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In 2012, the Saints’ defense fell apart during a season marked by suspensions for the bounty program run by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. In 2013, one Saints player says, they’re going back to that old Gregg Williams mentality.

Minus the bounties, of course.

Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins says new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is a lot more like Williams than he was like last year’s defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo. And Jenkins likes the toughness and aggressiveness that Ryan preaches.



“Personality-wise they are very similar,” Jenkins told the Associated Press. “They’re cut from the same cloth in that they know that players and matchups are what defense is all about and they have a lot of personality and they’re aggressive in their play-calling.”

Williams was an assistant to Rob’s dad, Buddy Ryan, and both Williams and Rob Ryan have said many times that Buddy Ryan’s influence was extremely important.

“They’re all from the same school, the Buddy Ryan defense, so there are a lot of similarities between what Gregg was running and what Rob is bringing,” Jenkins said. “But I think Rob has a few more wrinkles with the 3-4 and everything, and I think we’re going to have fun.”

Jenkins says the Saints under Ryan will have a defense that the rest of the league fears.

“There’s a line and you don’t cross it, but you want to get as close to that line as you can,” Jenkins said. “We definitely want to be a physical, feared defense.”

Williams did cross the line. But a physical, feared defense is just what the Saints want Ryan to bring.

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dizzle88

Theres one thing for sure, GW's D was not afraid to hit people lol

I hope we become aggressive once more without the dumba$$ moments (2011 vs 49ers)

FinSaint

I, for one, am looking for much more from RR than just being on par with GW.

I know that the Saints won the SB with GW leading the defense, but there were a lot of things he did on defense that were borderline inexcusable... and I'm not talking about the alleged bounties.

Here's to a great future - no need to look back and make comparisons to the past - make your own legacy!

Mr.Riaton

One of the things I couldn't stand with GW's D was the late hits out of bounds and in the end zone. I guess that was their way of trying to be intimidating,but I think it made them look ridiculous and caused unnessisary penalties. Hard hitting, solid tackling,and stopping,not slowing,the run-that's the way to have a feared D!Wow,what a concept!! Oh,some turnovers wouldn't hurt either!

Danno

Basically the San Fransisco 49ers? Gawd I hate saying that!

Seer1

Ravens?

darksoul35

I would rather give up late hits every once in a while than what we had last year. The 49ers game was redic though. How do you leave a tight end in one on one coverage on the last play with the type of game he was having? With Shanle in the game? Ill never let it go.Then we lost to them last year with two pick sixes. There is nothing on gods green earth that I hate more than The 49ers and Greg williams.

Danno

Maybe the Ravens of a few years ago.

They're middle of the pack now.

Seer1

And still beat the niners in the big game hmmmm???

Mr.Riaton

I feel your pain,but our O turned the ball over FIVE ...I'll say it again FIVE times! A lot of people argue that we had a chance to win in the end,but if you take away even two of those turnovers, we would have a different ball game on our hands. I will say this- even with five turnovers,we still put up 32 points on their D! Can you imagine if we had no turnovers...BLOWOUT! BTW- 32 points was the highest score their D allowed that year,and our O had a bad game! Who you think was the better team?