Yardbarker: Sedrick Ellis

2008 NFC South Preview

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:25:50 -0500

New Orleans Saints

Predicted Record: 14-2
Playoff Seed: #1

Key Player: Reggie Bush/Deuce McAllister, Deuce went down last year and so did the Saints. For as good as Brees has been the past two seasons they need a rush attack to balance the offense and to control the ball and wear down the defense.

Fantasy Player to Eye: Jeremy Shockey, Consider me on the bandwagon for Shockey. He's never quite lived up to his hype and/or skillset. With the Saints he will be targeted a ton and given the rest of their fire power and some added motivation he should put up lots and lots of points.

Why the Record: Well 14-2 is a bit much obviously, but their offense should be able to score with anybody in the league and with the addition of Sedrick Ellis and the free Jets give away in Vilma their defense should be much improved.

Tampa Bay Bucs

Predicted Record: 7-9

Key Player: Old Man Jeff, Or Dead man walkin as he referred to himself is now at the helm again for good (just with 47 backups). He won football games last year despite putting up limited numbers. Can he play magician again?

Fantasy Player to Eye: Ronde Barber, What he scores like a touchdown or two a year right? That's about 1 or 2 more than you may expect from certain skill positions.

Why the Record: Old man Jeff is bound to hit the floor some day and that day is today.

Carolina Panthers

Predicted Record: 6-10

Key Player: Jake Delhomme, Obviously when your Quarterback comes back from Tommy John surgery he's the major question mark on your team. Last year he went down and they pulled a QB out of the old folks home and then stunk. Jake needs to stay healthy for Ws.

Fantasy Player to Eye: Jonathan Stewart, He's a rookie running back which means he's always intriguing to watch. He could gobble the majority of the carries and rush for over 1000 yards or he could stink and pull a DeAngelo Williams and do nothing.

Why the Record: You ever heard of a QB being awesome the year after Tommy John surgery? Na I didn't think so.

Atlanta Falcons

Predicted Record: 3-13

Key Player: Michael Turner, He's finally getting the opportunity to start in the NFL and considering the dearth of offensive weapons on the Falcons its essential that he has a big season if they want to win some football games.

Fantasy Player to Eye: Opposing Defenses, In a deep league and missed out on one of the top defenses. Well then just hit the waiver wire and grab whatever defense is playing the Falcons and enjoy the plethora of sacks, ints and defensive tds.

Why the Record: A Rookie QB with inexperience everywhere and no solid karma around equals another very high draft pick.

Saints Show Balance on Offense and Defense with a 13-0 Shutout

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:15:38 -0500

After a dismal showing last week against the Houston Texans, the New Orleans Saints defense finally stepped up and played well shutting out the Bengals. The Bengals had 11 offensive series, with 10 ending in punts, and one with a turnover by interception. The Saints also only allowed the Bengals to cross mid field once while stopping Cincinnati on all but four of their third down conversions. (4-of-14-29%) and limited the home team to only 165 yards total offense. As usual, the Saints first team offense minus Jeremy Shockey who was suppose to play his first game as a Saints tonight drove down the field on their first possession, settling for a field goal, after a third down and 10 pass to Colston in the end zone was dropped. The Saints second possession of the night resulted in a one yard touchdown pass by Drew Brees to Ronnie Ghent, to put the Saints up 10-0 with 6:03 left in the first quarter. The third possession was stopped short by two incomplete passes, and poor running. The Saints were forced to punt for the first time, but managed to eat up time off the clock, and allowing the defense to get sufficient rest. Cincinnati however could not get things going in their first few possessions, all ending in punts. Tracy Porter getting the start after a horrible game last week, forced a fumble, and fought off blockers to tack on three tackles for the night. On the opposite side of the field, Mike McKenzie making his first start since a season ending injury late last year, made what looked to be a leaping interception, but was later ruled incomplete. Jonathan Vilma had a better appearance, after his debut last week as the Saints middle linebacker, with 1 solo tackle and 3 assist. Both Fujita and Shanle had good games as well, swarming around the ball almost every play. The defensive line gave good pressure up front stopping runs before they could get started. Kendrick Clancy had three solo tackles with two assist. Clancy saw more playing time with injuries keeping first round pick Sedrick Ellis out of the game. Orien Harris who has also had an outstanding preseason clogged up the line numerous times, allowing the second team linebackers enough time to make the stops. The second half of football seemed to be all Pierre Thomas; he had 5 carries for 46 yds, and 4 receptions for 35 yards, he did lose one fumble, but Coach Payton showed confidence, by giving him the ball and allowing him to redeem himself which he did. Both Reggie Bush and Marques Colston left the game early with injuries, but Coach Payton said after the game neither was serious, and that he was not worried. Drew Brees finished the night 14/22 199yds 1 TD, Tyler Palko also had a good night going 11/16 133yds 1 Int. Palko showed leadership, and made good adjustments keeping drives alive, and even had one rush for 9 yards. Both Robert Meachem and Lance Moore made strong cases for playing time, both finishing with 4 receptions on the night. Meachem had a beautiful grab that went for 54 yards, and Lance Morris made a 35 yard grab under tight coverage. Game statistics highlights for the New Orleans Saints: 15 different players caught passes on 27 attempts. The Saints racked up a total of 458 yards total offense, and ran for 145 yards on the ground, averaging 6.2 yards per play. The offensive player of the game for the Saints goes to Pierre Thomas, with the defensive player of the game going to Kevin Kaesviharn who finished the night with 2 solos and 2 assists with 1.5 sacks.

