Top 5 Defensive Fixes - Free Agents Who Can Help

Attached Thumbnails · 02-22-2013, 05:51 PM

The free-agent signing period begins March 12, less than three weeks from now. And the Saints have long been ardent believers that you fill your needs in free agency so you can focus on the best players available in the draft.

The Saints aren't expected to be major players in free agency because of their lack of salary-cap space. But they won't sit on their hands either - especially while they're aiming to revamp their defense under new coordinator Rob Ryan and a new 3-4 system.

The Saints' top 5 defensive fixes and the free agents who can help | NOLA.com

saintsfan1976 · 02-22-2013, 05:54 PM

I was high on Spencer coming to NO, but if Ryan could make him a star in Dallas, why couldn't he do the same with Wilson and Gallette?

ChrisXVI · 02-22-2013, 06:03 PM

That was a pretty interesting article... I really enjoyed it! The Victor Butler scenario seems incredibly likely. God I can't wait until after free agency and the draft so our defense will start to take more shape instead of speculation. I'm excited about the change to a 3-4 and the potential starting line-up!

saintsfan403 · 02-22-2013, 06:10 PM

there seems to be a ridiculous amount of talent available in FA this year. I'm quite excited and I love the optimism in this post/article.

Seer1 · 02-22-2013, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by ChrisXVI

That was a pretty interesting article... I really enjoyed it! The Victor Butler scenario seems incredibly likely. God I can't wait until after free agency and the draft so our defense will start to take more shape instead of speculation. I'm excited about the change to a 3-4 and the potential starting line-up!

We have a bucket load of "developmental" players. I'd say if we can't get some fairly certain things out of FA, let's just save our money. I can't wait until after the FA and the draft so we can argue about it!

Danno · 02-22-2013, 06:33 PM

OK, I think I may have the answer based on past results...

1. OUTSIDE LINEBACKERSTwo intriguing younger players who should come at a cheaper price are the Cowboys' Victor Butler, who has shown some pass-rush ability as a backup, and San Diego Chargers situational pass rusher Antwan Barnes.

2. DEFENSIVE END
San Diego's Vaughn Martin, the Oakland Raiders' Desmond Bryant and the Washington Redskins' Kedric Golston were also mentioned as potential bargains.

3. NOSE TACKLE
The Saints probably won't be interested in bringing back Aubrayo Franklin from the San Diego Chargers, though he has proven to be more effective in 3-4 defenses than he was in the Saints' 4-3 in 2011.

Seer1 · 02-22-2013, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by Danno

OK, I think I may have the answer based on past results...

1. OUTSIDE LINEBACKERSTwo intriguing younger players who should come at a cheaper price are the Cowboys' Victor Butler, who has shown some pass-rush ability as a backup, and San Diego Chargers situational pass rusher Antwan Barnes.

2. DEFENSIVE END
San Diego's Vaughn Martin, the Oakland Raiders' Desmond Bryant and the Washington Redskins' Kedric Golston were also mentioned as potential bargains.

3. NOSE TACKLE
The Saints probably won't be interested in bringing back Aubrayo Franklin from the San Diego Chargers, though he has proven to be more effective in 3-4 defenses than he was in the Saints' 4-3 in 2011.

Now if we pick up some more ex-Chargers and they excel with us, do you think their owner will start eating the furniture? Or, will he be too busy looking under it to see where Norv's gone?

ChrisXVI · 02-22-2013, 08:02 PM

You know, it's kind of interesting how the past few years we've gotten players that are perfectly suited to run the 3-4 at a time when we ran the 4-3... I kind of have to wonder why the hell it took so long to make the transition to a 3-4. I'm just talking about signing huge run stuffing DT's like Aubrayo Franklin, Shaun Rogers, Broderick Bunkley... Then drafting Cameron Jordan. Last offseason we signed two of the highest ranked MLB's in free agency (Lofton and Hawthorne.) Seems like we've been acquiring players fit for the 3-4 defense lately and end up getting dissapointed when they don't fit.

FinSaint · 02-22-2013, 09:22 PM

Brad Jones or Larry Grant would both be nice signings for the other ILB position if they decide to use Hawthorne elsewhere (or even get rid off him) or just to add to the rotation in the middle of the LB corps.

And I still like Chris Canty a lot if he's healthy and affordable.

vpheughan · 02-22-2013, 09:43 PM

Free agent? We can't afford who we have now!

02-22-2013, 05:51 PM	#1
Threaded by saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,832 Blog Entries: 3 Rating: (0 votes - average) The free-agent signing period begins March 12, less than three weeks from now. And the Saints have long been ardent believers that you fill your needs in free agency so you can focus on the best players available in the draft. The Saints aren't expected to be major players in free agency because of their lack of salary-cap space. But they won't sit on their hands either - especially while they're aiming to revamp their defense under new coordinator Rob Ryan and a new 3-4 system. The Saints' top 5 defensive fixes and the free agents who can help \| NOLA.com Attached Thumbnails Last edited by papz; 02-22-2013 at 09:08 PM..
Views: 6274

02-22-2013, 05:54 PM	#2
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,832 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Top 5 Defensive Fixes - Free Agents Who Can Help I was high on Spencer coming to NO, but if Ryan could make him a star in Dallas, why couldn't he do the same with Wilson and Gallette?

