if they can’t get a free agent they like at corner. Before the combine ends I think the following players are most likely to be the pick at 13: DE Shane Ray, CB Trae Waynes, OLB Vic Beasley, DE Dante Fowler, DT Danny Shelton, DE Alvin “Bud” Dupree. I may refine this list of target players as more information becomes available. Of those six players I just listed, four are considered difference making pass rushers. So based on that, yes, I think there’s roughly a 2/3 chance they’ll end up with a promising pass rusher after their first pick.
@SaintsNationBlg someone told me JPPs agent has been publicly saying he would like to go to saints, I haven’t heard anything about this, u? — Ryan Tallant (@Organictallman) February 18, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
I haven’t heard this at all, no. JPP is a candidate for the franchise tag, though, which would make this all moot. Assuming he doesn’t get franchised, never say never because the Saints shocked us all by splurging on Jairus Byrd last year, but I just don’t see them unloading what little cap space they have on one player. Even at this caliber. JPP is expecting a lot of money and you just get the sense he’ll go to the highest bidder. Obviously I’d love to have him, though. If the Saints could find a way to wiggle out of that Junior Galette contract because of the arrest and pour that money into JPP instead, I’ll be honest I’d rather have him. On a side note, I can’t imagine JPP’s agent would be stupid enough to come out and say that his player has a preference for playing on a specific team, which would shift financial leverage ever so slightly their way.
@SaintsNationBlg which position is at the top of the list for free agency, and who should we target?
— Mike McLeod (@MikellTMcLeod) February 18, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
See my answer above. I still think cornerback is the #1 priority. If you listen to Sean Payton talk about needs, though, he said he’d like more speed to the ball on defense. That sounds like an upgrade at linebacker. One guy to really keep a close eye on is Cowboys’ linebacker Bruce Carter. He played under Rob Ryan in 2012 and he’s got 4.57 speed for a linebacker. He has speed to the ball the Saints could definitely use and the Cowboys will spend the early part of free agency focused on Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray so there might be a chance to poach him if the Saints jump on it.
From Facebook:
Charlie Bailey After falling VERY short of the expectations going into last season, do you think the team may benefit from much less pressure and hype surrounding them? And maybe some guys (you know the rumors of certain players not taking it seriously) will work harder this off-season to prove themselves?
Charlie I think this is a great question/point. And yes, absolutely. I feel like part of the problem last year was a lot of young players assuming they were going to be awesome and getting a little complacent. Sometimes in football (and life in general) you need to be cut back down to size and go through adversity to really prepare yourself for success. When I look at guys like John Jenkins, Kenny Vaccaro, Junior Galette, Corey White, Akiem Hicks etc… I definitely think they let the hype surrounding them boost their egos. This year they’re coming in with their tail between their legs as the 31st ranked defense and no one is talking about them. I think that will make them hungry and I expect a much better season from all those guys. And yeah, I’ve heard a lot of the maturity issues and rumors from last year that I’m sure you’ve heard too. I do think there will be some growing up. And I think the signing of Parys Haralson is important because he’s one of the few guys that leads by example, shows good character and is a dependable hard working veteran. He may not be that great as a player but he’s still pretty solid against the run and more importantly the Saints need that influence in the locker room. Hopefully he’s elected captain this time around.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
