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... , Moreau, Hill, Graham, James, and Krull?.who do you keep? You normally ...
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<title>It?s hard for me to separate the two</title>
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"> <channel> <title>New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - Blogs</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/</link> <description /> <language>en</language> <lastBuildDate>Sun, 28 Apr 2024 06:35:45 GMT</lastBuildDate> <generator>vBulletin</generator> <ttl>1</ttl> <image> <url>https://blackandgold.com/bngforum/misc/rss.jpg</url> <title>New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - Blogs</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/</link> </image> <item> <title>2023 New Orleans Saints: Training Camp</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/marchingon/539-2023-new-orleans-saints-training-camp.html</link> <pubDate>Wed, 02 Aug 2023 03:30:23 GMT</pubDate> <description>---Quote (Originally by Boston Saint)--- When you consider the TE group of Johnson, Moreau, Hill,...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="quote"> <cite class="smallfont">Originally Posted by <strong>Boston Saint</strong></cite> <a href="showthread.php?p=976451#post976451" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="bngforum/buttons/viewpost.gif" border="0" alt="View Post" /></a> <blockquote class="bq" cite="https://blackandgold.com/saints/102958-2023-new-orleans-saints-training-camp-post976451.html#post976451" dir="ltr"> <div>When you consider the TE group of Johnson, Moreau, Hill, Graham, James, and Krull?.who do you keep? You normally carry what?3 maybe 4 TE max?</div> </blockquote></div>Moreau, Johnson, James, Hill. Krull to practice squad.</div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>MarchingOn</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/marchingon/539-2023-new-orleans-saints-training-camp.html</guid> </item> <item> <title>Puck the Fro Browl!</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/neugey/537-puck-fro-browl.html</link> <pubDate>Sun, 05 Feb 2023 16:41:22 GMT</pubDate> <description><![CDATA[I don't care what bells and whistles are added, or that they throw in Peyton and Eli to try and...]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>I don't care what bells and whistles are added, or that they throw in Peyton and Eli to try and save it. The Pro Bowl will be an unmitigated disaster, and even in it's hey-day outside of the novelty of vacationing in Hawaii it was always a joke anyway. The sport simply does not translate to exhibition play. Skills challenge - meh. It feels like a dick-measuring contest. Quit trying to put a square peg into a round hole.<br /><br /><br /><br />If you want to take a stand for player safety, omit the Pro Bowl and add a second bye week to the regular season instead of having the two-week Super Bowl. For tradition's sake, the Pro Bowl should still be an official honor, but they should just be fictional teams (including Super Bowl participants) that never see the field and the game is never played.<br /><br /><br />Unless seeing Tyler Huntley as MVP this afternoon is really your thing. LOL</div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>neugey</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/neugey/537-puck-fro-browl.html</guid> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[CFP: "Just Keep Doing What You're Doing"]]></title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/neugey/536-cfp-just-keep-doing-what-youre-doing.html</link> <pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2022 21:54:57 GMT</pubDate> <description><![CDATA[I'm usually a believer that change is good, and I'll consider trying anything once. I am not a...]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>I'm usually a believer that change is good, and I'll consider trying anything once. I am not a staunch traditionalist, but in this case just a person who sees how good things are at the current moment. <br /><br />It seems that college football playoffs will expand to 12 teams in a few years. And it's a large misstep. Mine may not be a popular opinion, but I believe the playoff format the college football game has right at this moment is actually a great one. It's the right one to move forward with, and possibly the best format college football has ever had.<br /><br />As we all know, the college football landscape is changing rapidly with NIL, the transfer portal and the increasing irrelevance of the NCAA. The onslaught of super-conferences is also inevitable, and will rearrange or wash away the Power 5 and most various conferences as we know them today. With this newfound parity and largess, people are thinking a jumbo-sized playoff format will be a great fit. But I don't see it.<br /><br />The most powerful asset college football has is its regular season. The right upset, at the right time, can have seismic consequences. It can shift the playoff hopes of numerous teams in ways that are not yet known for weeks to come. The ensuing suspense and national conjecture is both incredible and palpable. Truth be told, the powerhouse rivalry games such as Michigan-Ohio State and Texas-Oklahoma sometimes are just as memorable, if not more memorable, than the championship game itself for many fans. An supersized playoff format will reduce a big part of the drama and consequence of those epic regular season standoffs. <br /><br />The current parity and fragility of the sport is a captivating thing. Having a playoff table with just four chairs preserves a high standard of excellence. Will this be the year the Big Ten has two teams in the playoffs? Or will it be the SEC? Can the PAC 12 or ACC get a team in at all? Will the two conference rivals meet each other in the first round? Or could their rematch become this year's championship? With a 12-team playoff, all this intrigue vanishes and we'll have nothing meaningful to fill the space. <br /><br />In 2022 we've managed to continue the ongoing suspense between Michigan and Ohio State. It's the best case scenario for sports talk and huge ratings. Maybe next year it's LSU and Alabama in this same position. I find this exciting. It creates conversation and excitement for the sport and its blue blood programs. Let's not throw that away.<br /><br />2022 Alabama was not vintage Alabama. They were not the dominant and mostly unscathed program that we've normally come to know (if not loathe). They don't belong at the grown-ups table this year. Making that table bigger and adding more chairs will dilute the meaning of the regular season. The September through November missteps of Tennessee, Alabama, Clemson, Penn State or others won't have consequence because they'll still be "close enough" to likely get in. The bar will be lowered, and the new format will result in a diminished product. With 12 teams, all the discontent will shift to a bigger crowd of 3 and 4 loss teams on the bubble. They will fill the void and whine, thinking they're tough and want another shot. They'll be clamoring for a 16-team playoff, will probably eventually get their way, and then the playoffs will become a drawn-out farce with many lower seeds that don't have a chance in hell of making a run.<br /><br />With a four team playoff, the hill remains steep and the stakes remain high. Teams like 2022 Kansas State and 2022 Utah can still (for now at least) set their sights on a conference championship and a top flight bowl game. Those are still very fine achievements, and sound a lot better than being quickly dispatched as a low seed in a nationwide playoff bracket. The NCAA basketball tournament creates plenty of Cinderella stories, and maybe that's what the proponents of expanded playoffs are looking for. But football is a different animal that takes a much more physical toll. It's a fool's errand to try to recreate March Madness on the gridiron.