New Orleans Saints

July 29, 2012; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Charles Brown (71) works with the blocking sled during a training camp practice at the team Charles Brown is a very important piece to the success of the New Orleans Saints next season with Jermon Bushrod gone and rookie Terron Armstead the only other viable option at left tackle in front of Drew Brees. Brown is off to a false start so far this preseason as he’s been unable to participate in OTAs due to an undisclosed weight lifting injury. Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com was the first with the scoop: Saints Coach Sean Payton didn’t specify as to the nature of Brown’s injury, only saying that it occurred in the weight room during the offseason. The Saints were short on tackles at the end of last season after Zach Strief sat out with a groin injury and Brown was sent to injured reserve with a right knee injury. Rookie Bryce Harris was also sent to injured reserve late in the season. The news should be very concerning to Saints fans. As Terrell pointed out, Brown struggled with injury issues toward the end of last season and has during the entirety of his time with the franchise. Practicing in Brown’s place during the first session was Jason Smith, the man who has bounced around the league after failing to live up to expectations. He’s a bust in the utmost sense, but at least the coaching staff is getting an early look at how he could potentially contribute with the team. We’re firm believers that Armstead, despite being a rookie, is probably the best option at left tackle for the Saints in 2013 thanks to his elite athleticism. As the preseason wears on we’ll get a better idea of how things will shake out at the left tackle position with Armstead. Right now, Brown is certainly not helping himself any, but it’s early. Less depth along the line during camp is a bad thing considering how thin the position has been hte last few seasons, so the sooner Brown heals up, the better. Like Who Dat Dish? Contact us know on Twitter @whodatdish or  on Facebook.

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The New Orleans Saints completed their first week of OTAs yesterday and the media was finally allowed access. That means finally getting an initial peak at the depth chart by seeing who lines up where during practice. Mike Triplett was kind enough to share with us exactly which players were running with which team on the defense during practice, basically laying out the defensive depth chart, for the day at least. FIRST STRING DE - Cam Jordan DE - Tom Johnson DT - Brodrick Bunkley OLB - Will Smith OLB - Martez Wilson ILB - Curtis Lofton ILB - Will Herring CB - Keenan Lewis CB - Patrick Robinson S - Roman Harper S - Isa Abdul-Quddus SECOND STRING DE - Akiem Hicks DE - Jay Richardson DT - John Jenkins OLB - Junior Galette OLB - Victor Butler ILB - Chris Chamberlain ILB - Ray Shipman CB - Jabari Greer CB - Corey White S - Jim Leonhard (*-replaced Harper with first string before Harper arrived later in practice) S - Rafael Bush THIRD/FOURTH STRING DE - Tyrunn Walker DE - Glenn Foster DT - Issako Aaitui OLB - Rufus Johnson, Eric Martin OLB - Baraka Atkins, Chase Thomas ILB - Ramon Humber ILB - Kevin Reddick CB - A.J. Davis, Korey Lindsey CB - Rod Sweeting, Ryan Steed S - Kenny Vaccaro S - Jerico Nelson Of course we're reminded by coach Payton not to read too much into any of this. And, of course, we're going to ignore him. So here are my quick observations of Thursday's practice lineup. Malcolm Jenkins, Jonathan Vilma, Kenyon Coleman, and David Hawthorne did not practice. Jabari Greer was running with the second team. Ouch. That's a surprise but I doubt Patrick Robinson is going to steal his starting spot. With Malcolm Jenkins not practicing, Isa Abdul-Quddus got the nod at free safety with the first team. Good for him. The highly touted Chase Thomas was all the way at the end of the line with the fourth stringers. Tom Johnson as the starting defensive end opposite Cam Jordan and Akiem Hicks on second team? That's a little interesting. The defensive tackle rotation order is as I would have expected: Brodrick Bunkley, Jonathan Jenkins, Issako Aaitui. Will Herring got the first string honors at inside linebacker next to Curtis Lofton. Who is this Ray Shipman character at second team inside linebacker?

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Written by Rich Arleo Edited by Marc Caviglia To help better prepare you for your upcoming 2013 fantasy football drafts we have has decided to take a close look at each team’s depth and predict how each players role will play out during the 2013 NFL season. These fantasy football depth charts will cover every position, however the main focus will be on the running back and wide receiver positions, since fantasy football owners have the toughest time projecting these positions. Keep in mind our NFL Depth Charts are fantasy football specific. ::UPDATED: MAY 20, 2013 New York Jets Depth Chart QB1: Mark Sanchez | QB2: Geno Smith | QB3: Greg McElroy RB1: Chris Ivory | RB2: Mike Goodson | RB3: Bilal Powell | RB4: James McKnight WR1: Santonio Holmes | WR2: Stephen Hill | WR3: Jeremy Kerley | WR4:Clyde Gates TE1: Jeff Cumberland | TE2: Hayden Smith K: Nick Folk 2012 In Review The Jets were expected to get back to a ground-and-pound offense under offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, but while there was plenty of ground – the team ranked sixth in rushing attempts per game – there wasn’t much pound. Shonn Greene had yet another mediocre season with 1,063 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. In his second season, Powell showed some skills, especially near the end zone. He scored four times in a four game span in which he had at least 11 carries each contest. He also caught his share with 140 yards on 17 receptions. McKnight was mostly used as a kick returner but did some damage with 179 yards on just 30 carries. What to Expect in 2013 The Jets made a huge splash by drafting Geno Smith, who fell in their laps in Round 2. The team jettisoned Tim Tebow after the pick and it looks like Smith, Sanchez and McElroy will compete for the job. If Sanchez or McElroy win the position, they won’t have any fantasy football value. If Smith becomes the starter as a rookie, however, he can immediately become a playmaker and is one to keep on your fantasy football radar. Odds are Smith takes over the starting gig eventually if not right out of the gate. After a few boring seasons with the team, Greene bolted to the Tennessee Titans. To replace him, the Jets went in a completely different direction with Mike Goodson. Greene is a between-the-tackles runner who has no hands, while Goodson is a speedy back with great hands. The knock on Goodson has been his injury issues, but throughout his career he has been solid when on the field. **Editors Note: Goodson was arrested on drug and weapons chargers on May 17** The Jets also made a draft day trade with the New Orleans Saints to acquire Chris Ivory in a trade. Ivory’s running style is a lot like Greene’s, however he is stronger, more physical and known to make bigger plays. In a limited role for the Saints, Ivory averaged over five yards per carry and he enters training camp as the RB1. Powell can move the chains and punch it in near the goal line, however he his playing time could be limited. McKnight is nothing more than a kick returner who will see just a handful of touches this year. Out wide the Jets return there two best pass catchers in Holmes and Hill. Holmes is a veteran who should bounce back from his 2012 season in which injuries limited him to just four games. He has just one 100 yard receiving game over his last 20 and is nothing more than a bench player in fantasy football leagues. HIlls showed promise with two touchdowns in his first NFL game, however he isn’t roster worthy except for the deepest of leagues. Kerley and Gates are situational players that would be cut on the majority of offenses around the league. The Jets let tight end Dustin Keller walk and he signed with the Miami Dolphins. Cumberland showed signs of hope at times last season, though he has very little fantasy value. Don’t be surprised if… Ivory puts together a RB2 type of season. Look for the Jets to be a very run heavy offense and for Ivory to showc