A Look At The Tight End Position

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
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This is a position that has dogged the Saints somewhat in the last few years. One of the missing pieces in the New Orleans offense has been the dominant tight end, and with the Saints making the move to get Jeremy Shockey, this needs to be the year that he steps up and lives up to the billing.

via Saints Beat

CURRENT DEPTH CHART
Player – Age – Height – Weight
Jeremy Shockey, 28, 6-5, 251
Billy Miller, 32, 6-3, 252
Dan Campbell, 33, 6-5, 265
Darnell Dinkins, 32, 6-4, 260
Buck Ortega, 27, 6-4, 250

BREAKDOWN:
A healthy, committed Shockey could be an absolute monster in this offense, with so many yards and touchdowns to go around and Sean Payton’s and Drew Brees’ past success with tight ends. But health and commitment are two huge question marks with Shockey.

I’ve been touting him as a big-time breakout candidate for the Saints this year, with nothing but glowing reports coming out of Saints camp about his health, his attitude and his frequent participation in the team’s offseason program. Then came this weekend’s incident in Las Vegas, when he was rushed to the hospital during a pool party with apparent dehydration.

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Posted in 2009 Training Camp, Offense, Saints & NFL News | Comments Off

Jeff Duncan: Good things from the OTA

Friday, May 22nd, 2009
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Great read and great take. A genuine cause for optimism. Excepts follow, but go read the whole thing. Good stuff.

via Saints Insider

The depth at cornerback is impressive. Pierre Thomas is ready for the challenge of being the Saints’ lead back. The depth chart along the defensive line behind starters Charles Grant, Kendrick Clancy, Sedrick Ellis and Will Smith is interesting. Wide receiver Robert Meachem was impressive. While starters Lance Moore and Marques Colston recover from offseason surgeries, he’s working with the first-team offense and appears to be taking advantage of his opportunity. Running backs Mike Bell and Lynell Hamilton are not going to give up their roster spots without a fight.

Posted in 2009 Training Camp, Review, Saints & NFL News | Comments Off

Saints sign WR Paris Warren

Friday, May 22nd, 2009
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via KFFL

Saints | Warren signs
Fri, 22 May 2009 10:03:02 -0700

The New Orleans Saints have signed unrestricted free-agent WR Paris Warren (Buccaneers) to a one-year contract. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

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Posted in 2009 Training Camp, Saints & NFL News, Transactions | 2 Comments »

TP Position Review: Receivers

Friday, May 22nd, 2009
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In a continuing series, the Times-Picayune previews the wide receiver position. Arguably this is the deepest position for the Saints, and with triggerman Drew Brees at the helm, one of the best in football in the prime of his career, we could see a record-setting season. Of interest is the potential emergence of Robert Meachem and Adrian Arrington. If both of these receivers come into their own the Saints could have a legitimate claim to the best receiving corps in the NFL.

via Saints Beat

New Orleans Saints receiver Robert Meachem had a great line Thursday while explaining that there are plenty of balls to go around in the Saints’ offense. “Our quarterback threw for three miles last season,” he said – and he wasn’t exaggerating.

We’re featuring the receivers who will share that wealth in today’s position-by-position breakdown of the Saints’ roster, complete with a handful of polls to get you through the holiday weekend.

CURRENT DEPTH CHART
Player – Age – Height – Weight
Marques Colston, 25, 6-4, 225
Lance Moore, 25, 5-9, 190
Devery Henderson, 27, 5-11, 200
Robert Meachem, 24, 6-2, 210
Adrian Arrington, 23, 6-3, 192
Courtney Roby, 26, 6-0, 189
Skyler Green, 24, 5-9, 190
Kenneth Harris, 22, 6-3, 205
Matt Simon, 23, 6-1, 199

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Posted in 2009 Training Camp, Offense, Preview | Comments Off

Williams: In Charge Of The D

Friday, May 22nd, 2009
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Gregg Williams was brought in to shore up a defense that did not generate pressure, turnover, or even crucial stops that are all key to winning football. In the very first OTAs we are seeing that he’s brought a different attitude and trying to convey that what happened last year is not acceptable.

via Peter Finney’s View

When the question was put to the head coach Thursday — “What impresses you most about Gregg Williams?” — the first words out of the mouth of the head coach was “he’s a leader.”

