Saints linebackers (1 Viewer)

Saints notes and position battles

If Fincher starts in the middle, C. Watson would move to wlb. Derrick Rodgers or Colby Bockwoldt is projected to start there. James Allen has the slb job to himself.

i think fincher has the makings of a better MLB than watson, & watson should be a better WLB than bockwoldt, so that could be the lineup that gets their best LB talent on the field together (with james allen at SLB).* edit/add - fincher's write-up from local new orleans-based scout mike detillier's draft report 2005...ALFRED FINCHER - ILBConnecticut6-1, 242SPEED: (4.69)RATING: 17.89TAKEN: 3rd Round #82"Fincher earned Gridiron Club of Massachusetts AII-State honors as a senior at Norwood High School. Alfred played in 11 games and he was in on 10 tackles and 2 tackles for losses as a freshman. In 2002 Fincher started every game at MLB and he recorded 92 tackles, 10 1/2 tackles for losses, 1 1/2 QB sacks and 1 pass break-up. Fincher earned 1st team All-Independent honors as a junior and he started all 12 games at middle linebacker. In 2003 Fincher was in on 115 tackles, 11 tackles for losses, 1 1/2 QB sacks, 1 pass interception and 3 pass break-ups. Fincher earned 1st team All-Big East Conference honors as a senior. He led the team in tackles in 2004 and he recorded 121 tackles, averaged 11.9 tackles per game, 12 tackles for losses and he forced 5 fumbles. Alfred was the co-team MVP for Connecticut in 2004.Fincher really emerged as a top inside force on the defensive side of the football as a junior and especially as a senior for the Huskies. Alfred is a tough, hard-nosed performer in the middle and he is a top flight run stopper. He fills in the gaps extremely well and he does a 1st rate job shedding off and playing off blocks at the point of attack. Very intense player, who has a red hot motor and he gives great effort on each snap. He displays good range and he covers the field extremely well from side to side. Alfred has above-average foot speed and quickness. Very physical player, who is also a sure open field tackler. He has upgraded his pass coverage skills and techniques, but he still needs work with his foot work and his play recognition skills versus the pass. Outstanding leader, both on and off the field. Young player who will not turn 22 years old until August 15th. Fincher is not a super fast or a super quick athlete, but he makes up for it with taking very few false steps to the football. Alfred needs to learn how to use his arms and hands in a more effective manner when trying to shed off blockers. He is also taking a big step up on the competition ladder, but he does have the smarts and football instincts to excel in the league. Fincher is a blue-collar, "just get it done" type linebacker, who has excellent football instincts and he keeps going until the whistle blows on defense. Fincher ran a (4.74) 40-yard dash time and he did 25 reps of 225 pounds at the Combine workouts in Indianapolis."

Great/good instincts can make up for lesser athletic ability. Sometimes guys put too much emphasis with all the numbers. This guy is a football player, peroid, very smart and instinctive with a great motor. All this should = success. And he has opportunity.

This may damper some spirits -Saints | Hoping Linebacker Success Carries Over - from www.KFFL.comSat, 11 Jun 2005 06:37:05 -0700Mike Triplett, of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, reports the New Orleans Saints are hoping the linebacker crew that helped the team finish last season at 4-0 picks right up where they left off in 2004. If things go as planned, LBs James Allen, Courtney Watson and Colby Bockwoldt will be in the starting lineup to start the 2005 season. "I'm very optimistic about our season," defensive coordinator Rick Venturi said. "For the first time, we're going to start with some kids that have already had some impact. Nobody wants to give them a lot of credit, that's fine. But they've already had some impact here, they're sharp guys, they really understand the system. "And their growth is all going to go forward. They're still young; that's the amazing thing." With the lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball this could very well be short-lived. Overall, I feel as if we will see many changes to the Saints LB core before week 1 of the season. If not by then, I will gurantee midway through the season when the defense is giving up on average 27 points/game.RAPTURE

