Nailing The Draft
November 3rd, 2017
Sean Payton and GM Mickey Loomis have overhauled the Saints
So how did the Saints get to 5-2 and atop the NFC South?
Like many teams that make fast turnarounds, like the Falcons last season, they’re getting massive contributions from rookies.
No. 11 overall pick, cornerback Marshon Lattimore, has two interceptions, a forced fumble, a touchdown and a seven official passes defensed. Their other first-rounder, Ryan Ramczyk, has looked like a seasoned pro, starting every game at either right or left tackle. Damn impressive.
Out of the second round, rookie safety Marcus Williams looks like a Pro Bowler for the Saints’ revived defense, and third-round pick Alvin Kamara has been a massive weapon at running back. Dude is averaging 5.8 yards per carry and already has caught 32 balls.
And whaddya know, defensive end Trey Hendrickson has two sacks and a forced fumble as a rotational player selected in the third round out of Florida Atlantic.
This has Joe longing for the grand slam nailed by Bucs general manager Jason Licht back in 2015, which yielded Ali Marpet, Donovan Smith, Kwon Alexander and America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston. And it also reminds Joe of how Raheem Morris started 10 rookies through the 2010 season and managed to win 10 games.
Very tough duty for the Bucs on Sunday in New Orleans, as the Saints are an intriguing mix of veterans and youth.
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:35 am
AINTS concentrated on Defense and they are in the top 5 defensively this year. Yes, them..who them Saints are in the Hunt. Our Bucs are enthrawled with a QB and his more not than often comebacks. An offense that scores..But cannot stop the opposition from scoring more points than them. And The Saints are gonna kick our A’sss all over the field come Sunday. They..cannot wait…
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:36 am
Because they have a true starting NFL QB. Not a pretender like the Bucs.
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:40 am
Sorry but the saints have drafted horrible.. the guys they have this year were forced to play cause the garbage drafts they dumped. Was only talking about this year. –Joe
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:41 am
I’m guessing saints glad they kept their 3rd and 4th rather than trading for a kicker. Clayborn over Jordan continues to kill us.
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:44 am
Actually breese has not played that well this year
That will change at home indoors this sunday
Vikings game part 2
*saints 2016 draft is also coming along and contributing
Car, saints, atl have done very well the past 3 years in the draft and will be true contenders for the nfc for the next 3 years =
Bucs will always have a tough schedule
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:49 am
There was no grand slam….Smith is terrible…durable…but terrible. Winston would be much further along had we kept Penn. Licht is the common denominator….What have we had, 2 left tackles, 3 centers, 3 guards….in 5 yrs? How about 4 kickers in 5 yrs? God knows how many DEs we’ve burned through….This team has no identity because the GM is all over the place with his drafts and signings.
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:52 am
Mike – Totally agree. The ’85 Bears won the season & super Bowl going away due to a superb defense. It was comical watching the opposing QB get “Happy feet” knowing that in 2.4 seconds, he was going to eat turf. It was like they had 1 more guy coming than blockers every play. Almost felt sorry for their play caller.! Bears had an average QB and an aging Hall of Fame RB. (Walter Payton). Next year’s draft: 1st round – Trade up for the best DL/DE available. 2nd round – RB. All other picks – DEFENSE !
November 3rd, 2017 at 10:59 am
I agree with Bobby M
You can even suggest that we did not need to draft Godwin this year..another luxery pick …needed d line and as usual..Licht ignored need.
I think Licht is not intouch with his roster…Like Bobby M said..he is all over the place.
November 3rd, 2017 at 11:01 am
Well he’s not getting a contract extension based on the grand slam from 2015. You drafted those guys one of them is a stud one is below average and the other has changed positions and not having a good season. Sure looks like it’s time to put his house up for sale. Even if they finish with a winning season but miss the playoffs he shouldn’t be the gm picking in our draft next year
November 3rd, 2017 at 11:07 am
they drafted good last year….but what put this defense over the top was letting go rob ryan….what a difference an offseason makes….GO BUCS!!!!
November 3rd, 2017 at 11:15 am
Do I hear the pendulum beginning to swing?! People are warming BACK up to the age-old notion that defense wins championships?! I wonder if there have been any posters who’ve carried that torch?!
