Saints Gab

With the preseason winding down there are some remaining position battles that are really heating up here are the top ones to watch as we gear up for the regular season. As with every offseason some of these battles can be just as entertaining and competitive as the actual games we watch starting in September and this year is no different.

There is always heartbreak for players such as linebackers Stanley Arneaux and Mark Simoneau who are lost for the season due to injury and there is also moments of joy when unexpected players step up and make a name for themselves in camp such as defensive end Anthony Hargrove, and wide receiver Rod Harper after his 87 yard punt return against the Texans.

Joey Harrington vs. Mark Brunnell
This battle could have the most effect on the overall roster depending on who the winner is, if Brunnell wins and remains the #2 I believe the Saints will keep 3 quarterbacks on the roster due to Brunnell’s age. If Harrington wins it I can see the Saints going with just him and Drew Brees on the 53-man roster opening a spot for someone else at different position. Advantage? Mark Brunnell, Brunnell has looked sharp so far and is on his way to securing the #2 spot behind starter Drew Brees.

Lynell Hamilton vs. Herb Donaldson vs. PJ Hill
This to me is the most exciting battle to watch and at one time this was a 4 way battle for 2 spots but after the Texans game Mike Bell has secured himself the #3 spot leaving 3 players vying for the 4th and final spot on the roster. Hamilton who looked to be the 4th RB lost his grip on the 4th spot after fumbling twice in the preseason opener against the Bengals opening the door for rookies Herb Donaldson and PJ Hill. Advantage? Right now I think Donaldson looks to have the advantage in this battle over Hamilton and Hill after averaging 4.2 ypc so far. I believe Hamilton will get another year on the practice squad and PJ Hill will be the odd man out.

Robert Meachem vs. Devery Henderson
This battle is for the #3 receiver spot behind Marques Colston and Lance Moore looks to be the closest of all the position battles. Robert Meachem has finally looked like he “gets it” and this is the first time he came into camp in proper shape and he has appeared to have a grip on the playbook a lot better giving him a much needed confidence boost. Henderson continues to be a solid deep threat and has improved on his concentration and route running allowing him to be more than just a deep threat. Advantage? For right now it’s too close to tell and this may not be settled until after the season has started. I think in the end Meachem will take the #3 spot and at that point will begin to push Moore for the #2 spot he has all the physical tools you could want in a receiver he just needs to keep focused and he will be fine.

Jonathon Casillas vs. Anthony Waters vs. Troy Evans
This could be a battle for 2-3 spots depending on how other positions affect the roster. Casillas has shown the best speed of the three and both him and Waters seem to be around the ball more often than not, while Evans has either disappeared or just looked lost on defense. Advantage? Casillas and Waters are running really close with Casillas having a slight advantage both are players I wrote about early on that could be pleasant surprises during and camp and both are working on living up to my early predictions.

Like every year there is always excitement about a new season and what the new faces can bring to the team this year. This year though stands out with a different feeling to me than in the previous two and feels much more competitive like the 2006 camp and offseason. Competition almost always brings out the best in people and we finally have that competitive atmosphere back. The Saints seem to be finally geared up to return to the playoffs.

Rumor has it that the Saints have already cleared some players through waivers and have loose agreements with them for the Monday creation of the 8 man practice squad. Those players are Tyler Palko, Buck Ortega, Skyler Green, Lynell Hamilton, Orien Harris and Andy Alleman.

Alleman was a surprise cut after being a 3rd round draft pick. Another surprised cut, Taylor Mehlhaff, is a hopeful for Saints fans if he clears waivers. Although there is no definitive word that the Saints want him back. Word close to JoLonn Dunbar, UDFA LB out of BC, is that Joey has been very happy with the Saints and wants to play for them. That same source says that the Colts and Redskins have expressed interest in him. Dunbar looked very promising in the pre-season games and was thought to have a chance to make the 53 man roster. If Dunbar was signed to the Saints PS, there would be no room for Mehlhaff.

