The Dude

For years we have tried to build a solid D, but bad draft decisions and big contracts on offense have hindered us in doing so. Hell we have tried for over 10 years and have not accomplished squat. Our offense is noticeably worse this year, and I don't see it getting any better without some major upgrades. We have serious work to do on the line and some of our WR aren't getting any younger. Devery is getting up there and I don't think Morgan is a long term solution for the deep threat. TE is another position. We have Graham, who has issues of his own this year, but after him there is a huge drop off. Lastly we have the Messaiahs huge contract handcuffing us so we can't make any upgrades.

Danno

If you follow the blueprint for success the window never closes.

Address weaknesses with moderately priced free-agents, and draft the best player available.

TheOak

I disagree... We have never made an honest attempt at building a solid D.. At lease not in the last 8 years.

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.

CharityMike

Agree. I keep banging a worn out drum but why with 1st round investments that we have on D, do we not get results? What is the constant in that? THE POSITION COACHS!! Why are they still here?

D Line coach

LB'er coach

D scout

Danno

Disagree totally. We hired GW and Payton pulled an extra 1/4 million out of his own pocket to do it. An extremely expensive hire. Spags was not cheap either.

We brought in numerous free-agents who were not cheap, Franklin, Rogers, Lofton, Greer, and Bunkley.

We traded 2 picks to land Vilma.

Since 2006 we drafted 12 players in the top half (1st thru 4th) of the draft including four 1st rounders out of seven.

In 2011 we drafted 5 defensive players and only 1 offensive.
In 2009 all 4 picks were on defense.

Since Payton arrived we've drafted 21 defensive players and 20 offensive players.

Mardigras9

Guess we just got luckier with the offensive players.

Danno

No doubt we hit on more offensive players, but we've certainly tried to address the defense with coaches, draft picks and free-agents.

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