Spagnuolo - Odd Man Out

darstep · 03-13-2012, 04:14 PM

With all of these high-end offensive contract negotiation and off the field issues, will Spagnuolo be expected to perform miracles with a rag-tag defense? After Brees, Colston, Nicks, will there be any dollars left for him to build a quality product that we can be proud of?

If, for whatever reason, we end up having to out score our opponent every week, I'm already prepared to give him a pass. Colton is done; Nicks and Brees are still hanging, along with a host of other FA contributors that could affect our continuity. I've got great respect for Spags abilitites, but he may end up with the same kind of "bend and don't break" middle of the road defense that GWilliams had to get creative with to have ANY kind of success at all. Maybe he can get the tackling grade up to about a B+. That should get us two games throughout the season.

I hope he is eyeing a few FA pieces that can come in and do some of the things he is visioning for this squad. Fundamentals are free, and avoiding self inflicted wounds can go a long way to positioning this new defense for success, whatever it ends up looking like. It would be a wonderful thing to see a 1st year pop in the defensive performance under his leadership. If it doesn't work out so well, here's my get out of jail free card, but it's the only one I've got.

papz · 03-13-2012, 04:20 PM

There's no get out of jail free card. Having all our offensive talent back actually helps keep the defense fresh.

Roman Harper - Pro Bowler
Malcolm Jenkins - Pro Bowl talent
Jabrari Greer - above average/solid corner
Patrick Robinson - solid corner
Junior Galette - DE with the freakish talent Spags look for
Will Smith - solid veteran
Jonathan Vilma - solid to above average when healthy
Martez Wilson - 3rd round pick that has flashed very good upside

There's plenty of talent here. He's not inheriting a bunch of losers and asked to perform a miracle. Also you don't have to spend big money to add quality free agents... we also have some draft picks in this upcoming draft too.

jcp026 · 03-13-2012, 04:22 PM

I don't think Galette has freakish anything. I hope he can be great, but I just expect ok. Wilson is the only freak we have on defense. He just has to learn the game.

Rugby Saint II · 03-13-2012, 04:23 PM

We may not be able to afford to bring in any free agents. Our defensive roster will probably look very similar to last year with only a couple of new faces.
Also, we may lose a few players to the roster cuts. We need money and there are a few overpaid defensive players getting a check and not earning it.

papz · 03-13-2012, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by jcp026

I don't think Galette has freakish anything. I hope he can be great, but I just expect ok. Wilson is the only freak we have on defense. He just has to learn the game.

Maybe raw athletic pass rusher would fit a bit better. Tomato tomatoe.

darstep · 03-13-2012, 04:36 PM

My greatest concern is that the front looks the same...and performs the same:
No pass rush. That will make the 2nd and 3rd level have to work just as hard as last year.
If there are NO upgrades up front, whether FA, draft, trade, or improved performance,
then I have no expectation of the kind of pop I'm looking for.
Something will have to change up front and they may have to do it on a budget.
It doesn't matter to me how they do it.

TheOak · 03-13-2012, 04:45 PM

Well........ If he can teach them to tackle... Super Bowl bound!

Pete · 03-13-2012, 04:45 PM

One of the things we'll see different in his scheme from GW's,is that he is said to use his LB's to blitz instead of safeties.Tez may just have his shot to be the major impact player we've been waiting for.

The turn around he produced with a few no name players in NY has me believing he's going to light a fire in a couple of our existing players who have yet to light it up.
All in all I'm just hoping he finds a way to produce pressure with our front four off the top.The rest will fall into place.I'm expecting big things out of Malcolm this year.

Please help make this happen Spagz

lee909 · 03-13-2012, 04:54 PM

I guess the offence could be the best defence for us.
If we keep the offence going like last year teams will have to take risks to keep up,you can't make do with FG and give Drew the ball back.

saintfan · 03-13-2012, 04:54 PM

He just needs to fire up his own bounty program and it's all good...