<br /><br />I realize almost all team sports have expanded their playoffs in some way in the 21st century, and urging big universities and corporations to stand still during a tidal wave is a tall order. But I feel we should try. The worst-case scenario is today's NBA, where they've added a play-in tournament that has basically eradicated any remaining sense of accomplishment for teams making the playoffs. That postseason is now a time-wasting cluster that almost lasts as long as the whole football regular season! That could be the kind of ridiculousness that awaits down the road if we keep wedging open Pandora's box in college football.<br /><br />Four, and no more!</div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>neugey</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/neugey/536-cfp-just-keep-doing-what-youre-doing.html</guid> </item> <item> <title>This is the year</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/neugey/535-year.html</link> <pubDate>Fri, 25 Nov 2022 14:52:01 GMT</pubDate> <description><![CDATA[This is the year - for a non-quarterback to win the NFL MVP. We're overdue and there are at...]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>This is the year -<br /><br /><br />for a non-quarterback to win the NFL MVP. We're overdue and there are at least four awesome candidates who deserve consideration. In no particular order:<br /><br /><br /><br />1) <b>RB Derrick Henry</b> - a very powerful runner with excellent vision. He is without peer among NFL runningbacks because of the sheer force and physical nature of his running. On almost any run, you can pencil him in for 3 yards gained because he's the ultimate fall-forward runner who will generate positive yardage. And he has an element of speed other big runners past and present mostly lacked. He is the Titans' Ace card and the whole team knows it. If Derrick is active, the team plays with an extra edge on both offense and defense. The last RB to win the MVP award was Adrian Peterson in 2012, and Derrick is a worthy heir.<br /><br /><br /><br />2) <b>WR Justin Jefferson</b> - Justin's chemistry with Kirk Cousins has reached another level. JJ doesn't need to even be open anymore as long as Cousins puts the ball in vicinity. JJ has the agility, strength and awareness to complete the catch whatever the situation may look like. Incredible sideline catches, acrobatic one-hand catches, great run after catch, can even throw a solid option pass, this dude has it all. A WR has NEVER won the MVP award which is quite sad. One of the biggest snubs in MVP-voting history is Favre winning it over Jerry Rice in 1995, when Jerry had 122 catches, 115.5 yards per game and 15 touchdowns. Perhaps it's time to right that wrong and give the award to Jefferson, whose stats right now are pretty much on track with Jerry's 1995.<br /><br /><br />3) <b>TE Travis Kelce</b> - Kelce is so far ahead of his peers at his position it is almost becoming laughable. With Tyreek leaving the Chiefs, this may be the most important season of Kelce's career, providing Mahomes an ultra-reliable weapon while the new wide receivers still are becoming accustomed to Andy Reid's sophisticated Chiefs offense. Kelce already has 11 TD's, and his ability to generate YAC is very special for his position. Mahomes to Kelce is the NFL version of Stockton to Malone. Malone won two league MVP's, and Stockton none. So there you go.<br /><br /><br />4) <b>LB Micah Parsons</b> - By the time I started watching football seriously, Lawrence Taylor had already retired. But I feel no need to watch LT highlights. I can just see what Parsons does to wreck offenses basically every week. He is a left tackle's absolute worst nightmare in 2022. The Saints have their own problems in 2022 and this is a really good year for the Saints not to play the Cowboys! Other pass rusher's have quality moves like Parsons ... but no one else can replicate them with his sheer speed. He is athletic enough to employ at other defensive roles and be respectable, but in crunch time he's rushing the passer. It's fitting he wears number 11 ... because like Eleven in Stranger Things, he seems so much more powerful than all others around him. We'll have to see if Parsons can keep up this crazy pace. But for right now, we should consider him as a possible NFL MVP.</div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>neugey</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/neugey/535-year.html</guid> </item> <item> <title>Head Coach Material</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/neugey/534-head-coach-material.html</link> <pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2022 13:44:02 GMT</pubDate> <description><![CDATA[I was thinking about the reasons Dennis Allen isn't working out, and I think I've solved the...]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>I was thinking about the reasons Dennis Allen isn't working out, and I think I've solved the puzzle. There is a formula for having a successful NFL (or even college) head coach.<br /><br /><br />If you are a defensive head coach, you need to have very special leadership abilities to earn your team's buy-in and keep it. If you are an offensive head coach that calls the plays or has a very strong influence on the offensive gameplan/playcalling, and you are adept at it, the bar seems to be lower.<br /><br /><br />Players will stay engaged when they know they've got a whiz kid or great mind running the offense. When you have this type of coach, there is a confidence that naturally flows to the whole team when you've got a savvy pilot in the cockpit. It doesn't matter if the guy is just a so-so leader, because the great playcalling and confidence it instills in the team will transcend.<br /><br /><br />To prove my point, let's take a look at the successful defensive coaches in the NFL. Each of them has special trait(s) that take them over the top:<br /><br /><br />Belichick - Absolutely no nonsense at all times and runs his team with an iron hand. He is 1 of 1, no one else that has tried this approach has succeeded.<br /><br />Carroll - Extroverted and very charismatic<br /><br />Tomlin - Very bold and charismatic<br />Vrabel - A tough guy who knows how to empower people<br /><br /><br />Hiring a defensive savant like Dennis Allen, Steve Spagnola, Jim Haslett and so on doesn't work. In order to be a defensive guy and make it, you must have an incredible presence like the coaches listed above.<br /><br /><br /><br />Former Vikings coach Mike Zimmer was close, as he had a firm, tough-love, rousing leadership style. But inevitably he wasn't quite in the same class as the top-tier defensive coaches listed above and eventually wore out his welcome.<br /><br /><br />But when you have a pretty good offensive coach who knows his stuff, often calling the plays, the leadership flows more naturally. New young coaches like LaFleur, Kevin O'Connell, Zac Taylor, Kyle Shanahan, Nick Sirianni all fit this description. At the college level, you see the sheer offensive genius of Josh Heupel and Steve Sarkisian re-energizing Tennessee and Texas. Andy Reid isn't a great coach in a traditional sense, but he has had an amazing career because when he is at the controls the players flat-out play with great confidence. And a guy like Kliff Kingsbury, who has probably been in over his head from the start, has even been moderately successful and kept his job (for now) because he has been fairly decent at times controlling the offense. <br /><br /><br /><br />If Arizona fired Kingsbury, they'd have a scapegoat for their underachieving, but they would still feel "lost" without him at the helm of the ship and the transition to whoever would be calling the plays next would be super-jarring. The Colts are about to experience this in the coming weeks. An offensive coach will have a longer leash because you're hesitant to axe the pilot in the cockpit. Because whoever slides in that seat to try to replace him, it will be a tough transition.