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-   -   Spagnuolo - Odd Man Out (https://blackandgold.com/saints/42106-spagnuolo-odd-man-out.html)

darstep 03-13-2012 03:14 PM

Spagnuolo - Odd Man Out
 
With all of these high-end offensive contract negotiation and off the field issues, will Spagnuolo be expected to perform miracles with a rag-tag defense? After Brees, Colston, Nicks, will there be any dollars left for him to build a quality product that we can be proud of?

If, for whatever reason, we end up having to out score our opponent every week, I'm already prepared to give him a pass. Colton is done; Nicks and Brees are still hanging, along with a host of other FA contributors that could affect our continuity. I've got great respect for Spags abilitites, but he may end up with the same kind of "bend and don't break" middle of the road defense that GWilliams had to get creative with to have ANY kind of success at all. Maybe he can get the tackling grade up to about a B+. That should get us two games throughout the season.

I hope he is eyeing a few FA pieces that can come in and do some of the things he is visioning for this squad. Fundamentals are free, and avoiding self inflicted wounds can go a long way to positioning this new defense for success, whatever it ends up looking like. It would be a wonderful thing to see a 1st year pop in the defensive performance under his leadership. If it doesn't work out so well, here's my get out of jail free card, but it's the only one I've got.

papz 03-13-2012 03:20 PM

There's no get out of jail free card. Having all our offensive talent back actually helps keep the defense fresh.

Roman Harper - Pro Bowler
Malcolm Jenkins - Pro Bowl talent
Jabrari Greer - above average/solid corner
Patrick Robinson - solid corner
Junior Galette - DE with the freakish talent Spags look for
Will Smith - solid veteran
Jonathan Vilma - solid to above average when healthy
Martez Wilson - 3rd round pick that has flashed very good upside

There's plenty of talent here. He's not inheriting a bunch of losers and asked to perform a miracle. Also you don't have to spend big money to add quality free agents... we also have some draft picks in this upcoming draft too.

jcp026 03-13-2012 03:22 PM

I don't think Galette has freakish anything. I hope he can be great, but I just expect ok. Wilson is the only freak we have on defense. He just has to learn the game.

Rugby Saint II 03-13-2012 03:23 PM

We may not be able to afford to bring in any free agents. Our defensive roster will probably look very similar to last year with only a couple of new faces.
Also, we may lose a few players to the roster cuts. We need money and there are a few overpaid defensive players getting a check and not earning it.

papz 03-13-2012 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcp026 (Post 386701)
I don't think Galette has freakish anything. I hope he can be great, but I just expect ok. Wilson is the only freak we have on defense. He just has to learn the game.

Maybe raw athletic pass rusher would fit a bit better. Tomato tomatoe.

darstep 03-13-2012 03:36 PM

My greatest concern is that the front looks the same...and performs the same:
No pass rush. That will make the 2nd and 3rd level have to work just as hard as last year.
If there are NO upgrades up front, whether FA, draft, trade, or improved performance,
then I have no expectation of the kind of pop I'm looking for.
Something will have to change up front and they may have to do it on a budget.
It doesn't matter to me how they do it.

TheOak 03-13-2012 03:45 PM

Well........ If he can teach them to tackle... Super Bowl bound!

Pete 03-13-2012 03:45 PM

One of the things we'll see different in his scheme from GW's,is that he is said to use his LB's to blitz instead of safeties.Tez may just have his shot to be the major impact player we've been waiting for.

The turn around he produced with a few no name players in NY has me believing he's going to light a fire in a couple of our existing players who have yet to light it up.
All in all I'm just hoping he finds a way to produce pressure with our front four off the top.The rest will fall into place.I'm expecting big things out of Malcolm this year.

Please help make this happen Spagz:bng:

lee909 03-13-2012 03:54 PM

I guess the offence could be the best defence for us.
If we keep the offence going like last year teams will have to take risks to keep up,you can't make do with FG and give Drew the ball back.

saintfan 03-13-2012 03:54 PM

He just needs to fire up his own bounty program and it's all good...

darstep 03-13-2012 03:56 PM

The front four will be key.
The turn overs will come back if we control the line of scrimage.
Good pressure up front leaves the back 7 free to make plays.
No more extra effort providing run support from corners and safeties.
Those guys were working overtime in run support.
No wonder they were a step slow in coverage all the time.
Jordan should be better. Smith CAN be better. Ellis needs to be better.
Rogers, Franklin, Taylor: somebody please be better.
A little interior help would do wonders for both Smith and Jordan on the outside.

Pete 03-13-2012 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saintfan (Post 386728)
He just needs to fire up his own bounty program and it's all good...

Dude NO!lmfao

FinSaint 03-13-2012 04:03 PM

Luckily the DT class is by far the best/widest class out of all of the positions in the upcoming draft, so if the Saints have any of their picks come draft day - I think they can find good pass rushing DTs that way (f.e. Derek Wolfe).

Jason Jones would be a nice FA addition to the front 4, because he could line up as a DT or a DE depending on the situation. But I doubt the Saints can afford to sign him if there is even a hint of competition over his signature. Maybe cutting Ellis in favor of signing Jones would be the move they need?!

I firmly believe that Spags will be able to get much more production out of the existing players than GW ever did, and that is why I'm confident the defense will improve from last year even without major upgrades.