Saints: Best Depth in NFL

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:02:27 -0500

From what I have seen so far this year the Saints have the deepest roster in the NFL. For non Saints fans this may seem like blasphemy but hear me out. I literally looked at the depth chart for an hour yesterday and at several positions had no clue who the team would want to cut. There is not a position on the field that they can lose a starter in and be out of playoff contention. You can argue the QB position but that goes for any team. Even Mark Brunell is better than lots if not most backups in this league. The Saints main focus this year has been heavy competition at every position which increases the level of play. Even with 9 projected starters held out of the first pre-season game you could still see how solid and crisp the play was from 3rd and 4th string players in a 24-10 win. I will start with defense and then work my way over to offense specifically the WR position. The Saints have all of the starters on the defensive side off the ball back this year. That is a huge statement considering four of them are projected to NOT be starting this year. New Orleans may not have the very best starters at every position but do not have a significant drop off at any position either. The defensive line under achieved last year but with the help of Sedrick Ellis should be extremely potent. In fact they have another solid DE from Jacksonville who had 10 sacks two years ago. We also picked up a "star" MLB in Vilma who only adds more strength and depth at the position. The Saints have also picked up three new cornerbacks who are all projected to make the team. Both of the starters are back at the safety spot but one may lose his job. Roman Harper has been very solid and seems to be improving but Bullocks is getting pushed by Kaesviharn. Kevin was the starter in Cincinnati before coming to the Saints and had 6 interceptions in 2006. Behind Kaesviharn there is another young stud named Chris Reis who is only in his 2nd year but had 3 interceptions in a preseason game last year. The offense for New Orleans is no doubt the strength of the team but has just as much depth if not more so. Like the defense, the Saints are not missing any starters from last year besides the center. And again like the defense have added more depth. At quarterback you have Drew Brees who is by far one of the best QB's in the game today and two solid backups. Brunell is a 10 plus year starter and had many good years at Jacksonville including 3 Pro Bowls. Behind him you have a fiery young QB who beat out another potential backup last year to secure his 3rd string position. Everyone knows McAllister and Bush but not everyone knows Stecker and Thomas. Stecker is the oldest of all of the running backs but seems to be just as quick and shifty as he was years ago. Pierre Thomas has been the talk of the town and seems to have all the tools to be a great back, including a knack for staying on his feet. The O-line also is deeper than it was last year. Besides the usual starters and backups there are two guys who have been very impressive in camp. Draft choice Carl Nicks has been playing up to his 6'5" 341 pound frame and 2nd year man Andy Alleman has also been solid. I did not forget the receivers I just saved the mind boggler for last. Just two years ago the Saints were able to let go of their top three receivers and are in a position now in which they are LOADED at the position. A major reason there is so much depth is because Payton struck late round gold in Colston and Arrington. The Saints practically have an additional 1st round pick this year in Robert Meachem who has been phenomenal so far this year. They also have David Patten who was the number two receiver last year and Devery Henderson who lead the league in YPC in 2006. On top of that they have two more contributors from last year in Moore and Copper. They also added an explosive kick returner in Skyler Green. Green led the nation in yards-per-return at 18.5 during a National Championship year with LSU. This position has so much depth I honestly do not know who we will keep. My guess would be: 1 Marquis Colston 2 Robert Meachem 3 David Patten 4 Adrian Arrington 5 Terrence Copper My list is set up this way for a few reasons. Top 3 are just all very solid and don't have to worry about much at this point. Arrington has way too much upside to be cut and wont make it past waiver wires which I think gives him a spot. Terrence Copper is the most valuable in special teams which keeps him on the team. Lance Moore gets dropped because even with an amazing pre-season last year he was inconsistent during the regular season. And the big one, Devery gets traded for a 5th round pick strictly because of his big play ability but inconsistency. But overall with what I have seen the Saints are one of if not "the" deepest teams in the NFL.