<br /><br /><br />So hire an offensive coach, and all is well? Not necessarily. You have to watch out for the Josh McDaniels or Nathaniel Hackett whose offensive ability was improperly gauged because of others around him and now he's getting badly exposed.<br /><br /><br />So be careful going forward. But I just don't see Allen as the answer. He isn't in the caliber of defensive coaches like Carroll, Belichick, Tomlin. Truthfully, he is probably a few rungs below Haslett.</div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>neugey</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/neugey/534-head-coach-material.html</guid> </item> <item> <title>NFL Offenses need to Get Retro</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/neugey/533-nfl-offenses-need-get-retro.html</link> <pubDate>Sat, 08 Oct 2022 14:56:30 GMT</pubDate> <description><![CDATA[Following a lousy Thursday Night Football game, people are starting to wonder what's wrong with...]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>Following a lousy Thursday Night Football game, people are starting to wonder what's wrong with offenses in the NFL this season. Are NFL defenses truly that good?<br /><br /><br />To some extent, yes. The athleticism and range of defensive players in the NFL has never been better across the board. Quarterbacks are having a harder time than usual picking apart zone defenses. Zone coverage, especially the Tampa 2 style, has become much more effective than we've seen in a long time, possibly ever. It used to be that only a few teams had the talent to run Tampa 2 effectively on a regular basis. But now almost all NFL teams can run zone plays with ease and impressive range.<br /><br /><br /><br />It took a long time, and it's been a slow evolution, but teams seem to have gradually gotten away from the West Coast concepts engineered by Bill Walsh. Remember in the 90's where the west coast offenses dominated and the best coaches to implement it were in very high demand? Things are quite different now. With the popularity and success of Sean McVay, along with the popularity of QB's that make "off-schedule" plays like Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray do, NFL offenses have gotten into a more loose and matchup-oriented style, and have gotten away from the West Coast principles. <br /><br /><br /><br />Now we see a lot of 3WR, 1 TE, 1 RB on nearly a full-time basis. The slot WR who used to be a part-time play now has a full-time role. Yes, on occasion for short distance plays teams still bring in an extra tight end, or a fullback or a two halfback set. But the real point is, teams don't seem to be good anymore at executing in those formations with 2 TE's or 2 RB's like they used to be. Those personnel grouping probably aren't practiced with any regularity anymore. <br /><br /><br /><br />What is it about the West Coast personnel that is so essential? I believe it is when you have those extra RB's and TE's in the backfield or aside the tackles, the LB's and S's have a harder time reading what is going to happen with the play and where the play is going. Which player is blocking? Which one is releasing to the flat? If the TE and HB/FB both run a route over the middle, the MLB probably has to pick one to cover and leave the other one open. The defense has to honor the inside run, outside run, screen game, the shot passing play, among other things.<br /><br /><br /><br />With the west coast de-emphasized, some of the cat and mouse from the pro game seems to be gone. When was the last time you've seen a well-executed HB draw? An actual sweep play? A flea-flicker play that is actually well-executed?<br /><br /><br />It seems like NFL offenses need to focus less on "finding mismatches" and relying on top-line QB/WR talent, and go back to the play designs that get reliable yardage. The first team to figure out that a return to the west coast fundamentals is in order should have quite a bit of success this year.</div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>neugey</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/neugey/533-nfl-offenses-need-get-retro.html</guid> </item> <item> <title>The NFL Has a Sports Medicine Problem (fixed)</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/neugey/532-nfl-has-sports-medicine-problem-fixed.html</link> <pubDate>Sat, 01 Oct 2022 15:07:47 GMT</pubDate> <description>After seeing the Tua concussion on Thursday Night Football and listening to a lot of media members...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>After seeing the Tua concussion on Thursday Night Football and listening to a lot of media members speak on the topic, it seems like there is a lot of tunnel vision right now with everyone fixated on solving concussions. It was indeed a scary injury, and I hope Tua will be okay. But due to recency bias, I feel people aren't seeing that the events of this last week are a symptom of a bigger medical problem in the NFL.<br /><br />I'm not going to be afraid to take big swings in this blog, because based on what we've seen lately, there are certainly a great deal of failures in the NFL with player health. I don't claim to be right with all of my assertions. I'm certainly a ways off with some of them. But I love football and the Saints, and I think taking a step back and seeing the big picture is necessary and vital right now.<br /><br />The NFLPA is one of the most feckless sports organizations to ever exist, almost down there with the NCAA. Even with all the money rolling into the NFL, they can't even fight for the guaranteed contracts that are prevalent in most other professional sports. They're good for paper-thin threats and weak sound bytes when major news breaks out - and that's about it.<br /><br />The area where the NFLPA comes up short the most often is the health and safety of its players. When you cut through the crap, it feels like players are pretty much on their own when trying to handle health and treatment differences with their day-to-day boss, the NFL team. This was evident over the past few years with the Michael Thomas situation, which got downright divisive and nearly ruined our relationship with the star wide receiver for good.<br /><br />When I visit my doctor, it?s a whole different experience than when an NFL player is treated. I can?t imagine being in a vulnerable and injured state and wondering whose interests my doctor really has in mind. I can?t expect to relate to what a player like Michael Thomas has gone through.<br /><br />The core problem is this: any team physician has an inherent conflict of interest between the players he treats and the financial interests of the organization that pays and insures him. In the NFL, which is experiencing a huge financial boom due to the giant broadcast contracts and its new alliances with sports betting companies, the conflict of interest can only be magnified. The player himself already has his own inner struggle, weighing his own health versus his financial outlook. On top of that, he is caught in the middle between his interests and the team?s concerns. When you also add in fame, social media and the pressures of the outside world, his sense of duty to his teammates ? it?s no wonder the player has a hard time making clear decisions. It?s a situation that?s made worse if the player is dealing with head trauma.<br /><br />There needs to be a professional in the room that understands the medical situation and has (or at least attempts to have) the player?s long-term health interests at heart. The team trainer/doctor, unless he is of exceptional integrity and willing to put his job on the line regularly, is not going to be considering in the player?s quality of life as much as is needed.