McCray, Ramsey, and Betts among Saints early cuts
Although Saints coach Sean Payton has not confirmed any roster moves about today’s deadline to set the 53 man roster, but several players agents and other sources have leaked some of the cut players.
Most notably, defensive end Bobby McCray and quarterback Patrick Ramsey have been released. McCray’s release is good news for fellow defensive ends Junior Galette, Jeff Charleston, and Jimmy Wilkerson’s chances of making the roster. McCray was released by the Saints in June before being resigned on the eve of training camp. Even though he was resigned, his training camp didn’t do enough to warrant him taking a spot on the roster.
Ramsey’s release says that second-year quarterback Chase Daniel won the battle as the backup to Drew Brees. Similarly, the fact that Ladell Betts got his walking papers shows that either Chris Ivory’s knee injury isn’t serious, or that the team will give DeShawn Wynn a spot on the roster as the team’s third or fourth running back.
Regardless of these cuts, look for an official list and statement from Payton later on Friday.
Saints position breakdown: Safeties
Safeties on the Saints roster:
Roman Harper
Pierson Prioleau
Chris Reis
Chip Vaughn
Usama Young
Darren Sharper
During his first season with the Saints, safety Darren Sharper dazzled Saints fans with his interceptions and returns, helping to lead a defense that would win a Super Bowl. However, one year after his triumphant entry to New Orleans, no one knows what to expect from Sharper. Luckily for the Saints organization, they have plenty of depth at the safety position to overcome his questionable return date.
Although he has been on the PUP list for all of camp, former cornerback Malcolm Jenkins has filled in at Sharper’s spot at safety. The coaches have been raving about Jenkins’ play, and it is important that the Saints have a solid insurance policy with Sharper on the mend. Roman Harper is expected to continue as the starter at the other safety position, building on his solid, but not spectacular 2009 season.
The backup spots behind the starters (in Sharper, Jenkins, and Harper) may come down to special teams play. Reis and Prioleau are both special team stalwarts, who have stayed in the NFL because of their special team play. However, Vaughn has been playing with the first-team special team unit in training camp, making it look like he will make the final roster. Young is also a solid special team contributor.
Overall, the team will have to make some of its toughest roster decisions when it comes to the safety positions. Although the starters appear to be locked up, the final players as backups appear to be anyone’s guess.
Titans defeat Saints in preseason finale
In a game where the majority of the Saints stars and starters sat, the Saints lost their finale regular season tune up to the Tennessee Titans 27-24.
Quarterbacks Patrick Ramsey and Chase Daniel split time in their competition for the backup quarterback spot, with both quarterbacks playing well. They each had their high and low moments, and it will be interesting to see who gets to be number two on the depth chart, and who will be sweating a release, since it is unclear if the Saints will be keeping more than two quarterbacks.
Rookie running back sensation Chris Ivory suffered a knee injury during the game, and the team is still waiting to let the media and fans know how severe it is. In his absence, Ladell Betts and DeShawn Wynn had some good runs, both making their cases for a roster spot should Ivory’s injury warrant a spot on the IR or a significant loss of playing time.
Junior Galette is another player who bolstered his chances at making the roster following the game. He was making plays, hitting the quarterback, and getting tackles, making it harder for the coaching staff to make him one of the final cuts.
Overall, not much new was learned from the game against the Titans except that it, ready or not, the team has to be ready for its rematch against the Minnesota Vikings.
Saints position breakdown: Cornerbacks
Cornerbacks currently on the Saints roster:
Randall Gay
Jabari Greer
Malcolm Jenkins
Reggie Jones
Tracy Porter
Patrick Robinson
Leigh Torrence
Gone are the days where the Saints relied on players such as Fred Thomas and Jason David to hold up as cornerbacks in the secondary. In just a few short years, Saints coach Sean Payton has quietly transformed the cornerback unit to one of the best, and deepest, in the league.
The Saints starting cornerbacks, Greer and Porter, make up one of the best starting tandems in the league, and easily the best in the always tough NFC South. Behind them, the Saints have some solid depth in first-round pick Robinson, and Gay.
Jenkins is slowly making the transfer to safety, but is still considered a cornerback on the Saints roster. Jones and Torrence are long shots to make the roster this season, but Jones particularly has shown flashes and is definitely a candidate for the team’s practice squad.
Saints stars to rest in team’s final preseason game
Since last Friday’s preseason game against the San Diego Chargers served as a “dress rehearsal” for the regular season, the Saints preseason game on Thursday will act as more of a last chance audition for players on the roster bubble.
Saints coach Sean Payton said many of the Saints starters will not play, and some will not make the trip to Tennessee for the preseason finale against the Titans on Thursday night.
Although there is no official list of players that will not be playing, Payton said that quarterback Drew Brees, defensive end Will Smith, tight end Jeremy Shockey, cornerback Tracy Porter, linebacker Jonathan Vilma, safety Darren Sharper, and others will not participate in the game.
Resting the team’s starters for the final preseason game is a move that many NFL head coaches make to avoid injuries before the start of the regular season, and Payton has done this ever since he became the Saints coach. Instead of making the game a tune-up for the starters, it serves as a last chance for players to make their case to make the roster.
Additionally, the competition for the Saints backup quarterback position should also end after tomororow night. Chase Daniel and Patrick Ramsey are both competing for the position, and will see equal playing time in Tennessee tomorrow night. Ramsey will play the first half, with Daniel getting in for the second half. Many believe that the backup quarterback position hinges on the play tomorrow night.