02-22-2013, 06:03 PM	#3
ChrisXVI 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 11,482	Re: Top 5 Defensive Fixes - Free Agents Who Can Help That was a pretty interesting article... I really enjoyed it! The Victor Butler scenario seems incredibly likely. God I can't wait until after free agency and the draft so our defense will start to take more shape instead of speculation. I'm excited about the change to a 3-4 and the potential starting line-up! saintsfan403 likes this.

02-22-2013, 06:10 PM	#4
saintsfan403 1000 Posts + Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: WHO DAT NATION Posts: 2,261	Re: Top 5 Defensive Fixes - Free Agents Who Can Help there seems to be a ridiculous amount of talent available in FA this year. I'm quite excited and I love the optimism in this post/article.

02-22-2013, 06:25 PM	#5
Seer1 Site Donor Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bayou Bayfield CO Posts: 4,722	Re: Top 5 Defensive Fixes - Free Agents Who Can Help Originally Posted by ChrisXVI That was a pretty interesting article... I really enjoyed it! The Victor Butler scenario seems incredibly likely. God I can't wait until after free agency and the draft so our defense will start to take more shape instead of speculation. I'm excited about the change to a 3-4 and the potential starting line-up! We have a bucket load of "developmental" players. I'd say if we can't get some fairly certain things out of FA, let's just save our money. I can't wait until after the FA and the draft so we can argue about it!

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02-22-2013, 06:33 PM	#6
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	Re: Top 5 Defensive Fixes - Free Agents Who Can Help OK, I think I may have the answer based on past results... 1. OUTSIDE LINEBACKERSTwo intriguing younger players who should come at a cheaper price are the Cowboys' Victor Butler, who has shown some pass-rush ability as a backup, and San Diego Chargers situational pass rusher Antwan Barnes. 2. DEFENSIVE END San Diego's Vaughn Martin, the Oakland Raiders' Desmond Bryant and the Washington Redskins' Kedric Golston were also mentioned as potential bargains. 3. NOSE TACKLE The Saints probably won't be interested in bringing back Aubrayo Franklin from the San Diego Chargers, though he has proven to be more effective in 3-4 defenses than he was in the Saints' 4-3 in 2011. FinSaint likes this.

02-22-2013, 06:36 PM	#7
Seer1 Site Donor Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bayou Bayfield CO Posts: 4,722	Re: Top 5 Defensive Fixes - Free Agents Who Can Help Originally Posted by Danno OK, I think I may have the answer based on past results... 1. OUTSIDE LINEBACKERSTwo intriguing younger players who should come at a cheaper price are the Cowboys' Victor Butler, who has shown some pass-rush ability as a backup, and San Diego Chargers situational pass rusher Antwan Barnes. 2. DEFENSIVE END San Diego's Vaughn Martin, the Oakland Raiders' Desmond Bryant and the Washington Redskins' Kedric Golston were also mentioned as potential bargains. 3. NOSE TACKLE The Saints probably won't be interested in bringing back Aubrayo Franklin from the San Diego Chargers, though he has proven to be more effective in 3-4 defenses than he was in the Saints' 4-3 in 2011. Now if we pick up some more ex-Chargers and they excel with us, do you think their owner will start eating the furniture? Or, will he be too busy looking under it to see where Norv's gone?

02-22-2013, 08:02 PM	#8
ChrisXVI 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 11,482	Re: Top 5 Defensive Fixes - Free Agents Who Can Help You know, it's kind of interesting how the past few years we've gotten players that are perfectly suited to run the 3-4 at a time when we ran the 4-3... I kind of have to wonder why the hell it took so long to make the transition to a 3-4. I'm just talking about signing huge run stuffing DT's like Aubrayo Franklin, Shaun Rogers, Broderick Bunkley... Then drafting Cameron Jordan. Last offseason we signed two of the highest ranked MLB's in free agency (Lofton and Hawthorne.) Seems like we've been acquiring players fit for the 3-4 defense lately and end up getting dissapointed when they don't fit. Danno likes this.

02-22-2013, 09:22 PM	#9
FinSaint Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Finland... formerly Southern Virginia Posts: 4,961	Re: Top 5 Defensive Fixes - Free Agents Who Can Help Brad Jones or Larry Grant would both be nice signings for the other ILB position if they decide to use Hawthorne elsewhere (or even get rid off him) or just to add to the rotation in the middle of the LB corps. And I still like Chris Canty a lot if he's healthy and affordable.

02-22-2013, 09:43 PM	#10
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,520	Re: Top 5 Defensive Fixes - Free Agents Who Can Help Free agent? We can't afford who we have now! Ashley likes this.
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,520

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