FoxSports Ranks Defensive Lines
 

20. New Orleans

End Will Smith is emerging as a good pass rusher and would have drawn a lot of attention last season if anyone had paid any attention to the Saints. Charles Grant looked like a very good young player with back-to-back double-digit sack seasons in 2003 and 2004, but last year he disappeared and finished the season with only 2.5 sacks. The Saints acquired veteran tackle Hollis Thomas in a trade with the Eagles, but coach Sean Payton has complained that Thomas is overweight and out of shape. One problem for the Saints is stopping the opposition when it really counts; last year they were 31st in preventing success in power situations (runs on third or fourth down, or goal line, with 1-2 yards to go).


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RE: FoxSports Ranks Defensive Lines
 

thats about right. It maybe a bit high

RE: FoxSports Ranks Defensive Lines
 

It would be higher had Grant didn't have a subpar season... but that's about right where we should be. We're weak up the middle and that's definately not going to help Fincher grow in the middle.

RE: FoxSports Ranks Defensive Lines
 

I keep hearing what a subpar season Grant had. I missed a lot of games last year (say Katrina). But he was an absolute BEAST the year before, in fact he my favorite player on the team. It is possible he was double-teamed a lot last season? Or did he really just put up that bad of a showing?

RE: FoxSports Ranks Defensive Lines
 

He was double teamed a lot and he's also my favorite player on the team.

RE: FoxSports Ranks Defensive Lines
 

they where more concerned with stopping the run. thats it. most of the blitzs and stunts where to stop the run. Haz had to find away to do it since he let so many good DL go over the years just as he did on OL. that is why I like the statement grant made " we will be more aggressive and pushing up field more this year than last"

RE: FoxSports Ranks Defensive Lines
 

Thats about right, although after this yr we are gonna be higher, Grant had his most terrible season last yr and Howard was a no-show as well...I mean Fred Thomas had more sacks than Grant