<br /><br />This is where the currently inept NFLPA comes in. They need to fight for their players and bargain for every team to have it?s own NFLPA-provided team doctor (with possibly also a few assistants) that is involved in the player health decisions. The team doctor and NFLPA can work together or independently as needed, but the key is that both are involved in the major decisions. If at any time one or both of the doctors feels a player should not be participating, the player is removed from the game or practice ASAP. This approach will create its own problems, and is sure to result in a lot of infighting between the NFL team, it?s doctor and the NFLPA doctor(s) on assignment. And that is the point - there needs to be a lot of conflict and hard conversations that need to occur in order to derive better outcomes for player health.<br /><br />If this solution is implemented, then as a whole, a more cautious approach to player health will be the result. This means more players will be held out of action and IR counts will be larger. Roster sizes in NFL will need to be increased to offset this. Perhaps an increase of roster size to 55 active/60 total players will be sufficient. Maybe something higher is needed.<br /><br />The current Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant (UNC) should be scrapped in favor of this new NFLPA-oriented approach. After the Tua concussion nightmare, it?s fair to question how ?unaffiliated? the UNC truly is, as it is an entity overseen by the NFL to a certain degree. Maybe some of the current UNC personnel can act as advisors to the NFLPA, so that the NFLPA can actually become more intelligent with regard to concussions rather than just providing empty lip service.<br /><br />There are some positive possibilities with my plan in place. RGIII might still be playing in the league. Tyrod Taylor might not have to sue the Chargers on his own. The Michael Thomas ordeal could have been a far shorter and less painful experience, for the fans, the team and Thomas himself. Maybe Junior Seau would still be alive today. When you consider all that, we have a long way to go and there is a lot that could certainly be tried if the NFL could ever put its financial interests aside for a minute or two.<br /><br />Of course my solution would have several drawbacks that I am not even thinking of. It also would not be an easy thing for the NFLPA to bargain for. But the NFLPA needs to grow a pair, hire some better lawyers, and become a peer - not an underling - of the NFL. And the NFL itself would certainly shudder at my proposal. My response to Goodell and the NFL: ?too freaking bad?.</div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>neugey</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/neugey/532-nfl-has-sports-medicine-problem-fixed.html</guid> </item> <item> <title>Sanity Zone March 3, 2022 Misunderstanding Oil</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/xan/530-sanity-zone-march-3-2022-misunderstanding-oil.html</link> <pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2022 21:48:46 GMT</pubDate> <description><![CDATA[Hi all, it's been a LONG time since I posted to my blog. Lot's of factors, but that's in the past....]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>Hi all, it's been a LONG time since I posted to my blog. Lot's of factors, but that's in the past. Hopefully some of you will participate in a discussion in the comments section.<br /><br /><br />At this writing, US consumption of petroleum based products for energy purposes (as opposed to some of the non-energy chemicals like plastics and fertilizers) is roughly 97% of total output. That means that all other sources make up 3%. Solar, wind, nukular (hah) and geothermal are a growing, but minor part of our country's dynamics. Even by 2050 with incentives and subsidies, that rises to only 21% according the the EIA. What this means is that petroleum based energy is a national security risk for the country. <br /><br /><br /><br />While the US is the world's largest producer and exporter of natural gas, and a net exporter of oil products, we do not have enough market clout to affect the global supply or demand to meet whatever administration is leading's policy goals. The current situation with Ukraine/Russia is providing a cruel spotlight on these facts. The US oil and gas industry is almost (99%) of its pre-pandemic production. We are a net exporter. But we cannot control prices. I'd like to get into the mechanics a bit, so bear with me. <br /><br /><br /><br />Let's say that I'm an exploration company with a lease in West Texas with a large proven reserve. I want to monetize that reserve. First, I need to contract with a drilling company to determine how much it will cost to drill, pipe and manage the extraction. A typical well pad may have 6 spuds (holes) over its lifespan, that will be drilled in rapid succession to minimize total costs. With setup, permits and other associated costs, figure around $50 million if the reserve is sweet, $75 million if the reserve is sour. The bank will finance this 80% as long as I have a contract to sell with either a midstream company or refiner. It has to go somewhere and the bank requires a repayment! It will take about 18 months to first barrel out.<br /><br /><br /><br />Here's the catch. I'm selling a future on the oil I will produce 18 months from now. First, who in their right mind would commit to pay $110/barrel based on spot today? Right, no one. Second, what bank is going to lend without a fixed price contract - take or pay? So what happens? Nothing.<br /><br /><br />There are currently 9000+ issued leases to exploration companies to extract oil and gas that are currently not producing. The Federal government has no say in these leases as to when or how (as long as they operate within the acceptable laws). Most states don't have a reason to interfere either. And, preemptively, the current administration is only discouraging certain types of drilling in remote protected lands that have not been permitted (leased), not on leases currently issued.<br /><br /><br />The US also processes oil from other oil producing countries. Our refining capabilities are very large. There's one refinery in Texas that has more throughput than the entire Brazilian infrastructure, which is why some of their oil shows up in our refineries. The US petroleum industry is remarkably complex, made even more so by its integration into world markets. It is so complex that it is a fatuous statement to assert that the US should be "energy independent." <br /><br /><br /><br />Does oil from countries like Russia get imported to the US? Duh, yeah. On long term contracts, usually to process for export customers. Who is buying? It depends. Sometimes, Russian crude oil is owned by an airline who contract processes it at a refinery in the US that produces jet fuel. Sometimes it's owned by another country who doesn't have enough refining capability. Sometimes, Russian crude my make a stop in another country, and other crude is laded. The key here is that the US government is not buying Russian crude. Private companies and other countries have long term contracts for which they have already paid money to Russia for that crude.