Tackling a Saints fan question about drafting an offensive lineman at No. 14.
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00:00 You kind of fast forward you got the combine here and the combine
00:03 We've kind of talked about it and the thing is the combine can help people
00:06 Same thing with the legacy bowl hbc all that stuff
00:10 But most of what you've done already is already on tape
00:13 You know what i'm saying and people are going to get to know you you're going to interview
00:16 I remember talking to one of the coaches or you we both talked to one of the coaches
00:20 He said he had 10 interviews that night, you know saying on one of the senior bowls
00:24 And so it's like they're going to talk to every prospect most likely there's some that they didn't talk to
00:29 I think one of the ones last year they didn't talk to was at perry if i'm right
00:33 I'm, really they're pretty sure that that happened with marcus davenport years ago, too. Yeah
00:38 Yeah, and so again, it's you can't get totally wrapped up in the they talk to this guy
00:43 That means they're super interested. They don't talk to you know, it just you just don't know
00:48 but combine cheer
00:50 a lot of
00:52 Obviously the the college prospects but that brings scouts that brings coaches that brings you know all this this mass
00:59 combination
01:01 You've been at the combine i've been in the combine. What's what's your what are you hoping to gain from it?
01:06 What do you like about the combine?
01:08 Yeah, I think the thing that you're looking for most is who who are the guys that fit and then how do they test?
01:13 What does the test what do the testing numbers look like?
01:15 I know that we can get enamored sometimes and the nfl certainly can get enamored with 40 yard dash times and things like that
01:22 But you're also looking at like particularly when it comes to the offensive line
01:25 Like what are some of those explosive metrics the the the vertical leap the the the broad jump the things like that?
01:31 They kind of give you an opportunity that the on-field drills especially for edge rushers now
01:36 They run that uh that figure eight drill that I love
01:38 Which just shows bend and their ability to be able to get around the edge and all those things
01:42 So you're just looking for fluidity. You're looking for a cohesive performance
01:46 Where everything adds up and everything makes sense, right?
01:50 And you know and then you know beyond that you're also looking for you know
01:54 What's the the scuttlebutt and the news and all these other things that are going on?
01:57 But just from a scouting combine perspective a lot of scouting isn't about what you can't do
02:02 It's about what can you do?
02:04 Well as a prospect as a player and how does that fit in the system that's being run for that specific team?
02:10 And it's all these testing numbers and things like that
02:13 Like one guy that i'm really excited to see is the tight end out of penn state theo johnson
02:17 He's gonna measure into like six foot five six foot six 250 plus pounds expected to yeah
02:22 And he's expected to run in the four fives
02:24 So you're gonna see a lot of athleticism coming from him
02:27 But then you're gonna watch
02:28 The position drills and the opportunity for him to be able to run certain routes and things like that because it's actually really smooth route
02:33 Runner changes direction and small, you know spaces pretty well
02:36 All those other things short area quickness if you will
02:39 All those pieces so you get to kind of finish putting together the story when it comes to the combine
02:45 It doesn't tell the whole story like you mentioned. There's still everything that's on tape
02:48 But now this gives you an opportunity to put some numbers
02:50 Quantify some stuff and be able to see somebody run the things do the things that you want to see them do
02:55 Then you follow that up with the top 30 visits and things like that during the draft process
03:00 And then you get an opportunity to see them. You know, I want you to run this route
03:03 I want you to do this. I want you to run this
03:05 I want you to show me this show me this rep all these other things and stuff. So all those pieces. Um,
03:10 And then of course as you mentioned the interviews go a long way as well
03:14 But I I think that there's just like a couple of those players that i'm really really excited to see
03:18 Just how they test what they look like and then of course the interview portion not just the media interview portion
03:23 But the interview portion between those prospects and those teams end up being pretty big, uh for you know, making these decisions as well
03:29 Yeah, I I mean, it's it's just exciting. I I think
03:33 You know again i'm going back to the hpcu the combine but you know
03:37 Some of the guys may not have tested that great
03:41 But when they got on the field and did position stuff, I mean they were just like some of them were just
03:45 Outstanding on the field, you know, I mean that you look that wide receiver
03:49 Drill where they're literally catching one ball catch another one and they're running
03:53 I mean
03:55 Yeah, it's just it's really cool to see them adjust and make those things
03:58 I mean those are types of things that you know, you may not see from running a 40
04:03 Doing a broad jump all that stuff, which is important
04:06 I know and get it but you just can't get so enthralled with just
04:10 this particular metric because they could run the fastest 40 and they can't catch worth a flip and
04:15 Right, that's that's gonna drive their draft grade down, you know
04:19 And it's no matter how fast you can run if you can't get the ball in your hands like that's right
04:22 Yeah, I mean you gotta look at that
04:25 And so uh, and one of the things I also like about the the combine, you know, I didn't even say agents, right?
