Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense | ProFootballTalk
With new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan taking control of the New Orleans Saints defense, there were bound to be some changes to scheme and personnel as the Saints attempt to overhaul a defense that ranked dead last in the league last season.

One of those moves will be shifting a player to a new spot on the defensive line.


According to Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Akiem Hicks is starting out as a defensive end in the Saints new scheme.

Hicks was expected to be a nose tackle with the ability to also slide out to the defensive end position with the Saints. However, after selecting defensive tackle John Jenkins in the third round, the Saints felt he could better be utilized at defensive end. Though Hicks will initially be called upon to play the end position, he’ll likely be used all along the Saints defensive front.

Hicks appeared in 14 games last season for the Saints. He recorded 20 tackles and a forced fumble as a rotational lineman.

New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

Really?! By whom?!

I would've thought that it was pretty obvious after the Saints picked Jenkins in the draft that Hicks wouldn't have to line up on or off the center?

He clearly best suits the DE position in the 3-4 base and his skill-set and physical traits would've been somewhat wasted as an NT.

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

Nice to see our D line "taking shape". lol

Talk about some space-eaters... Our blitzers will have a field day!


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Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

Akiem hicks is going to be a beast, cam jordan is already one of my favourite players, letsvsee what you got jenkins!

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

So I'm reading here that Garage Door Jenkins has already made the team and will see some significant playing time. Or am I reading too much into this? And yes Fin, there was a bunch of stuff about Hicks being over the center. I too think his place is on the end.

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

That's funnah right there...I don't care who you are...that's funnah.

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

Its like I wrote it myself! He's a perfect prospect for a 3-4 DE.

Jordan, Bunkley, Jenkins, Hicks, Coleman, Johnson and Smith might give us the best D-line we've had in a very long time. Will Smith might be the weakest link in that group. Wow.

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

Don't worry.......Smith might not make the final roster from the looks of things.
Also, I always thought Hicks would pair nicely with Cam Jordan and give us two dominant book ends. I still see him playing DT occasionally depending on the package. I am very excited to see how much more he progresses after last years huge leap.

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

I like so far what Ryan is doing, and I also don't think Smith makes it on the team.

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

Aren't we hamstrung by Smith's contract? I think he has to make the team just for the cap hit alone...

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

Expectations = Emotional assumptions.

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

shhhhh

don't let anyone else know

Championship!

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

2 down DE 3rd down NT

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

Oooo, but now we got a guy whose name we can't pronounce to throw in the middle too. Maybe just to keep Hicks raisin' havoc on the outside.

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

passing downs i would go with

Smith Hicks Jordan

Smith till he gets beat out.

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

Haha! What if it's Hicks that beats him out?

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

People forget about Tom Johnson, that guy can flat out play

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

I pity the all you can restaurant that our D line goes into

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

Don't understand the Will Smith hate. Outside of Cam Jordan, he was arguably out best DL last year from a complete player standpoint. Guy has done a lot for our organization and helped win a SB, but every time his name is brought up people are crapping all over him.

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

A friend of mine developed a really bad wheat allergy so he had to go the gluten free route, not because of fad but necessity. One day he brings some gluten free beer over. I've always kind of looked at that stuff like sugar free brownies -meh. So I asked him if that beer was any good. He said, "It's not bad." I finally screwed up the courage to try some. BLEAH! I looked at him and he said, "I didn't say it was good. I just said it ain't bad." Will ain't bad...

But who knows? The right DC and the right supporting cast, this could be his year.

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

@Seer1 - This may be one of the best posts I have ever read :)

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

Your official TJ fan club membership pin is in the mail! :-)

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

He's not the only one thats do to.

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

Smith's play is not the fly in his ointment. His play compared to his 1st round draft status + his contract size are. I say "are" because he is not that expensive anymore since he took a 6m pay cut this season...

Smith and Ingram are not living up to first round expectations as of yet.

Re: Triplette:Akiem Hicks to be a defensive end in Saints 3-4 defense
 

Thus, not bad...