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Saints defensive line adjusting to series of major offseason changes

June 14, 2023
By Les East

Excerpts from link above:

METAIRIE – The New Orleans Saints have a new defensive line coach in Todd Grantham.

Of the 68 starts that were made by defensive linemen last season, 40 were made by players no longer on the team.

For the first time in 14 years and just the sixth time in franchise history they used their first two draft picks on the same position, grabbing defensive linemen Bryan Bresee (Clemson) and Isaiah Foskey (Notre Dame) with their first- and second-round picks, respectively.

Two of the more prominent veteran free agents that they signed in the offseason were defensive tackles Nathan Shepherd (Jets) and Khalen Saunders (Chiefs).

So the defensive line, especially the interior, has absorbed more change since the end of last season than any other unit on the team. Grantham, who is new to all the players, and the first-year Saints linemen have spent the offseason getting accustomed to one another and the team’s defensive system.

“Really right now it’s about taking the system that we have and teaching the players that we have the system,” Grantham said. “Defense is about the ability to play fast. So how do you simplify things for a player so there’s no gray area and guys can just go play. That’s really been what I’ve focused on is the teaching and the implementation of the system that we have and getting guys to play to their ability.”

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Grantham hasn’t worked before with Saints head coach Dennis Allen, who oversees the team’s defense, but he said the two “have visited in the past during the offseason,” which provided “carry-over” into his new position.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for what he’s done and that’s one of the reasons that I wanted to come here is because of the success that he’s had and they’ve had here,” Grantham said “Whether you’ve been 3-4 or 4-3 it’s still four guys rushing, you’ve got 11 guys out there.”

Bresee was listed as a tackle when the Saints drafted him and Foskey was listed as a defensive end, though the Saints roster lists him as a linebacker. Regardless of titles, both appear capable of playing multiple spots along the line.

“You don’t want to pigeon-hole a guy by thinking he can only do one thing,” Grantham said. “Defense is about match-ups and I think you’re always going to look at the players you have up front as to, how do you create match-ups that are advantageous for you from a one-on-one standpoint whether it’s in the run game or the pass game.”

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