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CharityMike 10-30-2012 09:06 AM

Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Posted by Michael David Smith on October 30, 2012, 9:14 AM EDT

AP
The Saints’ secondary was lit up by Peyton Manning and the Broncos on Sunday night, and New Orleans is giving up 475 yards a game in total offense, the worst in the NFL by more than 50 yards a game. So something needs to get fixed with the Saints’ defense in a hurry.

Unfortunately, Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo says there are no quick fixes.

“We’re not going to wave a magic wand and change everything,” Spagnuolo said. “We just get better at what we’re doing.”

Spagnuolo said he has never experienced a defense this bad and therefore isn’t quite sure where to start fixing it.

“It’s uncharted territory,” he said. “I’m not used to this, because I’ve been blessed to be at places where we’ve played pretty good defense and we’re not doing that right now. Yet, I can’t really put my finger on it. But we will. We’ll figure it out.”

Even if he does figure it out, with the Saints at 2-5 and already five games behind the Falcons in the NFC South, Spagnuolo may be figuring it out too late.

Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense | ProFootballTalk

TheOak 10-30-2012 09:08 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Just WOW
"Spagnuolo said he has never experienced a defense this bad and therefore isn’t quite sure where to start fixing it."

arsaint 10-30-2012 09:19 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
I'd try about 8 undrafted FAs wanting to make a paycheck.

Could it really be any worse at this point?

GeauxForMore 10-30-2012 09:29 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
You need talent Spags. Look at the defenses you had in New York and St. louis. It's hard to fix a house without a single hammer.

Shoe. 10-30-2012 09:52 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by CharityMike (Post 453187)
Spagnuolo said he has never experienced a defense this bad and therefore isn’t quite sure where to start fixing it.

“It’s uncharted territory,” he said. “I’m not used to this, because I’ve been blessed to be at places where we’ve played pretty good defense and we’re not doing that right now. Yet, I can’t really put my finger on it. But we will. We’ll figure it out."

For a world-class, experienced, practicing professional in a field full of intense competition, those words are especially troubling to me.

How can you say you don't know where to start? Are there not enough obvious, glaring deficiencies? This dude is supposed to be one of the best on the planet at this particular medium (teaching guys to be better defenders) and all he has to say is, "I don't know."

I'm all aboard the "let's gives Spags time to do what he does" train, but hearing him say he "can't put his finger on" what is going so wrong is very disheartening to me, when many people can clearly see missed tackles (fundamentals), missed assignments (more fundamentals, especially in a zone scheme), and lack of energy from start till finish.

Don't know where to start PLEASE

How many of us would get a strange look from our boss if he came to us to tell us we were doing a bad job, and our reply was what Spags said

neugey 10-30-2012 09:53 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
At this point, we need the magic wand. Is this guy still available?

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...Y2xY93Kq2LvYuA

MatthewT 10-30-2012 10:03 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Yes indeed, his words are very troubling. Sounds like to me a guy who perhaps wants to get fired? Maybe this job is a little bit over his head?

Ashley 10-30-2012 10:15 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Just wait till next year. If he wants his job, there will be a major change in personal. Once again our top pick will be spent on a "d" player. Lets just hope this time he pans out.

Papa Voodoo 10-30-2012 10:27 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Start by watching game tape of Greg Williams defenses and start using that model...blitz like a wild man.

Jamessr 10-30-2012 10:37 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Greg Williams Defense > Steve Spagnuolo Defense :(

TheOak 10-30-2012 10:54 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa Voodoo (Post 453210)
Start by watching game tape of Greg Williams defenses and start using that model...blitz like a wild man.

Good point, it wasn't a style it was a model.... Organized chaos.

GW is not a better defensive coordinator than Spags just smarter, and since Spags admitted he had a lot better talent its possibly the players that made Spags and not Spags that made the players.

GW realized what he had, and FOUND a way to make it work out.... The Bountys were like PCP... super charge a bunch of players and they become more difficult to handle.

Explains Fujita leaving.

At the end of the day the reality is that our defense is just bad... A few decent players but as a whole unit its awful... The only way it has any success is to confuse QBs and blitz with so many people that WRs have to pass block.

SaintsBro 10-30-2012 11:04 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoe. (Post 453198)
For a world-class, experienced, practicing professional in a field full of intense competition, those words are especially troubling to me.

How can you say you don't know where to start? Are there not enough obvious, glaring deficiencies? This dude is supposed to be one of the best on the planet at this particular medium (teaching guys to be better defenders) and all he has to say is, "I don't know."