Hollis Thomas Out 2 Months

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:59:05 -0500

DT Hollis Thomas will be sidelined for the next two months with a right triceps injury suffered in a practice vs. the Houston Texans on Wednesday. The Saints have a decent amount of depth at the position but Thomas is their best run stuffer. The loss should equate to more playing time for rookie Sedrick E

Defensive Tackle Thomas Out for Up to 2 Months

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:22:53 -0500

Defensive Tackle Hollis Thomas tore his right triceps on Wednesday during pass rushing drills and will miss up to two months. Thomas had an MRI that afternoon and underwent surgery Thursday morning. The Saints may end up putting Thomas on injured reserve but the Times-Picayune speculated that the injury could possibly be career-ending after 13 years in the league. The loss of the 34 year-old leaves the Saints with veterans Kendrick Clancy, Antwan Lake, Brian Young, Orien Harris and rookie Sedrick Ellis at the position. The Saints website quotes fellow tackle Brian Young as saying "These things happen, though, and while it's hard to see a teammate and someone as likable as Hollis get hurt, we know we have the talent to keep going. We have some really good depth at the position and a good mix of older players and younger players and I think we'll be okay."

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY: 2008 SAINTS PREVIEW

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:13:27 -0500

by Rupert, Ghosts of Wayne Fontes

Don't ask me what the pictures of these teeny-boppers have to do with it, but we're saving up for an EC pizza party, so we need some ad revenue.

THE GOOD

The offensive line is coming off an absolutely tremendous season. How can you argue with the fact that Drew Brees threw more passes than any quarterback in the NFL, yet took less sacks than any other peer? Not bad, eh? Granted, they lost center, Jeff Faine, to division rival Tampa Bay, but they still have a really good crew.

Did I mention Drew Brees? If there was a year to slip, last year seemed to be the year given the loss of longtime Saints' badass, Joe Horn, but Brees still got it done. Now, he has a pretty nice upgrade at tight end to add to his arsenal in Jeremy Shockey, so look out for this passing attack.

THE BAD

The Saint's defense kept other teams in the game last year year as they really sucked defending against big plays. With Sedrick Ellis and Jonathan Vilma coming in, this should improve the Saints' D, but that secondary still has a way to go.

Also, as much as those dance moves are smooth, Reggie Bush is a big let down so far. Injured or not, the guy hasn't come close to living up to the hype. Sure, he catches a lot of dump off passes and turns them into gains, but how much longer is that really gonna fool anyone when everyone knows he can't get through the line of scrimmage up the middle?

THE UGLY

Whoever is still collecting paychecks as Deuce McCallister's agent, you need to do some soul searching. The dude's legs are gonna fall off if he keeps at it. Let the man cash in that Roth IRA and play some gold already. He's not gonna starve and neither are you. If the Saints are that desperate for some goal line carries, Natrone Means is probably still available as well. Maybe you could pull him out of retirement.

