Ohio State Football: New Orleans Saints fond of Buckeyes, and should be
Earlier in the week the New Orleans Saints picked up another former Ohio State football player in a trade with the New York Giants.
When Eli Apple became available this week the New Orleans Saints were eager to make a trade with the New York Giants for the cornerback. With the success the Saints have had with former Ohio State football players recently that just made sense.
Apple will be joining corner Marshon Lattimore who has already became a star. But before we get into how well Lattimore has performed let’s look at the Buckeye wide receivers he and Apple have to go up against in practice.
Michael Thomas began the Saints’ fondness for former Ohio State football players when they got him with the 47th pick in the 2016 NFL draft. They have certainly gotten their money’s worth as the WR has proven he shouldn’t have fallen as far in the draft as he did.
Thomas took the NFL by storm his rookie season catching 92 passes for 1,137 yards and 9 touchdowns. I wonder if his performance had anything to do with New Orleans bringing in another Buckeye wide receiver.
After a fine 10 year career, and catching 98 passes for 991 yards and 14 touchdowns during the two previous seasons, Ted Ginn somehow became available. Last season he and Thomas formed quite a receiving combo.
Ginn had 53 receptions for 787 yards (14.8 ypc) and 4 touchdowns. Thomas caught 104 passes for 1,245 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Lattimore was also added to the roster as the Saints’ first round pick in the 2017 draft. And boy did the young corner prove he was worthy of being the 11th player taken.
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Lattimore had 52 tackles, defended 18 passes and had 5 interceptions. For his efforts Lattimore was selected to play in the Pro Bowl and was named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Also, safety Vonn Bell has performed well his first two seasons in New Orleans registering 161 tackles. Now Apple, another former first round draft pick, will be joining Lattimore and Bell in the defensive backfield.
The three will be teaming up on their former teammate Thomas in practice once again. Hopefully the old wide receiver Ginn has slowed down a step so they can keep up with him.
I think it would be fun just to watch these guys go at it in practice. I’m sure it is competitive.
Next. Evaluating the Buckeyes through 8 games. dark
If the New Orleans Saints keep picking up Buckeyes I may have to rethink my 50 year allegiance to the Cleveland Browns. No, I couldn’t do that. After watching the Browns play on Sundays, Mondays don’t seem so bad.