S75 Final 53
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By Donovan Simmons | @RZDSimmons | April 9, 2022 8:30 PM
It is the historic 75th season of RedZone Football. And before we the new additions of your New Orleans Saints, let’s look back at how S74 played out.
Season 74 started out with a load of promise. The Saints felt they found the QB of their future with former 1st overall selection Travis Peterman. And not only the offense went through a major change, but the defense was transitioning to a 34. After coming out of the gate with a 3-1 start, 4 straight losses led to a 6-11 finish. Peterman finished with 28 INTs and the lack of playmakers on both sides of the back showed greatly.
Heading into the offseason, Coach Mayne and staff were searching for answers. The plan started with dealing two mainstays in Erik McCoy (To the Jags) and Marcus Lattimore (To the Ravens). Next came some wheeling and dealing with draft picks. The end result, The Saints had 12 selections and 7 in the first 3 rounds of the draft. They also had somewhere north of $60 million of cap free. In total, 23 new Saints were brought in to try and get this team back on track.
Signings
WR Dionte Johnson - 2yrs $14 mill
SS Nasir Adderley - 2yrs $12.9 mill
TE Will Dissly - 2yrs $13.4 mill
OLB Aj Epenesa - 3yrs $35.1 mill
CB Kenny Moore - 2yrs $17 mill
WR Darren Burgess - 3yrs $12 mill
C Chase Roullier - 1yr $4.8 mil
CB Tre Herndon - 2yrs $6.8 mil
HB Malachi Wallace - 3yrs $10.3 mil
MLB Malik Harrison - 3yrs $16.4 mil
DT Grover Stewart - 1yr $4.55 mil
Draft Class
1.9 - TE Jason Webster Iowa
1.21 - C Luke Larson Texas A&M
1.29 - DT Jeremy Moorehead Tennessee
2.5 - LT Melvin Ellington USC
2.9 - SS Danny Toomer Ohio State
3.9 - OLB Enrique Wheaton Texas
3.12 - LB Tommy Harris Washington
4.9 - HB Tyree Dailey Baylor
5.5 - CB Brian Gentry Wisconsin
5.9 - DE Gil Sweat Boise State
6.9 - WR Isaiah Yates LA Tech
7.9 - K Matt Carpenter UCLA
And before we get to the final 53, these players were placed on the Practice Squad prior to the S75 kickoff.
Practice Squad
G Justin Cutler
HB Tyree Dailey
HB Antonio Kendricks
HB John Long
WR Timmy Stamer
WR Isaiah Yates
DT Gil Sweat
MLB Enrique Wheaton
MLB Tommy Harris
CB Brian Gentry
And now, the Season 75 final 53 for your New Orleans Saints
QB - Travis Peterman, PJ Walker
Peterman got a fresh start and a new deal. But his struggles didn’t end. While he did throw for a career highs in comp %, yards and tied his high in TDs, it didn’t translate to wins in the tough NFCS. He’ll look to bounce back this year along with Walker in the QB room.
RB - Javonte Willaims, Malachi Wallace, Donnell Pierce, Julian Simmons, James McCoy (FB)
A solid year from Williams (1,400 total yds 11TDs), but former WFT RB Wallace was brought in to add some needed speed in the backfield. Look for the two of them to be closer to a full split of the touches. Pierce, Simmons and FB McCoy all return as well.
WR - Bryan Barden, Dionte Johnson, Darren Burgess, Devin Duvernay, Derek Faulkner, Michael Pittman, Matt Devine
Brian Barden emerged as a Pro Bowler, superstar and WR1 of this offense. But with the Pittman deal looking more like a bust, enter Dionte Johnson and Darren Burgess. Johnson hit free agency after a 3 yr stay in New England. While Burgess was 2 years removed from 1k season in GB, became a cap casualty. Duvernay returns for his 3rd season in the black and gold, while 3rd year WRs Devine and Faulkner fill out the room.
TE - Will Dissly, Jason Webster (R), Jeremiah McCain
While Juwan Johnson’s numbers were solid in his final two season, it didn’t translate to developing to that next level. So in comes 1st round selection Jason Webster from Iowa. Look for him to be the matchup nightmare that this offense has needed. Will Dissly was also brought in to try and sure up the inline blocking at the TE position. Second year TE McCain returns as well.
T - Walter Lowry, Tony Chamberlain, Melvin Ellington (R)
The Saints are still looking to replace the hole left by Ryan Ramczyk. Lowry returns and 2nd yr T Chamberlain gets the nod. 2nd round selection Ellington is also brought in. He’ll be the swing tackle.
G - Cesar Ruiz, Ty Hoffman, Rob Horan, Marquee Chaisson
Ruiz and Hoffman hold down the guard spots once again. Horan and Chaisson will back them up.
C - Luke Larson (R), Chase Roullier
The deep center draft class made McCoy become available and the Saints got their guy at 1.22 in Luke Larson. He looks to get the starting nod after a stellar camp. 33yr old Chase Roullier will back him up.
DT - Bart McCloud, Jerry Choice, Jaden Telfer, Levi Onwuzurike
Heading into yr 2 of the transition to the 34, standouts McCloud and Choice look to get back to form. Telfer will look to get some rotational snaps and Onwuzurike will be depth.
NT - Jeremy Moorehead (R), Frederick Harris, Avery Boss
The 3rd first round pick came at 1.29 with the selection of Moorehead out of Tennessee. Earned the NT spot in training camp, but will this prove to be too much for the rook? Harris and Boss are depth players.
OLB - Marcus Davenport, Aj Epenesa, Luke Parry, Peyton Turner, Rashaud Shepherd
Finding a pass rusher opposite of Davenport has been a bit of a challenge. Vets were brought in prior and shipped out after one season. Luke Parry was drafted last season, but hasn’t developed as quickly as expected. In enters Aj Epenesa to try his hand at the ROLB spot. The versatile Shepherd will see time at MLB and OLB.
MLB - Pete Werner, Malik Harrison, Bobby Boyd
Werner has been a mainstay the entire cycle. But at 28, a replacement may need to be in the plans this offseason. Harrison will play alongside Werner but Bobby Boyd will see some time.
CB - Kenny Moore II, Michael Ojemudia, Tyson Campbell, Paulson Adebo, Tre Herndon
Biggest question mark heading into S75 will be, how will the Saints replace Marcus Lattimore? Ojemudia, now in his 3rd year in NO, had a down year after a 10 INT campaign in S73. Moore and Herndon are new editions. Expect all 5 to see time.
S - CJ Gardner-Johnson, Nasir Adderley, Lance Pollard, Connor Murray, Danny Toomer (R)
CJGJ, the leader of the defense, moves back to his more natural spot of Free Safety. Adderly will start at Strong. Rookie Danny “It’s not a…” Toomer impressed the staff and will see time in Dime sets.
Specialist - Jake Elliott, Blake Gillikin
Kicking and Kicking up a storm. Blake will be looking for a new deal this offseason.
Follow me @RZDSimmons on Twitter all season long for Saints coverage. And check out the team page at daddyleagues.com/redzone/team/NO
