Saints Gab

Saints Select DT Sedrick Ellis With The Seventh Pick

The Pats moved their 7th pick of the draft to the Saints, and in a move that was expected, the Saints jumped right into the mix, grabbing USC DT Sedrick Ellis with that pick.  Ellis is a beast that some think is better than Glenn Dorsey, who went to the Chiefs two picks before Ellis.  Last season with USC he had 58 tackles in 13 games to go along with 12.5 tackles for losses and 8.5 sacks.  A great move by the Saints, and a guy who can be a playmaker in their defense, which needed to be upgraded.

Here is a scouting report on Ellis from NFLdraftcountdown.com

Strengths:
Very quick with a great first step…Very strong and powerful…A terrific pass rusher with the burst to close…Athletic with good speed…Instinctive…Sheds blocks well and is able to beat the double team…Is technically sound when it comes to using his hands and understanding leverage…Has a non-stop motor…Tough and a very hard worker with top-notch intangibles…Has experience at both tackle positions.

Weaknesses:
Doesn’t have the ideal height or bulk that you look for…Has some minor durability issues…Might have some trouble holding his ground at the point against massive blockers…Limited schematically and probably won’t be a perfect fit for every team.

Notes:
Could be a prototypical three-technique at the pro level…Redshirted in 2003 after breaking his left ankle and missed some time in ‘06 with a knee injury..Productive, disruptive force in the middle..A better prospect than Mike Patterson was in 2005.

One of the big questions of today’s draft is will Giants TE Jeremy Shockey be in blue at the day’s end?  I would at this point have to say – no.  Shockey is getting offered by the Giants to the Saints, who are offering a second-round pick and a sixth-round pick this year or a second-round pick and a fifth-rounder in 2009 for the loudmouth and often hurt TE.  Why would the Saints want Shockey?  Sean Peyton was with the Giants staff in Shockey’s first year, and he feels a change of scenery would do him good.

The Giants have had enough of Shockey’s mouth, attitude, and lack of production when he’s on the field.  Plus they have young and up and coming tight end Kevin Boss, who can easily lead the Giants TE position.  ESPN is reporting that the Saints only want to offer a number two pick, but that in the end, the deal will likely get done.  Shockey was hurt last season in a game vs the Redskins, and on the season had 57 catches with three TD’s.  Look for this deal to get done as the draft gets closer.

14-year veteran CB Aaron Glenn signed with the New Orleans Saints last week. Glenn, who’s had experience starting for the Jets, Texans, Cowboys and Jaguars, will bring depth and another experienced defender to the Saints’ D. So far, the Saints have added MLBs Jonathon Vilma and Dan Morgan, CBs Randall Gay and Aaron Glenn, and DE Bob McCray.