Meachem starting to round into shape
May 27, 2008
After watching one practice in 2008, it’s evident that the Saints’ receivers will be among the most compelling position groups to follow this offseason.
Second-year pro Robert Meachem looks healthy and confident after limping through many practices last summer and fall. You can see the combination of size and speed that made him a first-round pick in 2007, and he reeled in at least one difficult catch that made an impression.
If Meachem lives up to his potential, he’ll not only push Devery Henderson for the No. 3 receiver job, but he could eventually supplant his mentor, veteran David Patten, in the starting lineup. That’s a long way off, though, as Meachem still needs to prove he can live through the growing pains in his first true NFL season.
Even more eye-catching during Wednesday’s organized team activities was seventh-round draft pick Adrian Arrington. Though it’s far too early to tell if he’ll be able to grasp the Saints’ offense and perform with any consistency, he certainly passes the eyeball test.
Arrington looks like a prototypical receiver with his 6-foot-3, 192-pound build. He’s a fluid runner and appears to be a natural pass-catcher. Saints Coach Sean Payton praised him after the rookie minicamp this month. It’s not outlandish to make early comparisons to Marques Colston, and not just because both were seventh-round picks.
The question is, where do these guys fit on the depth chart?
The Saints have their top five receivers back from last season — Colston, Patten, Henderson, Lance Moore and Terrance Copper. And typically, teams keep five receivers on the active roster. The Saints made an exception for Meachem last year, keeping six receivers because they didn’t want to risk losing their first-round draft pick.
Henderson is in the most jeopardy after four inconsistent years in New Orleans (he offered a reminder during Wednesday’s practice by dropping another routine catch). Then again, he also has proved his value as a deep threat, and the Saints liked him enough to bring him back when he became an unrestricted free agent this year.
Moore and Copper, meanwhile, bring added value on special teams — which is key for the fourth and fifth receivers on any NFL team if they want to be active on game day. Henderson, Meachem and Arrington have little or no experience playing special teams.
Moore might need to stand out as a returner this preseason to keep his job — especially with added competition from rookie cornerback/return man Tracy Porter. Copper probably has more security because of his value as an all-around special teams player.
It should be fun to watch, especially because the receivers are so much easier to analyze during practices than other position groups. Everything they do, good or bad, is on full display.
That being said, Colston continues to look impressive every time he steps on the field. For the past two seasons, he has always made an impression, looking like a poised veteran with a rare combination of size, speed and consistently great hands.
It’s amazing that this guy came out of nowhere. But as he has proved, there’s nothing fluky about it. After getting snubbed last season, he should earn the first of multiple Pro Bowl invitations this winter.
REPLACING MORGAN: Don’t expect the Saints to sign a big-name veteran linebacker now that Dan Morgan has retired. It’s not like they lost a projected starter and are in panic mode. The Saints knew Morgan was a long shot when they signed him and considered him a bonus.
Some are throwing out names such as Takeo Spikes and Odell Thurman, and it’s possible the Saints will consider them. But Payton said this week that the Saints would be more likely to add a young player for depth at the position.
They still have five veteran linebackers on the roster — Scott Fujita, Jonathan Vilma, Scott Shanle, Mark Simoneau and Troy Evans, plus second-year pro Marvin Mitchell. And Vilma looked healthy during Wednesday’s practice, perhaps the best news to come out of the day.
As for bringing in a veteran defensive end as insurance for Charles Grant, who’s battling legal troubles, don’t expect the Saints to do that right away, either. It might make sense to re-sign veteran Renaldo Wynn for added depth.
But they have time to see how Grant’s legal issues develop, and if necessary, they could always find talent available in August and early September when other teams start whittling their rosters.
MOONLIGHTING FOR CHARITY: Saints tailback Deuce McAllister will host his annual Celebrity Waiter Dinner fundraiser along with several teammates June 3 at the New Orleans Marriott at the Convention Center. McAllister and teammates will serve guests, sign autographs and even provide musical entertainment while raising money for area youths.
Tickets and tables can be purchased through McAllister’s Catch 22 Foundation by contacting Josselyn Miller at (504) 251-7821 or on the Web at www.catch22foundation.org.
Saints owner/executive vice president Rita Benson LeBlanc will serve as a celebrity bartender at the Swizzle Stick Bar in Café Adelaide in the Loews New Orleans Hotel on Thursday, from 5-7 p.m., to raise money for Girls First.
THE NEW T.O.? In one of the most surprising developments of this offseason, Dallas receiver Terrell Owens is not causing any kind of disruption in the Cowboys’ locker room.
Owens is heading into his third year with the Cowboys, and he’s set to become a free agent at the end of the season. But he hasn’t been demanding a contract extension, even in the wake of hefty new deals for teammates Terence Newman and Marion Barber.
“It’s not an issue,” Owens told the media during OTAs. “For me, I’m going to go out and let my play do the talking. (Cowboys owner Jerry Jones) is aware of my ability.”
Owens, 34, has been everything the Cowboys hoped for and more. During the past two seasons, he has 166 catches for 2,535 yards and 28 touchdowns. And, shockingly, he has been a valued teammate and practically a model citizen.
“I think you are seeing a change in a guy, a transformation that has taken place over the last four or five years,” Dallas quarterback Tony Romo said. “We’re pretty lucky to have it happen here. I enjoy the guy. He’s a good teammate. He actually cares about each one of us. He cares about getting better. He gets probably a bad rap because you don’t get to see him every day. I’m pretty sure we’ll be just fine with getting that (contract extension) taken care of.”
NISWANGER’S BIG BREAK: Although he has never started an NFL game and ended last season on injured reserve with torn knee ligaments, former LSU lineman Rudy Niswanger is expected to start at center for the Kansas City Chiefs this year.
The young, rebuilding team is mixing and matching some new parts across the line, with only veteran left guard Brian Waters expected to stay. Niswanger, who went undrafted in 2006, is projected to replace veteran Casey Wiegmann, who was not re-signed in free agency.
“The coaches have been telling us that they like the guys, the linemen, who are still here,” Niswanger told the Kansas City Star. “Coach (Herman) Edwards does not have a problem playing young guys. They expressed a lot of confidence in a lot of us. It’s a good time to be a Chief and a good time to be an offensive lineman for the Chiefs. They’re going to give everybody the opportunity to play.”
BELOVED BELICHICK: Patriots Coach Bill Belichick has become known as a sports villain, but he’s still beloved in New England. He was on hand for the Boston Celtics’ Game 1 victory over the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals, and he received a rousing ovation when he was shown on the Jumbotron. Fans chanted “Bel-i-chick, Bel-i-chick” for about 20 seconds.
BENGALS’ BUSTS: After waiving receiver Chris Henry and Thurman this year because of off-the-field troubles, the Cincinnati Bengals are without their top three picks from the 2005 draft. Their first-round pick, linebacker David Pollack, is retiring because of a fractured vertebrae suffered in a 2006 game.
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