FEARLESS FORECAST

11-5 and a trip to the NFC Championship

USC football players who stay, get paid

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:18:44 -0500

It paid to stay. When former USC linebacker Keith Rivers ended a holdout and signed with the Cincinnati Bengals this week, the Trojans' celebrated senior class of 2007 allowed Coach Pete Carroll to offer nearly 50 million reasons why players should exhaust their eligibility before turning pro. Rivers, defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, offensive lineman Sam Baker and defensive end Lawrence Jackson all considered declaring for the NFL draft after their junior seasons in 2006. They returned and parlayed their decisions into first-round selections last April and five-year contracts that guarantee a combined $49.2 million. "Those numbers, they wow me," said senior linebacker Rey Maualuga, the defensive MVP of the 2008 Rose Bowl who opted to return for a final season. Carroll said it wasn't difficult to determine the benefit of staying for a final season -- unless a junior is projected as the top player at his position. "We don't have to try and build it up because it's so obvious, it's crazy," Carroll said. Ellis, the seventh overall pick this year by the New Orleans Saints, signed for a guaranteed $19.5 million and could make as much as $49 million. Rivers is guaranteed $15.6 million and could earn as much as $23 million. Baker got an $8-million bonus and could earn $14 million. Jackson is guaranteed $6.1 million of an $11.25-million deal. Offensive lineman Chilo Rachal left after his junior season and was taken in the second round with the 39th pick, signing a four-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers that included an undisclosed bonus. Tight end Fred Davis, taken 48th by the Washington Redskins after a Mackey Award-winning senior season, received a $1.8-million bonus. The New York Giants picked cornerback Terrell Thomas in the second round and signed him for an undisclosed sum. "Overall, how they ended up, it made my decision a lot more clear," Maualuga said. "I'm happier with it."

Buyer Beware: The Jaguars Should Have Known

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:38:30 -0500

The last unsigned first-rounder is in the NFL is none other than……Jaguars DE Derrick Harvey? What in the name of Hugh Douglas is going on here? The Jaguars went into April's draft still smarting from the 26-for-28 passing performance that Patriots QB Tom Brady laid on the proud Jacksonville defense in the 2007 Divisional Round playoff game. Jacksonville was determined to get help for the aging defensive line by drafting defensive ends in consecutive rounds (DE Derrick Harvey at #8 overall and DE Quentin Groves at spot #52 overall). The initial shocker of the first round was the Jaguars trading up to spot #8 to take Harvey, who was the third-highest rated DE on the board (after Chris Long and Vernon Gholston). The Jaguars gave up their 1st rounder, two 3rd rounders, and a 4th rounder for the opportunity to go get Harvey. Many experts felt that the Jaguars' move to get Harvey was a reach. However, the Cincinnati Bengals, drafting at spot #9 and in dire need of a defensive end once Justin Smith bolted for San Francisco, probably would have selected Harvey anyway. So the Jaguars rolled the dice and took a chance on Harvey. Yet they still do not have their man in camp. Last week, head coach Jack Del Rio slammed the recent offers from the Harvey camp. Harvey's agents responded that they just want something that is "fair" in relation to the contracts that Gholston and DT Sedrick Ellis signed. Are the rookie contracts in the NFL out of control? Absolutely. Are the Jaguars the victims here? Absolutely not. The Jaguars had to have known what they were getting themselves into when they jumped into the top 10 of the first round. Most teams are looking to trade down to avoid paying the big contracts (and possibly grab some more lower-tier draft picks like what Baltimore did). Given the tepid success of the majority of Jacksonville's first round picks, it was quite surprising to see the Jaguars jump at the opportunity to go after a player who was going to cost a lot of money to sign. So almost two weeks since training camp began, the Jaguars and Harvey are at a stalemate. Harvey is losing valuable playing time, and it remains to be seen if the Jaguars will treat this situation much like Oakland did last year with QB JaMarcus Russell (Russell did not sign until the 2007 season had already begun). Contract negotiations are always a dance of death: neither side wants to give in. Usually, after much posturing, the two sides make up, reach some kind of agreement, and put on the phony smiles for a press conference at a later date. In Harvey's case, the Jaguars knew they wanted a young, premier pass rusher. But why go through with the blockbuster trade if you do not intend to pay the guy his fair-market value? Before the draft even started, the Miami Dolphins signed T Jake Long to a contract that included $30 million guaranteed. It's not like the writing wasn't on the wall for teams selecting early in the 1st round. Harvey is being unfairly labeled in some circles as greedy because of his holdout. However, I think this is a case of the Jaguars not following their normal sound advice of "buyer beware." Is it possible they are having some slight buyer's remorse and questioning their itchy trigger finger move during the draft? Whatever the reasons are for the Jaguars balking at getting Harvey into camp, the Jaguars made their bed and have to lie in it. If they want to make an example out of Harvey in relation to the out-of-control rookie contracts, so be it. But Harvey is certainly not the bad guy here.

