Saints’ draft:  Who are those guys?

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, May 11, 2007  |  Comments( 8 )

New Orleans Saints
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It's the most-remembered line from the classic motion picture "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."

As the pair is being chased through the mountains by a relentless posse of unknown pursuers, Sundance keeps turning to Butch and asking: "Who are those guys?"

The same could be said of the most recent crew of New Orleans Saints imports. With the exception of top pick Robert Meachem and No. 4 choice Antonio Pittman, this was a "Who's He?'' rather than "Who's Who?" draft.

Who ever heard of cornerback David Jones, the No. 5 pick? For that matter, who ever heard of his school, Wingate?

Andy Alleman and Usama Young? MAC guys. Offensive tackle Jermin Bushrod? Towson State. Linebacker Marvin Mitchell played for Tennessee, but in surprising obscurity.

This sort of dice-rolling worked well for the Saints last season, when late-round picks Jahri Evans (an offensive lineman from Bloomsburg State) and Marques Colston (a wide receiver from Hofstra who blossomed as a star) made the scouting staff look brilliant. So is this a trend? Head coach Sean Payton says no.

"It (the 2007 draft) just worked out that way," Payton told the Bayou Buzz, adding "That some of the players came from smaller schools shouldn't diminish the qualities they possess and that we felt were redeeming."

Nevertheless, what the Saints did in New York last month epitomizes how the draft has changed. Twenty years ago, or even 10, Pittman -- a star for the elite Ohio State Buckeyes -- would have been a lock as a first-round choice. And David Jones would have had to make his way through the free agent labyrinth.

Now, though, it's all about 40 times and bench presses and how a player performs at the very public NFL Combine and the more private Pro Days. What he has accomplished has become less important than what he might accomplish.

Pro football is also different because it doesn't offer guaranteed contracts. In Marvin Mitchell's case, he led the Volunteers with 105 tackles, but comes to preseason camp groaning under the weight of triple baggage -- an old knee injury, a 2006 arrest for disorderly conduct, and a weak (for a linebacker) 40 time of 4.89, which isn't quick enough to prompt switching the 250-pound Mitchell to defensive end. But if he doesn't work out, the Saints don't have to pay him.

The downside of small school players, of course, is that their adjustment curve is steeper. It's a safe bet that David Jones never had to cover anyone like Colston and Meachem, never mind some of the other speedsters around the NFL. The defensive linemen whom Jermin Bushrod will have to fend off will be bigger and faster than any he has confronted before.

By contrast, Pittman must have wondered what he had to do to be drafted higher. He rushed for over 1,000 yards for a team that reached the BCS Championship game. He catches passes out of the backfield. He's 5-foot-11, 205 pounds and runs a 4.4 40. He has no character issues.

So what's the problem? His blocking is subpar, say some scouts. He's too "slender," say others (although it's hard to imagine how someone can be slender at 5-11, 205).

At any rate, Pittman will have the chance to play behind Deuce McAllister as the Saints' power back, and he'll learn a lot. And because Deuce has a history of injuries, Pittman will be a solid insurance policy.

Meanwhile, the 6-3, 210-pound Meachem is very much like Colston -- big, fast and physical. Together, they should give Drew Brees one of the best receiving tandems in the NFC South.

Payton likes Alleman, a guard from Akron, "because his motor never stops running," Kent State product Young because "he plays hard."

Who are those guys? Very soon, Saints fans are going to find out.

Got a bone to pick with a newspaper columnist, talk show personality or television analyst? E-mail us at mediawatch@realfootball365.com. For more information, visit our Media Watch info page.
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