I'm all aboard the "let's gives Spags time to do what he does" train, but hearing him say he "can't put his finger on" what is going so wrong is very disheartening to me, when many people can clearly see missed tackles (fundamentals), missed assignments (more fundamentals, especially in a zone scheme), and lack of energy from start till finish.

Don't know where to start PLEASE

How many of us would get a strange look from our boss if he came to us to tell us we were doing a bad job, and our reply was what Spags said

Well. Some of ya'll (not just Shoe, and I mean this in a FRIENDLY way) are just looking for stuff to trip out on... he is not telling you ANY thing different from what you all are saying here, he's just saying it in a more diplomatic or level-headed way!

I mean he has got to be pulling his hair out over this. It's HIS NAME going on the defense in the history books, if this keeps up. You think he likes it?

When he is saying he "doesn't know where to start," he simply means, it's because there are MULTIPLE, simultaneous problems with this defense.

Think of it like a medical patient, who comes wheeling into the ER, and has many, many problems: he's overdosed on pills, which caused him to fall asleep at the wheel and be in a car wreck, he has high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney failure, he's allergic to a bunch of stuff, he's lost a lot of blood, and now he's having a heart attack right there on the gurney because of the stress of the car accident.

Even the best, most experienced world-class doctor is going to have problems with sorting out THAT kind of situation, where to even START fixing the guy on the gurney. Translation: we're fricked.

"can't put my finger on it" simply means, the players suck...that more than one player sucks, and they suck differently at different times...if it was one player or one scheme or one THING that was not working, Spags could put his finger on it and EASILY fix it for us. Or at least make it tolerably bad, acceptable. Kinda like Gregg Williams used to do a lot of.

But it's like Frogger, or that video game where the gnomes come popping out of the holes and you have to hit them with a hammer. He's got to be pulling his hair out over this thing, his hair is practically turning gray before our eyes!

But, he said in the longer version of the interview that he IS in fact losing sleep over this defense, so at least there's that!

Danno 10-30-2012 11:06 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Here's a thought...

You are forcing your scheme on a defense with players not suited for it?

We have CB's who are better at man, yet they're playing mostly zone.

You have the tradition SS/FS, yet they're playing 2-deep.

Your best DT is more of a NT, which doesn't really fit your scheme.

You're scheme relies on front 4 pressure, and LB's that can cover well, which we haven't got.

FinSaint 10-30-2012 11:11 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by x626xBlack (Post 453215)
Good point, it wasn't a style it was a model.... Organized chaos.

GW is not a better defensive coordinator than Spags just smarter, and since Spags admitted he had a lot better talent its possibly the players that made Spags and not Spags that made the players.

GW realized what he had, and FOUND a way to make it work out.... The Bountys were like PCP... super charge a bunch of players and they become more difficult to handle.

Explains Fujita leaving.

At the end of the day the reality is that our defense is just bad... A few decent players but as a whole unit its awful... The only way it has any success is to confuse QBs and blitz with so many people that WRs have to pass block.


GW had quite a few more drafts and offseasons to get players he liked and suited his scheme to come down to New Orleans. Now, Spags has to try and make that personnel, which GW largely brought in, to work for him in a very different scheme than what perhaps their natural abilities are suited for.

So, it's all still very relative, and I would definitely not call GW a smarter DC than Spags when everyone in the building knew that GW was going to blitz and then he do it again, again, again, again, and again. Have you forgotten all the big plays GW's defense allowed during the past couple of season?!

Spags is just being honest about the situation, and the feeling I got from his press conference was that when he was saying that he didn't know how to fix the problem(s) at this point in time... he was referring to the fact that at times the defense - even on this Sunday - shows flashes of being a good defense, but then it all inexplicably falls apart a few moments later. That might be something that is very hard to fix or even to figure out where to begin fixing it, since the season is half way over and big personnel changes are no longer really possible.

I don't know, it's all very disappointing since I really thought that the defense would be a top 15 caliber defense this year with Spags as the DC, but I for one will still defend the guy and the job he is doing.

FinSaint 10-30-2012 11:13 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Danno (Post 453218)
Here's a thought...

You are forcing your scheme on a defense with players not suited for it?

We have CB's who are better at man, yet they're playing mostly zone.

You have the tradition SS/FS, yet they're playing 2-deep.

Your best DT is more of a NT, which doesn't really fit your scheme.

You're scheme relies on front 4 pressure, and LB's that can cover well, which we haven't got.


