LB Alfred Fincher, a third round pick from the last draft of the previous administration, has been getting a lot of work with the first string at middle linebacker. Fincher certainly well-equipped for the middle but faces stiff competition from a Saints linebacking corp that features 10 capable men on the roster, six with starting experience.
But Fincher - nor any Saint - has won a starting job. Fincher could still be moved to strongside linebacker, or back to second string inside, since versatile Colby Bockwoldt practiced at MLB heavily earlier in the offseason. Bockwoldt, a starter for the past two seasons, is fighting for a starting job at middle and strongside. Only weakside linebacker Scott Fujita - a groomed and chosen player by Gary Gibbs and Joe Vitt - looks closest to having his starting job and position wrapped up.
Payton on Friday insisted that he wasn't going to lay down a depth chart any time soon.
"I'm not listing a starting lineup today," Payton told the media after the team's first practice on Friday. "Eventually you guys will be able to see who goes with the first group and second group. But I really think it's a mistake if I tried to lay out a starting offensive line or defensive line or for that matter, the starting anything. In fairness to those guys, until we get the pads on, we have a lot of time. We have 11 days with minicamp and the OTAs, we have a whole preseason and training camp in pads. Obviously you begin to coach to think about where your lineups are, but it's a little early right now."