SB Nation - Buck Ortega

Predicting Today's Roster Cuts

Saintsational — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:00:25 -0000

According to the list of key off-season dates on the left sidebar of CSC, the NFL mandates that all team rosters be cut down to 75 players by tomorrow. Payton mentioned during yesterday's press conference that those cuts would actually come this morning. By my calculations the Saints roster currently sits at 79 players, meaning four players would need to be accounted for in some way, whether released or placed on IR.

Here is a quick look at a few players I thought might have a bad day today and who we may not be seeing around anymore this season. Feel free to discuss my choices and add your own players to the list.

Matt Simon and D'Juan Woods

Even if Payton decides to carry six receivers on the roster there is simply too much talent at the position this season for either of these guys to make the team. Releasing one or both of these players still leaves Harper, Arrington, Roby and Green to battle it out in the last pre-season game of the year this Thursday. My guess would be Woods before Simon.

Martrez Milner and Jermey Parnell

The depth chart at tight end is pretty much set with Shockey, Miller and Dinkins. Buck Ortega is probably the favorite for the fourth spot, leaving Milner and Parnell on the outside looking in. Dinkins and Ortega should get a bulk of the reps during the game against Miami with maybe enough to go around for one other player. That means at least one of these guys is probably expendable now rather than later. For Parnell, formerly a defensive end, it was a fun experiment.

Chip Vaughn

Payton said yesterday that he wouldn't rule out the possibility of placing Vaughn on injured reserve. The rookie has sat out almost all of training camp and missed valuable reps. Rather than have to release someone it may just be easier to call it a year with Vaughn and free up the valuable roster spot.

Earl Heyman

I haven't heard much about Heyman during training camp and he is probably the odd man out at the defensive tackle position. Depending on how much depth Payton wants at tackle this Thursday, Heyman could be a goner.

Saints 2009 Position Battles: Tight End

Saintsational — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:00:15 -0000

We return back to the offense today as we take a look at tight end in our early examination of the 2009 roster. The competition might get a bit heated this season but the race is wide open. The battle here is really for that third tight end spot as Jeremy Shockey and Billy Miller are probably sure to make the team. But will it be one of the two new free agent signees or practice squad regular Buck "Naked" Ortega?

A quick refresher of the current tight ends on the roster:

Player	Height	Weight	Age	Experience
Jeremy Shockey	6'5"	251	28	8
Billy Miller	6'3"	252	32	10
Darnell Dinkins	6'4"	260	32	8
Buck Ortega	6'4"	240	27	2
Dan Campbell	6'5"	265	33	11

We know Shockey is going to make the team. Let's all hope he stays healthy and benefits from a full off-season of training with Drew and the Saints offense. Done.

After picking up the slack last year in the absence of Shockey and Campbell, Billy Miller Time is everyone's favorite new tight end. If Miller can pick up where he left off last season, he should have no trouble making the team this season. He certainly deserves it.

The Saints picked up Darnell Dinkins this off-season undoubtedly with the hopes of having him compete for a spot. Only a minor contributor his entire career, Dinkins has never caught for over one hundred yards in a single season. Doubtful that he could supplant Miller but that third spot is free for the taking.

Buck Ortega has been limited to practice squad duty most of his career but saw a touch of action last season due to myriad injuries. Highly doubtful he makes the team outright but he may continue with his practice squad responsibilites in 2009.

Dan Campbell is the oldest of the bunch and his age may finally be catching up with him. Once a significant contributor with the Giants and Cowboys, Campbell has had only two receptions in the last two years. He'll be duking it out for that last spot with Ortega and Dinkins. Coming from the Lions, he'll need to wash off that loser stench to ever stand a chance.

Now it's on you! What do you expect to see from the Saints tight ends in 2009?

Poll

Assuming Shockey and Miller make the team, which tight end earns the third spot?

Darnell Dinkins

126 votes

Buck Ortega

147 votes

Dan Campbell

143 votes

416 votes | Poll has closed

Final Defensive and Special Team Stats for the 2008 Saints Season

Saintsational — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:00:07 -0000

As promised, here are the final defensive and special teams statistics for the 2008 season. As you would expect, these aren't as impressive as their offensive counterparts.

