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2007 NFL/Saints Draft Review

Apologies on the tardiness of my New Orleans Saints draft review. But, let me tell you about the week and a half following the NFL Draft, for those of you who actually care about my state of mind or legitimate excuses. Not only was I swamped at work preparing a quarterly document that resembles the brevity of the novel War & Peace with added statistics tables, graphs and other "bells and whistles" but I was also trying to study for the single most important 4 1/2 hour examination of my life in the GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) so I can get accepted into graduate school. But the bonus is I also had 3 finals to study for and subsequently take scattered along the way up until yesterday (Wednesday) morning.

In light of these "bumps" in the road on the way to this blog, the 2007 NFL draft came and went and was one to behold.

A couple of 1st round observations/opinions:
- Detroit Rocks for taking their 3rd WR in the last 4 years in the first round. They rock because he's not a Buc or a Falcon.
- I think JaMarcus Russell is going to be money for Oakland within 3 yrs. (Sorry if that sounds homerish, but I also think Patrick Willis is going to be money for San Francisco, he played for Ole Miss, the antiLSU, just sayin)
- The Browns better be right about Brady Quinn. That's a lot to mortgage for that guy. Some teams don't get it.
- That said, I still think Miami was dumb not to take Quinn instead of John B's favorite Ted Ginn Jr., who may not even make it on the field by training camp.
- Bucs, Falcons & Panthers can all jump off a cliff
- So can Kansas City for taking Dwayne Bowe 4 spots before the Saints picked, but it didn't matter, see explanation below.

As for our beloved Saints, here's their draft and some comments from me on the good, the bad and the ugly:

Round 1. - Robert Meachem, WR (Tennessee) - 6'3, 211. I like the pick. Not as much as if it were Dwayne Bowe but the kid fits what the Saints offense does. Was rated the #2 WR on the Saints board next to Calvin Johnson. Would have picked Meachem over Bowe if they were both there. Meachem is a sure handed receiver who is fast fast fast. Ultra productive in his senior year in the nation's top defensive competition in the SEC. He's not the blocker that Bowe is but Bowe is built as a prototype possession receiver, whereas Meachem is the gunner type receiver for the big play. And to be fair, the Saints have that possession type receiver in Colston. Meachem will be a great complement to Colston and an excellent deep threat.

Round 2. - No pick. Traded out of Round 2 and picked up an extra 3rd rounder from Detriot.

Round 3. - Usama Young, CB (Kent State) - 5'11, 186. The Saints picked up a promising prospect out of a small college and will most likely be the 3rd corner on the team (nickel back). Was not invited to the NFL combine but flew up the draft charts after a stellar pro day for scouts at Kent State. A lot of coaches on other teams were pissed that the Saints picked him this early. Usama Young will most likely spell the end of Fred Thomas's roster spot (which also means Deuce finally gets his #22 jersey). Usama is a super smart and fast football player with excellent cover corner ability. Received academic honors at Kent State. The downside is obviously that he played in a small school setting against sub par talent. However, we know Sean Payton's track record with smaller schools athletes. I'm excited about this guy.

Round 3. - Andy Alleman, OG (Akron) - 6'4, 302. Another small schooler. Started out at Defensive Line at Pitt and transferred to Akron to play Offensive Guard. Old school road grading run blocker with a nasty demeanor in the trenches. Powerful and tenatious run blocker but needs work in pass protection technique. Athletic and strong offensive guard. Has the talent to be a starting guard for the Saints in time. Will provide excellent depth for the Saints offensive line at guard while he learns the NFL ropes for a couple of seasons.

Round 4. - Antonio Pittman, RB (Ohio State) - 5'11, 195. Great inside the tackles runner, similar to Deuce. Very productive in one of the best NCAA conferences. Fast and a good athlete. Rare fumbler, fumbled 3 times in his entire career at Ohio State. Not a great pass catcher out of the backfield. The Saints traded UP to get this guy. Interesting selection. Great value here in Rd 4. This guy was supposed to be drafted in the 2nd round. Some had him as the 3rd best RB in the draft. Not sure if this means quality depth in case of injury to our 2 stellar RBs or this spells the very beginning of the end of Deuce in 2 years. Interesting. But it does give them GREAT depth at the position and spells the end for special teams ace RB Aaron Stecker.

Round 4. - Jermon Bushrod, OT (Towson) - 6'4, 315. Huge offensive tackle, again, out of a small college. Four year starter at Towson, who is athletic, smart and very fast for his size. Excels in pass protection and can play both left and right tackle positions. Good work ethic. Downside again is competition he played against in college coming from a small school. Backup tackle now becomes excellent at both Right and Left positions. Bushrod will backup Jammal Brown at left tackle and Zach Strief will backup Jon Stinchcomb at Right. Excellent pick that further bolsters an already stellar offensive line. Payton is building quite a formidable offensive line, starts and backups. Love this pick.

Round 5. - David Jones, CB (Wingate) - 6'0, 196. Another excellent cover corner and ball hawk from a small college. 4 year starter and star defensive back in Division II NCAA. Took 2 snaps on offense during his senior year and scored touchdowns on both plays. Also returned kicks and played every special team except extra point. Excellent athlete. Great size as a CB. Excellent speed. Marginal run supporter. Hard worker. Smart. Not a great tackler and technique needs refinement. The Saints get younger, faster and more athletic in the defensive backfield with this pick. Could be a gem of a find this late in the draft.

Round 6. - No pick. Traded to Miami for K Olindo Mare - which is an excellent value for a #6 draft pick.

Round 7. - Marvin Mitchell, ILB (Tennessee) - 6'3, 249. Thumper of a hitter who was productive at a big school against great competition. Good blitzer with excellent size. Not as fast as he should be. Does not shed blocks well. Underachiever. Was a top recruit coming out of high school but never started until senior season at Tennessee. Kind of a project player for the Saints who have gotten better at linebacker. Probably will not make the team. If impresses the coaches, possible practice squad candidate.

There you have it.

To sum it all up. You've got a head coach who is also the offensive coordinator. So you have to understand when he wants to keep that #1 offense on top with a pick like Meachem. But as a whole, Payton likes SMART, FAST, ATHLETIC players who he can coach and mold into what he wants out of a football player for this team. And he doesn't care what school you came from either. If you can play, you can play.

I can't fault Coach Payton one bit on any of these picks until he proves me wrong. I really can't wait until training camp.

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