Saints Beat Cardinals 24-10

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:39:43 -0500

After months of speculation about how good they really are, the New Orleans Saints did little to distinguish themselves in their 2008 pre-season opener, with the exception of Robert Meachem. Perhaps the most impressive was that there was not a noticeable drop-off in talent once the starters rested and the team had only one turnover. Drew Brees (6/7, 40 yards) scored first with a pass in the end zone to David Patten, capping an 80-yard drive that used up close to seven minutes of the quarter. Mark Brunell (10/12, 119 yards) saw action for the rest of the half, coming out rusty and unable to score in the red zone. Brunell did connect with Meachem for 49 yards on a drive that ended with Pierre Thomas stepping out of bounds before reaching the goal line near the end of the second quarter and missing a second attempt to run it in. Pierre Thomas was the highlight of the special teams with a kickoff return for 57 yards. The running game took over in the beginning of the second half. Aaron Stecker gained 39 yards and ran in for a touchdown halfway through the third quarter. Tyler Palko (6/11, 144 yards) came in with about five minutes to go in the third quarter and quickly hit Adrian Arrington for 33 yards. Rookie Taylor Mehlhaff hit a 33-yard field goal near the end of the third quarter. Palko's bright spot was a short pass to Robert Meachem in the fourth that he turned into a 60 yard touchdown run. Palko did turn the ball over halfway through the fourth. The starting defense did not look improved and continued to give up big plays, the longest a 34-yard reception by Steve Breaston. One bright spot was Mark Simoneau's sack during the Cardinal's first drive. Sedrick Ellis was a non-factor. The Arizona Cardinals did not look good in the first quarter but quickly recovered, with Tim Hightower scoring on a 1-yard run early in the second and then taking the lead with a field goal. Penalties plagued the Cardinals' starting defense. Their second half was unremarkable. Overall, neither team appeared to be interested in running the ball with less than 200 yards on the ground between them. Notable Saints that did not play were Deuce McAllister, Jeremy Shockey, Jonathan Vilma, Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Mike McKenzie, Tracey Porter, and Brian Young.

