New Orleans Saints: Improving the Defensive Line in 2011

realheavyd · 06-26-2011, 10:25 PM

The New Orleans Saints, under the leadership and vision of Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis, selected a total of six rookies in this year’s draft, with 5 of those 6 being defensive players. Let’s take a look now at the Saints’ current roster in the area of the defensive line, where they not only had some consistency issues last season in terms of having trouble stopping the run and getting after the quarterback, but they also happened to have drafted two new players to compete there and hopefully address those very issues.

This Saints team appeared to me to have only been half-staffed with starter quality players on the defensive line in 2010. Sedrick Ellis was the starter at DT and Will Smith has been the perennial starter at right DE for the past several years now. The rest of the roster last year along the defensive line (Remi Ayodele, Alex Brown, Anthony Hargrove, Jimmy Wilkerson, Jeff Charleston and Junior Galette) were all good rotational and back-up players, but none really stood out as a true starter or an every down player at all.

New Orleans Saints: Improving the Defensive Line in 2011 | isportsweb

|Mitch| · 06-26-2011, 11:29 PM

I believe that our defensive success revolves around if Shaun Rogers does what he's supposed to do. Take some pressure off of Ellis, Smith, and whoever is plugged into the other DE spot.

Rugby Saint II · 06-27-2011, 12:01 PM

This defense will look somewhat familiar to opposing offenses but not much. If I am right the changes will be at DT, DE and possibly two new starters in the LBers That is 4 out of 11 starters that could be different from last years lineup. No matter how you look at it we have brought in the talent......now let the coaches do their job. Just get the dang season started. I can't wait much longer.

the-commish · 06-27-2011, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II

This defense will look somewhat familiar to opposing offenses but not much. If I am right the changes will be at DT, DE and possibly two new starters in the LBers That is 4 out of 11 starters that could be different from last years lineup. No matter how you look at it we have brought in the talent......now let the coaches do their job. Just get the dang season started. I can't wait much longer.

You are correct. I can hardly contain myself, not only waiting for the season to start, but waiting to see how Loomis is going to handle the signings of our own FAs, our draft choices, other teams' FAs, UDFAs, and renegotiating Reggie Bush.

Danno · 06-27-2011, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II

This defense will look somewhat familiar to opposing offenses but not much. If I am right the changes will be at DT, DE and possibly two new starters in the LBers That is 4 out of 11 starters that could be different from last years lineup. No matter how you look at it we have brought in the talent......now let the coaches do their job. Just get the dang season started. I can't wait much longer.

The good news is that we face 9 teams who didn't see this defense last year.

Also, my money is on Gregg Williams winning that battle of familiarity.

06-26-2011, 10:25 PM	#1
realheavyd 100th Post Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 339	New Orleans Saints: Improving the Defensive Line in 2011 The New Orleans Saints, under the leadership and vision of Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis, selected a total of six rookies in this year’s draft, with 5 of those 6 being defensive players. Let’s take a look now at the Saints’ current roster in the area of the defensive line, where they not only had some consistency issues last season in terms of having trouble stopping the run and getting after the quarterback, but they also happened to have drafted two new players to compete there and hopefully address those very issues. This Saints team appeared to me to have only been half-staffed with starter quality players on the defensive line in 2010. Sedrick Ellis was the starter at DT and Will Smith has been the perennial starter at right DE for the past several years now. The rest of the roster last year along the defensive line (Remi Ayodele, Alex Brown, Anthony Hargrove, Jimmy Wilkerson, Jeff Charleston and Junior Galette) were all good rotational and back-up players, but none really stood out as a true starter or an every down player at all. New Orleans Saints: Improving the Defensive Line in 2011 \| isportsweb
realheavyd 100th Post Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 339

06-27-2011, 01:36 PM	#4
the-commish Longtime WhoDat Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 529	Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II This defense will look somewhat familiar to opposing offenses but not much. If I am right the changes will be at DT, DE and possibly two new starters in the LBers That is 4 out of 11 starters that could be different from last years lineup. No matter how you look at it we have brought in the talent......now let the coaches do their job. Just get the dang season started. I can't wait much longer. You are correct. I can hardly contain myself, not only waiting for the season to start, but waiting to see how Loomis is going to handle the signings of our own FAs, our draft choices, other teams' FAs, UDFAs, and renegotiating Reggie Bush.

06-27-2011, 02:35 PM	#5
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,758	Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II This defense will look somewhat familiar to opposing offenses but not much. If I am right the changes will be at DT, DE and possibly two new starters in the LBers That is 4 out of 11 starters that could be different from last years lineup. No matter how you look at it we have brought in the talent......now let the coaches do their job. Just get the dang season started. I can't wait much longer. The good news is that we face 9 teams who didn't see this defense last year. Also, my money is on Gregg Williams winning that battle of familiarity.

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06-26-2011, 11:29 PM	#2
\|Mitch\| 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alexandria, La Posts: 11,303	I believe that our defensive success revolves around if Shaun Rogers does what he's supposed to do. Take some pressure off of Ellis, Smith, and whoever is plugged into the other DE spot.

06-27-2011, 12:01 PM	#3
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,166	This defense will look somewhat familiar to opposing offenses but not much. If I am right the changes will be at DT, DE and possibly two new starters in the LBers That is 4 out of 11 starters that could be different from last years lineup. No matter how you look at it we have brought in the talent......now let the coaches do their job. Just get the dang season started. I can't wait much longer.