Under The Radar: Five Players To Watch At Saints Camp

It's been another eventful off-season at Saints headquarters this year.  The fans got what they wanted when the team parted ways with much maligned former defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs and hired Gregg Williams as his replacement. 

Williams is known for his creative blitz schemes and for coaching up those dominant Tennessee Titan defenses of a few years back.  We have heard all about the four-game suspensions of Will Smith and Charles Grant, the impact of the Jeremy Shockey trade, the signing of Darren Sharper, and the re-retirement of Dan Morgan.

So, with that in mind I will focus instead on five players to keep an eye on during this years training camp who are flying somewhat "under the radar."

1. RB Pierre Thomas

The departure of fan favorite and Saints all-time leading rusher Deuce McAllister was a bitter pill to swallow for the die hard Saints fans, but here's the silver lining: Pierre Thomas is the best back in the league you've never heard of.  Brian Urlacher is familiar with him, having been run over repeatedly by the "PT Cruiser" in the 2007 finale (I prefer "PT Bruiser", or "Thomas The Tank Engine"). 

A quick and powerful north-south runner, his style reminds me of Emmitt Smith with a little less wiggle and a little more umph.  Durability is still a question mark, but splitting time with Reggie Bush should lighten the load for the 5'11", 215 pound back.  Nobody can replace number 26, but watch Pierre and you'll realize the power-back legacy Ricky and Deuce established in New Orleans is alive and well, now it just comes in a little smaller package.

2. DE Bobby McCray

The Giants of 2007 had everyone looking for that third starter at defensive end after their Super Bowl run.  The Saints, having given long term deals to both Will Smith and Charles Grant, had a lot invested at the position already, but the sack totals still have not yet justified the expense. 

Enter Bobby McCray. 

He was the team's best pass rusher last season and with new DC Gregg Williams on board it's easy to imagine McCray as a poor man's Jevon Kearse.  If anyone can teach a super tall, super fast defensive end how to pull down some sacks, it's Williams.  The four-game suspensions of Smith and Grant will give McCray an early chance to prove he can also stop the run, but even if he is only a third down pass-rush specialist, he can be a dang good one with a more creative scheme in place.

3.  LG Carl Nicks

Speaking of suspensions, Carl Nicks got his chance to play left guard as a rookie last season when Jamar Nesbit served a four game suspension of his own, and Nesbit is still wondering when he can have his old job back.

Answer: Don't hold your breath. 

Nicks was a steal in the fifth round of last years draft after most of the league took him off their draft boards when he was involved in a minor domestic incident.  A tackle in college, Nicks is a brick house with a mean streak the Saints offensive line has been lacking since Kyle Turley went postal.  If I were a weakside linebacker or free safety and I saw big number 77 pulling, I'd start looking for places to hide my lunch.

4.  FB Heath Evans

Mike Karney is gone, along with his running mate, and at first I didn't get it, after all Karney was a devastating blocker and well, I love devastating blockers.  But after some thought I realized what Payton is thinking. 

Anytime Karney took the field everyone knew we were running. 

As a playcaller, the last thing a coach wants to be is predictable.  Heath Evans runs, blocks, and catches equally well. Karney is one dimensional.  Yeah, he can run a little, and catch a ball here and there and he almost single-handedly won a game for the Saints vs the Parcells coached Cowboys, but opposing defense will have a much tougher time guessing run or pass with Evans on the field instead of Karney.  If that helps the coach with his playcalling it could have a ripple effect on an already potent offense, and that would be scary.

5.  DT Rod Coleman

I know the Saints have not had much success lately in luring players out of semi-retirement, but here's hoping the law of averages catches up with them.  Two or three years ago Rod Coleman was one of the best defensive tackles in the league, and if he can find a way to recapture his old form, the interior of the defensive line could become a real strength. 

Depth is a concern with the departures of Hollis Thomas and Brian Young, but a healthy and motivated Rod Coleman, along with Sedrick Ellis and the underrated Kendrick Clancy would give the team a talented three deep rotation. Bringing in Coleman's former position coach with the Falcons Bill Johnson to coach the D-line can't hurt his chances.