Non-starter Saints to Watch Tonight

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:59:50 -0500

Fans often bemoan the pre-season because after the first quarter or so they don't recognize many names and the score really doesn't matter anyway. So here is a list of players who are not starters to watch for in tonight game against the Cardinals Sedrick Ellis (98) – DT Who is he? Saints 1st round draft pick. Why watch him? OK, so he may already be considered a starter, but he's never played in a game as a Saint, so he may get some extra playing time and play later than most starters. Pierre Thomas (23) – RB Who is he? 2007 UDFA that played after Bush, McAllister and Stecker were all hurt. Why watch him? Thomas has been getting high praise from the media and the Saints coaching staff and looks to be the heir apparent to Duece as the partner to Reggie in the backfield. Carl Nicks (77) – OG/T Who is he? Possibly the steal of the 2008 draft. Why watch him? It is getting more and more likely that Nicks will start somewhere on the Saints offensive line during the 2008 season. Nicks fell far in the draft after a misunderstanding caused him to be labeled as a "bad character" guy. He doesn't appear to be a problem and has been living up to his nickname of "IHOP" (because he pancakes defenders). Adrian Arrington (87) – WR Who is he? Saints 7th round draft pick. Why watch him? Arrington has been the biggest surprise of Saints camp this year. He's has a lot of buzz around him and now it's time to see if he can live up to it in a game. Arrington is probably going to make the 53 man roster if he can, maybe even become the #3 receiver. Robert Meachem (17) – WR Who is he? Saints 1st round draft pick in 2007 Why watch him? Meachem only made a brief appearance in a pre-season game last year and fans haven't seen much of Meachem. He was injured most of last season and wasn't even activated for a regular season game last year. Meachem has Devery Henderson speed on paper, but can he be the deep threat that Devery is and make Devery expendable? Usama Young (28) – CB Who is he? Saints 3rd round draft pick in 2007 Why watch him? Young has made significant progress since last year and has been talked about as starting at CB possibly this year. The Saints need a lot of improvement from last year's CB performance as many Saints fans know… Randall Gay (21) – CB Who is he? Free Agent pick up this offseason. Why watch him? He's been looking good in practice and is a hopeful to improve the Saints problems at CB. He will probably start across from Jason David, but may see more playing time that David since he's new to the team. Marvin Mithcell (50) – I/OLB Who is he? Saints 7th round draft pick from 2007 Why watch him? With Vilma coming to town, it places both Simoneau and Mitchell in a competition for both MLB or WLB. Mitchell is a developmental player that some fans have high hopes for. He's a thumper, but can he do more than just short yardage? Can he compete for the backup MLB role only or for the WLB role as well? Taylor Mehlhaff (5) – K Who is he? Saints 6th round draft pick Why watch him? He's competing with Martin Gramatica for the starting kicker job. Watch for both Mehlhaff and Gramatica to try to get touchbacks to prove how strong their legs are and also be accurate in any long field goals. Don't be surprised if Payton even angles for a field goal duel, risking runs when a pass would be appropriate simply because Payton would win either way:. either a first down or a chance to see one of his kickers in action. Lynell Hamilton (30) – RB Who is he? UDFA pickup this offseason Why watch him? Hamilton was a standout RB at San Diego State before an injury gave another RB to take his spot as the starting RB. He converted to FB, but has since rededicated himself to being a RB, but a bit one at 235 pounds. If Hamilton really impresses and PT really impresses as well, you might see Aaron Stecker become expendable. Hamilton is probably the biggest long shot on this list and probably will not make the team, but Saints fans should be pulling for Hamilton, as it would save the Saints from worrying about acquiring a bruising back once Deuce moves on. Sorry to say, but that could happen in the next couple of years.

Thursday Reads: Rivers Still Absent

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:19:11 -0500

See? I told you: I step out for a minute and stuff starts to happen. With Sedrick Ellis marching in, the biggest thing standing between the Bengals and first-round pick Keith Rivers is DE Derrick Harvey. Unfortunately, it looks like the Jaguars are digging in their heels. Asked if Ellis' deal would help to expedite talks with [...]

Will the Real New Orleans Saints Please Stand Up!