Running Backs:

2007 Summary:

With Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister, 2007 started with a lot of promise at the running back position. The surprise was that Antonio Pittman, who the Saints had moved up in the 4th round to take, was cut in favor of an UDFA rookie named Pierre Thomas. Unfortunately, both Reggie and Deuce struggled in the beginning of the year. Deuce tore his knee in the third game against the Titans. It was the opposite knee from his 2005 injury, but he was out for the year.

With the load squarely on Reggie Bush’s shoulders, Reggie performed well for a few games, but started to struggle as he showed his lack of experience in a pro style run game, eventually succumbing to a knee injury himself, late in the season. Aaron Stecker filled in admirably, but Pierre Thomas was the bright spot in the last game of the season, rushing for 100 yards and also receiving for 100 yards.

2008 Offseason:

The Saints didn’t pick up any high profile RBs in free agency or draft any RBs in the draft. They did pick up Lynell Hamilton as an UDFA.

Competition summary:

Deuce McAllister (26)
Pierre Thomas (23)
Reggie Bush (25)
Chris Barclay (24)
Aaron Stecker (27)
Lynell Hamilton (30)

The Saints have been carrying four running backs on the opening day roster in the last couple of years. Assuming that is the case in 2008, and the Saints don’t pick up another running back before the end of TC, that means that two backs currently on the roster will be cut at the end of training camp. It is very possible that the Saints will indeed pick up a veteran running back before TC ends, that is if Deuce does not show significant progress recovering from knee surgery in camp.

The likely odd men out will be Chris Barclay and Lynell Hamilton. However, if Pierre Thomas continues to shine, and one of these youngsters really performs well, Stecker could become expendable. At 32, Stecker is getting up in age for a RB, and has only been seen as a dependable backup and third down back throughout his career. Last year was his most rushing yards in a season with 448. Pierre Thomas seems to be at least a younger version of Stecker, if not more.

Chris Barclay, on the other hand, is a different kind of back. Now in his third year Barclay is small (5-10 180 lbs) and fast (4.4 40) and is seen as mostly a special teams player. Barclay shined brightly in NFL Europa’s last season (spring 2007), leading that league with 1,682 yards rushing. He was picked up by the Tennessee Titans as a kick returner for the first four games in 2007, averaging 21.7 yards on 14 kickoff returns. He could be competing against Tracy Porter and Skyler Green for kick returns, but would have to really be spectacular in order to stay on the team as just a kick returner.

If Barclay shows that he can block well on third down, keeping Drew Brees safe, and performs admirably at RB, Saints head coach Sean Payton could keep Barclay as a backup 3rd down back and kick returner. At 180 lbs, that appears to be a tall order.

Lynell Hamilton, on the other hand, is going to have to concentrate on RB skills in order to make the Saints roster. Hamilton was picked up as an UDFA by the Saints probably as a camp body and possibly a development player. His first year as a starter in college for the San Diego State Aztecs (2005) was a good one. But with two games left, Hamilton was injured and finished the year with 819 carries and averaging 4.3 yards per carry. But Hamilton lost his starting roll the next year to Brandon Bones and was relegated to the full back position. In his senior year (2007), he re-injured his knee early in the season and did not play much at all. Even at 6-0, 235 lbs, with a 4.57 40 yard dash at the combine, Hamilton was not on many team’s radars for the draft.

Hamilton could end up being a diamond in the rough though. Since he played fullback and halfback in college, he should have a good knowledge of how to both run and block. Again that makes him useful for a backup role, which could push the aging Stecker out.

The most interesting competition could be to replace Deuce if he is not ready to start. With Pierre Thomas as a fan favorite and a dual back system, coach Payton will be looking for someone to compliment Reggie. Something else the coaches may be thinking through is the future of the RB position. Is Reggie going to be ready to take the lead role? Is Deuce going to be able to carry the load for a few more years? Who is going to be the go-to guy in 2009 and beyond?