How Would You Fix the D?
 

What are some things that ya'll would suggest to make our D better? Maybe a complete scheme change is the answer and maybe it isn't. Some seem to think that the new players we signed will solve all of our problems and that might be true. If you could be a defensive advisor for a day, what would you suggest? Since our defense is too small to switch to a 3-4 how about us switching to a base cover 2? I thought maybe a switch to a pressure 3-4 would help hide our flawed secondary but that was too crazy of an idea to even have an adult discussion about. The cover 2 is another way to do more with less at safety and corner and our LBs would be a great fit. Let me hear what you got?

Re: How Would You Fix the D?
 

It could work to go to a base 2, but I just think with our d-line and the new LB's if we just blitz more and put some pressure on the QB our D would look alot better.

Re: How Would You Fix the D?
 

I agree that with the new guys coming in we should be able to blitz more effectively. It's been a long time since we had a great pass rushing LB. I'm trying to remember the last time we had a true sack artist at LB. Anyway HUSKER, we ran some zone looks last year and I remember thinking that MM looked very natural in it. At this point in his career I think going to a base cover 2 would help him out alot. When he was at GB he could keep up with any WR in the league not named Randy Moss but he has lost a step. Aside from MM it would help J. David and R. Gay as well because that's what they're used to. I got jumped for suggesting a switch 3-4 mainly because of the whole Vilma is better in a 4-3 deal. Well hell, if two of our top three projected corners are a better fit for cover 2, then why not run it?

Re: How Would You Fix the D?
 

It's a short list:

1) Get quality defensive players in at every level.
2) Teach the players to work together.
3) Enforce to each player that they must DO THEIR JOB!
4) Remove any player from the defense that isn't meeting point #3.

Point 1 is off to a decent start. Vilma, possibly Morgan, I hope Gay, and McCray represent talent. We're still short in the secondary as I'd like to see another top flight corner in the fold.

#2 and #3 is where the Saints have been awful the last couple of seasons. CB out on islands without safety help because the safeties bite on run fakes. LBs getting swallowed up because tackles do not occupy double teams. Jason David peeking into the backfield instead of just running with his receiver. The list goes on and on.

The staff stuck with Simineau way too long. Bullocks is a train wreck waiting to happen, and when David got hurt midseason last year, the passing defense got better. But when he got healthy, the staff put him back in.

If a defensive player is not doing their job, they need to be benched and give another player a chance. KK is better than Bullocks. All the LBs on staff is better than #53. Let them play.

Nope. The Saints have to dance with the girl they came with. It'll take two years to effectively learn to function in a new scheme. It requires completely different styles of players. Cover 2 is very dependent on the D-Line, MLB, and safeties. It takes time and talent to learn how to play it properly.

The Saints have to do subtle changes to their existing scheme. First and foremost they have to generate more consistent pressure on the QB, Do this be improving the D-Line with a stud tackle and by being unpredictable with pressure packages. The second key thing is to teach the safeties to do their job and not bite on run fakes. Let the front 7 handle the run (which is where Vilma and Morgan will be vast improvements) and have the safeties cover in the defensive backfield.

Finally get David out of the #2 corner slot. I don't care if it's Gay, Craft, Young, or a draft pick, anyone is better than David. Drop him to the nickle (or even better the dime).

Improve players, more pressure, do you job. With our offense all the Saints defense has to do is be able to get off the field on one third down per drive to be effective. Become an effect bend don't break instead of broker than broke defense and they'll be fine.

SFIAH

Re: How Would You Fix the D?
 

The problem with all of you suggesting that we blitz more, plug in more pressure packages, ect. is that it won't happen as long as Gibbs is DC. Gibbs has proven to me over the last two years that he will take very little chances and play a embarassingly vanilla defense. I mean the guy wouldn't blitz David F****** Carr who is a guaranteed sack if you blitz. And as a result he beat us. DAVID CARR BEAT US! WTF!! This was the game that killed Gary Gibbs in my mind, but by no means is the only reason the only reason I think he needs to be replaced.

I don't care who we sign as long as we have Gary Gibbs as our DC our defense won't be able to be be dominant, and probably won't rise above mediocre. Payton needs to be very careful about loyalty in this case, because I can see him walking down the same road as Haslett, with his Defensive Coordinator's ineffectiveness leading to his failure. That said I love Payton and hope this does not happen.

So how would I fix the D?

Step 1: (and the most critical step) Fire Gary Gibbs
After that I believe we would see almost immediate improvement.

Re: How Would You Fix the D?
 

Plain and simple... attack. I really don't have anything to say besides that.

Re: How Would You Fix the D?
 

I would say the last time we had a great pass rushig LB was Pat Swilling thats why I think we still need to draft a LB with one of our first two picks.

Re: How Would You Fix the D?
 

i've coached basketball for 7 years now....basketball and football are completely different sports, but the key to any great defense is to force the offense to do what you want, instead of trying to react to what they are doing.

the saints need to start forcing opposing offenses to react to them. i am sick of watching the saints d run a gameplan based off what the other team has.

Re: How Would You Fix the D?
 

Part of the reason we can't do anything everyone is suggestions is due to the limited D Coach we have. We need innovation. We need a coach who can instill disipline and play calling instead of just a basic set... "bend don't break" WTF?