Right, that is all true.

But at some point you have to wonder if it really was Spags forcing his scheme on this team or the franchise seeking out his services and wanting him to, even forcibly if necessary, to implement his scheme for better or worse?!

Danno 10-30-2012 11:30 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by FinSaint (Post 453221)
Right, that is all true.

But at some point you have to wonder if it really was Spags forcing his scheme on this team or the franchise seeking out his services and wanting him to, even forcibly if necessary, to implement his scheme for better or worse?!

But that wouldn't be smart during this past off-season. If we had a lot of cap to play with and a lot of picks I could see that. But why sacrifice a season just to change from a blitz heavy man scheme to zone?

FinSaint 10-30-2012 11:39 AM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Danno (Post 453224)
But that wouldn't be smart during this past off-season. If we had a lot of cap to play with and a lot of picks I could see that. But why sacrifice a season just to change from a blitz heavy man scheme to zone?


IDK, I was just speculating.

But, they certainly didn't expect the rest of the offseason to go as it did after they hired Spags. So maybe they thought that they could make it work in the sense that at worst it would've been a transition season to another scheme while SP and Brees would protect the defense by lighting up the opposing defenses like they did last season?!

Like I said, I don't know, but some blame has to fall on the front office as well if Spags really was/is such a bad fit for the defensive personnel the Saints have at the moment as people seem to think.

73Saint 10-30-2012 12:08 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
That was a damn good analogy, SaintsBro...

RailBoss 10-30-2012 12:29 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
If SP were on the sidelines would the D be this bad. This question keeps popping up in my mind.

AlaskaSaints 10-30-2012 12:57 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
We've been to the playoffs the last two years with most of this D. Now, they weren't good enough to keep us there, but we were there.

Add Spags and it falls apart.

I like Dannos reply. It's the only one that makes sense.

Alaska

NuNu318 10-30-2012 01:37 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
I'm sorry but I'm not going to sit up here and judge a man that has been here for for 8 weeks and has no talent to work in his scheme, no HC and a plate full of off the field drama that he did not expect.

From what I see he can't control our DBs not knowing where they need to be. Our overpaid DL not being able to get any push or our OLB not being able to tackle. This is something that was going on when GW was here as well but now its just more evident because its a different philosophy. And another reason why its more evident is because when in GW's scheme, where all you do is blitz, there is no development in actual defensive technique. DL don't learn how to get pressure because their only job is to open holes for everyone else to blitz thru. LBs can't cover cuz guess what...their job is to blitz. DBs don't know where to be when in a zone coverage because all they know is man coverage. Kinda hard to get these guys to develop these simple techniques over a few weeks when you've had blitz and strip the ball drilled into your head for 3 years.

Everyone wants to pine for GW after the fact when they were calling for his head and begging for Spags to come in the first place. The same players that you blame Spags for not getting the most out of are the same ones people blamed GW for misusing as well when it became clear that these guys weren't developed enough to play without Sharper and a healthy Vilma to be the glue that holds the defense together. And its such a contradiction to say Spags needs to change his philosophy to put his players in a better position like just blitzing them when that was our main complaint with GW in the first place. He did try the GW method a few times and you know what happend....we got burned over and over.

I for one see the flashes of what this D could be when you put guys that on the field that didnt get the time on the field with GW or didn't play under him (Lofton, Wilson, Gallete, Hicks...)....thats just me though...

CharityMike 10-30-2012 01:53 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
I'd like to believe more time would help but I don't think that it will. It's the personnel. Plain and simple.

Atlanta, Colts, Denver all have new DC this year. How are there defenses working out? Our players don't fit what Spags is doing. This won't be fixed until the offseason.

Mardigras9 10-30-2012 01:55 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Well that's encouraging.

iWho_Dat 10-30-2012 02:10 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Wow!! That's the most honest thing I've heard from a coach or player this entire season. No need to beat around the bush at this point. It makes no since to have a 32nd ranked defense when at least 5 players that I know of are first found draft picks. Smith, Ellis, Jordan, P Rob and Jenkins. Not sure about Lofton or Vilma.

Jamessr 10-30-2012 02:11 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
I guess what he's saying is get him 9-10 probowl talent people are he can make this work.

