Good analysis of the Saints picks

[rajncajn]

From Mike Detillier...

 

Hey Guys, first of all I would like to thank everyone from the SaintsReport for the support and kind words over the past few months.  I have been able to talk and meet with a number of the members and as always it was a real kick.

 

Again thanks for the support and now I will have some time to answer questions on the "Ask Mike" Segment

 

I am grading the New Orleans Saints draft a strong B+.

 

Reggie Bush was the best player in this draft and the player that could have more effect on a team than any other one available. In my 21 years of scouting the only two backs that had this type of impact in college was Bo Jackson at Auburn and Barry Sanders at Oklahoma State.

 

He is just an electrifying performer who can score from anywhere out on the field. While he is a great runner and return man, he will really make a huge impact as a receiver or potential receiver.  Any team that will try and match up with him as a receiver will not be able to do it with a linebacker or safety. He is the best receiver as a back I have ever seen and that includes Marshall Faulk coming out of San Diego State.

 

You will have to use a third-cornerback to cover him and while you are trying to cover him, it will really open up some huge holes in the running game. Any time you have to take a LB. or safety off the field and use a cornerback in coverage it takes a good tackler off the field and Deuce McAllister will no longer have to see as many 8-man fronts.

 

With his combination of running skills, pass catching ability and return ability he is the best all-around college back I have ever scouted.  Instant impact performer and someone who has the skills to be a truly "great" NFL player.

 

In the 2nd round the Saints wanted to trade down and acquire OC. Jeff Faine. They had targeted Miami (Fla.) LB. Rocky McIntosh, but the Washington Redskins scooted up ahead of them and selected him.  As many in the NFL feel the Saints are putting a premium on the safety position and this is why they selected Alabama's Roman Harper.

 

There is no doubt that Dwight Smith is on very thin ice and the team will try and trade him away. Last summer Bama defensive coordinator Joe Kines described Harper to me as a " New England Patriot-player, smart, instinctive, tough guy and someone with a great feel for the game."

 

Harper is very instinctive and he is strong in run support.  While he needs to further his overall coverage skills, Roman has good coverage instincts and he plays the ball well in flight.

 

A few weeks back on one of my Houma Courier columns I mentioned the dinner conversation I had with Saints GM Mickey Loomis about then-Notre Dame center Jeff Faine.

 

Mickey at that time said that the team had Faine rated higher than they did LeCharles Bentley and he thought he would be a "great" NFL players.  Injuries and poor initial coaching have stymied his progress, but if Faine is healthy, he is a very good

center prospect.

 

In the 4th round I believe the Saints reached a bit for Bloomsburg OT./OG. Jahri Evans. I really would have liked to see the team pick LSU DT. Kyle Williams instead.  Evans is a big, strong run blocker, who excels as a drive blocker, but he needs plenty of work on his pass blocking skills and techniques. He will probably see initial work at offensive guard.

 

The addition of Hollis Thomas from Philly gives the team a big, strong run stuffer who will give them another big body in the middle.  The ten-year veteran excels in run support and he knows how to clog up the inside running lanes. He also is known for being a team leader and one that doesn't let younger players

get away with not giving their all. That is something this team needs.

 

Purdue DE. Rob Ninkovich is undersized, but he is a terrific edge pass rusher and an outstanding team leader.  In two seasons at Purdue Rob accounted for 16 QB. sacks and 26 ½ tackles for losses.  He just has a knack for slipping blocks and getting to the QB.  Very intense player, who gives great effort and he should

help out in pass rush situations and on special teams. Purdue head coach Joe Tiller just raved about him to me and rarely does Tiller go overboard about any player.

 

Oregon State's Mike Hass is not the biggest, fastest or quickest receiver around, but he is sure-handed, an outstanding route runner and he has such good moves he actually corkscrews cornerbacks into the turf. Hass has excellent hands and he knows how to set up DB's extremely well. While Hass is not super fast, he did average 17.8 yards per catch over the past three

years. Smart, great leader and he just loves to play this game.

 

Pittsburgh's Josh Lay is a well-coached cornerback, who has good size and he matches up well against the bigger WR's. Very instinctive cover-man, who reacts quickly to what is breaking down in front of him. Lay has good, but not great foot speed and he needs to upgrade his overall tackling skills. He is smart,

instinctive and he has good football genes, his cousin is All-Pro cornerback Ty Law. Very competitive young man, who really has a passion for the game. His lackof great foot speed dropped his draft stock, but he is a good player.

 

Zach Strief is a big-bodied right tackle prospect who is more agile than his timed speed indicates.  He is an experienced pass protector, who knows how to use his great size and mass extremely well. He must watch and control his weight better, but he is a solid right tackle prospect.  D-linemen who played against him in the Big-10 really praised his ability to stonewall players at the point of attack. The one thing I really like about Stief is that everytime he played top competition he raised his level of play. NW coaches are concerned about his ability to control his weight,

but they really praised his work ethic, intensity and attention to detail.

 

Hofstra's Marques Colston played WR. in college, but he projects as an H-back or TE. in the pros. Colston is a very athletic big man, who has sure hands and he has just run over players that get in his way. He does need to come out of his cuts and breaks quicker and upgrade his route running skills. Hofstra coaches raved about his talent, but they felt as though he needed to upgrade his overall work ethic to reach his full potential in the NFL. Colston really had a great week of practice and game at the East-West Shrine classic. Good 7th round pick-up.

 

This team has the makeup of the 1978 and 1979 clubs.  Those teams had explosive qualities on offense, but struggled on defense.  This team still has a host of holes to fill, but you can't expect Sean Payton and his staff to fill all those holes in one free agency period or draft. All in all, I really like what I see out of the initial draft and what I really like is a change to smart, very productive players, who have been team leaders in college.  You don't see these great work-out guys who look great on the track, but can't play ball on the field.  It's a work in progress and it will take some time to fill the many holes on this team , but I certainly like the start and the offense should be exciting to watch.

 

Mike D.

[BOO]

Yeah, I read that earlier Rajn. Good read.

[Randall]

He is just an electrifying performer who can score from anywhere out on the field. While he is a great runner and return man, he will really make a huge impact as a receiver or potential receiver. Any team that will try and match up with him as a receiver will not be able to do it with a linebacker or safety. He is the best receiver as a back I have ever seen and that includes Marshall Faulk coming out of San Diego State.

 

 

What nickel corner can cover him? If he lines up in the backfield and moves outside the defense is in trouble.

 

Many corners won't be able to cover him there.

[rajncajn]

He is just an electrifying performer who can score from anywhere out on the field. While he is a great runner and return man, he will really make a huge impact as a receiver or potential receiver.  Any team that will try and match up with him as a receiver will not be able to do it with a linebacker or safety. He is the best receiver as a back I have ever seen and that includes Marshall Faulk coming out of San Diego State.

What nickel corner can cover him? If he lines up in the backfield and moves outside the defense is in trouble.

 

Many corners won't be able to cover him there.

 

1448954[/snapback]

 

 

 

[sarcasm]All he needs is a smart, accurate, QB who can read and set up the defense well. Oh, wait...they have Drew Brees. [/sarcasm]

 

LOL, the Saints still won't be able to stop anyone this year but they sure as hell will be fun to watch!