CharityMike

Posted by Michael David Smith on October 30, 2012, 9:14 AM EDT

AP
The Saints’ secondary was lit up by Peyton Manning and the Broncos on Sunday night, and New Orleans is giving up 475 yards a game in total offense, the worst in the NFL by more than 50 yards a game. So something needs to get fixed with the Saints’ defense in a hurry.

Unfortunately, Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo says there are no quick fixes.

“We’re not going to wave a magic wand and change everything,” Spagnuolo said. “We just get better at what we’re doing.”

Spagnuolo said he has never experienced a defense this bad and therefore isn’t quite sure where to start fixing it.

“It’s uncharted territory,” he said. “I’m not used to this, because I’ve been blessed to be at places where we’ve played pretty good defense and we’re not doing that right now. Yet, I can’t really put my finger on it. But we will. We’ll figure it out.”

Even if he does figure it out, with the Saints at 2-5 and already five games behind the Falcons in the NFC South, Spagnuolo may be figuring it out too late.

Steve Spagnuolo says there’s no magic fix for the Saints’ defense | ProFootballTalk

TheOak

Just WOW
"Spagnuolo said he has never experienced a defense this bad and therefore isn’t quite sure where to start fixing it."

arsaint

I'd try about 8 undrafted FAs wanting to make a paycheck.

Could it really be any worse at this point?

GeauxForMore

You need talent Spags. Look at the defenses you had in New York and St. louis. It's hard to fix a house without a single hammer.

Shoe.

For a world-class, experienced, practicing professional in a field full of intense competition, those words are especially troubling to me.

How can you say you don't know where to start? Are there not enough obvious, glaring deficiencies? This dude is supposed to be one of the best on the planet at this particular medium (teaching guys to be better defenders) and all he has to say is, "I don't know."

I'm all aboard the "let's gives Spags time to do what he does" train, but hearing him say he "can't put his finger on" what is going so wrong is very disheartening to me, when many people can clearly see missed tackles (fundamentals), missed assignments (more fundamentals, especially in a zone scheme), and lack of energy from start till finish.

Don't know where to start PLEASE

How many of us would get a strange look from our boss if he came to us to tell us we were doing a bad job, and our reply was what Spags said

neugey

At this point, we need the magic wand. Is this guy still available?

MatthewT

Yes indeed, his words are very troubling. Sounds like to me a guy who perhaps wants to get fired? Maybe this job is a little bit over his head?

Ashley

Just wait till next year. If he wants his job, there will be a major change in personal. Once again our top pick will be spent on a "d" player. Lets just hope this time he pans out.

Papa Voodoo

Start by watching game tape of Greg Williams defenses and start using that model...blitz like a wild man.

Jamessr

Greg Williams Defense > Steve Spagnuolo Defense