New Orleans Saints
Owner: Tom Benson & Rita Benson LeBlanc
Founded: 1967
Stadium: Louisiana Superdome
2010 record: 11-5
Last playoff appearance: 2010, 11-5, L41-36 SEA
General Manager: Mickey Loomis (2002 – current)
Head Coach: Sean Payton (2006 – current, 49-31 record)
Offensive Coordinator: Pete Carmichael Jr.
Defensive Coordinator: Gregg Williams
Defensive alignment: 4-3
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 24.0 PTS (11th) 372.5 YDS (6th) 277.6 PASS (3rd) 94.9 RUSH (28th)
DEF: 19.2 PTS (7th) 306.2 YDS (4th) 193.9 PASS (4th) 112.3 RUSH (16th)
Pro Bowlers: Drew Brees QB, Jahri Evans OG, Carl Nicks OG, Jonathan Vilma MLB, Roman Harper FS
2011 schedule:
1 Sep 08 at Packers 8:30 PM Tickets
2 Sep 18 vs. Bears 1:00 PM Tickets
3 Sep 25 vs. Texans 1:00 PM Tickets
4 Oct 02 at Jaguars 1:00 PM Tickets
5 Oct 09 at Panthers 1:00 PM Tickets
6 Oct 16 at Buccaneers 4:15 PM Tickets
7 Oct 23 vs. Colts 8:20 PM Tickets
8 Oct 30 at Rams 1:00 PM Tickets
9 Nov 06 vs. Buccaneers 1:00 PM Tickets
10 Nov 13 at Falcons 1:00 PM Tickets
11 Bye
12 Nov 28 vs. Giants 8:30 PM Tickets
13 Dec 04 vs. Lions 1:00 PM Tickets
14 Dec 11 at Titans 1:00 PM Tickets
15 Dec 18 at Vikings 1:00 PM Tickets
16 Dec 26 vs. Falcons 8:30 PM Tickets
17 Jan 01 vs. Panthers 1:00 PM Tickets
TEAM NEEDS: OLB, S
Potential Free Agents:
DeShawn Wynn RB
Pierre Thomas RB - re-signed – 4 yrs
Julius Jones RB
Ladell Betts RB
Heath Evans FB
Lance Moore WR – re-signed – 5 yrs
Courtney Roby WR
David Thomas TE – re-signed
Tory Humphrey TE – re-signed
Zach Strief OT – re-signed
James Bushrod OT – re-signed – 2 yrs
Jimmy Wilkerson DE
Jeff Charleston DE
Scott Shanle OLB – re-signed –
Danny Clark OLB - re-signed –
Kawika Mitchell OLB
Marvin Mitchell MLB
Leigh Torrence CB - re-signed –
Darren Sharper FS
Chris Reis SS – re-signed –
Roman Harper SS – re-signed – 4 yrs, 28.5 million, 16 million guaranteed
Matt Giordano SS
Free agent acquisitions:
Darren Sproles RB (Chargers) – 4 yrs, 14 million
Alex Barron OT (Cowboys) –
Olin Kreutz C (Bears) – 1 yr, 2 million
Turk McBride DE (Lions)
Aubrayo Franklin NT (49ers) – 1 yr
Shaun Rogers DT (Browns) - 1 yr
Will Herring LB (Saints) –
Fabian Washington CB (Ravens) –
Free agent losses:
Jeremy Shockey TE – Signed by Panthers
Jonathan Goodwin C – signed by 49ers
Remi Ayodele DT – signed with Vikings
Randall Gay CB -
Anthony Hargrove DL – signed with Eagles
Usama Young FS – Signed by Browns
Trades:
Saints trade RB Reggie Bush to Dolphins for S Jonathan Amaya
Picks in 2011 NFL Draft (overall draft grade: A): It’s unfortunate that the Saints had to give up next year’s number one in order to trade back into the first round for Mark Ingram, but I think it will pay off. I loved the Saints value picks in the first round in Ingram and Cameron Jordan. The Saints targeted needs and players they showed interest in prior to the draft. From the outside looking in, it appears they were able to address needs while going with players of great value (according to my board). Martez Wilson lacks good instincts for a linebacker, but his athleticism may shine through that. I like that value in the third and Greg Romeus in the seventh round. Romeus had injuries in 2010, but was one of the top defensive ends coming into the 2010 season. He could be huge for New Orleans if he gets past injuries.
(! Indicates draft pick who was interviewed, had a private workout, etc. prior to the draft according to my compiled list):
Rd 1, Pick 24 (24) Cameron Jordan DL, California! – Another huge faller on my board, but the Saints are the lucky ones. He’s a better prospect than Tyson Alualu last year (who made All-Rookie teams).