November 3rd, 2017 at 11:34 am
The saints are not top five with anything defensively, please don’t spread lies. I had to look at it but they are in the middle of the pack to the low twenties on most defensive categories except for overall pts allowed they are 8th. They still give up 20.7 pts a game. Next time you want to make crap up please do it on something that can’t be researched so easily.
November 3rd, 2017 at 11:36 am
Funny how everyone except Licht saw how bad our DL and RBs were going to be, same thing happened before the 2016 season with our WRs, we need a proactive GM, someone who prepares for the future, not reacts to the previous years problems
November 3rd, 2017 at 11:39 am
We need a top flight RB that’ll open up the passing game, just like what Zeke and Kareem Hunt did for their teams, also successful running games take pressure off the defense with extended drives and not to mention the play action game, Drug Martin was a bad investment
November 3rd, 2017 at 11:54 am
@813bucboi
Rob Ryan was fired half way thru the 2015 season!!!! Its been a little more than just “an offseason”!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!! But keep posting misleading and wrong information!!!!! Its funny!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 3rd, 2017 at 11:58 am
Guzzie- I agree to a point. The play-calling and poor defensive play have had the Bucs hurling the ball all over the place. More balance and more creativity will open up the run-game. The run-blocking is garbage so adding a Zeke or Hunt would not really add that much. At least, not as long as defenders are 3 yards in the backfield at the snap!
November 3rd, 2017 at 11:58 am
How did the Saints draft horrible in 2016?
Round 1, pick 12: Sheldon Rankins, DE, Louisville | Starter
Round 2, pick 47: Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State | Starter
Round 2, pick 61*: Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State | Starter
Round 4, pick 120*: David Onyemata, DT | Rotational Player
November 3rd, 2017 at 12:11 pm
How did the Saints draft horrible in 2015?
13th Overall (Round 1) – Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford | Starter
31st Overall (Round 1) – Stephone Anthony, ILB, Clemson | Rotational/ Starter
44th Overall (Round 2) – Hau’oli Kikaha, OLB, Washington | Backup/ST
75th Overall (Round 3) – Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State | Not With Team
78th Overall (Round 3) – P.J. Williams, CB. Florida State | Starter
5 Starters from 2015-2016 draft, and 2 Rotational Players
November 3rd, 2017 at 12:15 pm
It started with Rankins last year, great player. I was hoping we took him instead of a corner from UF. Speaking of him they got a corner who is playing like the number 11 pick should. They have gotten some nice picks last cpl years but most of their defensive success is on the new aggression the coordinator started this year. I thought the aints messed up by taking too many offensive guys with their picks, turns out they got just enough defenders. Bottom line is the bucs have far more talent on their defense than the aints. The difference is in the coaching. Mike smith is beyond lost this year.
November 3rd, 2017 at 12:20 pm
OJ Howard, Justin Evans, Chris Godwin and Kendall Beckwith with picks 1>4 and a 6th thrown in ain’t exactly chopped liver.
That’s some damn good drafting IMO.
November 3rd, 2017 at 12:26 pm
Didnt they trade Stephon Anthony to the Dolphins earlier this year? Or am I thibkibg of the wrong LB
November 3rd, 2017 at 12:43 pm
This team is still paying the price for ASJ and Aguayo and will be for a few years.
November 3rd, 2017 at 1:08 pm
The Buc Realist Says:
November 3rd, 2017 at 11:54 am
@813bucboi
Rob Ryan was fired half way thru the 2015 season!!!! Its been a little more than just “an offseason”!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!! But keep posting misleading and wrong information!!!!! Its funny!!!!!!!!
my point is the new DC didn’t need a full season to turn things around….dennis allens first game as DC was nov 29th….he only had 1 month as the man in charge….
he just finished his 1st offseason as DC….so he basically had the last month of the season and the offseason to install his defense….I doubt he changed everything once he was named DC….whats misleading about that?
the info aint wrong, its accurate…
whats funny is you and this incompetent staff….luckily we wont have to deal with them much longer….dirk and smitty are as good as gone….GO BUCS!!!!
November 3rd, 2017 at 1:21 pm
Saints 4 wins have come against bad and mediocre teams:
Panthers: Cam was still recovering from an injury that made him look awful.