nothing in the last article really contradicts anything said above... watson is the provisional starter at MLB, & bockwoldt at WLB.the wildcard is fincher... if as good as advertised, he will push watson to WLB, not to the bench... they can do that, even though they are high on watson, because in that scenario he still is a starter (and some scouts think he is better suited to WLB anyway).i think watson or fincher will be the MLB... however that plays out, bockwoldt or watson should be the WLB.the saints started playing better defense late in the season, about the same time they went on a win streak & saved haslett's job... in first 12 weeks, they didn't allow LESS than 20 (& gave up 30+ four times & 40+ once)... in the last four weeks, they didn't allow MORE than 18. they bounced the panthers from playoffs in last week of the season.this also coincides with better CB play... mckenzie began season as disgruntled GB holdout & had to work his way into game shape during the season.why they could be better this season?darren howard is healthy... will smith is in his second year...fincher could be upgrade over watson & watson over bockwoldt...they have mckenzie for whole season (assuming he doesn't hold out... i don't think he ever got long term contract he was looking for that prompted packers holdout in first place)...dwight smith should be a huge upgrade over tebucky jones... he could be an impact player that makes others better.also, saints offense put tremendous pressure on defense by not scoring TD in first quarter until very late in season... coaching staff (new OC?) has simplified the playbook to make things easier for guys like brooks & stallworth... deuce is supposedly in better shape this season, too.the saints problem is they are in brutally competitive division... ATL obviously the favorite, CAR could be much improved after being decimated by injuries early & getting off to 1-7 start, & TB could be better. whether they win nfc south probably won't affect LB stats, of course.

nothing in the last article really contradicts anything said above... watson is the provisional starter at MLB, & bockwoldt at WLB.

the wildcard is fincher... if as good as advertised, he will push watson to WLB, not to the bench... they can do that, even though they are high on watson, because in that scenario he still is a starter (and some scouts think he is better suited to WLB anyway).

i think watson or fincher will be the MLB... however that plays out, bockwoldt or watson should be the WLB.

the saints started playing better defense late in the season, about the same time they went on a win streak & saved haslett's job... in first 12 weeks, they didn't allow LESS than 20 (& gave up 30+ four times & 40+ once)... in the last four weeks, they didn't allow MORE than 18. they bounced the panthers from playoffs in last week of the season.

this also coincides with better CB play... mckenzie began season as disgruntled GB holdout & had to work his way into game shape during the season.

why they could be better this season?

darren howard is healthy... will smith is in his second year...

fincher could be upgrade over watson & watson over bockwoldt...

they have mckenzie for whole season (assuming he doesn't hold out... i don't think he ever got long term contract he was looking for that prompted packers holdout in first place)...

dwight smith should be a huge upgrade over tebucky jones... he could be an impact player that makes others better.

also, saints offense put tremendous pressure on defense by not scoring TD in first quarter until very late in season... coaching staff (new OC?) has simplified the playbook to make things easier for guys like brooks & stallworth... deuce is supposedly in better shape this season, too.

the saints problem is they are in brutally competitive division... ATL obviously the favorite, CAR could be much improved after being decimated by injuries early & getting off to 1-7 start, & TB could be better.

whether they win nfc south probably won't affect LB stats, of course.

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The lesson here seems to be that (in redrafts) Watson is by far the safest pick right now, because as either MLB or WLB he has fantasy potential. Meanwhile, Fincher has upside but also high risk, and therefore is worth a flyer. Bockwoldt is probably too risky at this point because he could be the odd man out, and James Allen is just generally worthless even as a starter.

Bockwoldt is probably too risky at this point because he could be the odd man out...

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Too risky? If drafted too high, sure, but he's been had for next to nothing since the end of last year. Very nice value pick for a guy that could be starting on the weakside in New Orleans (similar to Ray Thompson in Green Bay)

I picked up Bockwoldt in Z10 for the minimum 50 zb bid. Figured he was worth a shot if I could get him cheap.