As he watches the defense “flying around” — giving you the feeling “there is no gray area” when it comes to claiming loose balls, it’s more “the ball belongs to me” — Payton expects Williams’ traits as a leader to translate into turnovers.

What did he see in that December loss to Carolina?

Payton said he saw Delhomme “take one hitch, two hitches, three hitches, and he was back there for an inordinate amount of time.”

Now he’s looking for a coordinator’s leadership, more than schemes, to change an inconsistent pass rush.

What does linebacker Scott Fujita see in the new coordinator?

“Coach Williams is someone intent on getting you to maximize your talent, ” he said. “It’s more than Xs and Os. It’s a matter of creating a new culture.

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Greer impressed with Saints secondary

Thursday, May 21st, 2009
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Tracy Porter and Randall Gay served as the starting tandem in today’s OTA. Jabari Greer and Jason David with the second team.

via NOLA

“No matter what happened on the field last year … or the media bashing these men have taken, they’ve responded correctly,” Greer said. “They went above and beyond the amount of work it takes to be successful and I definitely think that it will show.”

With not only new personnel, but also a new defensive coordinator in Gregg Williams, it seems few players on defense are taking their starting roles from last season for granted.

“It’s definitely a higher intensity level because we know what type of defense we need to be, as well as what everyone says: Our weakness was the secondary,” Porter added.

With changes in personnel, which included the departure of free safeties Josh Bullocks and Kevin Kaesviharn, third-year pro Usama Young, who began his Saints career as a cornerback, has now moved to free safety. He worked with the first team this week, but Sharper, who did not attend practice for undisclosed family reasons, is expected to compete for that starting role.

Roman Harper, last season’s starter at strong safety, remained in the same spot, but it appears his role under Williams could shift, with more emphasis on blitzing.

Already, Saints offensive players say they notice a difference in the secondary and the defense as a whole.

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Posted in 2009 Training Camp, Defense, Secondary | Comments Off

Lance Moore Recovering From Injury

Thursday, May 21st, 2009
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Lance Moore has really progressed well as a receiver. A couple of years ago I took to calling him “Money” because he always seemed to make the catch, usually for a first down. He’s been working hard in the offseason to come back to what looks like a banner year for both Moore and the Saints in 2009.

via Saints Beat

Moore is expected to miss the remainder of OTAs and minicamp June 5-7 and should be cleared to practice at some point in training camp.

“My goal is to be ready for the first week of the season,” said Moore, whose rehab program consists of range-in-motion and strengthening exercises for his left shoulder. “Whatever happens before that, happens.”

Moore injured his left shoulder during a routine weightlifting exercise in mid-April, necessitating surgery by orthopedist Dr. James Andrews to repair a dislocation and torn labrum.

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Posted in 2009 Training Camp, Injury, Saints & NFL News | 1 Comment »

Meachem Stands Out in OTA

Thursday, May 21st, 2009
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Meachem looks to justify his draft pick status and starts off on the right foot according to the TP’s Mike Triplett.

via Saints Beat

If we were busting out our “Who’s Hot” award today, I’d give it to third-year receiver Robert Meachem. Meachem made at least two spectacular catches while consistently getting open and reeling in the ball. Later in practice, Meachem landed hard on his shoulder after making a terrific diving catch on a deep ball behind cornerback Tracy Porter. Saints analyst Bobby Hebert went so far as to call it Meachem’s best practice to date as a Saint. Both Coach Sean Payton and Brees said Meachem’s confidence has continued to grow, and he’s taking advantage of getting the extra reps while starting receivers Marques Colston and Lance Moore are recovering from injuries.

via WWL

Robert Meachem looked very good as he made several nice grabs in traffic and had the catch of the day right in front of the media as he ran stride for stride with Tracey Porter then dove for the ball making a very good reception. Meachem also hauled in a TD against Jabari Greer.

Adrian Arrington made several nice grabs including a TD from Drew Brees in which Brees ran down the field yelling and leaped into the air banging his body against Arrington’s in excitement over the score. Up to that point, the defense was getting the best of the Offense.

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Posted in 2009 Training Camp, Saints & NFL News | 2 Comments »

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