I for one belive him...

dizzle88 10-30-2012 02:30 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
So he's supposed to be a defensive minded guy, a smart guy that mixes schemes and gets players to play at a high level

If he's saying he doesn't know where to start, he is basically saying he can't do the job he was brought in for

Fire his @$$

Rugby Saint II 10-30-2012 02:34 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
If anyone else remebers it was when GW came to town he had the defense b**** slapping the offense in practice. We had some fights and then the offense stepped up. That was the season that the offense took off. There was hot competition and hustle to the ball.
The defense came to the first practice arrogant and ready to start the season........it rubbed off on the offense and bang we were a number one offense.
Here's the thing, GW did that with a team he inherited, one draft and Darren Sharper a FA acquisition. We got worse the longer he was here.

spkb25 10-30-2012 03:42 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Danno (Post 453218)
Here's a thought...

You are forcing your scheme on a defense with players not suited for it?

We have CB's who are better at man, yet they're playing mostly zone.

You have the tradition SS/FS, yet they're playing 2-deep.

Your best DT is more of a NT, which doesn't really fit your scheme.

You're scheme relies on front 4 pressure, and LB's that can cover well, which we haven't got.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danno (Post 453218)
We have CB's who are better at man, yet they're playing mostly zone.

They are? They don't seem to do well at either. Wait, Vernon Davis just caught another pass.

In fairness some of that is due to a non-existent rush

To me the players just don't understand what they're suppose to be doing and it is evident by the breakdowns in coverage.

st thomas 10-30-2012 03:48 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa Voodoo (Post 453210)
Start by watching game tape of Greg Williams defenses and start using that model...blitz like a wild man.

it may be the only thing that saves the season, revert to 2011 de. i can't believe i just said that.

Jamessr 10-30-2012 03:51 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
It might just work

FinSaint 10-30-2012 04:14 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
I'd rather have them stick with the current scheme than revert back to GW's all-out-blitzing scheme, since they need some of the young guys like Hicks and White to actually develop and it would probably be counterproductive to confuse them with a scheme change half way through the season.

And I seem to remember the D-lineman complaining that GW's scheme was very difficult for their position, so I wouldn't want to slow down the development of Hicks with a short term solution, which wouldn't really serve any long term purpose, and might be more harmful at the end of the day if he were to learn some habits that would prove to be problematic in another type of a front 4 scheme.

Also, they weren't really that impressive when they brought in extra guys on blitzes against the Broncos. It's hard to seem them fare any better with that gameplan against, for example, a team like the Failclowns.

st thomas 10-30-2012 04:17 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
the magic did'nt work changing head coaches it took us 6 games to stomach krommars way with 2 victories, vitt blew the game if u ask me if he called the 4th and 2 with the game tied at 7. he had to run it once more in that series but i don't know jack sh* t. he may have learned a lesson there. we were getting a couple of yards a carry. i'm still pissed we did'nt show more fight in that one. i'll get over it.

BIGEASY504 10-31-2012 01:14 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
“It’s uncharted territory,” he said. “I’m not used to this, because I’ve been blessed to be at places where we’ve played pretty good defense and we’re not doing that right now. Yet, I can’t really put my finger on it. But we will. We’ll figure it out.”

With this statement he needs to go!!! this defense will make a coach or break a coach and now Spaggs is admitting that he's broken. GW took this same bunch and won a Super Bowl and a 13-3 last year and Spaggs just doesn't know

TheEnigma 10-31-2012 01:15 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
He better find something to help fix this D

42alpha saint 10-31-2012 01:58 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
GW methods were questionable, but they worked for the most part, given our last three seasons. Im sure you all have heard the adage that it takes defense to win in the playoff's, and im sure im not the only one that still have nightmares about the forty whiners moving the ball down the field with ease and scoring with mere seconds left in last years playoff game. It is deeply troubling though when a supposed brilliant defensive mind like Spags says he doesnt know where to begin. He needs to figure out something and figure it out quick. As much as I love Saints football, Im at the point where im just ready for this season to be over with, get SP back, so he can have a sit down with Spags, and light a fire under players and coaches boohonkus's and make some trades drops (Shanle) and draft some younger quality players on defense.

pinch 10-31-2012 02:33 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Great, even magic can't save us.

TheKillerBs 10-31-2012 06:46 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
I don't know what the problem is either. Maybe Spags is part of the problem, I don't know. What I do know is this: We're 2-5. This season is a wash. There's no point in changing schemes in the middle of the season when the season is already lost.

Let's just ride out the rest of this nightmare and hope Sean and Mickey can right the ship in 2013.

neugey 10-31-2012 10:40 PM

Re: Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense
 
Is Spags waiting up for the Great Pumpkin tonight?


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