The Final 53

by mayne41event | 3 years ago | 0 Comments

 

By Donovan Simmons | @RZDSimmons | September 22, 2021 09:01pm 

 

 

The preseason games have finished. A lot of tough decisions needed to be made by the Saints brass to get down the 53 man teams. But let’s break it down. 

 

First, two injuries to report. OLB Terrance Smith missed the final 2 preseason games. But he will be good to go come week 1 as the Saints host the Packers. And DT Nathan Shepherd will miss said game against the Packers, but should be back in the lineup week 2 in Carolina.

 

Next, here is the practice squad.

 

- QB Ian Book

- HB Rodney Anderson

- FB Adam Prentice

- WR Ashton Dulin

- G Dru Samia

- G Ben Benzschawel

- DE Jason Strowbridge

- DE Carl Granderson

- DT Dontavius Russell

- OLB Asmar Bilal

- CB Corey Ballentine

- S JR Pace

 

And now, here are your RedZone League Season 70 New Orleans Saints.

 

 

QB - Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill

 

 

If there was a doubt before training camp started, those doubts were put aside once Coach Treadwell and his staff came into power. He immediately named Jameis the starter and Taysom the backup. But don't be shocked if we see the “Human Swiss Army Knife” on the field in spots.

 

 

RB - Alvin Kamara, Dwayne Washington, D’Onta Foreman, Tony Jones Jr.

 

 

Kamara is the clear Do-It-All back. Inside run, outside run and a legit pass catching option out of the backfield. Washington will be the main spell back, with Foreman and TJJ bringing the muscle in for short yardage.

 

 

WR - Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, Deonte Harris, Marquez Callaway, Ty Montgomery II

 

 

The Saints sure have a certain archetype of receiver. Outside of the speedy Deonte Harris, all others are 6’0 and up. Michael “Slant” Thomas leads the way, with Tre’Quan Smith and Marquez Callaway at 2 and 3 respectively. The versatile Ty Mongomery II is also in the mix. 

 

 

TE - Adam Trautman, Juwan Johnson, Nick Vannett, Dylan Soehner

 

 

Trautman and Johnson proved to be a dynamic duo in the preseason. Both will see lots of time in this offense. Nick Vannett will be the pseudo FB with not one listed on the roster. Soehner will be the TE3 for heavy and goal line sets.

 

 

T - Terron Armstead, Ryan Ramczyk, James Hurst

 

 

Two stellar bookend tackles with Armstead and Ramczyk. James Hurst will be the swing tackle

 

 

G - Andrus Peat, Cesar Ruiz, Jonathan Cooper, Senio Kelemete

 

 

The veteran Peat and the second year man Ruiz hold down the interior after having a great training camp and preseason. Cooper and Kelemete add veteran depth

 

 

C - Erik McCoy, Hroniss Grasu

 

 

McCoy calls the shots from center and is for sure the glue of this unit. Hroniss Grasu will back him up.

 

 

DE - Cameron Jordan, Marcus Davenport, Aldon Smith, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Payton Turner

 

 

The versatile vet Jordan leads this group of edge rushers. Expect to see Jordan kick inside during passing downs with the signing of Aldon Smith. But youth fills out the rest of the ends with Kpassagnon (27), Davenport (24) and Turner (22).

 

 

DT - David Onyemata, Nathan Shepherd, Shy Tuttle, Malcolm Roach

 

 

David Onyemata anchors the middle next to preseason signing Nathan Shepherd. Shy Tuttle and Malcolm Roach add depth.

 

 

OLB - Zack Baun, Pete Werner, Kaden Elliss, Terrance Smith

 

 

Of all the position groups, this outside backer core has the most questions going into Season 70. The new regime quickly made an effort to deal veteran Kwon Alexander in favor of 2 yr man Zack Baun and rookie Pete Werner. Will the youth movement pay off? Or will the hole left by the departing Alexander be too much for them to fill

 

 

MLB - Demario Davis, Tyrell Adams, Chase Hansen

 

 

One of the top MLB’s in RedZone, Demario Davis is the unquestioned leader of this defense. Whether it’s filling run lanes or covering backs and tight ends, Davis can do it all. But at 32, how much longer can he be one of the best.? 

 

 

CB - Marshon Lattimore, Bradley Roby, Brian Poole, Desmond Trufant, Ken Crawley, Paulson Adebo

 

 

I’d be hard pressed to find another defensive backfield as deep and the CB’s and Safeties in NO. The cornerback unit is led by 5th year man Marshon Lattimore. Both Roby and Poole were named as potential trade pieces, but deals never materialized. Trufant and Crawley will both see time as the dime CB. The rookie Paulson Adebo will have plenty of guidance from the vets ahead of him.

 

 

S - Marcus Williams, CJ Gardner-Johnson, Malcolm Jenkins, PJ Williams, JT Gray

 

Four starting caliber players here. They will all see time on the field. Marcus Williams and versatile CJ GJ are starting on the backend. Saints legend Malcolm Jenkins will see time at safety and in sub packages. 

 

 

Specialist - Wil Lutz, Blake Gillikin

 

 

Kickers kick…. End of sentence.

 

 

Follow me @RZDSimmons on Twitter all season long for Saints coverage. And check out the team page at daddyleagues.com/redzone/team/NO