Patriots Trade Hooman to the Saints for Akiem Hicks

Elijah said:

Doesn't look good for either Chris Jones, Alan Branch, or both.

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nowayback said:

Mutiny on Saints board, imploding
http://saintsreport.com/forums/f2/s...chael-hoomanawanui-updated-346797/index4.html

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Brit patriot said:

I really liked Hooman. No, he was never a world beater, but he was that solid kind of guy who worked his ass off. He is the kind of guy you need in the 53, just solid at the bottom, as not every player is going to the HOF.

i'm very hopeful though that Nicks will solidify the run blocking. We may well have got a steal here.

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zydecochris said:

Agreed. Hicks played well as a 4-3 defensive tackle in 2013, and not so well as a 3-4 DE. From what I've read, he was much better against the run than the pass, and that is what we need, especially since Brown's biggest problems so far have been against the run.

On the subject of Brown, I know he seems to have a lot to learn, but I had a question for one of the numerous people-smarter-about-football-than-me on the site: it is difficult for me to quantify, but it just seems to me that for some reason DT is a position that takes longer than most to become proficient at. I remember reading speculation after their first year or two that guys like Marcel Dareus and Dontari Poe were semi-busts, only for them to emerge as top players later. I don't think anybody considered Vince a bust after his rookie year, but he didn't really emerge until a year or two later. DE or OLB seems to have more "rookie sensations", perhaps because fleet youngsters that can fly around the edge for plenty of sacks.

The only data I could come up with is Defensive Rookie of the Year awards for the last 20 years, there have been 12 linebackers, 5 defensive ends, 2 defensive tackles (Suh in 2010 and Donald last year), and 1 cornerback. I would like to conclude that DT is one of the hardest defensive positions to learn, but one could just as easy speculate from this data that it is more difficult for DT's to put up splashy numbers that lead to Defensive Rookie of the Year awards.

Do you guys consider DT as a particularly hard position to be proficient as a rookie? And, can that explain Brown's difficulties so far, or not?

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The Brandon Five said:

Somewhere in New England, @Off The Grid just had an orgasm.

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Galeb said:

Maybe he's the one who rear ended Watson.

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Zuma said:

Mike Reiss ‏@MikeReiss 4h4 hours ago
For those updating #Patriots rosters at home, newly acquired DL Akiem Hicks will wear No. 72.

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robertweathers said:

I can't believe they gave him Devin Wyman's number. No respect.

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Bobsyouruncle said:

I didn't know what to think, but since there were three threads on the saints forum, one 30 pages long about this trade and how Hicks is washed up now that he's gone, I assume they don't like the trade.

The lady doth protest too much.

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Zuma said:

LOL...yeah but the 1st thing that came to my mind was that's more of an OT number...Matt Light.

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goheels22002 said:

Doesn't look good for the Cowboys, Jets, Dolphins, Bills, Eagles, Giants, Broncos, Redskins, etc.

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The change hasn’t been radical or signaled a fundamental shift in how the New Orleans offense operates. The Saints are still a team that predominately operates with three receivers on the field (although that wasn’t true against the Colts). But Hoomanawanui has allowed the Saints to introduce a package of plays where three tight ends take the field along with one receiver and one running back, also known as 13 personnel.

This package, in some ways, is an extension or the next step of what the team was trying to do early in the season by having rookie offensive tackle Andrus Peat report as an eligible receiver in heavy packages. The difference is Hoomanawanui is a threat to make offensive plays, where Peat essentially served as a sixth offensive lineman, which has made these three-tight end sets more dangerous and creative.

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“His size and weight help give you some versatility in the multiple tight end looks,” Payton said. “He is smart and he knows what to do every play — he probably knows what everyone else is supposed to do. He is someone that, within the right type of route combination, can find the seam and has some pretty good awareness.”

The Saints have run 30 plays out of their 13 personnel over the past three weeks with Hoomanawanui on the field. Of those plays, there were 19 runs for an average of 2.7 yards per carry, though several of those came at or near the goal line. New Orleans has also completed 5-of-10 passes for 59 yards out of the set.

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Rusty Coupe said:

Things seem to be working out well for the Hooman in New Orleans





How one player — Michael Hoomanawanui — has allowed Sean Payton, Saints to add new wrinkles to offense

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Rusty Coupe said:

Things seem to be working out well for the Hooman in New Orleans





How one player — Michael Hoomanawanui — has allowed Sean Payton, Saints to add new wrinkles to offense

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Rusty Coupe said:

Things seem to be working out well for the Hooman in New Orleans





How one player — Michael Hoomanawanui — has allowed Sean Payton, Saints to add new wrinkles to offense

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