Bears: Trubisky has thrown the ball 80 times in 4 games, beat them by 8
Dolphins: Worst offense in league, got blown out 40-0 on Thursday Night Football
Packers: Barely beat them the week after Rodgers goes down.
Brees looks awful this year. Not saying the Bucs win this, we’re too inconsistent to say that, but don’t be surprised if they do.
November 3rd, 2017 at 1:27 pm
Joeypop…They did trade Stephone Anthony to Miami, but he was a starter last season. They traded him and Brandin Cooks, because of the play of the new guys.
November 3rd, 2017 at 1:30 pm
westernbuc Says:
November 3rd, 2017 at 1:21 pm
Saints 4 wins have come against bad and mediocre teams:
WE ONLY BEAT 2 OF THE SORRIEST TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE….surprised if they win?….i’ll be surprised if they don’t come out “FLAT”….GO BUCS!!!!
November 3rd, 2017 at 1:33 pm
@813bucboi
this was his second offseason!!!!! He was DC like you said in Nov 2015 then had the offseason in 2016, was the DC all 2016 when the defense finished 32nd in points allowed and 31st in yards allowed. Then had his second offseason in 2017 and now has played 7 games in 2017!!!!!!!!!!
its 2017!!!!!!! you are missing 2016 season!!!!!!LOL!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:02 pm
That so called Grand Slam is looking like the mediocre/greasy breakfast item you order from Denny’s. It certainly can’t mean a bases loaded home run at this point.
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:21 pm
In rds 1-3…you need to acquire players that start or will be groomed to start….while also addressing areas of need.
2014: 1st-Mike Evans..stud. 2nd-ASJ…off the team. 3rd-Charles Simms…blah
2015: 1st-Winston…starting caliber QB 2nd-Smith….durable but terrible 2nd-Marpet….solid
2016: 1st-Hargreaves…worst rated CB in NFL. 2nd-Aquayo…out of the league 2nd-Spence….damaged goods
2017: 1st-Howard…stud 2nd-Justin Evans….non-impact rotational player 3rd-Godwin…5th on depth chart
Out of 12 picks in rds 1-3….Evans, Winston, Marpet…are legit starters in the NFL. Hargreaves and Smith are starting….but can easily be replaced. Is there talent there?….Sure. But this team needed talent in game changing areas of the roster. Grooming a safety or #2 WR was not a a priority. KICKER was never a priority. We spent ONE high pick on a DE! We currently sit with the worst d-line in the league. Why are we worried about a rotational safety, backup WR or a KICKER?
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:33 pm
@realist….
his defense hasn’t regressed this year, unlike smitty…lol…GO BUCS!!!
November 3rd, 2017 at 2:58 pm
@Pickgrin- Are you the same pickgrin from the onlinefisherman with a monster Snook in hand?
November 3rd, 2017 at 4:17 pm
25 lb 42″
November 3rd, 2017 at 4:23 pm
Hardly a grand slam. A triple at absolute best and with the 1st overall pick earned in large part due to Licht’s professional malpractice during his first season it seems a little gratuitous to laud him for drafting a couple of starters on an absolutely shtty football team. Relax with all Pollyanna revisionist assumptions. No comparison with what NO is accomplishing. They win football games.
November 3rd, 2017 at 4:27 pm
LOL
November 3rd, 2017 at 6:21 pm
Draft well you win and have roster vision…
You win.
If Dirk has talent he wins
We Draft at a 6-10 level
November 3rd, 2017 at 7:29 pm
Bobby M that was $$$
November 3rd, 2017 at 11:01 pm
Bobby M says it like it is–we are now where we are because of jason Licht
November 4th, 2017 at 10:01 am
5 of the last 7 successful picks were on defense for Jason Licht.
This tells us that he has already started the rebuilding of the defense, much like he did the offense already.
Another draft could finish it, provided he doesn’t do what most Bucs fans want and draft a RB with the first pick. We need a stud Dline player with our first pick. And it wouldn’t hurt to spend our second pick on one either. Then a CB.
Licht used Free Agency to patch defense for the last few years. It’s the offense’s turn. Find a RB in Free Agency to buy the position another year or so.