Waiting for Saints to tap LSU pipeline

Published 6:35 am Sunday, April 30, 2017

It’s probably just a coincidence.

Nothing sinister going on. No conspiracy in play or anti-LSU bias at work here.

But another NFL draft has come and gone. I do believe that little spectacle lasts longer than the NBA playoffs, but finally, mercifully, it is over.

LSU was well represented, particularly at the top end.

The New Orleans Saints were dutifully doing their picking, often purposefully, excited about each and every one of the new Who Dats, most of whom they “couldn’t believe were still on the board.”

The Tigers and Saints camps are not much more than an hour apart.

But once again, never did the twain quite meet.

Coincidence or not, it is starting to defy common mathematics.

The draft came and ended — at least I think it’s over — without a single LSU player becoming a Saint.

Presumably many of them would love nothing better.

Probably nobody’s fault.

Saints head coach Sean Payton was on LSU’s sideline in the Superdome during the Tigers’ 2007 BCS championship victory over Ohio State, and seemed to enjoy himself and the outcome immensely.

He’s usually at LSU’s pro day each year, along with much of the Saints staff. Why not? It’s a day trip for them.

But when it comes time to make that life-changing phone call to somebody in Baton Rouge, it never quite happens.

With Saturday’s marathon in the books, the most recent LSU player to be drafted by the Saints was Elton’s Al Woods, way back in 2010.

Since then, nada.

Probably just an oversight.

Not that long, you say?

In the seven years since, LSU has had the third-most drafted players in the country, trailing only Alabama and Florida State.

The Saints didn’t get the memo.

In fact, since Woods went to New Orleans in the fourth round, No. 123 overall, in the following years 43 Tigers have been drafted.

None by the Saints.

The rest of the NFL seems to have a feeding frenzy outside Tiger Stadium.

Those 43 Tigers have been scarfed up by 26 teams … none with a fleur-des-lis on their helmets.

Only five other teams have gone the past seven years without drafting a Tiger. None of them is just 70 miles away.

Seattle is a little farther, yet the Seahawks have drafted four LSU players.

Phoenix is way out in the desert somewhere, yet the Arizona Cardinals can’t do calisthenics without playing “Calling Baton Rouge” — five Tigers drafted.

Granted, the Saints are going to do what they’re going to do, with no malice suspected. They’d be under no obligation to provide a home state discount.

It’s just odd that it works out that way.

But not to worry, LSU fans.

The Saints will give you ample opportunity to watch former Tigers play in the Superdome.

Wishing them well may be another matter.

The rest of the NFC South seems be all-in on purple and gold.

Tampa Bay grabbed LSU linebacker Kendell Beckwith to pair with former Tiger Kwon Alexander, who has already become a noted playmaker at the position.

But the most curious example is Duke Riley.

By media consensus, Duke Riley was this year’s Deion Jones because, well, because the media loves nothing more than putting labels on things.

The two linebackers’ careers followed such a similar script, Jones could have charged plagiarism.

Jones had trouble getting on the field for three years at LSU, though with rare athleticism he was always a star on special teams.

He blew up his final year as an actual linebacker at LSU and later blitzed through the combine stuff.

He was a bit of a gamble with only one year as a starter, but it sure paid off for the Atlanta Falcons.

The Saints may have noted that he returned an interception for a touchdown in his hometown Superdome. His whole year was like that.

He has star written all over him. He made all of the all-rookie teams last season.

Riley’s season at LSU this year was Debo Jones II, the sequel — same career path.

Think the Saints might could use a linebacker?

The Falcons came back for seconds on that deal.

They bought into the familiar story line and landed Riley in the third round — eight picks after the Saints took a running back (just days after signing Adrian Peterson).

Riley and Jones might become the Twin Terror Tigers … for the hated Dirty Birds.

But hang in there. LSU is still recruiting large and the Saints will always be drafting.

Sooner or later, the law of averages has to kick in.

l

Scooter Hobbs covers LSU

athletics. Email him at

shobbs@americanpress.com