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Saints counting on smooth transition from BrownBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
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This weekend's mandatory mini-camp in New Orleans could be critical, not just to rookie head coach Sean Payton and a Saints team trying to recover from the disastrous 2005 campaign, but also to the landscape of the early portion of this month's NFL draft.
New Orleans dealt starting left offensive tackle Wayne Gandy to Atlanta on Thursday, in part because the Saints' brass felt the 12-year veteran had become too pricey with a $4 million base salary for this year, but also because Payton and offensive coordinator Doug Marrone wanted the chance to see how second-year pro Jammal Brown would react to a crucial position change.
Brown started in 13 games at right tackle for the Saints last season.
The team's first-round choice in 2005, and a 13-game starter at right tackle as a rookie, Brown was quietly one of the NFL's top first-year players last season. But now the former Oklahoma standout will be asked to move to the left side, and to become the primary pass-protection bodyguard for quarterback Drew Brees, who is still recovering from shoulder surgery and scheduled to be just a spectator this weekend.
By making the Gandy trade when they did, the Saints essentially provided themselves five practice sessions this weekend to evaluate Brown at left tackle. That's five practice sessions well in advance of the draft, where the Saints, if Brown falters, still have the option of using the second overall pick in the first round to snatch University of Virginia left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, if necessary.
Ferguson, of course, is the top-rated tackle in the lottery. Pairing him with Brown would provide the Saints a terrific young tackle tandem for many years. New Orleans has so many shortcomings to address, though, that choosing Ferguson might be a luxury the Saints really can't afford. On the other hand, if Brown isn't up to the task, and this weekend will provide an early evaluation, then the Saints might have to take a hard look at Ferguson, especially given the need to protect Brees.
Other franchises in the top 10 of the draft, several of whom covet Ferguson, will be keeping a keen eye on the reports coming out of the Saints' mini-camp this weekend. They will pay strict attention to any news that hints at how Brown performed at left tackle.
It wasn't all that long ago that New Orleans could claim a wealth of depth on the offensive line. As much as any team in the league, the Saints did a superb job of stockpiling young blockers, and for years were one of the deepest franchises in the NFL on the offensive line. But the Saints lost star center LeCharles Bentley to Cleveland as an unrestricted free agent, released starting left guard Kendyl Jacox and then dealt Gandy to the Falcons, a rare trade involving division rivals.
There's a lot to rebuild in New Orleans, obviously, off the field. On it, the Saints need to remake much of their offensive line, and the first step comes this weekend.
Saints counting on smooth transition from BrownBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Archive
This weekend's mandatory mini-camp in New Orleans could be critical, not just to rookie head coach Sean Payton and a Saints team trying to recover from the disastrous 2005 campaign, but also to the landscape of the early portion of this month's NFL draft.
New Orleans dealt starting left offensive tackle Wayne Gandy to Atlanta on Thursday, in part because the Saints' brass felt the 12-year veteran had become too pricey with a $4 million base salary for this year, but also because Payton and offensive coordinator Doug Marrone wanted the chance to see how second-year pro Jammal Brown would react to a crucial position change.
Brown started in 13 games at right tackle for the Saints last season.
The team's first-round choice in 2005, and a 13-game starter at right tackle as a rookie, Brown was quietly one of the NFL's top first-year players last season. But now the former Oklahoma standout will be asked to move to the left side, and to become the primary pass-protection bodyguard for quarterback Drew Brees, who is still recovering from shoulder surgery and scheduled to be just a spectator this weekend.
By making the Gandy trade when they did, the Saints essentially provided themselves five practice sessions this weekend to evaluate Brown at left tackle. That's five practice sessions well in advance of the draft, where the Saints, if Brown falters, still have the option of using the second overall pick in the first round to snatch University of Virginia left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, if necessary.
Ferguson, of course, is the top-rated tackle in the lottery. Pairing him with Brown would provide the Saints a terrific young tackle tandem for many years. New Orleans has so many shortcomings to address, though, that choosing Ferguson might be a luxury the Saints really can't afford. On the other hand, if Brown isn't up to the task, and this weekend will provide an early evaluation, then the Saints might have to take a hard look at Ferguson, especially given the need to protect Brees.
Other franchises in the top 10 of the draft, several of whom covet Ferguson, will be keeping a keen eye on the reports coming out of the Saints' mini-camp this weekend. They will pay strict attention to any news that hints at how Brown performed at left tackle.
It wasn't all that long ago that New Orleans could claim a wealth of depth on the offensive line. As much as any team in the league, the Saints did a superb job of stockpiling young blockers, and for years were one of the deepest franchises in the NFL on the offensive line. But the Saints lost star center LeCharles Bentley to Cleveland as an unrestricted free agent, released starting left guard Kendyl Jacox and then dealt Gandy to the Falcons, a rare trade involving division rivals.
There's a lot to rebuild in New Orleans, obviously, off the field. On it, the Saints need to remake much of their offensive line, and the first step comes this weekend.
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