Is Sean Payton mellowing a bit? Previously always a reliable Caste disciple, the Saints this year sport eight White starters and 17 White players on the 53, which makes New Orleans roughly equal to New England to start the regular season.
Three White starters on the o-line is a new high under Payton. Much maligned but very effective Zach Strief starts again at right tackle. He’s joined by center Max Unger, one of the very best, and LG Tim Lelito from Grand Valley State. They need to stay healthy as all of the backups are non-White.
Drew Brees at 37 and in his 16th NFL campaign remains one of the top quarterbacks in the league as well as an all-time great. He combines high intelligence with deadly accuracy.
35-year-old Luke McCown is again Brees’ primary backup, while second year QB Garrett Grayson from Colorado State has all the tools to succeed but won’t get an opportunity for as long as Brees is still effective.
Coby Fleener was signed away from Indianapolis in the offseason. He’s a pure receiving tight end in the mold of Jimmy Graham and the hope is that Payton won’t be reluctant to use him that way, even though it’s quite rare that a White TE isn’t required to be a blocking demon no matter how good a receiver he is. Fleener has a good shot at going over 1,000 receiving yards in 2016 and scoring a bunch of TDs.
Payton has raved about Josh Hill’s athleticism and talent but he remained the backup to veteran Ben Watson last year and will back up Fleener this season.
John Kuhn, now 33, is the team’s new fullback. Kuhn has had a few moments running and receiving in his NFL career, but at a bulked up 250 pounds his primary role remains that of an extra offensive lineman in the backfield.
While the Saints used a “snow patrol” at linebacker early on in Payton’s coaching career, since then Whites were effectively purged from the defensive side of the ball, with the Saints’ defense being atrociously bad year after year, so it’s nice to see five overachievers on the roster this year.
Now in his 8th year, James Laurinaitis, the Rams’ former first round pick out of Ohio State, was waived after injuries derailed his usual tackling machine form in 2015. Immediately considered washed up by the media and DWFs, Laurinaitis instead will man the middle of the New Orleans defense in 2016.
Newly acquired Paul Kruger is listed as the starting left end by Our Lads. He should provide an immediate boost to the team’s pass rush.
Mike Mauti and Nathan Stupar are second team linebackers and will see some action other than as special teamers.
Erik Harris, a 6’ 3” 225 pound rookie safety from California (PA) made the final roster though his spot is likely not very secure.
The waiving of the very talented DE/OLB Davis Tull after an injury-plagued rookie year was a big disappointment. Tull didn’t even make the practice squad and remains unsigned.
Fully half the practice squad is White – WR Jake Lampman (from Ferris State), TE Garrett Griffin (Air Force), FB Austin Johnson (Tennessee), and OL Jack Allen (Michigan State) and John Fullington (Washington State).
All in all this is the best Saints squad from a Caste Football perspective in quite some time.
Starters:
QB Drew Brees
FB John Kuhn
TE Coby Fleener
LG Tim Lelito
C Max Unger
RT Zach Strief
DE Paul Kruger (may be in battle for position)
MLB James Laurinaitis
Total number of White players on 53 man roster: 17
Grade: D+
Three White starters on the o-line is a new high under Payton. Much maligned but very effective Zach Strief starts again at right tackle. He’s joined by center Max Unger, one of the very best, and LG Tim Lelito from Grand Valley State. They need to stay healthy as all of the backups are non-White.
Drew Brees at 37 and in his 16th NFL campaign remains one of the top quarterbacks in the league as well as an all-time great. He combines high intelligence with deadly accuracy.
35-year-old Luke McCown is again Brees’ primary backup, while second year QB Garrett Grayson from Colorado State has all the tools to succeed but won’t get an opportunity for as long as Brees is still effective.
Coby Fleener was signed away from Indianapolis in the offseason. He’s a pure receiving tight end in the mold of Jimmy Graham and the hope is that Payton won’t be reluctant to use him that way, even though it’s quite rare that a White TE isn’t required to be a blocking demon no matter how good a receiver he is. Fleener has a good shot at going over 1,000 receiving yards in 2016 and scoring a bunch of TDs.
Payton has raved about Josh Hill’s athleticism and talent but he remained the backup to veteran Ben Watson last year and will back up Fleener this season.
John Kuhn, now 33, is the team’s new fullback. Kuhn has had a few moments running and receiving in his NFL career, but at a bulked up 250 pounds his primary role remains that of an extra offensive lineman in the backfield.
While the Saints used a “snow patrol” at linebacker early on in Payton’s coaching career, since then Whites were effectively purged from the defensive side of the ball, with the Saints’ defense being atrociously bad year after year, so it’s nice to see five overachievers on the roster this year.
Now in his 8th year, James Laurinaitis, the Rams’ former first round pick out of Ohio State, was waived after injuries derailed his usual tackling machine form in 2015. Immediately considered washed up by the media and DWFs, Laurinaitis instead will man the middle of the New Orleans defense in 2016.
Newly acquired Paul Kruger is listed as the starting left end by Our Lads. He should provide an immediate boost to the team’s pass rush.
Mike Mauti and Nathan Stupar are second team linebackers and will see some action other than as special teamers.
Erik Harris, a 6’ 3” 225 pound rookie safety from California (PA) made the final roster though his spot is likely not very secure.
The waiving of the very talented DE/OLB Davis Tull after an injury-plagued rookie year was a big disappointment. Tull didn’t even make the practice squad and remains unsigned.
Fully half the practice squad is White – WR Jake Lampman (from Ferris State), TE Garrett Griffin (Air Force), FB Austin Johnson (Tennessee), and OL Jack Allen (Michigan State) and John Fullington (Washington State).
All in all this is the best Saints squad from a Caste Football perspective in quite some time.
Starters:
QB Drew Brees
FB John Kuhn
TE Coby Fleener
LG Tim Lelito
C Max Unger
RT Zach Strief
DE Paul Kruger (may be in battle for position)
MLB James Laurinaitis
Total number of White players on 53 man roster: 17
Grade: D+