<br /><br /><br />OK. So let's talk about banning Russian crude (or anyone's for that matter). First, you crush the company that has bough the crude already (hiya Delta, love me yet?). Alright, let's say they haven't paid for it yet. Gotta get it now! Spot prices are increasing because nobody wants to be caught short on inventory, so whatever surplus (and there's always a little....) gets bid. Additionally, some buyers play the hedging game. Let's say Delta figures that higher prices will cause airfares to go up, and demand for air travel will fall. Delta will offload some of their excess contracts to the arbs for a profit, and the arbs try to place the contract before the oil reaches the port (key point here that we can delve into in another blog or in the comments). The arbs are not interested in holding oil, just driving spread. The reason you see such high spot prices today is because no one is selling their excess contracts. And arbs have to bid up to entice. <br /><br /><br /><br />Back to the banks. Just before the pandemic, the spot price of oil went from $73/barrel down to $40. Remember those guys with the 9000 leases? Those guys' cost of acquisition of a barrel of oil in West Texas is about $43/barrel. Guess what. Banks wouldn't lend to them. It got worse during the pandemic, when the price went down to the low $20's. Some drillers failed, taking some of those banks' stability with them. The financial system would like to make profits, too, but the volatility is a bit daunting for most. Lending is only just returning now. The EIA has estimated that the average barrel of oil price should be between 70-85/barrel, and that makes people of all production stripes happy. However, one can imagine that once this geopolitical episode is over, it would be difficult to estimate where prices might stabilize and where long term contracts will iron out. All it takes is production to surge and the bottom will fall out on price. This likely possibility has banks reticent to lend just yet.<br /><br /><br />Returning to the original proposition that the oil and gas industry is a security issue, energy accounts for a large portion of factor costs in a 1st world country's GDP. Stable energy prices are a cornerstone to energy policy. A country that cannot mitigate price fluctuations or supply fluctuations will be hostage to international events. Most recessions since the 1940's have been a result of energy insecurity. In the 1970's we initiated a plan to be able to produce the entirety of US domestic oil and gas requirements - energy independence of a sort. While we have essentially accomplished this, the US is still subject to world prices due to the fact that multinational firms control the system here, and they are profit driven. If they can sell for a higher price outside the US, then that's the direction of oil and gas flow. <br /><br /><br /><br />The conclusion to make at this juncture is that "energy independence" is not a linear achievement - making enough for ourselves in this one product alone, particularly in the most sophisticated market. Any engineer will tell you that in a Critical Point analysis, things that will fail, are inevitable. The job of the policymaker is to avoid or lessen the impact that critical point failure by all means possible. All ideas, not just the politically (read partisan here) popular should be on the table.</div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>xan</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/xan/530-sanity-zone-march-3-2022-misunderstanding-oil.html</guid> </item> <item> <title>2022 NFL Draft: Draft Prospects, Scouting</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/k-major/529-2022-nfl-draft-draft-prospects-scouting.html</link> <pubDate>Tue, 01 Feb 2022 21:37:10 GMT</pubDate> <description>---Quote (Originally by AsylumGuido)--- https://twitter.com/datboywolf/status/1488608452456898560...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="quote"> <cite class="smallfont">Originally Posted by <strong>AsylumGuido</strong></cite> <a href="showthread.php?p=943530#post943530" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="bngforum/buttons/viewpost.gif" border="0" alt="View Post" /></a> <blockquote class="bq" cite="https://blackandgold.com/saints/101298-2022-nfl-draft-draft-prospects-scouting-post943530.html#post943530" dir="ltr"> <div><a href="https://twitter.com/datboywolf/status/1488608452456898560" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/datboywolf/statu...08452456898560</a></div> </blockquote></div>Literally means NOTHING.<br /><br />Brian Bellichick had a similar impression of Mac Jones at private workout.<br /><br />A month later, the Patriots selected him #1.</div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>K Major</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/k-major/529-2022-nfl-draft-draft-prospects-scouting.html</guid> </item> <item> <title>2021 New Orleans Saints Rebuild - Quarterback</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/jeanpierre/528-2021-new-orleans-saints-rebuild-quarterback.html</link> <pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2021 03:56:05 GMT</pubDate> <description>*2021 New Orleans Saints are, as of the time of composing this blog, ($95,050,739) over the...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><b>2021 New Orleans Saints are, as of the time of composing this blog, <font color="Red">($95,050,739)</font> over the anticipated salary cap, per <a href="https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/new-orleans-saints/" target="_blank">Over The Cap | 2021 New Orleans Saints</a>; and that's before the first snap of the season...<br /><br />Well there's obviously a lot of work to be done, and it'll start with getting this team under the cap to be compliant with the NFL Salary Cap...<br /><br />The obvious elephant is the room is <i>will Drew Brees be with this team in 2021?</i> From all indications at this point, that answer would seem to be <i>No</i>. But suppose he wants another geaux? Should we?<br /><br />Brees is the most accomplished passer in NFL history, but his value is just that - history. <br /><br />Devout fans don't won't to hear about <i>air yards</i>, but the reality is that good defenses stack up front forcing Brees to throw downfield of 15 <i>air yards</i> or more - he simply can't do it for 16-plus games...<br /><br />And if can't play at that level any more for a full season, is it really wise to continue to pay him that much? No. And so it's time to move on from the greatest passer in NFL Regular Season history...<br /><br />Designating Brees with a post-June 1st release will yield a salary cap savings of $25M, with a dead cap number of $11,150,000 - <font color="Red">($70,050,739)</font><br /><br />That leaves Taysom Hill as the only other Quarterback on the Saints roster under contract; and with a cap number of $16,159,000; cutting Taysom irregardless of June 1 will only save $5M against the cap...<br /><br />To get more cap relief, Taysom Hill would have to be traded and, irregardless of 1st June, that savings would be $12,159,000, but then you're left with no QB on the roster...<br /><br />So even if you're somehow able to trade Taysom Hill <i>AND</i> his $16M+ contract to a team, you're still nearly $58M above the cap and you've got no QB... <br /><br />Is Jameis Winston gonna play for another $1.1 M? Doubtful. Is he worth big money? We just saw a 43yo QB take Jameis former team to at least the Conference Championship Game...<br /><br />And after five plus seasons in the league, along with character issues that continue to come up on and off the field, there's just no way you can make a serious contractual commitment...<br /><br />So there's gonna need to be some more positions addressed in this inevitable rebuild, irregardless if you believe, or do not believe, Taysom is an NFL QB...<br /><br />Likely scenario. Taysom needs a full season to be evaluated on his merits. It'll be tough because of the inevitable comparisons to Brees' career, which is unfair, but the reality Taysom will have to cope...<br /><br />Believe Sean Payton when he says Taysom is an NFL QB and that he will roll with him in 2021 and that the Saints will acquire a more mobile QB, similar to Taysom's style of play...</b></div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>jeanpierre</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/jeanpierre/528-2021-new-orleans-saints-rebuild-quarterback.html</guid> </item> <item> <title>Saints vs Chiefs Post-Game Commentary</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/jeanpierre/527-saints-vs-chiefs-post-game-commentary.html</link> <pubDate>Mon, 21 Dec 2020 07:02:28 GMT</pubDate> <description>*Failure to call on the run was the biggest issue, again... We only had as many run plays as we...