No matter how this year turns out
 

I feel like we need some more speed at LB to go with JV. Anyone else?

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

Absolutely. The Saints are definitely hurting without Fujita, but even with him, the linebackers are a slow unit aside from Vilma. I would love to see a linebacker that is solid in pass rushing, against the run, and in pass coverage. There are too many weaknesses and holes in Shanle and Fujita's game. Vilma is going to be Vilma, but he may even improve with a little more help on the outside. I'd also like to see another hoss of a DT aside Ellis next year. And for the love of all that is Holy, can they finally get rid of Charles Grant? He gets fatter and slower every week!

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

What about Casillas? He has speed and that linebacker we got on IR? I mean we might already have those guys on the roster.

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

stanley arnoux ran the 2nd fastest 40 time of any of the linebackers at the combine this year

and jonathan casillas ran a 4.42-40 when he was injured in college

we are getting faster....the issue is that those LBs are better suited to play safety

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

I was watching Grant a lot today. Time to cut bait. He's definitely not worth what he's being paid. But then again the whole D looked pretty bad today.

Fortunately some guys stepped when we really needed it and that's what counts.

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

Are we going to move to a 3-4?

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

Good points by every one. I'm thinking about LT 1st and then let GW pick whoever he wants.

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

Speaking of GW, does the defense's recent performance actually LOWER the changes that we lose him to a head coaching job after this season???

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

depends on playoffs, i think

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

Without Vilma, we would be in bad shape. Even Vilma is a tad small at mike. I think he's more suited to play will.

We need to draft a LB high next year, and also look at some lower round or UDFA LB's.

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

I think it also seems like we need a LB, because Fujita has been out. Upgrading wouldnt hurt though.

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

i dont think we should and im not sure what that has to do with the LBs speed?

i dont think the 3-4 best suits our personel.....3-4 DEs are much more like DTs than DEs......will smith and charles grant arent defensive tackles

sedrick ellis is strong and quick but isnt big enough to play 3-4 NT

scott shanle is much better at playing pass coverage than blitzing.....fujita and he are just not built to blitz from the DE position

and jonathan vilma was worthless in the 3-4.....he hated it and i dont blame him......

i hope we trade up for ndamakong suh.....he might bust but holy crap if he doesnt he will be one of the best DTs to ever play.....he doesnt have a single good move other than push the offensive linemen backwards

he isnt all that quick but his strength and footwork is just unbelievable....unrivaled in any college DT ive ever seen

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

I am not pushing for the 3-4, I was thinking that based off the fact that you said they were smaller, but that doesn't really make sense...

I would like to see someone to compliment JV at the lb spot. SS seems slow to me. If a RB gets the corner and he is chasing it is painful to watch

We need more athleticism there, IMHO

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

Yeah I have not watched Sue, but he I hear he is unfrigan real

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

complete dominance....if i can find it i'll post one of his highlight videos

at one point in the highlight there is this one play that sums him up perfectly

he couldnt make the play on the ball because i think it was a pass.....but he took the guard that was over him and just threw him backwards on his butt.....it was like a reverse pancake......just amazing

there are no other words to describe him.....

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

could you imagine him along side SE, with WS, and maybe we sell CG to the highest bidder, lol

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

9 seconds in is the play i was talking about

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

Dude, he looks like a madman, what a nasty streak. Love it. Man would love that guy. he looks like an awesome athlete too

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

yea, suh would be amazing. no way we'll be able to get him though.

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

We would have to move up to Top 3 to get Suh.... I say Taylor Mays :D he should still be there in pick 32

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

If Taylor Mays is still there in the middle of the round we should move up and get him. Don't know when there was such a combination of size and speed playing S last.

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

Yeah, we definitely need some major upgrades on defense, not just LB. Suh would be great. I am looking forward to seeing how he handles his competition in the bowl game against Arizona. Too bad we can't see him play Alabama. We could definitely see some major cap relief with Bush and Grant gone. Any ideas on what FA might be available next year? Since the Saints are officially now a preferred destination, we could actually cherry-pick!

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

Agree with many points, except that no way is Mays available after pick 15.

Shanle was okay on pass coverage today, but he isn't getting any quicker. For some reason in nickel and dime he was still matched up with Gonzales. And why was the middle so wide open? The 4th down we stopped was the first time all day we were in the right defense for that play.

Evans was painfilly out of position and step behind all day.

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

I don't the think the defense is as bad as we think - I thought GW over-blitzed today and we barely ever got to Redman, which exposed us on some plays.

What would we do without Vilma ?!

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

teams know we are going to blitz.....they max protect and pick up the blitzes so its meaningless to blitz less players than they can block

their WRs will get open when they have time just like you said

faking blitzes is something we dont do very well....we have a lot of trouble disguising our defense and manning up with the WRs down field

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

I think from the HC to the GM to the EM alot of credit should be given to the QB who hands to the RB & FB and also throws to the WR, SR and TE. All this leads to YAC, FG'S,TD'S and PAT'S. None of this is possible without a great OL that is anchored by a stud LT.............HELP I CAN'T STOP!!!!

and LSMFT, ROFLMAO

Re: No matter how this year turns out
 

I think our draft should go something like this (in no particular order) - OT, LB, DT, DE, and a FS to groom after we re-sign Sharper to a 2 year extension.....