Rushing Defense

Left End

Left Tackle

Left Guard

Up the Middle

Right Guard

Right Tackle

Right End

Plays: 62

Plays: 58

Plays: 65

Plays: 87

Plays: 62

Plays: 51

Plays: 45

NFL Rank: 10

NFL Rank: 15

NFL Rank: 3

NFL Rank: 28

NFL Rank: 4

NFL Rank: 23

NFL Rank: 20

Avg Gain: 5.19

Avg Gain: 4.72

Avg Gain: 3.66

Avg Gain: 3.75

Avg Gain: 4.32

Avg Gain: 3.86

Avg Gain: 5.89

NFL Rank: 15

NFL Rank: 24

NFL Rank: 12

NFL Rank: 22

NFL Rank: 13

NFL Rank: 26

Passing Defense

Short Left	Short Middle	Short Right	Deep Left	Deep Middle	Deep Right


















Plays: 165	Plays: 82	Plays: 161	Plays: 55	Plays: 29	Plays: 35
NFL Rank: 7	NFL Rank: 27	NFL Rank: 23	NFL Rank: 1	NFL Rank: 9	NFL Rank: 20
Avg Gain: 5.80	Avg Gain: 7.09	Avg Gain: 5.87	Avg Gain: 8.00	Avg Gain: 18.10	Avg Gain: 8.03
NFL Rank: 13	NFL Rank: 24	NFL Rank: 25	NFL Rank: 7	NFL Rank: 31	NFL Rank: 2

Team Rankings

Team	Yds / Game	Yds / Play	Rush Yds / Game	Rush Yards / Play	Pass Yards / Game	Pass Yards / Play	Int. Rate	Sacks / Pass Att	First Downs / Game	Punt Return Avg	Kickoff Return Avg	3rd Down Pct	4th Down Pct	Red Zone Pct	Goal to Go%	Points / Game	Point Diff. / Game	Yard Diff. / Game
NO	339.5	5.44	117.8	4.24	221.7	6.74	2.85%	5.32%	18.7	10.7	24.0	39.81%	57.14%	48.33%	70.97%	24.6	4.4	71.2
Rank	23	22	17	19	23	21	14	22	18	25	23	19	19t	9	21	26	10	3

Individual Stats

Interceptions	No.	Yds	Avg	Long	TD
J.David	5	83	16.6	42	0
S.Fujita	2	19	9.5	17	0
K.Kaesviharn	2	13	6.5	13	0
U.Young	2	3	1.5	3	0
T.Porter	1	25	25.0	25	0
J.Bullocks	1	23	23.0	23	0
M.McKenzie	1	14	14.0	14	0
J.Vilma	1	8	8.0	8	0
Team	15	188	12.5	42	0
Opponents	18	270	15.0	95t	2

Punting	No	Yds	Avg	Net	TB	In	Lg	B
S.Weatherford	26	1094	42.1	34.2	3	5	61	0
G.Pakulak	24	1144	47.7	37.8	2	3	70	0
B.Graham	3	126	42.0	35.3	0	1	44	0
Team	53	2364	44.6	35.9	5	9	70	0
Opponents	66	2711	41.1	35.2	4	23	65	0

Punt Returns	Ret	FC	Yds	Avg	Long	TD
R.Bush	20	3	270	13.5	71t	3
L.Moore	6	13	40	6.7	11	0
S.Green	0	1	0	0	0	0
Team	26	17	310	11.9	71t	3
Opponents	34	7	363	10.7	42	0

Field Goals	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+
G.Hartley	0/ 0	5/ 5	4/ 4	4/ 4	0/ 0
M.Gramatica	0/ 0	0/ 0	3/ 3	2/ 5	1/ 2
T.Mehlhaff	0/ 0	1/ 1	1/ 2	1/ 1	0/ 0
Team	0/ 0	6/ 6	8/ 9	7/ 10	1/ 2
Opponents	0/ 0	13/ 13	15/ 16	5/ 7	1/ 3