Jamessr 03-13-2012 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papz (Post 386699)
There's no get out of jail free card. Having all our offensive talent back actually helps keep the defense fresh.

Roman Harper - Pro Bowler
Malcolm Jenkins - Pro Bowl talent
Jabrari Greer - above average/solid corner
Patrick Robinson - solid corner
Junior Galette - DE with the freakish talent Spags look for
Will Smith - solid veteran
Jonathan Vilma - solid to above average when healthy
Martez Wilson - 3rd round pick that has flashed very good upside

There's plenty of talent here. He's not inheriting a bunch of losers and asked to perform a miracle. Also you don't have to spend big money to add quality free agents... we also have some draft picks in this upcoming draft too.

IMHO you have Jabrari Greer and Patrick Robinson reversed. Jabrari Greer is underrated.

|Mitch| 03-13-2012 06:59 PM

Don't forget about Johnny Patrick; I expect to see his talent emerge with the guidance of Flajole...

papz 03-13-2012 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamessr (Post 386868)
IMHO you have Jabrari Greer and Patrick Robinson reversed. Jabrari Greer is underrated.

Average|Solid|Above Average

Greer definitely is underrated around the league and the better player of the two right now.

ChrisXVI 03-13-2012 08:18 PM

Maybe they're giving Spags the draft to pick the players that he wants to fill the holes that he thinks are in desperate need of filling. Our defense will be fine.

Belair57 03-13-2012 10:52 PM

[QUOTE=papz;386699]There's no get out of jail free card. Having all our offensive talent back actually helps keep the defense fresh.

Roman Harper - Pro Bowler
Malcolm Jenkins - Pro Bowl talent
Jabrari Greer - above average/solid corner
Patrick Robinson - solid corner
Junior Galette - DE with the freakish talent Spags look for
Will Smith - solid veteran
Jonathan Vilma - solid to above average when healthy
Martez Wilson - 3rd round pick that has flashed very good upside


WILL SMITH HAS DONE NOTHING..HE NEEDS TO GO

QBREES9 03-13-2012 11:07 PM

Welcome to New Orleans Spags

TheKillerBs 03-14-2012 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belair57 (Post 386999)

WILL SMITH HAS DONE A LOT FOR THIS TEAM..HE NEEDS MOTIVATION TO GET BACK TO WHERE HE WAS

Fixed

alleycat_126 03-14-2012 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papz (Post 386699)
There's no get out of jail free card. Having all our offensive talent back actually helps keep the defense fresh.

Roman Harper - Pro Bowler ( not a coverage safety, hands of stone )
Malcolm Jenkins - Pro Bowl talent ( not a coverage safety, couldn't catch a cold )
Jabrari Greer - above average/solid corner ( better than solid, injured every season though.
Patrick Robinson - solid corner ( still taking lumps
Junior Galette - DE with the freakish talent Spags look for ( won't argue that)
Will Smith - solid veteran ( Needs to assume a lesser role.)
Jonathan Vilma - solid to above average when healthy. ( Key words, when healthy)
Martez Wilson - 3rd round pick that has flashed very good upside

( two real impact plays for an entire season does not make an all word LB can we see more production before he's annointed. )

Romeus - Raw, Spags can actually get something good from him this would be awesome



There's plenty of talent here. He's not inheriting a bunch of losers and asked to perform a miracle. Also you don't have to spend big money to add quality free agents... we also have some draft picks in this upcoming draft too.

If you take a good look you'll see that we really are in need of help. Plus, we don't know the impact of the upcoming penalties. Im with Darstep Sppags does get a pass this season. But, on the oft chance that he does make something out of this defense, he is already in my mind better than Greg Williams.

papz 03-14-2012 07:11 AM

Quote:

( two real impact plays for an entire season does not make an all word LB can we see more production before he's annointed. )
Errr? Someone called Wilson an all world linebacker? You're putting words in my mouth.

We are in need of help... scheming and fundamental tackling. That's where Spags comes in. We have a full off season and I expect him to make an immediate impact... not wait until next year. That's not what we're paying him for.

SapperSaint 03-14-2012 07:52 AM

I want better players on defense just like everyone here does. However, I think Spags can do a lot with what he has now even if he rolls out with the same bunch as last year. Tackling and correct "Wrap up" skills will be stressed at camp this year. I'd bet on it.

Danno 03-14-2012 08:37 AM

He has plenty of talent to work with, and we haven't even started to bring in his kind of guys yet.

I see no reason why our defense shouldn't be middle of the pack at the very least.

All it takes is one player who fits perfectly to turn it around, as was the case in 2009 with Sharper.

papz 03-14-2012 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danno (Post 387123)

All it takes is one player who fits perfectly to turn it around, as was the case in 2009 with Sharper.

...who signed with us for 1.7 million dollars(for those whining about not being able to spend big money of defensive free agents).

Let us not forget, though Franklin didn't turn out to be what everyone thought he would, we signed him at a bargain rate and no one thought it could actually happen.

Loomis does work.

darstep 03-14-2012 12:30 PM

That's exactly what we are all hoping for.
A good vet with new found fire in his belly, working hard to get him/us a ring.
Hopefully, it happens on the cheap.
Or Ellis somehow re-invents himself to bolster some value for a new contract.


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