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METAIRIE, La. — Jabari Greer remembers the first time he sat down with Wesley McGriff and he remembers that even in the coach’s office, he had to be on top of his game.

“When I sat down and talked to him in his office, I could see the passion for the game. I could see the compassion for his players,” said Greer, one of New Orleans’ starting cornerbacks since 2009. “But also I could see the competitive nature he had. I knew even when we sat down we were competing in the conversation. That’s just him. It hasn’t’ wavered one bit.”

It stands to reason then that McGriff, hired this offseason to coach New Orleans’ secondary, won’t let the players relax on the field.

For a unit that finished 31st in passing yards given up per game and 32nd in passing yards per play in 2012, that’s not a bad thing.

And to think, McGriff nearly didn’t end up with the Saints.

One of the first moves coach Sean Payton made upon being reinstated into the NFL was letting go of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. He hired Rob Ryan, who was fired from Dallas, and went looking for a secondary coach.

McGriff wasn’t on Payton’s initial list but a call from Micheal Barrow, a coach at the University of Miami, changed that. The Saints flew him up to the NFL combine for an interview and the rest, as is the saying, is history.

“His passion for the game came through during the process,” Payton said. “I think when he finished, anybody that sat in which was the defensive coaches, myself, that anyone who sat in the series of six or seven interviews we had, unanimously had felt that he had done an excellent job.”

That passion and confidence comes from experience for McGriff.

Read more: Saints new secondary coach bringing confidence, passion | wwltv.com New Orleans

triman

It is good to know that we are getting quality replacements for the coaches that we have lost.

homerj07

No NFL experience is a little bothersome. Did he play college ball? Was he ever in the pros?

K Major

Ditto ... I've heard Dek and Bobby H give him some props on his coaching track record (Kentucky, Ole Miss) in college though. Played (LB) at Savannah St but no pro ball to my knowledge. Then again Vic Fangio didn't have much NFL experience before he took over the Dome Patrol of the 80's.

TheOak

http://theadvocate.com/sports/saints...sts-quickly-to

dizzle88

Hopefully he can bring a couple of pairs of hands with him also

Halo

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papz

That should go on the front page of the site LOL

AllSaints

I think Vaccaro will we DROY..... Jus saying...

joker-saint

Each of us have never had NFL experience, yet we are able to see the problems in coverage. Perhaps he is exactly what they say he is and is a quick study of the game? I do know one thing though, if he is just half as passionate as the saints fans are and has a decent coaching history we should see massive improvement in the secondary. I for one cant wait until the dome patrol is resurrected. Hopefully its before Brees and Payton retire.