tweeky

I know a lot of us disagree on various decisions by the Saints Org concerning improvement of the Defense. If you were to build a defense from scratch, what positions would you address 1st, and last. Here's my list of what I feel are the most important positions that make up a great base 4-3 defense. I'd be interested in how the rest of you rank the difference makers... I also included our beloved Saints grade at that position.

1. DE-1 (Howard, B+)
2. DT-1 (Sullivan, C+ with tremendous upside, B+ potential this year)
3. OLB-1 (Hodge, C+, I think Allen may take this spot this year, if so B-)
4. DE-2 (Grant, B+)
5. DT-2 (take your pick, Smith, Jackson, Chase, Whitehead - C)
6. OLB-2 ( Allen or Rodgers, B-)
7. MLB (Ruff/Smith combo, C+??? B-???, Cie Grant may make this a B+ by years end)
8. SS (Mitchell, who knows, if he learned enough from Sammy, B-, if not D)
9. CB-1 (Carter, A- if in good shape and sober, F if he falls off the wagon)
10. FS ( Jones, A-)
11. CB-2 (Anybody, Thomas, Ambrose, August cut???, B-)

This obviously explains why I think they made the right choice with Sullivan over a CB.

I think our overall defense will be a B to a B- this year. I gave last year a D-. We should move up into the upper middle of the pack this year. Thats still way below what us Saints fans are used to, but I think we're headed in the right direction.