FinSaint

And how exactly are you going to "clean house" when only Ellis', Casillas', McBride's and Shanle's contracts are up at the end of this season?!

In the current salary cap era, you can't just "blow up" a team when players have 2-3 years left on their expensive contracts, like Will Smith for example. You'd still end up paying those cut players a ton of money because their contracts guarantee them that money, and while you'd have a lot more free roster spots - you'd find it hard to find the money to fill those spots with actual quality players.

This is the reality that I've been struggling with when trying to think of a way the Saints could really improve their defensive personnel for next year.

"I'm not bashing people, I'm bashing their opinions because in my opinion their opinion is wrong" - Danno

MatthewT

I wouldn't call it yet as our window being closed, but it is safe to assume the Saints will go into some type of rebuild/retool/rethink mode after this season is over.

I am probably stating the obvious, but I do see major player turnover after this season concludes.

SaintsBro

I have three words to instantly end any "is our window closed?" discussion.... John Freaking Elway.

Back to back Super Bowls at age 37 and 38. Went out on top. After they lost that ugly blowout Super Bowl to San Francisco, many people thought the Broncos were "done" and that Elway would NEVER win one. He sure proved them wrong. So...the window is definitely still open for this team. Heck, the suspension means we may actually end up getting an extra year or two of Payton, too, if he decides he needs to make back the money he's lost from this year and do it by staying on and retiring from coaching a little later than he wanted to.

Shoe.

I have been on that wagon for a while also. We have invested far too many upper level picks on the D to not have an average squad out there. Not talking about Dome Patrol or anything, just some dudes that can marginally handle business.

The constants in this equation are indeed the position coaches and the scouting personnel, and finally, the GM who has the final say on who we pick

Saw a thread earlier about how Loomis isn't necessarily a "football guy" and more of an accountant. I can buy that, because he's a damn good accountant, but if that's the case then Loomy needs to surround himself with people who can make up for his deficiencies, and it is certainly looking as though the people who evaluate D talent need to take a look in the mirror, or at least in a book that tells you how to evaluate players. I understand the argument nobody can consistently predict first round booms/busts, but I'm talking about all the way through our drafts we seem to strike out defensively, or at best, foul off a few.

If our starting safeties, one corner, and a couple D lineman with promise are the best we have to show for 7 years of drafting defensive talent...yikes

arsaint

Honestly keep Lofton, Greer and MAYBE Jenkins and put 8-9 new people in there with them (that can include Hicks and Wilson).


COULD IT BE ANY WORSE???

CharityMike

Jenkins?? Hell no. Why keep a safety that is always out of position and CAN NOT TACKLE to save his life? He needs to be on the short list!

The Dude

FIFY

DrewDat

I think instead of drafting we need to trade for experienced defensive players...

dizzle88

Do both

We need a player like Patrick Peterson in our secondary, big, fast, can matchup with big receivers, great hands and doesn't drop picks

TheOak

Ha! The medicine I am on is taking its toll... I had to re-read that 3 times because it kept reading as a big fast player like Patrick Robinson.

I thought I was missing something LOL.