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:39:37 -0500

Let's face it, 2007 was a fluke. The Saints were one win away from playing in their first Super Bowl ever in 2006. They were preseason favorites to take it all the way in 2007. Then came the 0-4 start, and losing their prized running back Deuce McAllister did not help either. Then came the four-game winning streak, and everyone thought they were back from the dead. From that point on it was hit and miss. Missing the playoffs, and ending the season 7-9. What happened? First, it was the inconsistent play from Reggie Bush. Bush just could not give the Saints the edge in the running game, and Coach Payton was forced to go to the air. Then you had the Saints defense not even showing up for games. You cannot expect to win football games by giving up (14) 20-plus-yard rushes and (54) 20-plus-yard completions. This was clearly due to a defensive player being out of place, or just having the completely wrong defense called. I myself thought the defensive play calling was extremely bad last year. As bad as the defense played last year, the Saints still had a chance to win. Drew Brees and the Saints offense still put up great numbers, Marques Colston had a pro bowl year, and had Bush not been hurt, the Saints may have made it to the playoffs. The season is over though, and the what if's are said and done. The 2008 season is almost here, and even though there are still some big questions to be answered on both sides of the ball health wise, the Saints are ready to come marching in. The Saints have a great balance of veteran and young players in all positions. Drew Brees is one of the top five QBs in the NFL right now. Mark Brunell is a seasoned veteran, and will provide sound advice to both Brees and second year man Tyler Palko. Reggie Bush has now got the "Hollywood" out of his system. He had a disappointing sophomore season, and has yet to produce like he did while at USC. This year he will be focused, and more patient. He is going into his third year, and knows that unless he starts to produce, he will not be seeing any contract extensions in his future. Jeremy Shockey is a proven play-maker as long as he stays healthy. Along with his play he adds a dimension that the Saints have been lacking the last two seasons. David Patten was said to have helped Meachem this offseason. Patten has not had a stellar career in 12 seasons, but he has been consistent, and holds three Super Bowl rings while with the Patriots. He definitely is qualified to lend some advice to a possible future star in Meachem. What makes this such a great story is the fact that Meachem will be challenging Patten for the second wide receiver position. Patten is a stand up guy in my book. Then you have pro bowl tackle Jammal Brown to mentor the young guys on the offensive line. Jahri Evans is already making waves going into his third year as a Saint. Back ups Jermon Bushrod and Carl Nicks will also benefit from the first string talent. On the defensive side of the ball, you have young veterans in Smith and Grant. Smith just signed a huge contract extension, and Grant is in the second year of his huge pay day. Both did not have great years last season, but with rookie defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis finally coming on board, they will not want to be showed up by the young up and comer. I did not loose any sleep with the Ellis holdout; defensive tackle is probably the easiest position to learn and with Smith, Grant, Thomas, Young, and McCray all there, Ellis will be able to pick their brains and should fit right in. As for the linebackers, Fujita and Simoneau are the veterans, and the acquisition of Jonathan Vilma is sure to give them a spark. The defensive backs have got the most balance in terms of years in the league, while the only standout in the group is Mike McKenzie. He is getting older with nine years in the league. Arron Glenn is the grandfather of the bunch, and with 14 years of experience, he is sure to bring a wealth of knowledge to the position. I am sure that is exactly what the front office had in mind when they signed him. Harper is coming into form, and with some tweaking he is not far from being great. Others like Usama Young and rookie Tracy Porter will all benefit from the veteran guys. I am also impressed by the addition to the coaching staff. Coach Orgeron is fierce, and his personality will rub off on everyone. So yes, there are some reservations when it comes to saying the Saints have what it takes to have a repeat of the 2006 season, but I truly believe that 2007 was a fluke, and that the 2008 season will prove that the Saints are Super Bowl contenders.

Del Rio Blasts Rookie Pay

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:44:21 -0500

With Jaguars first round pick Derrick Harvey still not signed, head coach Jack Del Rio issued his most emphatic review of the current state of rookie contracts, and he didn't hold much back. The Jaguars traded up in the draft in April to select Harvey with the 8th pick of the draft. What has made the process most difficult is the huge contract signed by the 6th pick, defensive end Vernon Gholston, a 5-year, $50 million contract with $21 million guaranteed. "There have been some deals in front of us that are outrageous in my opinion and that makes it difficult to have him here," said Del Rio. "We have a belief on where we're going to go. His people have a belief on where they want to go and right now, we're not in agreement so he's out." "He's falling behind, no question. It's unfortunate that he's not here," Del Rio said. "At some point, you lose so much work that you don't become as valuable. We're not there yet, but it's time to get him in camp. Hopefully he wants to be here bad enough that we work something out." The most recent signee, Sedrick Ellis, the 7th pick of the draft, signed a five year deal with a reported $19.5 million of the contract guaranteed. And that's the rub: the guaranteed money. "What's happened at the very top of the first round is ridiculous," Del Rio said. "You're paying guys who have never done anything more than star football players in this league that have played for years and established themselves at this level…it can be a little frustrating." Harvey has missed five days of camp so far.

Grant Moves from End to Tackle

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:55:15 -0500

Charles Grant, who normally lines up as a defensive end, lined up as a defensive tackle in Saints practice yesterday. A formation with Bobby McCray taking his spot at defensive end, rookie first round pick Sedrick Ellis lined up next to Grant at defensive tackle and Will Smith lined up as the other defensive end is the expected line up. The McCray, Grant, Ellis, Smith line up on the d-line would probably be used as a high impact speed rush on passing downs for the Saints. Grant moving to tackle has been discussed in the media since McCray was acquired, but dance around up until now by the Saints coaching staff. Normally a defensive end weighs around 260 or 270 lbs, but Grant is a rare d-end that can rush the to the quarterback from the edge even at that heavier weight. Grant is one of the heavier ends in the league, weighing closer to 300 lbs.

Grant Moves from End to Tackle

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:55:15 -0500