04:30 We're gonna talk plenty of of course get a lot of intel this this we're going to get more information
04:36 this week
04:38 Then we'll probably get uh in the next six to eight months probably
04:42 Until the combine next year
04:46 This is just our chance and so, you know again, keep it tuned. We'll we'll get all that fun stuff out there
04:51 But again, there's just so much information that comes out again. We talked about like I said this last week
04:56 That's how we learned about uh, alante taylor going into this slot
04:59 We learned about james hirst and the plan for him and uh, trevor penning and andres pete
05:04 I mean, there's just so many things like that. What was that solid on the derrick?
05:07 Yeah, the derrick car thing. I mean that was a big deal
05:11 I mean we stayed on on top of it for a bit, but that just kind of confirmed everything and so
05:15 This year it's a chance to to kind of get some more of that information and it's it's gonna be a fun time
05:21 I mean, it's a long event and don't get me wrong and yeah, weather's usually pretty nice out there
05:25 They got a storm next week like a couple days like a rainstorm thunderstorm
05:28 So that's gonna be a bummer on tuesday wednesday, but I digress but great town great city all that stuff great atmosphere to be in and
05:36 I just can't wait, you know, and and it's just between that and then
05:41 We're about to get into march new league year is gonna be here on march 13th. I mean
05:46 We're we're almost here to free agency. We're almost here to all this stuff
05:51 Yeah, and then you go from there the draft is there and then you're gonna have to worry about the schedule. I mean
05:57 and then uh rookie mini camps rookie tryout camp otas
06:01 I mean this I get it fans are like there's no football but for us when we do this
06:06 That's how we kind of operate is like, okay
06:08 You got the digestion a little bit from if your team's not in the playoffs super bowl senior bowl
06:13 Then all this other stuff with the offseason personnel moves and all this restructures
06:18 But this is picking up for the saints. It's not like something that's just gonna die out after this
06:23 Yeah, no, not at all. Not at all
06:24 I mean, it's a very very busy offseason every offseason for new orleans because they always keep it interesting for sure whether it's with
06:30 The salary cap moves or whether it's the free agency pursuits and things like that
06:33 and remember the saints they tend to also pick up some splash signings in like
06:38 June
06:40 Yeah and everything too like they don't it's not just
06:43 March for them and then you know
06:45 They turn the page to the draft and all of a sudden they're not doing anything after that sort of compensatory pick period wraps up
06:51 They tend to be right back in the market again after the nfl draft. We saw that with jarvis slander
06:55 We saw tyran matthew. We've seen that with others. I mean, that's that's a pretty big portion of it, too
07:00 So it'll be all business and all news all the way up until the training camp
07:05 Yeah, that's how they got lynn boden last year. You didn't come on to like june
07:09 Jimmy graham was a late ad and I mean those are types of players that you see
07:13 I think was later with max garcia was another one too, you know playing like I mean
07:18 this is just some of those that you know, you come on later and stuff that you just don't don't typically see but
07:24 It is an exciting time and you said foster too, but I mean they sign free agents guys
07:30 There's may not be the ones you want but they're gonna sign free agents and you know
07:34 I like the free agent pickups they had last year and and I think it's something that you look at this team
07:40 I don't think they have to have other than like I said, my wish list is a pass rusher and offensive line
07:46 Those are the two things that I really care about is I think they're good in a lot of spots, you know
07:51 but you have to go further as like is marshall i'm going to be here is is
07:55 What happens with michael thomas, you know, of course what happens with jamus?
