Does the 2011 Defense have a chance to outshine the Dome Patrol?
 

Rickey Jackson, Vaughn Johnson, Sam Mills, and Pat Swilling! All Hall of Fame LB's in the Dome Patrol vaunted defense. Wouldn't it be something if SP and GW were able to build a similar fearsome defense. It's way too early, obviously, to in all seriousness consider it. However, the thought is there. It'll be fun to watch.

:bng:

My first instinct is to say HELL NO! But when you start thinking about it, the Dome Patrol had 4 great Linebacker but no other real standouts. Our defence this year has a bunch of guys that has the talent to go to the probowl and also the mad scientist calling the shots. It would be hard for them but it might be doable.

Nope - sorry. The Dome Patrol LBs are the only LBs to all make it to the Pro Bowl in the same year.

I agree that the rest of the "D" was not that good... but.

Records are ment to be broken and this is the same kind of deal. Eventually it will come along a Saints defence thats better. If there will be a unit that will get as loved, now thats a whole different story.

That would be awsome..

I'd have to see alot more than one good showing in a preseason game by our defense to anoint them the next best thing, but there is so much talent on our defense that it's definitely possible for us to be extremely dominant this year.
The dome patrol had the 4 great LB's but that was really it, let see what we do in week 2 first!

Bruce Clark and Jumpy were pretty decent players back then. It wasn't just the LB's that made that defense great. And it will take Rogers and Franklin and Smith to make this group of LB's and defense great.

The Achilles Heel of the Saints defense in the Dome Patrol was the secondary.

The D-Line was decent and we all know how good the LBs were.

The Saints had a few good guys in the secondary, Toi Cook immediately comes to mind.

But I would have to say that this may be the best defensive UNIT the Saints have ever assembled.

lb - no
DL - close call but i have to go with a maybe
Secondary - yes

^^This^^

Vilma wouldn't crack the starting lineup on the dome patrol defenses.

The D-line is a definite maybe (if they progress as expected)

The secondary is our best ever.

I think if you don't compare position by position, which is meaningless, and look at output, you will see that this D has a lot of potential to match that.
When the Dome Patrol was playing, the NFL was a run-first league, and our conference basically invented and perfected the West Coast offense, short, high percentage passes over the middle and at the sidelines. The Patrol was built to stop that, and it did it spectacularly.

Now, we have a defense which already has 3 potential probowlers on the line, and two in the secondary, in a league that is pass-first "Year of the Quarterback" and a conference full of big receivers, high profile TEs and upper-tier QBs (Carolina remains to be seen.)
What we are talking about is a defense with the same training and pedigree as the 2009 turnover machine, without the "all or nothing" mentality, since we have 3 guys who alone can put pressure and stuff the run while our killer secondary hawks for the ball.

It is really an apples to oranges comparison, since they were built to do different things, and the stats are going to be much much different (the DP had low yardage, low scores, this group will have higher INTs, FFs and sacks, but could still give up large amounts of yardage.)
Though it wouldn't surprise me at all for the "post-Superbowl" 2010-2012 Saints to be known as a defensive powerhouse more than an offensive one. Which is fine by me, win the games however you can do it boys.

No one thought the Heavy Lunch Bunch could be topped, either.
Time will definitely tell, but I think it's looking good for a dazzling season.
While we're at it, RIP Big Normand Hand. We miss you, brother.
A Big Wiggle to ya, up in Saints heaven! : )

He died before his time...went from a Saint to a saint. (took a couple pit stops in seattle and new york along the way.)

Yes it has the potential to outshine the Dome Patrol... minus the gaudy sack numbers. We had arguably one of the best linebacking core ever to play the game during that point in time... that's really hard to duplicate. This secondary by far outshines them and the DL is about what and what.

With Greg Williams coaching I think we have a chance.

Yep. It wold be. I'm all for it. I'm not about to rate our current group that high tho. Frankly I don't think they're that good.

Y'all prove me wrong boys.

:bng:

I hope so, we'll see soon enough.

we are real protective of that unit the dome patrol for good reason, back then. we had a so-so offense. now that the sides or in reverse mode we are all iffy when it comes to matching the 2 defenses. now i for one have stated a few times that this class will have to be reconed with, i think we have something special and is a must watch. i'm excited and take notice people. look out for these GW'S plow boys.

Stat-wise maybe... but definitely from an emotional stance: no way. What that D meant for a struggling franchise at the time is virtually impossible to mimic or to surpass.

Lb = No Way.. other than Vilma, With I would agree he would have rode the bench on that team

DL = has potential, with a mix of veterans, and unproven young guys, this DL has the talent to get the job done.. Time will tell.. But for now trying to come up with a nickname for them... Hmmm any Ideas? Whack em Sack em?

Secondary = also has the potential, We have maybe the deepest corner back rotation in the NFL... If Sharper was to comeback I would say definitely yes... We may have the best Defensive backfield in the NFL..
My only Question mark is Roman Harper, Does he continue to give up the big play. I hope not... Though he is a hard hitter, he does defend well against the run.. He just needs to pick up the pace in pass coverage.. Malcum Jenkins has the potential to be the best Free safety in the league.. He is a ball Hawk, always seems to be in the right place at the right time..

So lets get ready to lock and load... Cause there is gonna be some hard hitting going on out there this year.. There's gonna be a lot of excitement
But as with all gambling defenses there is gonna be some big plays given up.. I just hope not at the wrong time in crucial games..

All in all yes this team can compete with the DOME PATROL.. But they need there own Identity.. Come on Who Dats What should we nick name this defense?

GEAUX SAINTS!!!!

My vote no, if your just asking about the lb core( dome patrol ). Never will, but if asking about the d as a whole. Yes, we have playmakers all over back there.