SPAGNUOLO is DC: Now What
 

As pointed in many threads Spags is our new DC. Look at the guys history he is not the guy to come in and rebuild the defenses. He excels at getting the most out of the players he has and adding a few players to the mix. I am not saying he can not draft quality players he has picked a few in the early rounds. It is in the later round you have to scratch your heads.

Aaron Ross,Kenny Phillips

So draft grading maybe an issue here. I am hoping the scouts get there say here.

Spags has never really stuck around any one place too long.

Coaching career

Philadelphia Eagles - 1999, serving as linebackers and defensive backs coach. He remained there for eight years, learning Jim Johnson's defensive philosophy. It was under Johnson that Spagnuolo cultivated his trademark look, Goatee and buzz cut.


New York Giants - 2007 - 2009 DC Architect of the aggressive defensive strategy. remember he found Justin Tuck sitting on the bench as a under utilized backup.



St. Louis Rams - 2009 - 2012 He was fired on January 2, 2012 after finishing the season 2-14, Spagnuolo had a 10-38 overall record in his three seasons in St. Louis. But he proved he knew how to draft players.


He knows how to improve defenses in the shortest way possible. With the Players he has.

Coaching philosophy

Spagnuolo uses a 4–3 base defense with a heavy emphasis on multiple blitz packages, including corner and safety blitzes. While defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, he often used a smaller defensive line, with three or even four defensive ends to further pressure the quarterback.
Steve Spagnuolo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What players do not fit into the mix? :confused:

Harper by most seems to be the odd man out by most. But we have nothing to replace him with. I have not seen enough of the backups to see a move made here without a replacement already in the wings. Harper needs an hour after practice everyday on the jug machine.

LB is an issue that has not gone away. the funny thing here we need a starter or two to step up. Our LB corp is loaded with quality backup players.

DL is the same issue as LB. We need quality starters to step up at DT. DE is interesting but far from comfortable when talking cuts and trades here.

So which players do we see on the bench as hidden gems in Spags eyes?

Where do you think Spags will look to for more talent? Trade Draft FA?

Not worried. We have a quality Scouts who do a lot of work for the coaches and Spags won't be the only one making the decision on who to draft. Loomy and Payton have the biggest say in what we are doing.

Also our secondary is in pretty good shape. Saying Harper is the odd man out seems a bit odd to me. He is safe... let training camp get here already geez.

I wouldn't worry much about the future until FA gets here and see what he has on his mind. I think the first thing he needs to address is our front line... bastards can find a QB if we put one in front of them.

Your right, that ole' qb. was right in front of them the entire season and they only found him a few times, even a blind hogg finds an acorn every now and then. We need really good 2 DT,s.

Well ... for one ... we need some more coaches on defense .... who's next?

1) Collect underpants
2) Hire Steve Spagnuolo
3) PROFIT!

Does anyone else find it ironic that the guy that we hired to be our new DC is the same guy the handed us our @$$ midway through the season, which essentially cost us a home divisional game against the 49ers last week and most likely a win and possibly a second trip to the Super Bowl?

Yes it's strange. Also keep in mind in our 2009 Super Bowl run Spags and the Rams gave the Saints all they could handle and we barely won.

With this hire our offense will have one less problem going forward!

Hey, if you can't beat them, you can always invite them to join you! I look at it more like -- this is the guy who is gonna help keep us from stumbling so often against those NFC West teams, when they come around on the schedule again... 49ers... Seahawks... Cardinals... these teams always give us problems, and this guy knows all their tendencies, way better than Payton ever will. It's gonna be a game changer come playoff time, when we start talking about low seeds versus high seeds, believe me. Somebody from out West is gonna be a low seed somewhere in this playoff thing, next year, and THIS TIME who ever it is, we will own them!

I don't think Harper should be out, he is an amazing safety but slow for the position, if I was Spags which I am not I would consider moving harper to OLB not responsible for making calls like the ILB but just go stop the run, and get the QB the two things Harper does best. I would end up finding to new safetys at both positions.

Jenkins has regressed but I think he can still be a contributor in Nickel situations as a Corner and Safety from time to time if the situation permits.

Next I build around my two biggest guys. 1. Greg Romeus occupys one de spot 2. Martez Wilson occupies the other DE spot ( yes Martez to DE) Draft a DT to learn under Ellis who is the only DT keep BTW, Move Cam Jorden inside the other DT spot. Jonathan Vilma steps it back up and we take advantage of a free agent or two and we got ourselves a complementary defense. Shanle and Will Smith restructure and move to backup roles as a matter of fact Shanle and herring fight for the backup spot

I think Harper will do a better job in coverage if we have a line that actually can put some pressure on the QB. Same goes for Jenkins.