08:00 you got to look at those types of things and so
08:02 again, I I think that it's it's
08:04 It's obviously
08:06 The uh, the fun part of this this gig is just seeing where this team can go
08:11 What the possibilities are and then just being able to see it all come through
08:15 Mm-hmm
08:16 Yep, damn it. Yep. It's always the fun part for sure and and look it's one of those things where even you know
08:22 Whatever moves are made are the moves that are made and so what we do is try to break down how?
08:28 What what are the saints thinking about making this move or when they make this move and things like that?
08:32 So it's never about trying to like overhype anything or anything like that. It's just about okay
08:37 So they made this move
08:38 Let's think critically about why they made that move and all those other things
08:41 So that's one of the things that I think is the most fun for me is like looking into sort of
08:47 Where does all of this make sense?
08:49 how does it all make sense and and what are the possible outcomes of these moves and things like that because
08:54 Like every move is a good move until you see it all play out september october november december january
09:01 So until then all that we can really do is look at what are the different possibilities here?
09:04 And why was the move made?
09:06 Uh, and and to me that's some of the most fun and exciting stuff is just trying to picture and imagine especially with a new
09:11 System how all these puzzle pieces fit together
09:13 Yeah, absolutely. I want to answer this one too or toss this up. We can answer a question before we get out
09:19 Oh, yeah, we need line help. What are we getting that with number 14?
09:22 And so, uh, thank you for the question leon first of all and you know second of all
09:27 Again, I kind of touched on this and I think that people uh mock draft season. I get it. I understand
09:33 But until the free agency plays out until you know what the restructure and those plans are
09:38 As of right now, I I would tell you based off everything
09:42 I think if you're looking at 14, it's got to be a trench guy
09:46 It's either an offensive lineman or a pass rusher or somebody on the interior
09:50 I I think that's really where you're looking at but if they solve some of that in free agency
09:55 Then I think you could go for a skilled player. You could go for
10:00 Maybe the tight end theo johnson or something. Maybe you know, I don't know if that's the case you want to go but
10:06 you could do some different things with 14 45 is my point, but um,
10:10 you know, what do you think and
10:12 Agree or disagree?
10:14 Yeah, no, I I agree that it starts with the trenches for sure, but you're right
10:18 I mean if they address all of that and free agency
10:20 There's no reason to go and do that again
10:22 and especially if they not only address it in terms of
10:25 You know adding talent there, but if they add young talent there then you know
10:29 There's not a full reason to go in fully expecting
10:32 Gonna use this first round pick on the offensive line of defense a lot. It gives you the opportunity to go best player available
10:37 So let's say that they address offensive line
10:40 And we're going to give you a little bit of sneak peek into my mock draft monday for tomorrow over at saints news
10:44 Is that if you address offensive line and defensive line in free agency?
10:47 And then you trade away marshall latimore
10:50 What if the best corner on the board is there at 14?
10:54 Then you're probably you might end up going with that corner or you make you know
10:59 You're or you you get the offensive line you get the defensive line and you feel really good about that in free agency
11:04 You haven't moved on from marshall latimore and then best player on the board that's available at 14
11:09 Is a wide receiver john to your point. You can't just rule out the skilled position player, right?
