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The knives are out

By Mike Detillier
NFL Analyst

When anyone in the media mentioned any “turbulence” between New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan in recent years, many people outside the football loop considered it “sensationalized reporting.”

It's funny those same folks today are backing Payton when Ryan lashed out at the Saints organization last week and saying it is sour grapes on the part of the former defensive coordiator.

I have always felt the problem between Payton and Ryan was not about defensive philosophy but personnel moves, and Payton -- the architect of a top-5 offense -- was staring at one of the worst defenses in the league the past two seasons.

Ryan pointed out Payton's different defensive outlook after the 2013 season in which the Saints defense finished fourth in the league in defensive yardage after giving up the most yards in NFL history in 2012 under former defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Many say the Saints defense was too complicated the past few years. But why was the defense not so complicated in 2013?

Somewhere between the war of words is the truth.

There is no debating the decision to bring in Buffalo Bills free safety Jarius Byrd and making him at that time the highest paid safety in NFL history was Payton's decision.

Payton has long considered Byrd as a signature player in the NFL as he was with the Bills, but injuries (back and knee) and his play last season looked like a disinterested football player.

In making that decision, the Saints let Malcolm Jenkins leave via free agency to the Philadelphia Eagles, and the former Ohio State All-American has developed into a Pro Bowl performer.

The knives are out | HoumaToday.com

Money was the main issue regarding strong safety Roman Harper. He was a Saints defense leader and a force in run support but was and still is today a liability in the coverage part of the game.Vaccaro is better closer to the line of scrimmage and in run support. Last season, he recorded 104 tackles and had a career-high three quarterback sacks.

When the Saints selected Kenny Vaccaro from Texas in the first round of the 2013 draft, he was picked to be the heir-apparent to Harper at strong safety. Both Payton and Ryan praised Vaccaro's coverage skills, but in many ways, Vaccaro is a more athletic version of Harper and a slightly better coverage safety.

But Ryan had a major say in the drafting of Vaccaro, and it was not just Payton's decision.
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Ryan had a major say in

Bailey, Butler, Atkins, Coleman and Leonhard never played a regular-season down with the Saints.

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Ryan who really wanted the developmental cornerback.Stanley Jean Baptiste

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The one trait Ryan inherited from his dad Buddy Ryan -- who should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for what he did with the Chicago Bears (the 46 pressure defense) as the defensive coordinator in the 1980s -- was that he will never take the blame for the negatives out on the field.

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As I have stated before coaches have a huge say in getting players to fit there system.