hagan714

11-5 write it down and healthy all year

SaintFanInATLHELL

I need some specific assurances about what is going to be done on the defensive side of the ball before I believe that. The Saints have defensive issues at all three levels in each area of personnel, scheme, coaching, and technique. The only bright spot this year is that the run defense got better.

But until the Saints defense can find a way to get off the field consistently and to cover up the occasional lapses by the offense, this will never become an elite team in the NFL.

So exactly how are we going to get better? I have some specific suggestions, none I believe which will come to pass:

1) Get rid of Gibbs as DC. Replace him with a coach with a proven defensing track record in this league.

2) Get Albert Hanesworth and install him in the middle of the line.

3) Get rid of 53 and 58 (as my brother calls them) and get NFL caliber starting linebackers that play with both leverage and speed in there to compilment Fujita.

4) Decide if Jason David is coachable. If so then coach him to follow the current defensive scheme, not the Tampa 2. Get as close to a true shutdown corner as you can afford (I don't think Samuel is going to be affordable) or take your knocks for another year and draft the best corner available at #1, coach him up and throw him in.

5) Decide if the safeties are coachable, especially Bullocks. Both have physical talent but seem to have issues with the mental side of playing safety in this league.

6) In the draft and free agency, do absolutely nothing to the offense except for possibly improving the offensive line. No free agent money spent on the offense, and no draft picks in the first 3 rounds. This is the offseason for defense, and only defense.

7) Most importantly, get Coach Payton to understand that he has to have a stout defense in order to paint his offensive masterpieces. This means no loyalty to players, coaches, or scheme on the defensive side of the ball. Abandon any player, coach, or scheme that does not contribute to the overall success of the defense.

My signature last year pointed out that championship caliber teams in the NFL always were in the top 10 in scoring defense. Indy was the exception after 22 years last year, and their playoff defense was closer to their current defense than the regular season defense without Sanders last year.

I just felt my heart sink each possession when Philly had the ball last week. The defense could not make a play. They could not get off the field. 23 points is enough to win championship football in the NFL. But the Saints currently do not have the defense to make it stick.

This has to be the offseason mission. Then and only then will the team be great.

SFIAH

Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO

Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

andersen

Gibbs gone? Yes.
53/58 gone? YES!
42 coachable? No.
safeties coachable? Maybe, but not with this staff?
Payton is starting to remind me of Haslett. When he gets in love with a player, he will never take them out.
The saints must do everything in their power to improve the D. Last year we were terrible, this year it was worse.