Why are we aquiring so many run stuffers this offseason?
 

We have been pretty decent against the run, but we really have not been great at rushing the qbs very well. I would figure we would build to get better in that department. With the drafting of Jones The Falcons are building to be a pass first team, and I would figure we would try and get after him a little bit. Rodgers, Franklin, and everyone else we aquired are great at stuffing the run, but not really known for being pass rushers. Do you guys worry about this?

Worry not dude, this is exactly the right approach if you think about it.

Sedrick Ellis is a great pass rusher from inside. Gregg Williams knows that and that's why he wanted NT types in Shaun Rogers and Aubrayo Franklin to use on the D-line to free up Ellis to do his worst this year. Ellis was double teamed most of last year and he still recorded 6 sacks, best of his career so far. Look for Ellis to post up Pro Bowl numbers this year with the help of Rogers and Franklin to free him up.

Cameron Jordan was drafted for his versatility at DE to also be moved inside on passing downs, a lot like they used to do with Charles Grant when he was still a Saint, but now it should be much more effective with Jordan and Ellis in the middle with all their strength and speed together to pinch off the center.

With all that beef in the middle, Rogers and Franklin on 1st and 2nd downs (mostly running downs), and Ellis coming in on 3rd downs for an added pass rush, teams will be faced with a lot of 3rd and longs after not being able to run up the middle on us anymore. This will free up our speedy linebackers, Casillas, Martez Wilson and Vilma as well as Will Smith and Junior Galette or Turk McBride or Alex Brown or Jeff Charleston at DE to get after the QB and rattle his cage on those 3rd and longs.

Meanwhile, we have some of the best corners in the NFL in Greer and Porter as well as depth galore there if any of them go down, plus extreme strength at SS in Roman Harper and FS with Malcolm Jenkins to shut down every option long enough to get the QB down.

Our defense is now so deep at every position that it isn't even funny anymore. If you thought Green Bay's defense was great last year, you haven't seen anything because the Saints will make them look like amateurs this year. Watch!

Here's the thing about your coach, he probably watch that Marshawn run about 300 trillion times. Then, he let GW watch it with him another 300 trillion. On defense Vilma took a lot of punishment last season as teams just ran the ball down our throats with timely passin gin between. A motivated run stuffing team will free up our LBS more to make those plays we had gotten use to in 09. Give the offense more short fields. I like Martez Wilson this season. Malcom Jenkins will also have a monster. and hopefully the saints stay healthy at the corner and we make a deep run.

Three most important positions on defense: Nose Tackle, Mike Backer, Free Safety...you've got to control the middle of the field...

Build a strong team up the middle and everything else will fall into place. Mediocre pass rushers then become solid rushers. Solid rushers then becomes good rushers. Good rushers becomes excellent rushers.

I'm perfectly fine with us not having the name rushers. Williams likes to bring pressure from every position, anytime, and everywhere on the field. It's going to be and has been a collective team effort since he's been here. This is the strongest we've been up the middle in a very long time... I expect our sacks numbers to increase even w/o that star guy.

And the way Junior is being talked this offseason... :cool:

DECENT!?!?!

I don't know what team you have been watching but the one area we must improve is being able to stop the run. When a team lines up late in the game and instead of passing they line up to run!?!?! THey have a better chance at running the ball on us to beat us. We get lucky if we do stop the run and we lose some more than most of the run battles. As you know from the play offs we didn't stop the run when it counted so they are pissed. So welcome the big run stuffers.

You won't have to sit with fingers crossed when a team tries to show us they are running.

We have an offense that can put up 30 plus points but we have got to stop teams that their plan is to keep the ball out of Brees hands by running the ball on us. So stop the run force them to throw into our secondary, which is very oppitunistic and good. It'll create turn overs and if anyone is going to run the ball in the game to control the clock... I rather it be us. Lure them into having to stop the run and then let Brees drop back on them and drop a deep one to Mechem... BY THE WAY WHO IS HAVING A DOMINATING CAMP.

We're making up for all the years we never had 1 much less 3 or 4. This defense will be GDub's best ever and will take us to the Superbowl again. Sexual Intercourse those Eagles.

Euph I couldn't agree more. I remember last year that the Falcons game plan seemed to be long sustained, grind it out, drives against us. It was aimed, just like you pointed out, to keep the ball out of Drew's hands. If we can run the ball and stop the run, look out man.

Why are we aquiring so many run stuffers this offseason?

My guess...

They are trying to defend the run better?

Two on dat! I was trying to remember the last time we were able to stop a third and one. Having a bit of trouble doing that. Sixteenth in the league against the run ain't very good. Now we just gots to hope the linebacker corps gets their poop in a group.