Exit Interview: Defensive overhaul on agenda for Saints
 

What Went Right: Almost anything that draws up images of offense, scoring, or dudes in black tights slam-dunking the ball over the crossbar and running around like little kids ... that went right. The Saints seemingly scored at will, topping 40 points eight times during the 2011 season, including four in a row from Week 15 to the wild-card win over the Lions.

Drew Brees was unstoppable, taking advantage of the rules that consistently limit the manner in which defensive backs can play, throwing for a league-record 5,476 yards and 46 touchdowns. He also cut down his interceptions from 22 to 14. Meanwhile his receivers consistently made big plays, with Marques Colston leading the pack with more than 1,100 yards. Like Colston, Lance Moore had eight receiving touchdowns while Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson contributed several big plays between them. Tight end Jimmy Graham (99 receptions, 1,310 yards, 11 TDs) has only one peer in the NFL: Rob Gronkowski.






NFL.com news: Exit Interview: Defensive overhaul on agenda for Saints

can really only think of 2-3 names that would complete this sentence:

The defender that the Saints REALLY need back in 2012 is ___________.

I think you can say that about all 32 teams. There are only a handfull of players that you REALLY need back on each team every year.

I can say the same thing about the offense.

That's partly true because our skill players are so interchangeable: 4 RB's and #2-5 WR's are all equally effective
as for REALLY needing players back on Offense : I wouldn't put Brees, Graham, Colston, Nicks, or Evans in the replaceable category.

It depends on salary. If Colston is gonna make 7 million per year, I can see him being replacable if we have 7 million per year to offer someone else.

The only player we REALLY need back on offense is Brees. There isn't anyone out there can replace him at any price. Everyone else can be replaced at the right price.

I'm essentially nit-picking the term "REALLY Need Back". Very few players in the NFL are irreplacable.

I agree with this. Of the "Big 3" free agents (Brees, Nicks, & Colston), he's the most replaceable. Reuben Randle will go in the 2nd round & as much as I love Colston.......Reuben Randle is pretty much the same guy........ 6'4" receiver that runs good routes, isn't afraid to go across the middle, big yardage after the catch, & doesn't drop squat! Just saying.

Most if not all of the picks will probably be on the defensive side, so I wouldn't count on the Saints' drafting any receivers - at least not with their 1st pick.

Man if we got a receiver with our first pick, I think there would be a mutiny!!

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/v...Apocalypse.jpg

The point was.......If Colston's salary demand becomes too high, he is replaceable. And IMO.....if he goes to another team for more money, you can bet Sean Payton will be looking for a similar replacement.

Or they might decide to keep Meachem and promote from within.

Still, one thing is certain - they wouldn't replace Colston through the draft and the FA market isn't really overfilled with great WR talent to be had for bargain price.

Meachem is not Colston. He's more of a Devery Henderson.

I'm not saying he is as good as Colston, but that might be the situation they find themselves in, and with Brees distributing the ball to various receivers as he does - it might not be a bad thing.

If it means that they can sign Nicks (along with Brees obviously) and the bodies they need to overhaul the defense - I'd be fine with seeing Colston leave to get the big deal from somewhere else.

I am going to stick my neck out here. Secondary is not Spags style. CB is due able but safety is another thing. Do the saints go for a ball hawking FS or a SS with hands? in Spags world SS is not that big of a deal.

I look for a shake up here in the secondary

Both 2011 starting safeties with their salaries and/or inability to cover are expendable...

Does new coaching change make them better?

3 million between the both of them isn't a lot of money.

Having your 200 pound 4.5 speed safeties play man coverage on a 6-3, 260 pound TE who runs a 4.38 is expendable.

Agreed. Rams problem now. I think Quaddus is going to do well with this new DC. The entire secondary should be much better.

I am not sure of how many guys we will actually switch out.
Factor the big money used on resigning offensive players and our lack of a number 1 pick. The net is I doubt we get an impact player via the draft or FA.

The question is this: Were our defensive problems last year personnel or coaching?
I think Spagnola will be more conservative, and the result will be we don't give up the huge chunks of yards that we saw the last two years

As for WR we have Joe Morgan and Andy Tanner on the PS or IR. Even though Curtis Johnson is gone these two have some ability than can be developed quickly. If these guys step into a rotation or starting role we could afford to lose Colston. Although, it would hurt my heart.
The reason I am off topic is Colston could want as much as 7 million. With that money we could upgrade our defense.
We could also upgrade our defense by cutting Smith.:smile:

Gongrats, you're the 1st I've heard bring up that point, and its a damn good one.

Imagine the defender we could get with Colston money.

The upgrade on defense would greatly outweigh the loss on offense, assuming we signed the defensive equivalent of a Marques Colston.