Saints Make Some Smart Moves To Bring Joe Morgan Back

It was a shock to some New Orleans Saints fans when wide receiver Joe Morgan didn’t make the final roster a few weeks back.

Morgan had been in competition with veteran Josh Morgan during training camp and preseason to make the roster and both had their up and down moments.

I felt that Josh had made more “plays” if you will and showed a bit more consistency during the preseason as compared to Joe.

In all fairness Joe, who was known as a straight speed guy, was tasked with taking on a different role than what he was used to in years past.

He was being asked to expand his route tree beyond the typical vertical “Go Route” which was Joe’s bread and butter.

Sep 3, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback LaDarius Gunter (36) breaks up the pass intended for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Joseph Morgan (13) during the third quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The results were less than favorable for him and the final preseason game against the Green Bay Packers looked like it could seal his fate if it came down to a numbers game.

Well, it was to a point when the Saints strangely decided to keep only four receivers on their roster heading into the Week 1 game against the Arizona Cardinals.

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We all saw following that game how badly the team was in need of another deep threat to compliment or, better yet, free up receiver Brandin Cooks.

Receiver Marques Colston, tabbed as #1 on the depth chart, seemed to play like a #3 receiver against the Cardinals and looks like his best days are behind him as far as speed goes which he never was really known for anyways.

Both Brandon Coleman and Willie Snead are still fine tuning their technique in the NFL and could be a threats for the Saints on offense, but it could take some time.

I had a sneaking suspicion when the team left a roster spot open with a bevy of moves on Monday that Joe Morgan could likely be headed back to New Orleans.

The Saints made the smart move to keep Morgan in the loop and it was speculated that even though he got released that his eventual return wasn’t off the table.

Sep 13, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) catches a pass against the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Saints 31-19. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals game only emphasized the need for his return to help free up a speedster like Cooks as well as open up opportunities for Coleman, Colston, and Snead.

Without someone like Morgan, other teams can just simply follow the blueprint set by Arizona to put a team’s best corner on Cooks or simply double-team him.

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Head coach Sean Payton alluded to this is his conference call with the media on Thursday and also mentioned along with the speed element, Morgan is a good blocker as well.

The Saints made another smart move, that’s pure speculation by me, in waiting to sign Morgan so close to Sunday’s game so the Tampa Bay Buccaneers don’t have much time to game-plan for him.

Speaking of game-plan, another smart move the Saints will likely make is to simply let Morgan be what he was built for…a deep threat.

I can understand Payton wanting to make him more versatile in the passing game but Morgan needs to used according to his strengths.

Nov 24, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Joe Morgan (13) on a 67-yard run in the first quarter of their game against the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

In other words, a marathon runner won’t be expected to put up a blazing time in a track meet and vice versa…it’s two different aspects altogether.

But the smart move in bringing Morgan back has to rest in his potential that I feel hasn’t even been tapped yet, as well as his genuine desire to help the team that gave him his original shot as an undrafted free agent succeed.

Payton has shown an underlying affection for Morgan as a mentor and father figure that both have an unspoken understanding on.

Morgan’s story and journey with the team has been one that follows the same path of those like cornerback Delvin Breaux who has had to overcome more than his share of obstacles to get his opportunity while in New Orleans.

To make sure that his story continues with the Saints, Morgan will not only have to make some speedy moves, but smart ones as well starting on Sunday……

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