A federal judge says the Corps of Engineers was knowingly negligent about the MRGO. Do you trust the Corps to fix the flood control system in Southeast Louisiana and keep you safe?
O. Lineman Carl Nicks - this Rookie LOVES Pancakes!
Deke Bellavia Reporting
JACKSON – He’s big, strong and physical – he’s bad! Saints Rookie Offensive Lineman, Carl Nicks is having a whale of a camp here in Jackson and with steady progression he could be in the Saints starting line-up sometime this season.
The Saints drafted Nicks with the 164th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft hoping he would provide depth along the offensive line, but now Nicks has been so impressive he’s in position to vie for playing time as a rookie with the Black & Gold.
“If they want me to play Guard, I’ll play Guard. If they want me at Tackle, I’ll play Tackle. If they want me to play Center, long snapper or punter, I’ll do whatever they say. I’m just trying to make it,” said Nicks.
The soft spoken, gentle giant is a 6-5 343 pound mild manner man off the field, and a nasty, take you head off kind of guy on the field. That’s just what the Saints offensive line needs. He has a chance to compete,” said Saints Coach Sean Payton.
“We wanted to get the one’s going and then at some point get Nicks some reps with that group, because he also had to go to Tackle in the later part of the game. In order to get him some work at Guard, we did it a little earlier,” Payton said of Nicks’ play during the Saints win over the Cardinals.
Nicks had a solid senior season at Nebraska last year as he became one of the top Offensive Linemen in the Big XXII Conference. Nicks started eleven games for the Cornhuskers last season and allowed just one sack in 481 pass plays. And, more importantly, Carl Nicks was called for only one penalty on a total of 898 downs played! Nicks was a two-year letterman at Nebraska as he appeared in 23 games starting in 13 of those contest.
Nicks has made quite an impression in his short time in a Black & Gold Uniform, and says his transition from college to professional football has been a tough one. “It’s like being a freshman all over again. The speed of the game at the NFL level is very, very fast,” said Carl.
But the humble Nicks looked good against that NFL speed in the Saints scrimmage, and he also had his moments in the Saints 24-10 win over the Cardinals. Carl has set himself up to not only be in position to make the 53-man roster, but also a lot of playing time.
“He’s big and he’s done some good things,” Payton said. “Mentally there are some things that he has to work on. He had a mental error in the game the other night that Reggie Bush turned into a big run. As a rookie, there are some positives, but there’s still a lot of work ahead of him to develop. He has size and he’s powerful.”
New Orleans drafted Nicks in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft with a pick they obtained from New England in the trade with the Patriots, that also helped the Saints select Sedrick Ellis out of USC with the seventh overall pick of the Draft.
As the Saints prepare for a week of work against the Texans, Nicks says he has his strengths and weaknesses, and he’s trying to become a more balanced player. “I would say that I am lot stronger at run blocking. Noticeably stronger, but I really need to work on my pass blocking. I have to learn how to pass block better at Guard and Tackle. That’s what I really need to work on,” said Big Carl.
Does Carl Nicks really have a nasty side on the field? “Absolutely, ask anyone that has played against me. I am a nice guy off the field, but when I put that helmet on, I am all business. It comes kind of natural to me… you no it’s like using a fork to eat. When I put my helmet on it comes natural to me.”
Carl may also have the best nickname of any Saints Player – “I-Hop.” “At Nebraska they called me that, because I had so many pancake blocks. I love to pancake people,” said Nicks.
So, Saints fans, set aside your craving for Beignets this season , because big #77 looks to be ready to serve some cakes hot off the griddle. Order up!
E-Mail Story
Print Story
