Analyzing Saints' D revival - ESPN

QBREES9 · 10-09-2009, 11:42 PM

Sharper, 33, already has a league-best five interceptions, after getting just one in 16 games with Minnesota last year. The Saints didn't register their 10th interception in 2008 until the 11th game of the season.

New Orleans' three defensive touchdowns -- the two interception returns by Sharper and a recovery in the end zone by nose tackle Remi Ayodele last week -- are as many as the Saints scored in their previous 25 games. Twenty-third in the league in total defense in 2008, New Orleans is ninth through four games this year.

It all marks quite a turnaround for the previously non-resourceful Saints, but one that Williams, arguably the franchise's premier offseason acquisition, has come to expect from his defenses. In his previous three incarnations as a coordinator -- with Tennessee in 1997, Washington in 2004 and Jacksonville in 2008 -- Williams promulgated a defensive turnaround. The units typically improved statistically under his tutelage. Washington, for instance, went from 25th in 2003 to No. 3 in 2004, but the biggest improvements were usually in takeaways and in takeaway/turnover differential.

That's been the case this season as well.

Although he announced in the spring that he wasn't in New Orleans "to be a savior," Williams has salvaged one of the NFL's most porous defenses, and he has enacted the transformation while instituting only three lineup changes.

"You want to keep talking about [the turnover mentality] until it becomes like second nature to your guys," Williams said. "Taking the ball away, and maybe being able to score when you do it … it's a big boost."

In fact, it's a very big boost.

NFL: New Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams reinforces turnover mindset - ESPN

10-09-2009, 11:42 PM	#1
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,989	Analyzing Saints' D revival - ESPN Sharper, 33, already has a league-best five interceptions, after getting just one in 16 games with Minnesota last year. The Saints didn't register their 10th interception in 2008 until the 11th game of the season. New Orleans' three defensive touchdowns -- the two interception returns by Sharper and a recovery in the end zone by nose tackle Remi Ayodele last week -- are as many as the Saints scored in their previous 25 games. Twenty-third in the league in total defense in 2008, New Orleans is ninth through four games this year. It all marks quite a turnaround for the previously non-resourceful Saints, but one that Williams, arguably the franchise's premier offseason acquisition, has come to expect from his defenses. In his previous three incarnations as a coordinator -- with Tennessee in 1997, Washington in 2004 and Jacksonville in 2008 -- Williams promulgated a defensive turnaround. The units typically improved statistically under his tutelage. Washington, for instance, went from 25th in 2003 to No. 3 in 2004, but the biggest improvements were usually in takeaways and in takeaway/turnover differential. That's been the case this season as well. Although he announced in the spring that he wasn't in New Orleans "to be a savior," Williams has salvaged one of the NFL's most porous defenses, and he has enacted the transformation while instituting only three lineup changes. "You want to keep talking about [the turnover mentality] until it becomes like second nature to your guys," Williams said. "Taking the ball away, and maybe being able to score when you do it … it's a big boost." In fact, it's a very big boost. NFL: New Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams reinforces turnover mindset - ESPN Attached Thumbnails
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