Kickoff Returns	No.	Yds	Avg	Long	TD
P.Thomas	31	793	25.6	88	0
C.Roby	19	472	24.8	62	0
S.Green	4	133	33.3	60	0
T.Copper	2	35	17.5	18	0
A.Stecker	2	10	5.0	10	0
L.Moore	1	36	36.0	36	0
R.Meachem	1	9	9.0	9	0
B.Ortega	1	8	8.0	8	0
M.Campbell	1	0	0.0	0	0
M.Karney	0	0	0	0	0
Team	62	1496	24.1	88	0
Opponents	76	1827	24.0	83t	1

Defensive Player Statistics

Player	Tkl	Ast	Comb	Sack	Sk Yds	QH	Int	PD	FF	FR
J.Vilma	98	34	132	1	5	4	1	6	2	3
S.Shanle	60	27	87	2	12	3	0	5	1	0
R.Harper	73	7	80	0	0	1	0	9	1	0
S.Fujita	62	18	80	0	0	0	2	3	1	0
W.Smith	43	19	62	3	23	11	0	1	1	0
K.Kaesviharn	47	14	61	0	0	1	2	4	0	0
R.Gay	49	4	53	1	6	1	0	15	0	0
J.Bullocks	28	7	35	0	0	1	1	6	0	0
K.Clancy	26	8	34	2	8	4	0	3	0	1
C.Grant	27	6	33	3	20	9	0	2	0	0
U.Young	27	6	33	0	0	0	2	8	0	0
S.Ellis	20	10	30	4	16	8	0	4	0	0
B.McCray	25	4	29	6	35	13	0	0	1	0
T.Porter	23	2	25	1	8	1	1	5	0	0
J.David	21	2	23	0	0	0	5	10	0	1
M.McKenzie	21	1	22	0	0	0	1	3	0	0
B.Young	11	2	13	1	0	0	0	0	1	0
J.Charleston	9	1	10	3	25	3	0	0	0	0
A.Glenn	6	1	7	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
H.Thomas	6	1	7	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
J.Dunbar	4	3	7	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
J.Craft	2	4	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
L.Torrence	4	1	5	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
A.Lake	4	1	5	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
C.Reis	3	1	4	1	3	1	0	0	0	0
R.Ayodele	2	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
J.Savage	1	2	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
T.Evans	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
M.Mitchell	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Team Totals	703	188	891	28	161	62	15	90	8	5
Opponent Totals	724	172	896	13	92	55	18	107	10	7

**Tkl=Tackle Ast=Assist FF =Forced Fumble FR=Fumble Recovery BL=Blocked Kick**

Special Teams Defensive Stats

Player	Tkl	Ast	FF	FR	BL
U.Young	15	2	0	1	0
J.Dunbar	13	0	0	0	0
T.Evans	12	1	0	1	0
C.Reis	9	1	1	0	0
R.Harper	9	0	0	0	0
M.Mitchell	8	1	0	1	0
J.Charleston	6	2	0	0	0
B.Ortega	5	1	0	0	0
J.Bullocks	5	0	1	0	0
P.Thomas	4	1	0	0	0
L.Torrence	3	1	0	0	0
A.Stecker	3	0	0	0	0
K.Kaesviharn	2	1	0	0	0
J.Craft	2	1	0	0	0
C.Roby	2	0	0	0	0
S.Weatherford	2	0	0	0	0
S.Fujita	1	0	0	0	0
A.Glenn	1	0	0	0	0
J.Savage	1	0	0	0	0
D.Barnes	1	0	0	0	0
G.Hartley	1	0	0	0	0
G.Pakulak	1	0	0	0	0
T.Holt	0	1	0	0	0
Team Totals	106	13	2	3	0
Opponent Totals	85	12	1	2	1

**Tkl=Tackle Ast=Assist FF =Forced Fumble FR=Fumble Recovery BL=Blocked Kick**

Turnovers

Fumbles Lost: J.Shockey 2, R.Bush 2, S.Green 1, P.Thomas 1, O.Sobomehin 1, D.Brees 1 Total: 8

Opponent Fumble Recoveries: J.Vilma 3, J.David 1, U.Young 1, K.Clancy 1, T.Evans 1 Total: 7