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><b>Failure to call on the run was the biggest issue, again...<br /><br />We only had as many run plays as we had as Drew checked out of the pass on at least three occasions according to Romo, who's the only legit NFL commentator today...<br /><br />We were only really down one WR today, albeit the formerly, briefly, best WR in the NFL...<br /><br />But where was Jared Cook? What was his issue with Brees? Where was Adam Trautman, whom we sunk all of our Day 3 picks in to acquire?<br /><br />Why is Emmanuel Sanders still being underused? Is he still having problem adapting to Payton's offense? If so, that's on Sean...<br /><br />Most of Brees' throws lacked zip - Keep hearing the myth that he dispelled critics with his bomb to Sanders, who once again had to slow down, come back to the ball, not hitting him in stride...<br /><br />Don't think Brees has hit a WR in full stride in four seasons now; don't care if Brees can only throw the ball 30 air yards - hit the man in f*cking stride so he can score...<br /><br />If the Saints don't find a way to re-sign an entering-his-prime DE Trey Hendrickson, then I really doubt the motivations and machinations of the Saints personnel decision-makers...<br /><br />Cam Jordan has played like hot garbage all season; age has likely caught up with this former great as well; he should have been schooling yet another backup; instead frustration and a costly dumb*ss penalty...<br /><br />If the rookie punter we <i>redshirted</i> is the goods, then it's time to move on from Morstead, who clearly is no longer elite with short, shallow punts compared to his former excellence...<br /><br />And what's going on with Ty Montgomery? A healthy scratch? He was supposed to be lagniappe depth, and utility role player with great experience - another ghost?<br /><br />Speaking of ghost, biggest FA disappointment on the offense is a toss-up between Jared Cook and Latavius Murray, but in Murray's case, he's underutilized and that's on Sean...<br /><br />But Cook just looked like someone that had no confidence in Brees getting him the ball and acted like a pouty b*tch in front of a national audience with Brees trying to re-establish rapore...<br /><br />Can't help but wonder that Brees has lost the confidence from this teammates and in himself; at the very least, there's a clear disconnect; Taysom looked like he inspired teammates more than Brees...<br /><br />Injuries are an excuse, a BS excuse; this roster is deep enough to compete and what they did was self-destructed on several plays today and played to the opponents' strengths and away from their own, yet again...<br /><br />And it starts with Sean and Drew looking in the mirror and asking the hard questions that Greg Bensel won't allowed to be asked in the press conferences...</b></div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>jeanpierre</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/jeanpierre/527-saints-vs-chiefs-post-game-commentary.html</guid> </item> <item> <title>The Official Eating Crow About Taysom Thread</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/k-major/526-official-eating-crow-about-taysom-thread.html</link> <pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2020 02:05:17 GMT</pubDate> <description>---Quote (Originally by jeanpierre)--- *Perspective: Yes, he got noticeably better against a...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="quote"> <cite class="smallfont">Originally Posted by <strong>jeanpierre</strong></cite> <a href="showthread.php?p=904583#post904583" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="bngforum/buttons/viewpost.gif" border="0" alt="View Post" /></a> <blockquote class="bq" cite="https://blackandgold.com/saints/99684-official-eating-crow-about-taysom-thread-post904583.html#post904583" dir="ltr"> <div><b>Perspective: Yes, he got noticeably better against a division rival, but...<br /><br />This wasn't a crowded NFL stadium - home or away...<br /><br />The ATL has the second worst pass defense in the NFL...<br /><br />The ATL offensive line, talented, has needed a coaching upgrade for years...<br /><br />Though he showed little effort, he was slow to throw and underthrew two deep passes for would-be scores...<br /><br />And he had a fourth quarter (Money Time) fumble that was likely a touchdown if he hangs onto the ball with his small hands...<br /><br />That said, I felt his passes had more zip on them; but he also showed great touch on some screen passes as well<br /><br />Don't get to high or too low, but he definitely looked the goods and there's a few people on this website that should chime in on this thread...</b></div> </blockquote></div>Fair analysis JP :bng:</div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>K Major</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/k-major/526-official-eating-crow-about-taysom-thread.html</guid> </item> <item> <title>Trautman</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/ww_who_dat/525-trautman.html</link> <pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2020 01:00:37 GMT</pubDate> <description>---Quote (Originally by rezburna)--- I like him a lot. ---End Quote--- When I looked at his...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="quote"> <cite class="smallfont">Originally Posted by <strong>rezburna</strong></cite> <a href="showthread.php?p=903177#post903177" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="bngforum/buttons/viewpost.gif" border="0" alt="View Post" /></a> <blockquote class="bq" cite="https://blackandgold.com/saints/99627-trautman-post903177.html#post903177" dir="ltr"> <div>I like him a lot.</div> </blockquote></div>When I looked at his college tape posted when drafted him his athletic ability, catch radius , speed and size immediately stood ... next year he will become nightmare fro LB?s and Safeties.</div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>WW_Who_Dat</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/ww_who_dat/525-trautman.html</guid> </item> <item> <title>It?s hard for me to separate the two</title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/neugey/524-s-hard-me-separate-two.html</link> <pubDate>Mon, 24 Feb 2020 16:41:16 GMT</pubDate> <description>*** Reposting this to blog today in honor of 2/24, the day of Kobe Bryant Memorial Ceremony. ...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><font face="HelveticaNeue">*** Reposting this to blog today in honor of 2/24, the day of Kobe Bryant Memorial Ceremony.<br /></font><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue"><br /></font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue">It?s hard for me to separate the two. Being a Lakers fan and a Saints fan.</font></font><br /> <font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue"><br /></font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue">I had these observations during this season that seemed silly and biased to comment to you all about. In the last few years, there were little moments where Drew reminded me a lot of Kobe. Drew injuring his hand and wearing that brace and obviously stewing because he wanted like crazy to be out on the field. With Brees, he?s either got the ball or he?s got the surface tablet looking at highlights. In some sense, he?s never really on the sidelines. So Kobe. Then this December against the Colts, Drew topped the TD record AND to top it off set the single game completion-percentage mark. I just felt so damn spoiled watching that and it gave me vibes of watching Kobe?s Mamba-Out final game, all over again.</font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue"><br /></font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue">I really felt like none of that should matter at all to any of you. But now I feel the need to tell the story. I was a Lakers fan about 7 years before I became a Saints fan. The showtime era was just too much fun and it pulled me in and my cousins got me hooked. The starting five of Magic-Worthy-Byron-AC-Kareem and the steely leadership of Pat Riley broke through my invisible plane of general disinterest in sports. It also informed me that I could be an actual fan from afar, that I was not infringing on something I was not supposed to be part of.