The New Orleans Saints are a day closer to training camp, and position battles across the roster will be settled during the next month for the upcoming season. Saints 247 continues its 2012 Training Camp preview with a look at the New Orleans defensive backs.
After Jabari Greer and Patrick Robinson, it is slim pickings for the Saints at defensive back.
Change will be in the air for the New Orleans Saints secondary this season. The Saints were unable to retain fan favorite and unique haircut enthusiast Tracy Porter, who signed with the Broncos as a free agent in the offseason, the man responsible for not one, but two of the most exciting moments of my adult life.
Filling Porter’s shoes will be a tough task for a defense that averaged 259.8 yards per game during the regular season in 2011, ranking near the bottom of the league. A lack of depth in the secondary is cause for concern in the secondary, making training camp all the more important in figuring out a pecking order.
Sure Things:
Jabari Greer
Patrick Robinson
Malcolm Jenkins
Roman Harper
The starting four defensive backs – Greer and Robinson at cornerback, Jenkins at free safety, and Roman Harper at strong safety – remains relatively unchanged. The only real semi-question mark is with Robinson. He is still pretty young and new to the NFL game, but he started seven games a year ago and played very well. Robinson should be able to continue to improve as he gains more experience this season.
Johnny Patrick
Marquis Johnson
Elbert Mack
Isa Abdul-Quddus
Jonathon Amaya
The talent drop-off from the starting unit to the backups in the defensive secondary is very wide. Patrick, Johnson, and Mack will all be competing for the third cornerback spot vacated by the departed Porter. Out of the three, Patrick has the inside track – the team drafted him with the hope of plugging him in a nickel or dime role. If he struggles, look for either Johnson or Mack to take over, or maybe an unforeseen free agent addition could step in.
At safety, both Quddus and Ayama had good seasons as special teams players. Both can fill in decently as a reserve option, and will make the team in that capacity.
On the Bubble:
A.J. Davis
Cord Parks
Laron Scott
Corey White
Kamaal McIIwain
Jose Gumbs
Jerico Nelson
Johnny Thomas
It is very likely that one, if not more, of these players will emerge as a special teams ace, either on coverage on returns or as a returner. The player with the best shot is rookie Corey White, who was drafted in the fifth round from Samford. Expect White to get more opportunities earlier on given his draft position. Given the lack of overall depth in the defensive secondary, the battle for final spots on this part of the roster should be one of the more intense ones, and might not be decided until almost the end of training camp.
Tomorrow: Special Teams
