Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

Spags had all pre season, All the game Tape of previous seasons. Did he think Bunkley and 3 new Linebackers would make a big impact? He had to know we had no pass Rush. Why no trade in Pre Season ?

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

Spags has been a HC for a number of years. Its possible that we do not have the players to run his type of defense , and he is no longer as good as he was, removed from being DC for so long. A Double wammy and The perfect storm.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

We can only thank Brees for that. If he hadn't been a little ***** about his contract all offseason Loomis and the boys would have known how much money they could spend on defence. The really were no room for any trades.

The basic talent level is too low or guys who was good are getting to old. Smith used to be great now he seems to have lost a step. Ellis is a never was but there is only so many things you can change in one offseason.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

Yes, the so called defensive stars are getting long in the tooth. Trades, well they never really happen, and yes, Brees contract was a major issue. All of that aside, Spags was never hired with the intention of turning the defense into a top 5 unit, at least not immediately. All he was pretty much asked to do is make the unit competitive. Bunkley and the 3 new lb's is obviously not enough, but there is already enough there to not stink as bad as they do. Remember, this group is on pace to give up over 7500 yards this season. That is unheard of. It is a major miracle the Saints won 2 games at this point. With all the money thrown over the years, via trades, draft picks, free agents, you would have to think Spags could at least get something out of them. At a bare minimum the Saints defense should be able to make at least a few stops per game with the guys they have, and at least be maybe 5-2 with that so called potent offense? Look at the stats, there is like a 50 yard gap between the 32nd and 31st defense. To me, so far, Spags looks like a horrible hire for this team. Maybe he figures out a way to get something out of these guys, but I am not holding my breath.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

It won't continue. If we remain the worst defense of all time he's gone. He's getting paid to make it an avg/sub avg defense and he's completely missed the target. It's beyond bad. It's a disgrace.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

Trade for wade Phillips from the texans and go defense in the draft, wade is an awesome DC

Texans went from 31st in D to second in just one offseason

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

The defense. Actually looked good on preseason. Jenkins got a INT Kolb was sacked. P Rob contested EVERYTHING that was thrown to Andre Johnson. And that was supposed to be the "vanilla" look??? Oh yeah and wasn't Brady sacked a couple times to?? Idk what happened. But I saw a VERY promising defense during preseason.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

Not exactly so... The front office knew what Drew wanted, they knew what they could do with the salary cap by structuring Drew's contract. Its basic business management and financial forecasting. It probably wasn't not dead on accurate down to the 0.01 but they had a damned good idea.

Drews contract had nothing to do with Ellis and Smith.. The front office knew Ellis would cost them 7.3MM in 2012 and Smith would cost them 5.3mm in 2012.. They knew what they had to play with...


As far as Drew getting 100mm.. Which he is worth the bigger problem is Smith was given a 61mm contract and Ellis was given 33mm.

Drews 100mm is by far a better investment than 94mm for Ellis/Smith.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

preseason doesn't tell you a whole lot, and years of tape in a different scheme doesn't tell you how they will preform in yours. Look at me post above this one... Who is going to give that $ for Smith or Ellis? No one... We are stuck with them until theur contracts are up. If you just cut them you still take the hit on the cap.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

Oh I think he saw it coming and probably knew it -- that's why they were selling the "it takes time to learn Spags' complex system" and the "remember the '07 Giants started slow" Kool Aid to us so hard, they trotted that line out and that was their way of selling this defense to us from pretty much right back at the very beginning of the season. I think he knew, or had an inkling of what he in for, that it was going to be a seat-of-the-pants defense. But I honestly don't think he forecasted that it would be THIS bad.

It's like he came to New Orleans and bought a house with termites; and he keeps ripping stuff out and finding more problems and more tunnels and nests, and right now he's got to the point where he's just standing there in the driveway looking at it with his hands on his hips, saying Holy Crap.