Grade: A+ Rated: 9
Rd 1, Pick 28 (28) Mark Ingram RB, Alabama! – I don’t think his knee should have dropped him this far. I thought having him rated at 19 was holding him down a bit. Saints get two first round steals in my eyes and they’re no doubt the leaders for the best draft so far.
Grade: A+ Rated: 19
Rd 3, Pick 8 (72) Martez Wilson OLB, Illinois! – Another great value here for the Saints as they pick up the “trash” left behind by other teams. Wilson does have questionable instincts, and that’s why teams may have passed on him. He has good athleticism.
Grade: A Rated: 41
Rd 3, Pick 24 (88) Johnny Patrick CB, Louisville! – Another very good pick for the Saints. Good all-around corner, except for an aggravated assault arrest, but the charges were dropped.
Grade: A- Rated: 82
Rd 7, Pick 23 (226) Greg Romeus DE, Pittsburgh – injuries ruined his senior season. He was projected to be a first rounder, but injuries obviously took that away.
Grade: A+ Rated: 134
Rd 7, Pick 40 (243) Nate Bussey LB, Illinois – smallish outside linebacker but is aggressive.
Grade: C- Rated: NR
2010 Saints Draft review:
For some reason the Saints didn’t have any press conferences on their site, just a whole bunch of NFL Network draft content. I was lucky to find transcripts of some press conferences. Here are some interesting nuggets I found: General Manager Mickey Loomis said that when choosing between taking need picks or the best available player, it changes from year to year. If you are able to fill all the holes on the roster in free agency, then you’re able to take the BAP. However, it’s his hope that a need ends up being a player they can take who’s also the best available. As you get later into the draft, you can take a risk on a player who has more upside. When asked if there were any positions that could be ruled out for the Saints to be taking, Loomis said kicker or punter. In the post draft press conference with head coach Sean Payton, he was asked if there was any position that they wanted to address but weren’t able to in the draft. Payton said running back and outside linebacker were those positions. Al Woods was a player who they brought in on a player visit. Jimmy Graham was a best available pick. They saw tremendous upside with Graham and Woods. After the Graham pick that night, they heard from other teams that he wouldn’t have lasted if they hadn’t taken him. In Al Woods’ conference call, he said that the Patriots and Broncos had brought him in for a workout and were interested in him. The Saints talked to him the most.
Rd 1, Pick 32 (32) Patrick Robinson CB, Florida State – 11 games, 4 starts, 28 TCK, 2 PD
Rd 2, Pick 32 (64) Charles Brown OT, USC – 3 games
Rd 3, Pick 31 (95) Jimmy Graham TE, Miami (FL) – 15 games, 5 starts, 31 REC, 356 YDS, 11.5 AVG, 5 TD, 1 RUSH, 3 YDS
Rd 4, Pick 25 (123) Al Woods DT, LSU – released in final roster cuts, signed with Pittsburgh, then Tampa Bay.
Rd 5, Pick 27 (158) Matt Tennant C, Boston College – 16 games
Rd 7, Pick 32 (239) Sean Canfield QB, Oregon State – practice squad (go to his wikipedia page to see how many times he was cut then re-signed)
Looking back at my grades for the 2010 Saints draft class: The Saints received an overall B+ grade from me after the draft. My grades had all of their picks graded at least at B-. I’d have to change a few grades, however. Al Woods (B) looks like a pretty bad miss in the fourth when they cut him before the season. I’ll change his grade to a C. I liked the Charles Brown (A), Jimmy Graham (A), and Matt Tennant (A) picks a lot. Patrick Robinson was given a B-, but I want to improve that to a B. I think Graham will continue to make the biggest impact out of this draft class. The former basketball player from The U could carve out the type of career that Antonio Gates has in San Diego. The Saints class of 2010 keeps their grade from me the same: B+.
First Round Picks From Last Five Years: Patrick Robinson CB, Malcolm Jenkins DB, Sedrick Ellis DT, Robert Meacham WR, Reggie Bush RB
2010 Stat Leaders
Drew Brees 448-658 68.1% 4620 YDS 7.0 YPA 33 TD 22 INT 90.9 RTG
Chris Ivory 137 ATT 716 YDS 5.2 AVG 55 LNG 5 TD
Marques Colston 84 REC 1023 YDS 12.2 YPC 43 LNG 7 TD
Garrett Hartley 20-25 80.0% 52 LNG
Roman Harper 105 TCK
Sedrick Ellis 6 SCK
Malcolm Jenkins, Jabari Greer 2 INT
Out of Season Storylines (Because there is no offseason)
http://www.85percentsports.com/nfl/2011-nfl-offseason-series-by-team/
Remi Ayodele DT – signed with Vikings