Vitt: Too late for Saints to make wholesale changes on defense
 

METAIRIE — Even though they’re on pace to give up an NFL-record 7,595 yards — which would be about 800 more than the 1981 Baltimore Colts — don’t expect drastic changes from the New Orleans Saints’ defense.

It may not be what fans want to hear from a unit that’s allowed 474.7 yards per game and has given up 400 yards in each of its first seven games, but interim coach Joe Vitt said it’s much too late to make sweeping changes as the Saints approach the midway point of the season.

Vitt said there will be new wrinkles here and there, but it’s impossible to implement a scheme and work on it throughout the offseason and training camp and then make a change halfway through the season.

“If you have dramatic changes and you have erratic changes, that’s when panic sets in,” Vitt said Thursday as the Saints began preparing for Monday night’s game with the Philadelphia Eagles. “If you put panic in, the players can smell the house burning before the match is ever lit.

“We’ve got to play better, we’ve got to coach better, we’ve got to execute better. That being said, if we think we can do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result, that’s the definition of insanity. … But we’re not going to rewrite the playbook.”

Read more: Vitt: Too late for Saints to make wholesale changes on defense | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

Re: Vitt: Too late for Saints to make wholesale changes on defense
 

Every interview with our coaches iS making me hate our management even more

They all act they didnt know this would happen and they cannot find any answers

ITS YOUR GOD DAMN JOB!! FIX IT

Re: Vitt: Too late for Saints to make wholesale changes on defense
 

Dear Vitt,

Your house has been burning, panic couldn't hurt anything at this point and if you do not do something .... anything.... I will fully support you finding a new house next season.

Everyone thought you would come in and make some changes and have fire... What I see from your personality in your interviews and statements is pure passive aggressive. Stop being an obstructionist with your cliche's and quotes... Apparently someone in the locker-room is asking for some damn change because they clearly see this isn't working.. Listen to your locker-room Vitt.

Re: Vitt: Too late for Saints to make wholesale changes on defense
 

Sorry but Vitt is right. You can't change now but you can work harder on fundamentals. Too many miss tackles and ole whiffs. Put your damn face in his chest, wrap him up and drive him to the turf. Quit diving at his feet with your shoulder.

Re: Vitt: Too late for Saints to make wholesale changes on defense
 

Explain what harm change would make? Don't just say "you cant", give reasons besides panicky girls.

Re: Vitt: Too late for Saints to make wholesale changes on defense
 

I can see both sides. If Spags is gonna be here next year, his starters need to be on the same page with him. Right now they aren't. He probably wants them to play more in hopes that his system clicks with them.

On the other hand I personally would like to see how good some of these younger players are when given more snaps. Players like Hicks, Walker, Wilson (at SLB), Johnson, Galette, Quddus, Bush etc...

Re: Vitt: Too late for Saints to make wholesale changes on defense
 

The same reasons people are saying our DB's are getting burnt. It's quite apparent other than Greer and he is struggling from the groin injury that we don't have the speed to cover in man. We really need to play zone with the guys we have. The problem is half of them are playing zone and the other half revert to man instead of staying in their assign zones which leads to the broken coverages. If we start blitzing GW style over 60% of the time it will result in even more big plays because teams will eat us up with the quick slants. Every team left on the schedule has speed receivers that can take a quick throw and take it to the house. Vick is probably the only QB we have left to face that doesn't read the blitz that well. We have some young guys that need to learn the zone scheme and build off of it.
We have Gallete, Wilson, Hicks and Jordan that I think will develop nicely and they will be the future front 4. No way do they get rid of Spags after one year considering all the distractions and every DC has their schemes and zone scheme is Spags specialty so it will be the same scheme we will play next year. Just as well let the young guys learn it this year so they will understand it better for next year. Yes the defense is terrible this year but we made enough mistakes on offense that cost us wins as well. The season is probably done this year, I still have hope but basically we have to win at least 8 out of 9 to have a shot at the playoffs so we just as soon stick with the zone scheme and learn it so that there isn't any breakdowns next year.

Re: Vitt: Too late for Saints to make wholesale changes on defense
 

HA! I think I saw either Robinson or Jenkins attempt to make a tackle with the back of his head. SAD!

Re: Vitt: Too late for Saints to make wholesale changes on defense
 

He knows the definition of insanity but yet they keep doing the same thing over and over. I have an idea, try sitting the sad a$$ players who are bringing us down and play the young guys more.

It's reads a bit like,"We don't have a clue what to do about this".