FanHouse JonStinchcomb

Despite the appearance that Jon Stinchcomb would be bolting for the Seahawks, who reportedly had serious interest, the seventh-year right tackle has agreed to remain in New Orleans for the next five years.

While Stinchcomb is a brainy player, good character guy, and a community leader, the Saints' decision to keep him -- pending the terms of the agreement, which are currently unknown -- is puzzling.

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

Gregg Williams hasn't informed a free agent decision for New Orleans yet, hasn't hand-picked the inevitable defensive playmaker the Saints choose with their 14th-overall selection this year, hasn't installed a single scheme in a minicamp. Yet Williams' reputation has preceded him to the Crescent City, and his hiring as defensive coordinator is already considered one of the most important moves in team history.

After almost two decades of guaranteed defensive putridity, the last three of which have revolved around Gary Gibbs' lack of talent identification and bland scheming, the idea of Williams and his history of intelligent, hard-working, active, complex defenses coming to the Superdome is music to the ears. It also might finally push the Saints over the top.

And so the gossip keeps flying. Adam Schefter reported last night that the Saints have inquired about what it would take to move from their spot at 10 to the Rams' at two.

Schefter believes the Saints are eyeing Glenn Dorsey or Vernon Gholston. A trade involving Dorsey would seem more likely -- they love him, and if it only takes their second-rounder or perhaps their third and right tackle Jon Stinchcomb, who Rams defensive coordinator Jim Haslett drafted, it'd be worth it. But Gholston makes no sense. That rumor is based on defensive end Will Smith's hold out, but the Saints would have to pay Gholston comparable money to what Smith is seeking, and those slight savings aren't worth risking a Pro Bowler for an unproven rookie.

As far as the Rams are concerned, the deal makes more sense. If they're hell-bent on getting a tackle and Jake Long is gone, the Rams could save money and get Jeff Otah, Branden Albert, or Ryan Clady (or Stinchcomb). They could also grab Leodis McKelvin or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with rumors that Fakhir Brown will be suspended for the season, or even Devin Thomas to replenish their receiving corps.

All in all, I don't buy it. For one, if the Saints are positioning themselves to grab Dorsey ahead of division rival Atlanta, what would stop Atlanta from offering less and assuring the Rams a smaller drop? Secondly, Jim Haslett left New Orleans on very bad terms, and though he doesn't call the shots I'd be surprised if he'd hand the Saints a player he also covets, one that could help his own unit tremendously. File this as unlikely.

The Saints haven't really given any substantial hints as to their offseason plans, although they have noted that they plan on improving their defense (which needs it, badly, by the way). That has led most to assume that their first round pick, 10th overall, will be on defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs' side of the ball. But let's not rush to assumptions.

In GM Mickey Loomis' tenure, the Saints have traded up, they've traded back, they've traded picks for players and vice versa. But their one overarching credo has been "best player available." It's the reason they drafted Deuce McAllister when they had Ricky Williams and Will Smith when they had Darren Howard and Charles Grant. It's the reason they might eschew defense in the first.

Let's assume that the top four defensive linemen (Sedrick Ellis, Glenn Dorsey, Vernon Gholston, and Chris Long) are gone. If the Saints don't feel there is another player worthy of that pick, they won't reach. And the man they might take instead is offensive tackle Ryan Clady.

Of course, Clady might already be gone as well. But though Drew Brees' numbers are quite large, his yards per attempt dropped by 1.2 this past season -- a direct result of less time. Taking Clady would give them options -- put him on the right side in place of Jon Stinchcomb or move Jammal Brown to his natural spot and play Clady on the left. Either way, picking up a very good lineman is never a bad thing, and, in this case, sure beats reaching for an "if".

To get you ready for week 5, FanHouse is previewing all this week's games. Here is the New Orleans Saints - Carolina Panthers preview.

2007 Records:
New Orleans Saints: 0-3 (4th, NFC South)
Carolina Panthers: 2-2 (2nd, NFC South)

Last Game:
Titans 31 - Saints 14
Bucs 20 - Panthers 7

When the Saints have the ball:
Expect a new look. Reggie Bush is going to get more carries, and the Aaron Stecker/Pierre Thomas backup duo will see increased gametime as well. Bush's increased role in the run game means less touches as a receiver and returner, but I think the move could turn out great for him. With two weeks to think about how awful this offense has been, maybe the maladies on the offensive line have been fixed. Or maybe not. Jammal Brown needs to play like a Pro Bowl tackle again for the offense to get back on track; luckily the Panthers defensive line has struggled to get pressure so far this year, and the Saints have always been surprisingly adept at nullifying Julius Peppers.

When the Panthers have the ball:
On the other hand, the Saints have never been able to stop DeShaun Foster or Steve Smith. There's lots of frustration in Carolina right now, and Smith was bubbling last week as David Carr inepted the Panthers towards a loss. But the Saints defense is bad enough that this could be wonderful therapy for the Panthers. If they can't stop Foster (especially with Saints linebacker Scott Fujita questionable), it doesn't matter who's playing quarterback -- it could be the first domino in a high-scoring Panthers day.

You know those people. They're the casualest of football fans. Their insight typically extends as far as "Hey, that Peyton Manning is a pretty good quarterback." And yet, they're not satisfied letting you wallow in your team's 0-3 start. No, they've got to tell you what your favorite team is doing wrong. They're everywhere, and they all want to explain to me that the reason the Saints are losing is because of their defense.

And yeah, the Saints' defense has been just two or three steps below bad, but they're really no worse than they were last year. So what's the difference between 2006 and 2007?

Our own Michael David Smith knows, and he explains over at Football Outsiders.

The biggest problem facing the Saints is the offensive line, and until that problem gets straightened out, the best story of the last NFL season is going to continue to be the biggest disappointment of this NFL season.

I generally dislike the mentality of treating an offensive line as one unit, rather than treating each of the five players on the line as individuals. But the fact is, left tackle Jammal Brown, left guard Jamar Nesbit, center Jeff Faine, right guard Jahri Evans and right tackle Jon Stinchcomb all had bad games Monday night.

And the game before that. And the game before that. The problem isn't that Drew Brees is suddenly a bad quarterback, or that Reggie Bush is a bust, it's that the line hardly cares to block. MDS correctly notes that the team used a lot of tricks to mask their shortcomings last year (they also lost starting tight end Mark Campbell, a good blocker), and I wouldn't be surprised to see the unit blown up at some point this year, with youngsters Andy Alleman and Zach Strief replacing Nesbit and Stinchcomb, respectively. Something's gotta be done to fix this disaster.