Bradford/Clausen now split among Mock Drafts

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Saints drafted Jamaal Brown 13th overall in 2005. He didn't play at all this year, which supports the notion that the left tackle position is overvalued compared to the other positions on the OL, particularly RT. But the Saints got where they are by investing a first and a second round pick in tackles over the last seven drafts, but more directly, by digging up the very best lineman available in the middle rounds, at positions where the draft value system dictates that great players are available if you look in places like Bloomsburg, and Towson State.

Even though the backup LT, Bushrod, was undrafted, the Saints didn't try to live off the middle rounds in the building of the OL. The fact that their interior line actually IS built of middle rounders, which it is, is possible in part because they were able to take college OTs and work them at a new position because they had already developed the two bookends.

In essence, when we had an effective Samuels and Jansen for the forseeable future, the line was our strength. We chose to invest heavily in Randy Thomas back in 2003 because we were working with a crappy interior OL at the time, which was a fine start, and then Dockery and Rabach worked because they were functional pieces in a strong unit that hadn't been skimped on. Kendall, to an extent, was the same principle. But once the cornerstones of our line began to decline, those interior players were exposed.

I don't think that's perfectly analogous to the Saints, because Nicks and Goodwin are strong players in their own right, certainly better than Rabach and Dockery, and helped solve the issue of having a replacement LT this year. But if the Saints OL success is sustainable, I'd imagine that Jamaal Brown is going to be a big part of it.

Excellent post. If I understand you correctly Brown is basically being groomed to start at LT?

Per the Schefter article, well, he's ignoring the fact the Saints, and more so the Colts, are exceptional in their oline compilation. The best lines in football, including the Jets, Vikes, and Giants are mostly comprised of high draft choices. I see a lot of wisdom in drafting lineman high as well as looking for the underrated talent in the middle rounds. Research aside, my ocular assessment is the bust risk is significantly lower for high-drafted offensive lineman than compared to most other positions, especially WR and QB.

I also find it interesting DT seems like a fairly solid high draft choice while defensive ends seems to bust maybe half the time.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Excellent post. If I understand you correctly Brown is basically being groomed to start at LT?

Groomed? The guy is a 28 year old with two pro bowls under his belt. He's been a mainstay on their line since his rookie year in 2005. If anything he's there, no further grooming required. Tripp was pointing out that if the Saints were going to start a dynasty that he would expect Brown being a big part of the teams long term success.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Excellent post. If I understand you correctly Brown is basically being groomed to start at LT?

I was more pointing out that the Saints have all of their OL salary invested in their two tackles. Brown was the guy who was hurt and couldn't play this year.

The interior of the line includes two guys on their rookie contract at guards, and a center on a very modest second contract who was picked up from the Jets and moved inside. He was signed as a backup actually, and New Orleans let both of their two other Centers (Bentley, then Faine) walk before handing the job to Goodwin in 2008. He appears to have been groomed by the team.

It's due to good drafting, primarily, that NO was able to play Bushrod at LT this year and still win the super bowl. He's not a different player than Stephon Heyer is for us. He would have been a complete disaster here forced into the same role. But the Saints were strong across the board at OL due to good recent drafting, and because they are getting Brown back next year (even though his contract situation starts to become an issue), they don't really have to "build" the lines, or try Carl Nicks at left tackle (and then play an inferior LG).

They treated Bushrod all year like an undrafted replacement player, the very same guy that the Redskins wouldn't have been caught dead playing in the Gibbs era, and won the super bowl with him, and not only that, let their offensive line lead them there.

We have salary locked up in the tackle position still, but it's mostly dead salary, especially if Samuels is indeed done. Restructuring that position so that the guaranteed $ there goes towards paying for future talent instead of past talent has to be priority #1.