FanHouse Jamarnesbit

You've got questions. I've got answers. If not, I'll make them up. Each Thursday at 1 p.m. EST, I answer your queries on all things related to the NFL. If you have a question, send it over to NFLMailbag@gmail.com. Don't forget to include your name and location. Click here for the archives. Rock'n'roll.

How will the Saints offense make up for the loss of Jamar Nesbit and Jeremy Shockey for the next month, especially with Marques Colston out? Do you see any receivers finally catching anything?
- J. Willits, Jackson, MS

The Saints have been debacled by injuries so far this year; one-fifth of the roster appeared on this week's injury report. Nesbit's suspension makes him the 11th starter from the presumed opening day roster to miss time this year. That being said, while it never helps to lose a starter, Nesbit's injury opens the door for coaches to get a look at Carl Nicks, the one-time Nebraska right tackle they drafted in the fifth round this year. Nicks was thought generally to have second- or third-round talent, but some trouble he got into in college, causing him to be banned from Nebraska's pro day, caused him to drop. He was converted to left guard in the offseason and coaches rave about the athletic ability he has for his size (6'5'', 343). Nesbit has been the weakest link on a line that has really performed poorly in the run game, so seeing what Nicks can do might prove to give the line a spark.

As far as the receivers are concerned, Robert Meachem is going to get increased looks, and rightfully so. He's only got three catches in two games, but they've totaled 105 yards and a touchdown, and all have been for first downs. Each catch has showed a flair for the ability to make plays. The Saints always find a way to move the ball through the air, so they'll put together a good enough attack to hold them over, but Meachem will work his way into the forefront. By the way, the Saints have San Francisco, Minnesota, and Oakland in the next few weeks, so their schedule is pretty favorable while everyone gets healthy.

Carl Nicks saw character concerns damage his standing in the draft, but they're not keeping him off the field this training camp.

Nicks, a right tackle in Nebraska, was a fifth-round selection in New Orleans who by most accounts had second- or third-round talent. Some incidents pushed him down the ladder, but he was an instant sleeper who many figured would factor into the Saints' starting line sooner than later.

In order to put Nicks in a position to get on the field more, the Saints moved him from the crowd at tackle to left guard, where veteran Jamar Nesbit is unspectacular, steady, and can easily be improved on. Nicks has had time there and at right tackle, and got to work a little with the first team in last Thursday's preseason opener against Arizona.

Nicks is known for his power, and the Saints could use a large presence to aid in their substandard interior run game. He's got 15 pounds on Nesbit and his legs are eight years fresher. Physically, he's shown capable. If he can prove himself able to handle the mental rigors of offensive line in the NFL, particularly while switching positions, there's a good chance he'll be starting this year.

It took a while for the Saints to start locking down their own free agents, but they're picking up steam. Yesterday they announced two re-signings on the offensive line -- backup center Jonathan Goodwin and starting left guard Jamar Nesbit. Goodwin's signing could mean the end of a third lineman, free agent starting center Jeff Faine.

Word on the street is that Faine is looking to be one of the highest-paid centers in the league, and the Saints apparently recognize that that's foolish, so he appears to be walking (potentially to division rival Tampa Bay). Faine is a very intelligent center who excels at calling out blocking assignments. But he's also undersized. At 290 pounds, he has a tough time blocking nose tackles 20-30 pounds heavier than he is (we already know he's a tad on the weak side). When Faine missed two games with injuries, the offense was much better under Goodwin. The fact that he was given a three-year, $8.5 million deal suggests as well that the Saints aren't paying him to be a backup.

As for Nesbit, there's been word that the team feels '07 draft pick Andy Alleman might be able to take over this year, so Nesbit could potentially lose his starting job. If he does, though, he's a very good backup who's played at all five positions. Either way, by what the Saints did and didn't do yesterday, I think their line got better.

NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.

1. Defensive Tackle/Linebacker/Cornerback. I know this reeks of a cop-out, and I guess you're right. But every time I think that the Saints need one of these positions over the others, I change my mind. On one hand you've got defensive tackle, where Hollis Thomas, the only true nose tackle, is 34 and playing year-to-year. He's consistent against the run and pass, but can't play a full game anymore. The rest of the tackles are just adequate, and starting 3-tech Brian Young's a free agent who probably won't be back. Then there's linebacker, which features just two players, because middle linebacker Mark Simoneau has no impact whatsoever. Scott Shanle ain't no prize, neither. Finally, there's cornerback. The crew, outside of Mike McKenzie, is terrible (admittedly, with faint hints of promise). And McKenzie's torn ACL should keep him out until October at earliest. So you decide which is worse off.

I don't expect the Saints to go after any of the marquee free agents at these positions, but I wouldn't be surprised to see under-the-radar signings like Corey Williams or Drayton Florence. Most of the improvement will come in the draft. I'm all for Sedrick Ellis in the first, even if the Saints have to move up a few spots from 10 to get him. This is a deep draft for linebackers, which is helpful, and good young corners like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will be available after the first round.

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.

I decided to go back and watch last night's game again, because I hate myself, and I decided that starting tonight I'm going to go on a bender with lots of booze and perhaps a narcotic or four and hopefully, by the time Monday rolls around, I'll have no memory of the debacle that was Saints v. Colts. (Note: The FanHouse doesn't condone this type of destructive behavior, though it seems like the right thing to do at the moment).

Before I voyage off into an uncertain future, though, I took notes. By notes, I mean I drew lots of frownie faces. Because if you were to take notes of this game from the perspective of a Saints fan, it would be giant effing frownie face.

Anyway, here's what I noticed, without trying to mention Jason David too much because, Christ, that guy must have had a terrible day:

• The Saints stuck with the Colts in the first half, primarily because they used the Colts' very own Cover 2 defense. This gave Joseph Addai plenty of room to run, sure, but it also kept Peyton Manning virtually ineffective (save Marvin Harrison's touchdown catch). In the second half, they switched to their standard man coverage to neutralize Addai, moving Roman Harper into the box, which allowed the Colts receivers to get behind the Saints secondary. Game over. The Colts were going to pick up yards and points no matter what, I just don't know why they chose to put the ball in Manning's hands instead of the more managable Addai's.