</font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue"><br /></font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue">When I saw the Dome Patrol butt heads on Monday Night Football in the 90?s, I loved watching the relentlessness, the kicker with the thunderous leg and just all the mystique of the uniforms, the colors and the Dome. The Saints were a dark horse at a time when I felt okay with a dark horse, as the Lakers in those years were in a transitional state with Divac, Threatt, Peeler, Eddie Jones, Cellabos, Van Exel. Though less successful I found those years to be just about as enjoyable as the Showtime years. Fantasy football and ESPN were starting to take off and it felt like it wouldn?t be totally impractical to adopt the Saints, so I took the plunge and never looked back, on either team.</font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue"><br /></font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue">As a fan, I?ve long tried to just focus on enjoying the sport and being a supportive fan and it?s hard to get me to buy into hero worship or buying lots of memorabilia. I think it?s because when Magic contracted HIV and we thought it was going to be fatal it really stung me. That combined with my mom passing away in 1993 made me reluctant to get too close again and there was no real need to have a sports star be a hero for a void that could never be filled. </font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue"><br /></font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue">Like a lot of others, I suffered from Jordan/Bulls fatigue in the 90?s. So I had mixed feeling when the Lakers obtained Kobe and he had this presumptive attitude to overtake Mike. I kind of hoped Kobe would do his own thing. Those first few years were awkward, but I began to see the promise in him at times when Del Harris was coaching him that he could be something a little more than just a meager copy of Jordan.</font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue"><br /></font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue">My daughters were born at the start of the 2000?s and with the unlikely hire of Phil Jackson the Lakers spoiled me with the 3-peat. So those memories of my daughters as babies and the Kobe-Shaq-Phil version of the team are pretty entwined. Nu metal, changing diapers, Lakers rings, me. Oh and pretty soon, this little thing called blackandgold.net. Fun times.</font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue"><br /></font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue">When Kobe had his transgression in Colorado, I have to be honest - I still rooted for the team in a big way, but kept my support of Kobe at arm?s length. I wanted to be objective and see how Kobe was really going to handle it. What I didn?t plan on was Kobe stubbornly playing every possible Lakers game he could during that season, despite commuting between Colorado courtrooms and wherever the Lakers were, never giving any quarter. He absorbed the shots so many people took at him and just keep on taking shots at the hoop. In hindsight, I'm happy that the late David Stern let him play those games, rather than suspending him. Because, despite all the trouble he was going through - his marriage being in jeopardy and his future being uncertain - it seemed like inexplicably his biggest fear was letting the team down. He never did, and if it wasn?t for running into such a well-balanced Pistons team in the Finals the Lakers would have won it all in 03-04.</font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue"><br /></font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue">Kobe changed his jersey number and got a few tattoos and you could see a desire to grow and learn from his big personal mistake. But it was a long process for Kobe to rebuild his legacy. And it really didn?t become tangible until a few years later, when Phil Jackson rejoined the Lakers. Phil, at that point, had basically burned out and written off Kobe. The front office was also clashing with Kobe. To see the organization and both men put that bitterness behind them and build a new and improved partnership out of ashes, better versions of themselves, was very remarkable. And in a few years, they leveraged that rebuilt kinship to win two more championships. The element of redemption in those two championships is one of the most profound things I have ever witnessed in sports (the Saints return to the Dome after Katrina being the other big one). Those two latter Lakers championships are the Lakers ones I will always cherish the most, because of the wisdom Phil and Kobe and others acquired through that complicated journey.</font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue"><br /></font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue">The latter part of Kobe?s career came with injuries, difficulty and tragedy in the front office and coaching strife. But there were always flourishes of vintage Kobe, and his final game was the encore of all encores. My daughters were growing and they began to play basketball and get into the Lakers with me. But funny thing, they never wanted to be Kobe. They wanted to be Derek Fisher and play with Kobe.</font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue"><br /></font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue">About 9 years ago, my oldest daughter?s basketball team (rec league, 5th grade) had the coach back out at the last minute. They were asking if any parents wanted to coach and I saw my daughter?s face light up and I decided to jump in. But had I never seen what Phil had done in his return, and the grace him and Kobe showed in that second go-around, I would have undoubtedly said no and the little boy inside that didn?t care much for sports and only lasted one year in cub scouts would have been the voice inside that would have won out. And I would have missed out on so many tiny life lessons I learned coaching those girls that year and the joy in watching those other girls grow and graduate in my daughter?s class.</font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue"><br /></font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue">That is what hurts the worst, losing those coaches, parents and girls on that chopper because we all can relate, simply taking/traveling with your kids to a game. I?ve also had to tell my daughters that their mom died, and it was the most powerless experience I ever had in my life. That is only a fraction of what Vanessa Bryant has to deal with now.</font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue"><br /></font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue">I may not have the Mamba mentality (few truly do), but on the whole, Kobe helped me feel a little more fearless, a little more willing to go out on a limb in certain areas in my life. For that, I offer Kobe my deep thanks and I hope that Kobe?s family can find comfort, in spades. I have great sympathy for Lakers GM Rob Pelinka who was Kobe?s best friend and the rest of the Lakers staff. I really don?t know how they will handle this now to try to keep the spirit of playing for Kobe but have enough time to have a memorial and funeral for Kobe. Tough decisions. I will continue to hurt watching those historic Lakers and other NBA greats have to come together under such sad circumstances. But I don?t know any other way to be a fan.</font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue"><br /></font></font><br /><font color="#000000"><font face="HelveticaNeue">Thank you for reading if you made it this far, and I will be putting this in a blog. Take care gang.