03-13-2012, 04:14 PM	#1
darstep SaintSince67 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PortCity Posts: 2,044	Spagnuolo - Odd Man Out With all of these high-end offensive contract negotiation and off the field issues, will Spagnuolo be expected to perform miracles with a rag-tag defense? After Brees, Colston, Nicks, will there be any dollars left for him to build a quality product that we can be proud of? If, for whatever reason, we end up having to out score our opponent every week, I'm already prepared to give him a pass. Colton is done; Nicks and Brees are still hanging, along with a host of other FA contributors that could affect our continuity. I've got great respect for Spags abilitites, but he may end up with the same kind of "bend and don't break" middle of the road defense that GWilliams had to get creative with to have ANY kind of success at all. Maybe he can get the tackling grade up to about a B+. That should get us two games throughout the season. I hope he is eyeing a few FA pieces that can come in and do some of the things he is visioning for this squad. Fundamentals are free, and avoiding self inflicted wounds can go a long way to positioning this new defense for success, whatever it ends up looking like. It would be a wonderful thing to see a 1st year pop in the defensive performance under his leadership. If it doesn't work out so well, here's my get out of jail free card, but it's the only one I've got. SapperSaint and jcp026 like this.
	SaintSince67

03-13-2012, 04:20 PM	#2
papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,744	There's no get out of jail free card. Having all our offensive talent back actually helps keep the defense fresh. Roman Harper - Pro Bowler Malcolm Jenkins - Pro Bowl talent Jabrari Greer - above average/solid corner Patrick Robinson - solid corner Junior Galette - DE with the freakish talent Spags look for Will Smith - solid veteran Jonathan Vilma - solid to above average when healthy Martez Wilson - 3rd round pick that has flashed very good upside There's plenty of talent here. He's not inheriting a bunch of losers and asked to perform a miracle. Also you don't have to spend big money to add quality free agents... we also have some draft picks in this upcoming draft too. Halo likes this.
	Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege. All little common sense goes a long way.

03-13-2012, 04:22 PM	#3
jcp026 500th Post Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 951	I don't think Galette has freakish anything. I hope he can be great, but I just expect ok. Wilson is the only freak we have on defense. He just has to learn the game.
jcp026 500th Post Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 951

03-13-2012, 04:30 PM	#5
papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,744	Originally Posted by jcp026 I don't think Galette has freakish anything. I hope he can be great, but I just expect ok. Wilson is the only freak we have on defense. He just has to learn the game. Maybe raw athletic pass rusher would fit a bit better. Tomato tomatoe.

03-13-2012, 04:45 PM	#7
TheOak 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cypress Tx. Posts: 19,026	Well........ If he can teach them to tackle... Super Bowl bound! Halo likes this.

Latest Blogs
2023 New Orleans Saints: Training Camp Last Blog: 08-01-2023 By: MarchingOn Puck the Fro Browl! Last Blog: 02-05-2023 By: neugey CFP: "Just Keep Doing What You're Doing" Last Blog: 12-08-2022 By: neugey

03-13-2012, 04:23 PM	#4
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,052	We may not be able to afford to bring in any free agents. Our defensive roster will probably look very similar to last year with only a couple of new faces. Also, we may lose a few players to the roster cuts. We need money and there are a few overpaid defensive players getting a check and not earning it.

03-13-2012, 04:36 PM	#6
darstep SaintSince67 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PortCity Posts: 2,044	My greatest concern is that the front looks the same...and performs the same: No pass rush. That will make the 2nd and 3rd level have to work just as hard as last year. If there are NO upgrades up front, whether FA, draft, trade, or improved performance, then I have no expectation of the kind of pop I'm looking for. Something will have to change up front and they may have to do it on a budget. It doesn't matter to me how they do it.

03-13-2012, 04:45 PM	#8
Pete • Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Patterson, LA Posts: 1,753	One of the things we'll see different in his scheme from GW's,is that he is said to use his LB's to blitz instead of safeties.Tez may just have his shot to be the major impact player we've been waiting for. The turn around he produced with a few no name players in NY has me believing he's going to light a fire in a couple of our existing players who have yet to light it up. All in all I'm just hoping he finds a way to produce pressure with our front four off the top.The rest will fall into place.I'm expecting big things out of Malcolm this year. Please help make this happen Spagz darstep likes this.
	\m/{×.#}\m/

03-13-2012, 04:54 PM	#9
lee909 Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Watford England Posts: 8,803 Blog Entries: 1	I guess the offence could be the best defence for us. If we keep the offence going like last year teams will have to take risks to keep up,you can't make do with FG and give Drew the ball back. Halo likes this.

03-13-2012, 04:54 PM	#10
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	He just needs to fire up his own bounty program and it's all good... SapperSaint likes this.

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: https://blackandgold.com/saints/42106-spagnuolo-odd-man-out.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date	Hits
Spagnuolo - Odd Man Out	This thread	Refback	03-13-2012 04:22 PM	12