He's probably not going to blow a gasket and have a meltdown at the podium and say what he really feels (at least I don't think he will) but you can tell his is perplexed and frustrated.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

nobody's worth 100 million bucks.
not in this universe. :)

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

I think you are forgetting that we lost at least 3 defensive players in preseason that was looking good. Romeus, Chamberlain and Hawthorne. The only LB we acquired that's healthy is Lofton. Hawthorne might get on the field soon but Chamberlain and Romeus are done until next year. Can't blame Spags for that. We need some young blood at LB and DL and until that happens our D is going to struggle.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

What gets to be a little startling in all of this is the fact that Spags took 2nd and 3rd string guys on Defense in St Louis and made them way better than what we are seeing are defense do. St Louis D was tons better under Spags than Saints D under Spags.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

Really good points. I was surprised Spags didn't bring in any other Rams besides Chamberlain. No Ex giants either.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

lol another great analogy Bro

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

I was going to argue about it being partly the fault of Brees and his contract but decided to research it a bit first before responding emotionally. While I think Brees contract is not outrageous and after a few years may look to be decent value, he does represent the highest single player percentage of salary cap on any team. He is essentially 21.5% of our cap single handedly and the closest other players I could find were around 18%. Peyton Manning for example represents a greater dollar value this year versus the cap but as a percentage of the roster is less.

While Drew's contract does and will handcuff us in some ways, QB is the single most important position in this sport and if we are going to spend I agree with it being there. It just means we will have to draft more accurately and find value free agents rather than spend on more proven commodities.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

The availability of players is the issue there.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

I think when the news broke on Bounty Gate and 22 – 27 players and the coaches was going to get suspended was being tossed around, it basically put the team on hold we didn’t make a move until late-late in the period and by than all the top tier agents were gone. I don’t think it was Brees contract but the process of his contract which cost him valuable time with his receivers and the offense and time with Carmichael but IMO it had nothing to do with Ellis and Will Smith that’s a lot of $$$ that is currently being wasted and this is what Spaggs inherited. I don’t think the system is complex but it is when you don’t have a lean front like the GMEN as you can see we don’t have.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

Ellis is such a waste of money

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

Thank god his contract is done after this year. Hope he enjoyed all that cheddar cause he is not going to see another contract like that again!

The real question is, can we find a way to get out of Smiths contract? The only thing I could guess is to get him to restructure again and then cut him a year later. Of course that means he is going to be here another year but I don't know how else we could get out of it.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

I'm worth a hundred million...

...

...but I'm not from here...

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...WDqn0LUZTd6m9s

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

I see your point. If he has 60 mil guaranteed why couldnt he just make a 60 mil contract all guaranteed. im sure theres waaay more to it but your right 100 mill is ALOT of money

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

Cut them both and the other over paid under achievers. Get them off the roster. First try to trade them for whatever you can get. If you can't get anything then cut them.
That will allow us to bring in several mid price FA's and hopefully some of them step up. But we need at least one to two impact players on defense through free agency.
The way things look now we will pick fairly high in the draft. I understand trading back and getting several more picks. But that doesn't get us any impact players early in the draft. If need be I'd move up to get that DT that we need to pair with Hicks.
As good as we find gems we need to really focus on defense 100% and bring in a couple of impact players through the draft.
Smith and Ellis need to be gone. That will open up those roster spots for competition and let the young guns fight it out in training camp.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

Zooey might be :D

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

I put little faith in the draft. Look at Dorsey, he looked unstoppable. Now he's at DE and still doing next to nothing. Same goes for a lot of 1st round defensive picks. Injuries, system, chemistry...a lot more factors involved.I'm more concerned with scouting. We need better scouts.

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

We were hoping for Jello and got room-temperature butter.

There could be a lot of emotional attachment saved if we just pulled a Colts move and go for the picks.

I'm down with it as long as it's the plan. I'm not down with playing like shat and dragging the fans along for the ride.

After being punished as harshly and with malice, I think a little turnabout non-competetiveness is appropriate.

Alaska

Re: Why didn't Spags see this in Pre-Season?
 

Respectfully;

If Manning and Roethlisburger can pull it off TWICE, then QB is not the most important position.

Must have the remainder of a team to get it done. We're experiencing that.

Alaska