</font></font></div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>neugey</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/neugey/524-s-hard-me-separate-two.html</guid> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[Fanspeak On The Clock (Premium) Draft Simulator, jeanpierre's second run]]></title> <link>https://blackandgold.com/blogs/jeanpierre/523-fanspeak-clock-premium-draft-simulator-jeanpierres-second-run.html</link> <pubDate>Wed, 12 Feb 2020 04:56:20 GMT</pubDate> <description>*Fanspeak On The Clock (Premium) Draft Simulator Second Run, and can honestly say, if this...</description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><b>Fanspeak On The Clock (Premium) Draft Simulator<br /><br />Second Run, and can honestly say, if this happened, it'd be as close as the Saints winning the SuperBowl feeling I could have; did this run assuming we sign Scherff in Free Agency...<br /><br />Again, the three biggest needs I'm looking to address for the 2020 Saints Draft at this point is WR-Z, CB2, and LB...<br /><br />So right as things kick off, the simulator sends me a very plausible offer and the one I'd really like to see happen... <br /><br /><i>TRADE PARTNER: Indianapolis Colts send Pick No. 34 (R2, P2) and Pick No. 44 (R2, P12) to the Saints for Pick No. 24 (R1, P24)</i><br /><br />Colts need to acquire starters, and the Saints need to start to add quality depth by acquiring multiple top 75 players and work to get that salary cap back down with rookie contracts - through the Draft...<br /><br />So as Round 2 begins, the guy I want is still there, but several WRs are still on the board in this deep draft when an offer comes in to move back, again...<br /><br /><i>TRADE PARTNER: Arizona Cardinals send Pick No. 40 (R2, P8) and Pick No. 72 (R3, P8) to the Saints for Pick No. 34 (R2, P2)</i><br /><br />This is a huge gamble as the one player I really want in this draft for the Saints, Jalen Raegor, the player that can reignite the offense is being left out there longer than I'd care to have, but the gambit pays off...<br /><br />Pick No. 40 (R2, P8) WR Jalen Raegor, TCU; Height: 5' 11"; Weight: 195 lbs.:bandg:<br /><br />No matter what happens in this draft, I have a player that may not grade out first round for many because of his size, but to the Saints Offense, he will be nitrous, and I turned one late first round pick into three top 75 picks...<br /><br />Four picks later in the second round, I'm picking again, and there's some tempting offers, but Gladney just went off the board and the offers are from teams needing CB2; I apply the stiff arm on the offers and take my CB2...<br /><br />Pick No. 44 (R2, P12) CB Cameron Dantzler, Miss State; Height: 6' 2"; Weight: 185 lbs.:bandg: <br /><br />Despite seeing TEs and LBs value, absolutely love this pick as Dantzler has started two full seasons in the SEC with impressive results; yeah, he's on the light side, but he's wirey-strong, and is an ideal CB2 with good length...<br /><br />As Round 2 peels off, I see talent I'd love to have, but remain disciplined and wait to see what falls to the Saints in Round 3 - and there it is...<br /><br />Pick No. 72 (R3, P8) TE Adam Trautman, Dayton; Height: 6' 5"; Weight: 251 lbs.:bandg:<br /><br />Scouts are grading Trautman all over the place, but he's still raw, played at the FCS level, and will need time to learn to be a complete Tight End; with Jared Cook and Josh Hill to teach him, I've got the best TE corps in the NFL...<br /><br />Now to get young Guard depth and it's still Round 3; Stenberg, is a nasty guard type I like, really stood out in one on ones in Mobile, he's trending up; but it's a long way to pick & Berendson's still there, Fortune favors me...<br /><br />Pick No. 88 (R3, P24) LG Logan Stenberg, Kentucky; ; Height: 6' 6"; Weight: 317 lbs.:bandg:<br /><br />Absolutely stoked at this point, can honestly say if this happened, I'd better have advanced directives in place 'cause this would be an absolute coup...<br /><br />Day 2 is a success, now I can get to work on improving the back of the roster, adding players who have friendlier cap numbers and higher ceilings than what I have now...<br /><br />Round 4 starts and somehow I've missed Clyde Edwards-Elaire, and just as I try to make a move to jump in front of the Panthers to take him, Chargers take him there, but keep him out of my division...<br /><br />But the Raiders need help all over and they come calling...<br /><br /><i>TRADE PARTNER: Los Vegas Raiders send a Future Round 4 Pick and Pick send Pick No. 159 (R5, P13) to the Saints for Pick No. 127 (R4, P24)</i><br /><br />Wow, now I've got two early Day 3 Picks for next year's draft and guys I'm liking are still there on the board, and I didn't have to move back that far; Round 5 gets to rolling along and another gift falls into my lap...<br /><br />Pick No. 159 (R5, P13) LB Logan Wilson, Wyoming; Height: 6' 2"; Weight: 241 lbs.:bandg:<br /><br />Why I like Logan Wilson? Like Carolina's Thomas Davis, Wilson is a former Safety converted to LineBacker, so while he's a smidgeon light now, he's fast, can cover, extremely instinctual, and is just a really smart linebacker...<br /><br />Also, as I have a Wyoming connection already, there's that familiarity factor Sean Payton likes...<br /><br />As I approach the Saints Round 5 default pick, many of the guys I've liked are now at the top of their respective position boards - I decide I want to split Aces and while I'm on the board, and two 4's next year, I call the Ravens...<br /><br /><i>TRADE PARTNER: New Orleans Saints send a Future Round 5 Pick and Pick No. 206 (R6, P24) to the Baltimore Ravens for Pick No. 170 (R5, P24)</i><br /><br />I now have Back to back picks, and I control the draft, and I pull the trigger...<br /><br />Pick No. 169 (R5, P23) FS Jordan Fuller, Ohio St; Height: 6' 2"; Weight: 205 lbs.:bandg:<br /><br />Pick No. 170 (R5, P24) QB Anthony Gordon, Washington St; Height: 6' 2"; Weight: 199 lbs.:bandg:<br /><br />Fuller is tremendous value because he will be an immediate plus-plus special teams contributor because of his athleticism, and I help Sean Payton maintain his love for all things Ohio State (maybe his dream job?)...<br /><br />Gordon surprised in Mobile; and has actually played really well for Washington St. despite being only a one year starter as he backed up now Jaguars QB Gardner Minshew (<i>Duval!</i>); a great QB prospect caps the haul!<br /><br />As Rounds 6 and 7 roll along, see other players I really like such as Illinois RB Reggie Corbin, Ole Miss DT Benito Jones and Virginia Tech TE Dalton Keene; while I did nothing, I'd probably jump back into the draft for Corbin... <br /><br />Now the <i>reality of the fantasy</i> is this mock was done <i>before</i> compensatory picks are awarded for the 2020 NFL draft, so everything after Round 3 is definitely not yet fixed...<br /><br />But my theory that teams loaded with Day 2 picks will want to move up in this draft and the Saints draft position needs are copasetic with many of the deeper positions of the draft...<br /><br />Again, Shoup and the folks at Fanspeak are great people, it's a family effort, and they're gracious with their time in answering questions via Twitter...<br /><br />For the inexpensive cost of the Premium Mode via PayPal, can honestly tell you if you love the NFL Draft, you'll find it both entertaining and enlightening in preparation of the Real NFL Draft...<br /><br /><a href="https://fanspeak.com/ontheclock/premium/draft.php?d=lomqvg&b=15&t=1019&nr=7&dl=classic&tn=0&po=&cb=0" target="_blank">Fanspeak On The Clock (Premium) Mock Draft Results - jeanpierre 2nd run</a></b></div> ]]></content:encoded> <dc:creator>jeanpierre</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://blackandgold.com/blogs/jeanpierre/523-fanspeak-clock-premium-draft-simulator-jeanpierres-second-run.html</guid> </item> </channel></rss> If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:
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