11:14 So I think that there's a lot of different ways that that that 14 can go
11:18 But if they were if the draft started today, then yeah, I would say offensive line or defensive line
11:24 At just about any spot. I think at 14 interior offensive line. It's a little bit too early for me. Jackson powers. Johnson guys like that
11:32 uh toward the back end of the off of the first round makes perfect sense, but
11:36 Early on tackle edge and then jerseyn newton the only defensive interior player. That's we're talking about at 14 out of illinois
11:45 um
11:46 Any of those three would make a ton of sense to me at 14
11:50 Yeah, and of course we're gonna see how it plays out. I like their interior
11:54 I just think that again I I hinted on this and we talked about it last week
11:58 I just think they need somebody who can come in and be a game changer
12:01 And I don't know if a rookie's gonna do that. I feel better about a guy
12:05 I mean they could get somebody
12:12 that is able to do that and and
12:16 Kind of help alleviate because I like brian brzee there
12:18 I like what colin saunders and nathan shepherd does and I can see them resigning malcolm roach and i'm not telling you that
12:24 Just run it back as a solution
12:26 but I think if they can build off of that and then get somebody that's a dominant person on the inside because
12:32 On the outside because you know on some of those subrush packages. We saw peyton turner go inside. We saw tonno go inside
12:38 I think that they'll continue to keep doing that but they need somebody to help out and cam played hurt last year
12:45 of course, we know that but you know just somebody that can come in and really change the complexity of the game just when it
12:51 comes to
12:52 What you want to do or what the offense is going to do?
12:54 I think it's a big big big sticking point for this defense and you know 14
12:59 of course, they may trade up if they like their guy enough and
13:03 One thing they haven't done is trade back right? Everybody wants to say this is going to be the year they trade back and
13:08 Hasn't happened. I don't think it's going to happen this year too
13:11 Yeah, I would I would say more likely that they draft an lsu player than than it is that they trade back
13:17 That's that's the way that i'll say it for you. They've never gone 10 full years without drafting an lsu player
13:22 They're not close to that at the moment, but more likely that they that they do that than trade back
13:27 absolutely
13:29 Uh, you know, we'll see I I just love this
13:31 it's just uh such a a joy to talk football with you man and just I love it and
13:37 Just talk about the same stuff and again
13:39 We're already wrapping up coming down to close here and such and ross
13:43 I just want to give you an opportunity to man tell the folks about what else you do, you know again
13:47 We we talked about it last week. We're still writing with saints news network. Nothing's changed there
13:52 We're all unified in that front ross is still doing his thing with locked on. So what else you got coming up there?
13:57 Yeah, man, I mean that's that's the big thing right now is locked on in saints news
14:01 So mock draft monday tomorrow going into tuesday
14:04 I want to explore a couple of different things as well just in terms like possible
14:07 Off-season scenarios that would be part of the you know, if they did trade away marshall latimore
14:13 What the salary cap in 2025 is shaping up to look like stuff like that
14:17 So we'll have that and then accompanying pieces over at saints news network to kind of give you some context additional context around all that
14:23 As well, so, um, you know, just just keeping it going every single day
14:26 And then of course, you know with the combine going on, you know rumors everything that we're hearing news
14:31 And then of course if there's any uh standout performers, especially guys, we've already been looking at for this team
14:36 uh, that would be you know, uh, a lot of that coverage as well and then
14:41 post
14:43 Combine got to do the mock draft again, right? Like we got to get it done
14:46 We got to do the post combine mock draft then we get into free agency. It'll be a lot of fun
14:50 So yeah, maybe maybe maybe we'll do one on here or something
14:53 I'm, usually a proponent of doing like maybe two I used to very those and stuff. Yeah, you're very anti early mock draft
14:59 You know, I am I did it. I respect it. I respect it. Yeah
15:03 And I can see it. I understand i've had some that hit before and and stuff and it's just some pics hit and
15:09 it's not that I don't like it I just feel like that again the philosophy of
15:13 Free agency and all these other moves have to play out
15:16 but if you're going off of what the current state of the roster is and doing that then
15:20 Sure, I understand that and always thought too
15:23 A proponent is a mock draft is to a educate you on the prospect and b
15:28 How this particular player would fit in and what their vision what they could look like in the next level
15:32 Especially in the same scheme the saints run so which is going to be different obviously now because uh an offense
15:39 With with clint kubiak and andrew janako and all the cast of characters and coaches that are coming in. So