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2theadvocate.com | Sports | Payton: We’re not the same old Saints — Baton Rouge, LA


This isn’t the ‘same old Saints.’ We’re changing that, and that’s why there’s obviously disappointment. We’re shooting to win a Super Bowl here.”

UK_WhoDat

Well Payton needs to get to say that in the past tense. i.e. We've changed that. .......We've won a Super Bowl

MatthewT

I'm with you on that UK_WhoDat!

I don't really know what Payton is talking about, I don't think there was ever a Saints Coach who did not think Super Bowl. Ditka traded an entire draft for a RB who he thought was the final piece, I know Haz thought by permanently replacing QB Blake with Brooks was going to get them over the hump, Mora just knew he had a championship team at one time, etc... Whatever Sean...

SaintFanInATLHELL

Unfortunately Payton makes a statement in this piece that belies the title:

The defense needs to be completely blown up and rebuilt. So if you're not talking about wholesale changes, then you are in fact limiting yourself to mediocrity.

Last year the offense was completely rebuilt. Brees, Bush, Colston, Faine were all brought in. Stinchcomb hit the field, and Evans was drafted and installed on the offensive line. A complete rebuild of talent and scheme. 32+ games later, the offense is considered one of the best in the league.

The defense needs the same extreme makeover. Bring in a couple of big time talented free agents, the equivalent of Brees on the defense. Draft a impact defensive player in the #10 spot. Someone who is ready to hit the field and be an impact player in this league. A linebacker like Willis last draft or Hawk the draft before. Change the defensive game plan to something that works. Change the coaches. Blow it up and start over.

But I fear that with Payton's statement above it isn't going to happen. And that's sad to see because without a solid talented defense to back up the masterpiece of an offense that we've put together, the Saints will forever be a .500 team that will never reach the promised land.

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.

hagan714

agree more with:

Payton said he’d like to bring add some young players to the defense, but “I’m not talking about wholesale changes.”

We gutted alot of the defense already. I like the backups we have as starters right now to go back to being our backups. They are almost all new faces. So now we need to invest money and picks on the defense to get the starters in place. Do not loose the players that now the system and understand it that will provide depth on the team. That would be stupid. youth is needed big time.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

SaintFanInATLHELL

And as I said previously, I have a big problem with this. This means that Payton does not believe that there's something fundamentally wrong with the defense. Therefore he, and presumably Loomis, will not make the hard decisions necessary to make it better.

I'm fine with that. Currently there are only 5 starters on our defense:

Grant, Smith, Fujita, MacKenzie (when healthy), and Thomas (when in condition)

So that means we have 6 backups/FA that we need to replace. Note that the entire secondary is on this list since MacKenzie is injured and may not be healthy until late into next season.

This isn't a tweak. This is a major overhaul.

But this is what I mean when I say we have to blow up the whole thing. We need 11 players out on defense that have the talent, coaching, smarts, and desire to be an elite defense in this league. More than half of our defensive starters from last season fail in more than one of these areas.

They need to be replaced. And not just youth either because while young players may have the talent and desire, it does take time to learn how to play in this league.

We need big time, Pro Bowl caliber free agents, not just the run of the mill guys that the Saints have been picking up over the last couple of years. At minimum one at each level: defensive tackle, MLB, and CB. Coupled with the 5 guys we have already, and backing up with drafted talent, we can turn this defense into one that can propel the Saints into that elite level of team.

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.

hagan714

First thing besides the secondary I would address is WLB position. Teams have been feasting on the weak side for two years now. Grant needs help. He needs a WLB that requires more than one player to account for him. That would increase the the return on your investment ten fold. We have a good back up in place. The FA market has some good ones out there this year. Not like MLB were we should look at the draft for this position. At 10 we should have a shot at one if not both of the best ILB/OLB prospects. Either one is good. CB needs to addressed in both FA and the draft. Now the draft does have some good prospects that are CB/S hybrids in later rounders. I like this draft. The only thing that has me worried is the thought of getting a RB in the top 4 rounds. As it stands now if some one does not drop to us we are going to need to move up or or down to jockey into position to get one without reaching.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

CheramieIII

yeah, yeah, yeah and that's why we ended up 7-9 because we're changing the same ole Saints.

I guess Payton shoots like Dick Cheney, because he didn't hit the Superbowl he hit his wife in the face.

bobad

Naaaaaah. We just need 3-4 play makers on defense.

Just think if Jason David was 1/2 as good as we thought. It would have made a huge difference in our season.

Admittedly, it's HARD to find 3 or 4 defensive play makers in the NFL. We need help at CB, LB, S, and DL, and that won't be easy to find. But we need to stir the pot as best we can.

papz

Completely blown up and rebuilt might be over doing it and impossible. It's not like we can go out there and sign a team full of Pro Bowlers. Surround our young players around with some seasoned vets that will help raise their game. Sign that high profiled corner so David and Young can learn from. Sign that stud DT that will allow Grant and Smith to rush the passer more effectively. I agree with bobad but even getting 3-4 play makers might be a bit much. 2 or 3 is more realistic.