Did the Saints address their draft needs? (1 Viewer)

[crimsonrebel]

The Saints had the #1 offense in the league last year, yet used 4 of their fisrt 5 draft spots on offense. Have they sufficiently addressed their defensive needs via free agency? I understand using the first round pick on a WR. Horn is gone, and Copper is on a one year tender. Bolstering the o-line is always good, but did signing a CB and LB in free agency improve this D enough to justify spending 4 of your first 5 picks on offense?

 

[Giggity]

The Saints had the #1 offense in the league last year, yet used 4 of their fisrt 5 draft spots on offense. Have they sufficiently addressed their defensive needs via free agency? I understand using the first round pick on a WR. Horn is gone, and Copper is on a one year tender. Bolstering the o-line is always good, but did signing a CB and LB in free agency improve this D enough to justify spending 4 of your first 5 picks on offense?

I was very surprised. Beyond the DL, they had issues everywhere. That secondary was beyond horrible. With Brees/Deuce/Bush/Colston you'd think they would focus on the defense. But it looks like an offensive coach wants more weapons.

 

[jchap31]

Only time will tell since really it depends on who gets injured this year. Initially, I was livid that the Saints passed on Poslusnsky at 27 and didn't trade up in the 2nd to snag Chris Houston, but I trust Payton and Loomis know what they are doing.

If we had passed on Meachem and Colston or Henderson goes down for an extended period of time, then we look stupid for passing up the highly rated WR. I highly doubt Copper could hold his own all year.

We are now set at WR for the next decade with Colston and Meachem. You can't double team either one and leave Eric Johnson, Reggie, and Henderson wide open underneath. The offense will be tough to stop.

Mike McKenzie and Jason David are the pedestrian starters at CB. Usama Young could be an excellent nickel for us this year while he develops. Roman Harper will be back at 100% by training camp so SS won't be an issue this year.

The O-line stayed healthy pretty much all year, but we had NO ONE but the 5 starters should one of them go down for the count. OG Alleman and OT/OG Bushrod give us some breathing room. Also, LG Jamar Nesbit is a FA after this year I believe.

We still have Lake and Leslie at reserve DT behind Young and Thomas. There really were no standout DT's to be had at 27. Alan Branch is Jonathan Sullivan v2.0 (weight issue, unmotivated) and we aren't getting burned twice. Look for DT to be addressed in '08.

The LBs are better with run stopper Simmons at MLB. Shanle and Fujita are solid yet unspectacular at the OLBs. Other than MLB with Simoneau, we have depth issues here that were not addressed in the draft.

I know they didn't want to reach for a defender at 27 and did the right thing in taking the offensive stud that dropped. Payton doesn't want a Ravens-like defense. The Saints are aiming at having a D that creates turnovers to let the offense back on the field not hold opponents to 10 points a game.

I was shocked that they didn't take a QB but I think Payton will unearth an Undrafted FA QB ala Tony Romo to mold behind Brees and Martin at the #3 QB spot.

It will be interesting to revisit these opinions after the season because really injuries will dictate how successful the Saints were.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

Only time will tell since really it depends on who gets injured this year. Initially, I was livid that the Saints passed on Poslusnsky at 27 and didn't trade up in the 2nd to snag Chris Houston, but I trust Payton and Loomis know what they are doing.If we had passed on Meachem and Colston or Henderson goes down for an extended period of time, then we look stupid for passing up the highly rated WR. I highly doubt Copper could hold his own all year. We are now set at WR for the next decade with Colston and Meachem. You can't double team either one and leave Eric Johnson, Reggie, and Henderson wide open underneath. The offense will be tough to stop.Mike McKenzie and Jason David are the pedestrian starters at CB. Usama Young could be an excellent nickel for us this year while he develops. Roman Harper will be back at 100% by training camp so SS won't be an issue this year. The O-line stayed healthy pretty much all year, but we had NO ONE but the 5 starters should one of them go down for the count. OG Alleman and OT/OG Bushrod give us some breathing room. Also, LG Jamar Nesbit is a FA after this year I believe. We still have Lake and Leslie at reserve DT behind Young and Thomas. There really were no standout DT's to be had at 27. Alan Branch is Jonathan Sullivan v2.0 (weight issue, unmotivated) and we aren't getting burned twice. Look for DT to be addressed in '08.The LBs are better with run stopper Simmons at MLB. Shanle and Fujita are solid yet unspectacular.I know they didn't want to reach for a defender at 27 and did the right thing in taking the offensive stud that dropped. Payton doesn't want a Ravens-like defense. The Saints are aiming at having a D that creates turnovers to let the offense back on the field not hold opponents to 10 points a game. I was shocked that they didn't take a QB but I think Payton will unearth an Undrafted FA QB ala Tony Romo to mold behind Brees and Martin at the #3 QB spot. It will be interesting to revisit these opinions after the season because really injuries will dictate how successful the Saints were.

I believe the Saints signed Tyler Palko as a undafted FA this evening...sorry no link

 

[switz]

I really think that the Saints thinking was, they weren't gong to improve the defense enough in one draft to be a difference maker, BUT... if they could improve their offense just enough to overcome defensive deficiencies, it might put them over the top, and the offense was pretty easy to upgrade in the draft.... so they went that route.