darstep

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.

**SaintSince67**

papz

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.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

All little common sense goes a long way.

jcp026

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

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

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

darstep

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

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

Pete

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

\m/{×.#}\m/

lee909

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

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