Crusader, you are 100% correct and I just don't understand why more people don't realize it.

Give any NFL QB 2 or 3 extra seconds to throw and it wouldn't matter if you had 2 Ed Reeds and 2 Darrelll Revis's in the secondary, he'll find someone open. And its usually a safety, who typically run in the 4.5's.

he had the rams playing hard whistle to whistle...I dont know why coaches are given SOOO little time to win bigtime...to install a defense(or a whole team philosophy) and get players used to it takes time...

if the team is not playing hard or the locker room is in chaos then the coach is totally to blame but i think the rams just had a lack of talent...they were improving and playing HARD...i think he should have been kept as coach..

that being said i think our team was guilty of taking many plays off on D...they always had the safety net of Drew outscoring the opponent..plus there was GW...If spags can light a fire under the collective arse of the D it will go a long way to improvemet...

IF YOU DONT WANNA PLAY HARD THEN GET OUT!!!

Yes sir. If you beat them join them.

No, he simply was the best overall DC (and the best fit for what the Saints want to do on the defensive side of the ball) out there to replace GW.

I know about the initial recap stating that Spags uses DBs quite often on the blitz packages, because I have a different understanding of it, but it just might be that in the games I've seen with his defense they've for some reason not done it as much as they normally must have done.

That is the main reason why I think Harper won't have as much success in Spags' schemes - because he is forced to play coverage more than pursue the ball carrier. But, I'm sure Spags will find the best way to utilize him if he thinks he is worth keeping around.

Also, Danno or someone else have posted those pretty good stats on Harper's coverage against TEs in the past, so it might just be our collective perspective swayed by some of the big plays (i.e. SEA game) that has skewed our understanding of his coverage skills.

What I don't understand is why so many on these boards are so belittling of Jenkins' skills and ability going forward?! I mean, he had a disappointing season, but he clearly has potential to be a real star on the Saints' backfield - more so than any other DB on the current roster (PR included).

As stated before, both the starting safeties would benefit a lot from more pressure created by the D-Line, and that has been Spags calling card in the past, so I'm not worried about the secondary going forward - as long as the D-Line and LBs get upgraded in some form or another.

Is there really anyone out there who can teach our safeties how to catch ? I agree moving harper to linebacker could be a good move but we really need another one and get a safety who can make plays from somewhere. At least now we have a team that good players would like to join. Porter and Greer fine but that is about it. I am proud we have an overall good team now but NO matter what the stats say we have safeties that cannot cover well or catch the ball. COME ON MAN!

Spags did do secondary coaching during his tenure with the Eagles, so he might be able to improve on that side from personal input, but I'd love it if they could maybe convince Sharper to join the staff as the assistant secondary coach.

Jenkins for one would undoubtedly reap the benefits of having Sharper around yet again...

I agree and have thought the same thing. I know he wants a tv gig but IMO he doesn't look comfortable doing it.

Now what? We win!

harper will never be the turnover machine and jenkins will benefit.

neither on of these players, like 90% of the safeties in the NFL can cover the elite TE one on one.

Adding another play maker S looks to be in the mix for the draft IMO. He wont replace anyone but will be groomed for the future. I am thinking

RD 2?

Markelle Martin, S, Oklahoma State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 203.
Projected 40 Time: 4.58
nah. he is a clone of jenkins. so:



Lets go with most under rated S in the draft could go anywhere according to the experts. lmao experts ya right

Winston Guy Jr., S, Kentucky
Height: 6-1. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.49

If he is on the board in the third the saint should make the move for him. heck trade back into the third and pick up a player or additional pick would be cool with me. ask me again after the draft :)

The biggest risk to payoff player in the secondary for the NFL draft

Janzen Jackson*, FS, McNeese State
Height: 6-0. Weight: 180.
Projected 40 Time: 4.40

A Tenn transfer with off the field baggage. interview is the key. round 5 maybe
FA?
Dwight Lowery, FS/CB, Jaguars
hah nice pick up but the money probably be better spent elsewhere. would be interesting if the could swing it.

Manny Lawson, OLB, Bengals
Rocky McIntosh, OLB, Redskins

one again will the money be there? might get lucky for the want of a ring.

how about players he knows
or special teams ace
Chris Chamberlain, OLB, Rams

then there is
Leger Douzable, DT, Jaguars

good cheap back ups but we got a few of those. i am not thinking that deep into this

I am looking to the draft for improving defensive age and depth. in my blog i pick some OLB from the draft